mhull

We are taking a cruise starting Nov 16th and stopping in Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos and Messina. We do not like to take the excursions from the ship. What would you suggest we do to maximize our time in these ports. We like to tour but always appreciate bargain shopping and (quick) eating as well. We are also going to stop in Naples and will probably want to go to Pompeii and Sorrento. Our daughter and son in law also want to go to Capri. All suggestions welcome!
If you have a trip report, please point me to it.

crdtny

Rhodes....ship docks just next to the town centre and its minutes to be in the thick of it all.Usually I head for the Turkish Bazaar which is on the way to the Knights Street. Also visit the Grand Masters Palace if you wish. A nice place to spend a day.

Santorini....not mad about Santorini but the views from there are fantastic....I take the tender and then get the cable car to the top. Nearby you can get a bus to the town at the other end of the Island.Great views.

Mykonos .....to me its just OK but I do like the Pelican known as Petros along the front. My favourite thing to do here is get a ferry to Delos which is the most interesting place in the Med.Takes about 20 minutes. Ferry is next to where ship docks.Birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.Has temple to isis and many Greek ruins.Must see.

Messina...when the ship docks I walk to the railway station and take a train then bus or taxi to Toarmina high up.Great views and lovely town.Not a not in Messina to write home about.

Rubicund

Rhodes town is a great place to visit, just wandering the streets ans alleyways is fascinating. As crdtny says, the ship ties up at the dock and you have probably six hours or so in port. As far as Santorini and Mykonos are concerned, some cruise lines like Costa, do both of these in one day, so you get about 4 hours at each island. You have to tender in on both of these and whilst you have to wait at Santorini for the Cable Car, (don't use the donkeys, they are badly treated) you are virtually on the beach on Mykonos.

If you have one day in Naples, you can't do all you suggest in one day, so you'll have to separate. You can do a tiny bit of Naples, but the museums will eat up most of your shore time. The same applies to Pompeii, including getting there and back, as well as Capri and Sorrento. That sounds like three days to me.

Given a choice, Pompeii would be #1, Naples 2, Sorrento/Capri 3

mhull

Thanks for your replies. We have one full day in each port. We have to be back on the ship by 6. Any suggestions for lunch quick, not fancy, local and good?

clausar

In Mid Nov you won't have many choices in Mykonos and Santorini... Most restaurants and cafes will be closed for the winter....
Rhodes has a large permanent population, you won't have any problems there.

Sassafrass

Wouldn't try for Capri unless weather is perfect for entire day. Ferries are not frequent by that late in the year.

Pompeii is easy. Just take the train from Naples. I like Sorrento, but probably would not try to squeeze it in because most of the shops are closed in the mid to late afternoon. I would probably see Pompeii and Cappella Sansevero with lunch in Naples or do both Pompeii and Herculaneum instead. If Sorrento is high on your list, you could head there first, but make sure to allow plenty of time for Pompeii.

Like Crdtny's advice for Mykonos.

On Santorini, take the cable car to the top and make a deal with a taxi driver to show you around for a couple of hours.

While it is true things are closed by that time of year on the islands, lots of shops and small restaurants do open for a few hours when cruise ships are docking.

Heimdall

Re Mykonos: the highlight of my visits to Mykonos has been the trip to Delos, which leaves from a pier at the old port in the centre of Mykonos Town. If your ship docks at the new port, Tourlos, about a mile outside town, you will have to go by bus or taxi into Mykonos itself. You can also walk along the road, and it shouldn't be too busy with traffic in November. If you are tendered ashore it will be to the old port.

In summer, boats leave for Delos at 9, 10, & 11 am Tue-Sun, but likely to be reduced to only one or two per day by mid-November. It is easy to guide yourself around Delos, but you will appreciate it more if you do a little homework beforehand. All the major guidebooks to the Greek Islands have sections on Delos, with maps, etc. This may also help: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/delos

If you go to Delos and take an early afternoon boat back to Mykonos, you will have enough time for lunch and a walk around town. You may even see Petros! ;-)

mhull

I really appreciate your replies. My daughter also wanted me to ask what we should shop for? We like bargains!

crdtny

The only item of shopping I remember from these places was a small hand made crib which I obtained in Via San Gregorio Armeno. This narrow street consisits mostly of shops selling hand crafted Xmas figures of all sorts, mechanical and static. Great atmosphere and within walking distance from the port.It was an interesting part of Naples I wandered through to find this famous street.

http://www.venere.com/blog/naples-christmas-shopping/

Chania

An authetic and inexpensive place to eat in Fira is Nikolas Taverna. At that time of year it may only be open for dinner. Hard to say. Nikolas - Erythrou Stavrou | Established 1962, Fira 15342, Greece. It is (was) run by 3 Greek brothers. The menu is on a black board. Some think the brothers are rude. I think they are eccentric. The food is good and local. It is in the middle of Fira town.

mhull

One more question. About internet..are there internet cafes on the islands? We heard that the internet both expensive and slow on the ship. Any suggestions?

Heimdall

In the summer there are cafes with wi-fi just about everywhere — not sure about November, but there should be some open. If you have a laptop or iPad you can sit down, order a drink or food, and usually get internet access for free. Most will have a computer that you can use for a small fee if you don't have your own.