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cruisers
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13-07-2008 04:04 PM
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Joined: 07 Apr 2008
Posts: 10
My Profile
| Ony 5 weeks until we cruise on the Spirit around the Med. As we are 1st time cruisers has anyone got any tips on day trips. Are they worth paying the extra or can we find our own way by taxis/buses/train etc.
We are on the Renaissance staring in Palma then over to Villa Franche and round to livorno then Rome etc.
I have heard it is easy to find your own way via taxi from the port.
Any ideas?
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quizzer
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13-07-2008 05:33 PM
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Joined: 17 May 2008
Posts: 43
My Profile
| Hi cruisers.theres so many options available.and decisions you can make, .I think generally most folk who go cruising enjoy seeing all the different ports of call and things on offer there, there will be a very professional team on board who will give a presentation on the excursions available along with booking forms,which will tell you more about whats on offer on each individual excursion, no doubt for instance there will be around 4-5 different excursions for the day in Rome,the booking forms will also tell you the cost of each excursion, per Adult and child,
With the official excursions you know,your getting a coach to and from the place of interest,your getting a guide who will have fantastic knowledge of the areas your to visit and they will stay with you throughout the excursion pointing out things,talking all the time, you will be given a map of the area no doubt.you can ask questions if something is not clear, and all these things reflect in the price of the excursion,
If you decide to go it alone ,you will probably get a taxi as you have already mentioned ,they charge you and you drop off somewhere interesting,you look around ,theres nobody to explain things for you,then you get a taxi back to the ship, no doubt the cost for that will be much cheaper,but its weighing up which is for you,and how much your wanting to spend,which is the main issue at the end of it all.
happy cruising .
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bountycat
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13-07-2008 10:11 PM
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Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 16
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| Hello Cruisers
My advice is the opposite to quizzers. Whilst my cruising experience is limited to Northern Europe, I have visited several of the Rennaisance ports on holiday. You can go around them independently relatively easily.
I prefer to go independently - I use guidebooks such as Lonely Planet, the internet and tourist information for guidance. It is a lot cheaper, you can concentrate on what interests you and go at your own pace. I tend to use a combination of walking, shuttle buses, trains and service buses.
My last cruise was on Thomson Celebration to the Baltic. We only went on organised excursions in St Petersburg because that was the only way of leaving the ship without first getting a Russian visa. The local guides were very knowledgeable and interesting but the pace was set for us. I would have liked longer in some of the attractions; also you had little control over toilet breaks and inevitably end up in toilet queues. Although I really enjoyed St Petersburg, I did not feel I had really visited it in the same way I had visited the other ports.
Another possibility which I did on one day when I went to Iceland on Thomson Spirit last year, is to find other cruisers who are willing to share the cost of a taxi and then you can get a more personalised trip - we joined up with 6 others and shared a large taxi. The cost was considerably cheaper than the equivalent excursion.
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My Latest Review: May 2008 Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship (10/10)
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quizzer
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13-07-2008 10:36 PM
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Joined: 17 May 2008
Posts: 43
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| Hi Bounty cat .i was not really giving an opinion,just offering the two basic choices of ways to see places,but yes i do agree with you about pre-planning before the cruise,buses,trains.street maps, tourist guide books etc,great idea and yes also agree if you can buddy up with somebody.that can be more re-assuring in small groups too, plus the cost is lower,
my one main thought about the organised excursions is that all those planning problems are removed, you can relax and let others do the work.mind you admin and pre planning are part of my work so a couple of weeks off is just great for me .
The other side of the coin is the D.I.Y. way and taking as long as you want at any one place ,just don't miss the last bus back to Port lol
so there go Cruisers,pros and cons both ways, ,why not try a bit of both,
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bountycat
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15-07-2008 10:57 PM
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Joined: 17 Aug 2007
Posts: 16
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| Hello Quizzer
You have a point. I like pre-planning and doing my own thing - even if I slip up on pre-planning local tourist information staff, (or at least on the cruises I have been on), usually set up stall on the quayside with streetplans, brochures for local attractions etc and are happy to offer advice. At St Petersburg, I did not have to think about such things as we were on excursions but did check beforehand in the Lonely Planet guide where we were going.
As you say, it is individual preference so I would offer the same advice to cruisers. If you do not want to be bothered with pre-planning and money is not an issue - go on the excursions but bear in mind you will have to go at the pace of the party not at your pace. Also there may be more queueing particularly for toilets. You may also find yourself at prolonged lunch and gift shop stops. On the other hand the ship will wait for you if the excursion is late getting back.
If you go independently, do allow sufficient time to get back to the ship - I have never found this to be a problem. I aim to get back about 15 minutes before the deadline time if the ship is within walking distance and 30 minutes before if I need to use public transport to get there.
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My Latest Review: May 2008 Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship (10/10)
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quizzer
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17-07-2008 08:17 PM
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Joined: 17 May 2008
Posts: 43
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| Hi again Cruisers ,don't forget that in most large European Ports of call there are the Tourist open top tour buses.pay once and sit on all day if you wish , The route of the tour takes in the major tourist attractions of that port/city.with ear piece commentry , and you can hop off and on as many times as you wish. and you receive a discount booklet for entry into Museums,Aquariums Stadiums etc.I think the cost is usually set around 15-25 Euros for the bus ticket per person,
kind regards quizzer
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cruisersteve
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19-07-2008 07:35 PM
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Joined: 19 Jul 2008
Posts: 7
| TRIPS DO THEM YOURSELF
VILLAFRACHE
TAKE THE TRAIN TO MONTE CARLO 4 STOPS TRAIN 10 MINS FROM SHIP
ROME TAKE THE TRAIN TO ROME 9EUROS TAKES 1 HR 15 MINS ,THEN GO ON THE OPEN TOP BUS 16 EUROS IT GOES ROUND TEN STOPS AND JUMP OFF N ON
MINORCO
WALK INTO CENTRE 10 MINS UP THE HILLS
PALMA TAKE THE BUS 2 MINS FROM SHIP 10 MINS ON BUS 1 EURO ISH EACH PISA WE DID NOT DOCK SO DID NOT DO
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