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lj75
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25-07-2007 03:32 PM
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Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 18
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| I have got a friend who is going on the island escape 18th september, they are stopping at the following ports: Messina, Naples, Livorno, Toulon and Barcelona before heading back to palma. Does anybody no what its like for doing the sightseeing on your own instead of the ones you pay for on board? Does the ship dock in port or are will there be tendure boats? Is it far from the dock to the actual places to visit?
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saturn
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25-07-2007 06:06 PM
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Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 9
| It is a few years since we were on the trip that you are going on however, unless you are prepared to travel outwith a few of the places independently, I am not sure you will enjoy some of the ports.
Toulon and Barcelona are both excellent and enjoyable places to visit and you can feel relatively relaxed in both. Barcelona has a reputation for pick pockets but as long as you are careful you will be fine. There are excellent city tour buses that let you stop off at all the main sites and this method is cheaper than the ships tours. Toulon is a pleasant town and nice to wander about in. Take care in Messina if going alone. Naples and Livorno are both cargo ports and full of containers on the dockside. Neither is the nicest of places to stop off at and the tours from these ports are well worth the additional expense.
The ship docks at all ports mentioned and the distance to each centre of town is negligible.
Hope your friend enjoys the cruise
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My Latest Review: May 2007 Black Watch Cruise Ship (8/10)
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lj75
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25-07-2007 08:19 PM
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Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 18
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| Thanks for the info, me and my husband went on the island star in june and had a wonderful time. I will pass your info on to my friend and once again thanks.
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John
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25-07-2007 09:33 PM
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 1121
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| As far as the itinerary looks to me, the ports listed are all port dockings and no tenders are used. The only port i question about the tenders is Toulon, but im pretty sure im right on it being in port.
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My Latest Review: Oct 2007 Las Torres Apartments, Benidorm (9/10)
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poppyr
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25-07-2007 10:25 PM
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Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 7
| Hi
We did the same itinerary in June on the Island Star.
In Messina we did the organised excursion to Mount Etna as it was a two hour drive from the port. In Naples we walked from the ship and did the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours which cost 22Euros each for 2 tours lasting about 1hr 15mins each. We had to get a shuttle bus from the port into Livorno, which cost 1euro return each. We then made our own way to the Leaning Tower of Pisa by bus and train, which only cost about 15 Euros for the two of us as opposed to the £68.00 it would have cost us for the ship's excursion. We did the full day excursion to St Tropez and Port Grimaud from Toulon. In Barcelona there was a shuttle bus which cost £2.00 per person return. We then made our own way to the The Nou Camp Stadium on the metro which was no problem. This cost us about half the price of the ship's excursion.
If you need any more info about anything please feel free to ask.
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lj75
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27-07-2007 06:41 PM
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Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 18
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| thanks for the info i shall pass it on. one other thing what time was the ship usually leaving port, i no they tell you what time to be back onboard on the day but if they no before hand they can decide whether to do the ship excursions.
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rebel56
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21-08-2007 02:54 PM
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Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 1
| Hi, I have done this itinery and it is far cheaper and more enjoyable sightseeing on your own rather than by coach. There are no tender boats, but may have free shuttle bus service to the towns, especially Livorno. Yes the ship does dock in the ports. Hope your friend enjoys the islands.
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