Advice re two Royal Caribbean Greek Isles cruise
Feb 23rd, 2016, 01:44 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice re two Royal Caribbean Greek Isles cruise
Hello!
Our family of 6, incl. 2 young grade schoolers and 2 Jr high kids, is considering two possible RC cruises this summer, but need advice re the non-overlapping cities (particularly advice on Turkey versus Montenegro, Dubrovnik versus Zadar). We have gone on the Western Med cruise out of Barcelona and enjoyed our time on the west coast of Italy, Mallorca and Cannes.
Itineraries:
10 night Greece & the Adriatic Cruise
Venice, Italy
Corfu, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Athens, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Kotor, Montenegro
Zadar, Croatia
versus
11 night Greece, Turkey, & Croatia cruise
Venice, Italy (2 nights, days 1 and 11)
Katakolon, Greece
Chania, Greece
Athens, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece
Ephesus(Kusadasi),Turkey
Santorini, Greece
Dubrovnik, Croatia
We tend to like walking through the towns and looking at the architecture, visiting ancient sites, going to city parks, or going to the beach and swimming near the shore with the children. We're not shoppers or scuba divers.
I would love to hear your advice on whether Dubrovnik should be selected over Zadar and Kusadasi over Kotor. I don't know much about the non-overlapping Greek isles, but thought I would start with the above 4 cities and obtain opinions.
Thank you.
Our family of 6, incl. 2 young grade schoolers and 2 Jr high kids, is considering two possible RC cruises this summer, but need advice re the non-overlapping cities (particularly advice on Turkey versus Montenegro, Dubrovnik versus Zadar). We have gone on the Western Med cruise out of Barcelona and enjoyed our time on the west coast of Italy, Mallorca and Cannes.
Itineraries:
10 night Greece & the Adriatic Cruise
Venice, Italy
Corfu, Greece
Santorini, Greece
Athens, Greece
Mykonos, Greece
Kotor, Montenegro
Zadar, Croatia
versus
11 night Greece, Turkey, & Croatia cruise
Venice, Italy (2 nights, days 1 and 11)
Katakolon, Greece
Chania, Greece
Athens, Greece
Thessaloniki, Greece
Ephesus(Kusadasi),Turkey
Santorini, Greece
Dubrovnik, Croatia
We tend to like walking through the towns and looking at the architecture, visiting ancient sites, going to city parks, or going to the beach and swimming near the shore with the children. We're not shoppers or scuba divers.
I would love to hear your advice on whether Dubrovnik should be selected over Zadar and Kusadasi over Kotor. I don't know much about the non-overlapping Greek isles, but thought I would start with the above 4 cities and obtain opinions.
Thank you.
Feb 27th, 2016, 03:17 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Have been to all cities. Our latest cruise was to hit Split and Dubrovnik which was hard to do. Dubrovnik and Ephesus are outstanding vs Kotor and Zadar. we've been to Ephesus twice and they have really upgraded the experience, really memorable. Dubronik is a unique walled city, not too many of those. Go for the 11 nights and you won't be disappointed.
Mar 1st, 2016, 06:36 AM
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have done a 7-night cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean last November and liked it a lot. But we know other ports from other (land) trips.
Everybody will suggest the itinerary that includes Kusadasi/Ephesus. Ephesus is one of the very best archeological sites at all. Reserve a rental car in Kusadasi and drive to Ephesus archeological site, Temple of Artemis, the Archeological Museum in Selcuk and the charming village Sirince. And maybe to the beach afterwards. A rental car will save you €€€ and spare you the "experience" of visiting a carpet store.
The first cruise is more for beach people.
Everybody will suggest the itinerary that includes Kusadasi/Ephesus. Ephesus is one of the very best archeological sites at all. Reserve a rental car in Kusadasi and drive to Ephesus archeological site, Temple of Artemis, the Archeological Museum in Selcuk and the charming village Sirince. And maybe to the beach afterwards. A rental car will save you €€€ and spare you the "experience" of visiting a carpet store.
The first cruise is more for beach people.
Mar 3rd, 2016, 03:42 PM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With a family of 6 you might want to get a private tour as we did. About that carpet tour--told them right up front did not and would not do a carpet tour. So when we left the site we should have gone right back to the port, instead were heading in the wrong, "wrong" direction--to the carpet shop. I said, we do not want to go there and of course you get it's a great place etc etc, and I put a stop to it. Mumbling in Turkish but we did not go there.
