Cruising the Mediterranean on a Budget by Rick Steves
Table Of Content
Today, Athens is a sprawling metropolis of four million people. Rooms cost more or less depending on view, size, location, and package of services. On the newer ships, most rooms come with a small balcony.
Rome
For activities on board, each evening a printed program with a busy schedule for the next day lands on your bed. After the Turkish threat passed, the city was ornamented with delightful architecture, including characteristic enclosed balconies, called gallarija. And the dramatic view from the ramparts of the heavily fortified harbor reminds the visitor of Malta's strategic importance through the centuries. Tonight, as we sail for Malta, the grand foyer is put to good use for the cruise ritual of meeting the ship's officers.
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[ Cheering ] Crew members work very hard, often seven 12-hour days a week for months at a stretch, far from their homes and families. A fun and extra dimension of cruising is getting to interact with people whose cultures you know almost nothing about. Once on top, tourists marvel at the iconic Parthenon as guides do their best to bring the ruins to life. Within minutes, they're on their way as he narrates the ride into town with information about the leading city of ancient Greece -- the home of Socrates and Plato. It's pretty obvious by the advertising which market's being targeted and the general style of the passengers you'll be sharing your ship with.
Mediterranean Cruise Ports Guidebook
It's been filled with human bones for centuries -- a sight I bet no one from our ship is visiting today. Stepping through the port security gate, you may find yourself in an assertive scrum of cabbies and tour guides eager to take you for a ride. So they need to make more money from land excursions and from extras you buy while on board -- things like gambling, photography, shopping, and alcohol. Because everyone swipes in and out with their identity cards, at any given moment, the staff knows exactly who's on the ship and who's still on shore. There's no way we're going to miss our connection, and that means plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing pastis.
That old town is today's touristy shopping quarter, called the Plaka, with its fun eateries, colorful markets, and shops filled with knickknacks. While Athens is perfectly tourable for the independent traveler, many opt for the cruise line's excursion. You know, one of my favorite things about a Mediterranean cruise is the day at sea -- sleep in, leisurely brunch, read a book, just hang out by the pool. When the distance between ports is longer than an overnight ride, the ship spends an entire day at sea. Modern cruise ships are engineering and technical marvels.
Travel Talks: Mediterranean Cruise Ports
Though cruising is affordable, extra expenses, such as alcohol, Internet access, spa treatments, casino games, and cheesy gangway photos, can add up quickly. Passengers can unwittingly rack up bills that exceed the original cost of the trip. To avoid surprises, check your balance at the front desk every few days. You can also "meet" people online who will be on the same cruise if that's interesting to you.
While I could rent a bike, a lazy stroll and some beach time feels just about right. Socca, the local chickpea bread, is delicious hot off the griddle and just right for a bite on the go. The well-organized traveler can do a lot during an eight-hour stop.
Rick Steves: The pros and cons of cruising in Europe - USA TODAY
Rick Steves: The pros and cons of cruising in Europe.
Posted: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Destination: Mediterranean Cruising
After the Turkish threat passed, the city was ornamented with delightful architecture, including characteristic enclosed balconies (called “gallarija” here). Massive fortress walls incorporate existing limestone cliffs. It’s been a big mind shift from filming on a cruise to filming about fascism. On the cruise, I was struck by the name of the attendant who took care of my stateroom, Adolfo — the only Adolf I can remember ever meeting. But while Adolfo (a wonderful man from Nicaragua) was all about making people feel big…the evil Adolf was all about making people feel small. The church’s symbolic message culminates at the very heart of the church.
But as these tours target the touristy clichés and many buses hit the same sites at the same time, you'll often be right in the thick of the crowds. While pricey, they can also be a time- and cost-effective way to cover those must-see sights and experiences. Cruise ships drop large numbers of people in the same place at the same time.
There, up in the central dome, Christ reigns in the starry heavens, riding on a rainbow. This isn’t the agonized, crucified Jesus featured in most churches, but a vibrant, radiant being gazing solemnly down, raising his hand in a blessing, as the Pantocrator, or Ruler of All. His grace radiates through a ring of saints to the altar below. As the central spot in the church, the Pantocrator dome is the symbolic center of the Venetian universe itself, with Christ blessing it all. God’s in his heaven, the faithful are on earth, Venice is central, and all’s right with the world. I visited Malaga but that was years ago and I just went to the beach.
But, as ships get bigger and bigger, able to offer comforts unimaginable in decades past, cruising has changed its image. It can be ideal for those who want everything taken care of for their vacation, and it can also be an efficient platform for independent types who want to shape their own adventures each day. I've spent the last 30 years exploring Europe from every conceivable angle, and now it's time to check it out the way millions of people are. [4] The grid plan of streets was laid out with the first fortress.
Though these can make sightseeing easy and efficient, saving you the time and hassle of figuring out how to get into town on your own, in many destinations they simply aren’t worth the expense. Check the message boards there for the specific ports you will visit. Italytours.com is a reliable private operator so you may want to check their offerings. Our ship just squeezes into the historic harbor, and in moments, we're in the old center of town ready for a busy day of sightseeing.
It will provide lots of suggestions for things that you can do on your own at reasonable costs. You might want to get a copy of the RS guidebook on Mediterranean cruises. Also look at your cruise line website to see what excursions they offer. Its main street -- thronged with tourists whenever there's a cruise ship in the bay -- seems like little more than a long line of shops, cafes, and restaurants -- all with staggering views.
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