Mediterranean Cruise Rick Steves Travel Forum
Table Of Content
If you’re heading out for a long day in port, help yourself to a big breakfast and bag up the leftovers to keep you going until dinnertime. And these nights are optional — you can always eat somewhere other than the formal dining room. We travel quite a lot and do land tours, self-guided tours and cruises.Others have pointed out the cruise critic website that is a great source of information. IF you join cruise critic you can post your own questions and get even more great information.
Bookreader Item Preview
Of the big ship options, you have a range of prices and styles. Every day is filled with ship-sponsored activities -- like dance classes. ♪♪ If this feels like a fortress city, it's because it was the capital of the Knights of St. John, also known as the Knights of Malta. With a culture enriched by a long parade of civilizations, it's a strategically placed island nation with an extraordinary history.
Rick Steves' Europe
Smart ways to save money in Europe this crazy, crowded summer - CNN
Smart ways to save money in Europe this crazy, crowded summer.
Posted: Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Riding the train back to our port, Villefranche, it's comforting to see our ship at anchor. ♪♪ Be sure you understand exactly what time the last tender shuttles back to the ship. So, we're dropping the hook and getting ashore in a small boat called a "tender." Each is a delight to explore, a short ride apart by train -- and today, we'll see them all. Early on, it's good to review what's offered, decide which tours -- if any -- are right for you, and book them. Independent types and those on a tight budget can use a guidebook.
French Riviera
If visiting by cruise ship, it's smart to get an early start. While Marsaxlokk has a fine main square and church, the action is along the harbor -- especially during the Sunday market, when it's all about fish. While pricey for a solo traveler, we're beating the crowds and I've got the luxury of my own guide here at one of Europe's great ancient sights. Along with the conventional cruise line tour buses, you'll find budget alternatives for do-it-yourself travelers.
The fun and pitfalls of taking a cruise - NBC News
The fun and pitfalls of taking a cruise.
Posted: Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The other places would best be done on a tour, especially the Amalfi Coast. Considering the crush of the crowds, the limited time, and the scattered array of interesting sights, investing in a bus tour like this to see Santorini can be a good value. Those paying for the cruise line's excursion get off the ship first, and head for an alternative port, where buses and guides await. ♪♪ I enjoy the scenic arrivals and departures by cruise ship. Many cruise lines still have formal night about once a week, usually on the day at sea. Most cruise lines use an "auto tip" system with a healthy gratuity added to your bill that generously covers all your service crew.
Travel Help
♪♪ [ Laughter ] Because ships sail at night, you rarely enjoy a characteristic dinner on shore or the romance of a town after dark. Many cruise travelers invest in the cruise line's shore excursions. And then, when the ships sail away, the port suddenly becomes less crowded and more romantic -- something cruisers won't experience because they're back on the ship heading to the next port. In this special, I'd like to explore the ins and outs and pros and cons of this travel option. St. Mark’s is a treasure chest of wonders acquired during Venice’s glory days. The facade shows off the cosmopolitan nature of this sea-trading city that assimilated so many different cultures.
Destination: Mediterranean Cruising
Unless there is an excursion that you feel you must take, I recommend just walking around the town, Very interesting. Your ship is likely to offer an "Athens on your own" excursion that is simply transportation back and forth from the port. You can take the train too but the ship's bus is inexpensive and easy.
Explore Hachette Book Group menu
For souvenirs, do your shopping in port (ideally away from the main tourist areas) rather than on the ship. Brad - it is against the law/regulations in a lot of countries to bring fresh food (ie unpackaged) - especially fruit - off the ship in a port. Last cruise I was on, they occassionally checked bags as you were exiting the ship to make sure you didn't have unpackaged sandwiches and fresh fruit. You can either go back to those towns, or find another place you can train to within your time constraints.
Excursion Recommendation for Mediterranean Cruise
Instead of Diet Coke, develop a taste for iced tea or juice, which is usually included. (To satisfy a craving for pop, get it cheap at local grocery stores.) Some cruise lines ban passengers from bringing alcohol on board, but others allow limited bottles of wine and beer. Before you set sail, find out your cruise line’s policy on taking alcohol aboard; if it’s more lenient, B.Y.O.B. to save some bucks. Certain sights, such as the ancient Roman ruins of Ephesus in Turkey, involve a complicated journey by public transit. An excursion takes care of transportation and comes with a knowledgeable local guide who can bring the ruins to life. One of the biggest optional expenses on a cruise is shore excursions.
Buses meet the cruise ships at the port and offer big loop tours connecting major sights, letting you hop off and on all day long, and dropping you back at the port. Many ships have specialty restaurants, such as a steakhouse or sushi restaurant, that cost extra. Skip these restaurants in favor of the main dining room, where the food is typically good, and even better, included.
And we finish our tour with a look at the bustling and well-coordinated kitchen, or galley. In the control room, we learn how the ship is like a sophisticated organism -- making its own fresh water from the sea, monitoring its vast power, and making sure all systems are go. We start on the bridge, where the captain and his crew enjoy the ultimate vantage point and state-of-the-art navigational tools to be sure we're on track. The ancient city includes the awe-inspiring Colosseum, the Forum with the magnificence of the empire apparent even in its ruins, and the glorious Pantheon. Onboard, there's lots of temptations, and purchases feel painless -- like it's almost free... Until you check out and get the grand total for your final bill.
Culture thrived here, enough to keep this theater -- which could seat 6, busy. Agios Sostis, an old hippie beach at the north end of the island, has none of the thumping party energy of Paradise Beach. Prices are high, and, in season, the island is crammed full of vacationers. There's a pier for only one ship, so most ships drop the hook and shuttle their people in by tender. Our last two stops are fabled Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
Comments
Post a Comment