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I felt very safe and comfortable walking around at night and early morning. We also rented bikes at Bobli gardens one day and enjoyed the park and neighborhood around the gardens. Future visits I would be equally happy staying at a hotel in Trastevere or Ludovisi Rome neighborhoods. With few exceptions, you are free to walk off the cruise ship and do your own thing. However, if you prefer guides or easy transportation, a shore excursion is probably for you. To give you the skills to make the most of your days in port, read on for our advice on what to expect from shore excursions and maximize the fun on your cruise vacation.
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I booked my tour with NCL - Timeless Villages and Scenic Drive as a random pick because I was overwhelmed making decisions. It was nice and relaxed bus ride with a great story teller of a tour guide. It poured rain but the island was so charming. Christmas market river cruises are a good example.
Mediterranean ship excursions review
Of all these “Alex boat tour” was more fun but the Akrotiri tour was more educational. I wouldn’t hesitate to book Alex boat tours again but it was a lot more $ than the ship excursion. Being one of the last sailings of the season, Santorini had great weather and much lower crowds than in the past. For a shoulder season visit to Santorini I would also venture a DIY to Oia but not when multiple ships in port and major crowding. To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits.
Are shore excursions worth it?
Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides. You will find these types of sightseeing tours, as well as athletic endeavors overseen by dive masters or hike leaders. However, some tours simply bring you to a destination where you're free to explore until it's time to meet the bus to go home. Others feature guided components, followed by an hour or two of free time. Some take up all your time in port, while others are just a few hours of an all-day visit. Choose a full-day tour to see the most you can in one trip or for journeys to destinations outside of the port city.
In fact I can’t even tell u who the cruise director was. They had been on all excursions and were great at suggesting or getting us on a waiting list... I really wish there were reviews posted for the NCL excursions too. I love going to the beach and for my upcoming cruise, I was about to book a certain beach excursion when I decided to read the reviews. Most of them talked about how rocky the beach was, lots of seaweed and how the local vendors refused to leave you alone. Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip.
Get off your ship and get on ours in Kauai, where we take you on a leisurely cruise down the Wailua River to the botanical beauty of the Fern Grotto. You may also filter by specific Norwegian ship or Hawaiian island if you wish. I guess as the seller (and profiter), they are likely not going to want any negative reviews so I suppose I am not surprised, but I never realized they were so curated.
The Archeological museum is probably one of the best museums I have seen to date. Lots of murals and finds from Akrotiri and subsequent sights seen on this sailing are housed here. If you visit don’t forget to hunt down and see the Antikythera mechanism housed here.
Should you book a ship-sponsored or independent shore excursion on a cruise? - The Points Guy
Should you book a ship-sponsored or independent shore excursion on a cruise?.
Posted: Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It was just prior to the pandemic but same excursions still on offer through ncl so you might get some ideas. Fwiw the last thing I want or need is a bus tour of an island. We just walked around the main town, shopped, had lunch in a waterfront restaurant, and had wine later in another waterfront restaurant.
We did a lot of typical touristy Rome things while in Rome. Top of the list was the Scavi Tour of the Vatican. I highly recommend this tour underneath St Peter’s Basilica. The other couple I had booked this tour with had to cancel at the last min but we picked up a last min replacement couple on our cc roll call to take the extra tickets. We otherwise spent our days pre cruise adjusting to the time difference, trying some fantastic foods in the Trastevere area of Rome and also near our hotel and just having fun.
Experienced kayakers may prefer to simply rent a kayak at a similar price for a full-day rental. A trip on the stylish all-electric fjord sightseeing ferry is time well spent when visiting Flåm, ... With the well-publicized ban on most cruise ships entering Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage listed fjords getting ever closer, the 2024 cruising season looks set to be one of the busiest ever in Flåm. Not Bird travels but I posted reviews of about 14 Mediterranean ncl excursions on this review.
One thing I did notice is that most excursions only had a few reviews (maybe a few had 10 or more but that was the minority). We arranged this with two other couples on our Roll Call and she was excellent - both informative and fun. We toured the Hagar Quim Temple (probably the ruins you are interested in?), the M'dina and the Co-Cathedral. Also don't miss the sail in/sail out for Valletta as it one of the most beautiful in the world. Honestly, what made my trip completely over the top was the Epic's Thermal Suites.
Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is before booking. You may also get some good word-of-mouth tips on board the ship that change your mind about what tour you'd like to do. Don't forget to come up with a Plan B, in case your desired tour gets canceled or is sold out. Another option for shore excursions are intimate tours that are limited to 25 or so passengers. Many lines offer these boutique-sized excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or visits to Native American villages in Alaska. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party.
It is the responsibility of each individual to determine whether you are capable of engaging in any activity. Participation in any activity or excursion is at your own risk. It’s also a chance to appreciate Norway’s most spectacular fjord scenery on a completely silent vessel. You’ll feel as if you’re gliding along the fjord on these stylish, all-electric sightseeing ferries. Depending on your itinerary and dinner arrangements, you may miss the sailaway from Flåm.
If it's an activity, like snorkeling or a helicopter tour, read up on how much time is spent in transit and prep and how much time you will spend actually doing the activity. Tipping is a personal matter, and there are no hard and fast rules. I canvassed TPG's cruise team and we agreed that we give roughly $5 to $10 per person for half-day tours and $10 to $20 per person for full-day excursions, adjusted for service and quality. Tip non-guide drivers roughly $2 per person in your party. I use many factors to decide whether to take a ship's tour, book an independent excursion or explore on my own in port. However, if you're a novice traveler, you might want to book ship tours exclusively because they're the simplest, easiest and most convenient options.
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