Med Port Excursions & Tour Guides.
Dec 20th, 2004, 06:44 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Med Port Excursions & Tour Guides.
Before anyone tells me to go ask my cruise questions over on the cruise board, just don't. I don't like the quality of the answers as well or the amount of info that is shared. Okay? I can always count on the people on this board to steer me the right way. We are going on a Celebrity 12 day Med cruise in June. Barcelona, Nice & Monte Carlo, Florence (or Tuscany), Rome, Naples, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Dubrovnik and finally Venice. I don't do well in organized groups, but I feel we'll need some sort of excursion or guide for Pompeii and Athens. Can anyone recommend a good and reasonably priced guide or tour for those 2 places or should we just go with the ship? Its just my husband and me. We just want to wander the greek islands and the stops in France. In Barcelona, we will probably do some kind of Gaudi tour and hop on hop off bus thing. We've been to Italy and just want to stroll around old Rome and Florence again. Same with Venice and Dobrovnik. If anyone has any suggestions or better ideas, I welcome them. I can't believe we're doing this! I'm really excited. Thanks in advance. More questions to come as I think of them.
Dec 20th, 2004, 10:46 PM
#2
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even though you asked me not to, I'll gove you this link anyway:
www.cruisecritic.com
If you do a simple search there, on "Port of Call", you will easily find alot of information, including email addresses and websites for tourguides for Med ports who cater to people on cruiseships, and those who have hired them and can give you alot of first hand information.
That's the best way I can think of to research your question, because the people who use that board have a parallel travel experiencee in mind.
www.cruisecritic.com
If you do a simple search there, on "Port of Call", you will easily find alot of information, including email addresses and websites for tourguides for Med ports who cater to people on cruiseships, and those who have hired them and can give you alot of first hand information.
That's the best way I can think of to research your question, because the people who use that board have a parallel travel experiencee in mind.
Dec 21st, 2004, 03:02 AM
#3
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cannot speak to what not liking the "quality of the answers" actually means but I think you'll get more USEFUL information at the site mentioned above or at www.cruise-addicts.com
I say that because anytime anyone mentions taking a cruise on THIS board the only "answers" you are liable to get are that "you can't see Italy from a cruise ship" etc.
I say that because anytime anyone mentions taking a cruise on THIS board the only "answers" you are liable to get are that "you can't see Italy from a cruise ship" etc.
Dec 21st, 2004, 03:55 AM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have only one more helpful (possibly) tip for you. Private guides who pick you up shipside are not allowed (by law) to escort you inside Pompeii, or other historic sights. Once there, however you get there, you hire a special guide for the site, or, at Pompeii, rent an audio guide, or join up with a group speaking your language.
The "quality of answers" at cruisecritics seems to be very good for the cruise enthusiasts who frequent the forums there, and those people will likely be your fellow travelers, it will be easier to make connections there before you leave.
The kind of information more commonly found here is offered by pwople who are spending more than i day in any given place, a different form of travel entorely. Good luck and enjoy your cruise.
The "quality of answers" at cruisecritics seems to be very good for the cruise enthusiasts who frequent the forums there, and those people will likely be your fellow travelers, it will be easier to make connections there before you leave.
The kind of information more commonly found here is offered by pwople who are spending more than i day in any given place, a different form of travel entorely. Good luck and enjoy your cruise.
Dec 21st, 2004, 08:08 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks to Bellastar and Intrepid1 and Ira. By quality, I guess I mean, the answers are more detailed here then on Fodors cruise forum. They seem more concerned with food and room assignment, not that theres anything wrong with that! I will try cruise critic and cruiseaddict.com. And Ira is a perfect example of why I like this site. I don't know how I'm getting to Pompeii. Until I read his question, I didn't know it was something I needed to concern myself with. I also don't know what a resident of Pompeii is? I just assumed they were all mummies or the like. (just kidding) Its late here. Anyway, my point is I will always pick up useful info here, so expect to hear from me again. Thanks.
Dec 21st, 2004, 10:51 PM
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have never been on a cruise ship or a cruise myself, as I've never interested at all in that form of travel.
But if I were going to spend 12 days in any hotel, albeit a floating one, I would definitely be concerned with the room assignment as well as the food. And I would want to try to connect with the people I who would be sharing the journey with me beforehand if possible. In fact, those details seem like huge factors for someone on a cruise.
At least on cruisecritic.com You will also find alot of information about what to realistically expect from 1 day shore excursions, and how to deal with getting back and forth from the ship on time, important details to cruisers which are something that doesn't concern land travelers.
You say you hadn't really considered how you would get to Pompeii, which gives the strong impression that you have yet to do much research on the logistics of your trip.
Take time to put together some specific and relevant questions, and I think you can get good information on many cruise forums, or here, whatever.
You would benefit from making an effort to read up a bit on Pompeii before you visit. Ira meant that there are guides who are liscensed just to work inside Pompeii, ane other historic sites.
Good luck.
But if I were going to spend 12 days in any hotel, albeit a floating one, I would definitely be concerned with the room assignment as well as the food. And I would want to try to connect with the people I who would be sharing the journey with me beforehand if possible. In fact, those details seem like huge factors for someone on a cruise.
At least on cruisecritic.com You will also find alot of information about what to realistically expect from 1 day shore excursions, and how to deal with getting back and forth from the ship on time, important details to cruisers which are something that doesn't concern land travelers.
You say you hadn't really considered how you would get to Pompeii, which gives the strong impression that you have yet to do much research on the logistics of your trip.
Take time to put together some specific and relevant questions, and I think you can get good information on many cruise forums, or here, whatever.
You would benefit from making an effort to read up a bit on Pompeii before you visit. Ira meant that there are guides who are liscensed just to work inside Pompeii, ane other historic sites.
Good luck.
Dec 22nd, 2004, 12:04 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dear zwho,
I am a hybrid I guess and I enjoy cruise travel AND land travel. I just enjoy TRAVEL.
We have been on a number of cruises and our experience is that the cruise boards (particularly CruiseCritic) has a wealth of information for cruisers. You can even find the exact cruise you will be on and "talk" to your cruisemates before the cruise. This is how you find information about sharing tours - which is imho - much better than the crowded busy ship tours. And much cheaper. You will find also
recommendations for tour guides and pros and cons about everything.
The first time we did a European cruise - we started in Venice. It was our first time in Italy and we just fell in love. We knew by the time we had been on board 3 days that we were coming back to Italy.
So then the next time it was a 3 week land tour. THAT'S when you will find the wonderful advice from the people on this board! They will be talking and discussing things that are pertinent to land travel as opposed to travel by ship.
My suggestion to you is that you make yourself aware of all the wonderful opportunities to find out information that will make your trip better!
We are coming back (twice) to Italy this year and we are traveling on one trip with a couple we met on ship-board 2 years ago. You have wonderful opportunities ahead of you!
I am a hybrid I guess and I enjoy cruise travel AND land travel. I just enjoy TRAVEL.
We have been on a number of cruises and our experience is that the cruise boards (particularly CruiseCritic) has a wealth of information for cruisers. You can even find the exact cruise you will be on and "talk" to your cruisemates before the cruise. This is how you find information about sharing tours - which is imho - much better than the crowded busy ship tours. And much cheaper. You will find also
recommendations for tour guides and pros and cons about everything.
The first time we did a European cruise - we started in Venice. It was our first time in Italy and we just fell in love. We knew by the time we had been on board 3 days that we were coming back to Italy.
So then the next time it was a 3 week land tour. THAT'S when you will find the wonderful advice from the people on this board! They will be talking and discussing things that are pertinent to land travel as opposed to travel by ship.
My suggestion to you is that you make yourself aware of all the wonderful opportunities to find out information that will make your trip better!
We are coming back (twice) to Italy this year and we are traveling on one trip with a couple we met on ship-board 2 years ago. You have wonderful opportunities ahead of you!
Dec 22nd, 2004, 05:37 PM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay, okay I'm going to cruisecritic! One last thought. I've been on cruises and we go to Europe (this is my 1st European cruise) about once or twice a year, so I do know what to expect in terms of how much I can see in a short day in port. I really don't care what the room is like. We usually stay in small 2 or 3 star places in Europe and they are just fine for a place to sleep. I'm sure all the rooms on Celebrity lines are fairly nice or atleast as good as a 2 star in say, Madrid or Paris! Same goes for food. Breakfast will be fine whatever it is and I'm sure even if dinner sucks, they will have fruits and salads. I like the idea of going back to places we've been before and having (1 more day) like in Rome and Venice. And I love that we're going to places I haven't been like Dubrovnik and Barcelona so I can get a taste and go back someother time for longer. And you're right, I am just starting to do the logistics of the trip, so I know I need to study up. Thanks again.
