Mediterranean cruise excursions?

Question

Just booked a 2 week cruise to the med, any tips on saving money on the excursions, can we do ourselves etc.. we are going to, Tunis, Naples, Florence & Pisa, Monte Carlo & Monaco, Ajaccio, Corsica, Palma, Rome, ST Raphael, barcelona....

Answer 1

We are just about to do our cruise round the med , been there before. For a start go to Pisa to see the tower amazing!or you could pick a trip that goes to both so you don't miss out but the trouble with that is you will be off the ship for a full day. we are going to Monte-Carlo this time so not done the trip yet, we have opted to go to Nice on the little train parents been and said it was good. As for Ajaccio and Corsica they are the same place! Just going to get of ship ourselves ship will dock and you have to get off by tender. Palma must see caves of drac, Rome try and do Panoramic Rome or something similar this lets you see all of the sights IE Colosseum, circus maxi-mus, Vatican square,  Barcelona we just got of ship and went on our own, big shopping area called La's Ramblas very busy watch out for pick pockets, also as one above said ,make sure you get back to pick up points ,the ship will leave you if you have gone ashore independently hope you have a good time! oh by the way what ship are you going on? just read a bit of the guys notes below me..you do not need a taxi to go round las ramblas?you walk round it,.trust me you do not need a taxi. and like we said previously,leave any un-necessary valuables behind?

Answer 2

We did a Med cruise a couple years ago but many of our stops were different from the ones you have listed.  But I will pass this on.  The port for Rome is an hour away from the city and in an industrial port.  SO I do not recommend trying to arrange your own tour there.  On our cruise the drive to Rome by bus was an hour on the highway and we did get caught in rush hour traffic going both ways.  I say that because if you go on a cruise line sponsored tour they will not leave you.  But if you go off on your own they will if you are late getting back.

In Naples we went to Pompei which is also about a 30 minute bus ride from the port.  I don't know whether you can arrange your own tours in that port.  If you can, go early and be sure to get back to the ship early.

In Florence/Pisa we took a tour to both places.  Again you are talking about bus rides to get to the places where tours start.  You cannot just walk off the ship and walk to them, You may be able to get a tour on the port but since we had already booked one I didn't look to see whether they were available.

Our ship stopped in Villefranche for the Nice/Monte Carlo/Monaco tour.  Again we took a bus.  If you go to Monte Carlo casinos.  Don't pay the $10 fee to go inside.  its not worth it.  The casinos in Vegas. AT City and most any other place are much better looking. Plus you cannot take your bags and camera in or take pictures inside.

Our cruise started in Barcelona and we took the ships tour of Barcelona with an airport drop off at the end.  We had a late flight.

Our cruise went to Mykonos and Santorini and in those port stops you do not need a tour.  You can get off the ship and go right into town.

Sorry cannot help more

Answer 3

Done virtually the same trip as you.  We will not use their shore excursions now as usually very inferior and overpriced.  

Before you go hire a car (get taxi from quay side to the car hire office) or hire a guide (details from local  tourist office).  

We hired a guide with his car to "do" Herculaneum (well worth a visit) as well as Pompeii and had a great time.

We also hired a guide with 4x4 Jeep and went up (literally) to the top of Mount Etna.  We had years ago taken a cruise line organised shore excursion to Mt Etna and all they do is take you to the car park (and tourist junk shops) about 2 miles below the top! And then tell you there is not time to walk up!!!!!   I was really mad and that is when we decided never to do cruise line trips again!

Ones like Pisa are dead easy and you get the car for the whole day so you can wander around at your own pace!

Barcelona - just get a taxi up La Rambla and go to the main square.  Buy the day trip on the tourist bus which goes round the 17 main things to see, you can't do them all in one day and will return later like we did to carry on!  Jump on / jump off as you want to.  All the guides on the buses speak English.     Don't go on a Monday as most things are closed!

Get the idea?  Usually cheaper/same total cost but you get a much better trip and day out!

Did the same in Hawaii cruise to main 4 islands.  Hired car every island and did our own thing!   Typically we went on a high speed small inflatable (12 people) whale watching and got 2 hours of incredible sights and photos as good as a David Attenborough show including breaching whales and mothers and calves!   The ship group went on a big slow 100+ people boat and saw virtually nothing!   Their cost for 2 people was more than our cost!