Monaco and Monte Carlo Excursion

The first part that begins “ on the upper level….” is the historic part, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier are buried in the Cathedral there. It is a nice place to visit and we also toured the Prince’s Palace which it appears the ship tour skips. I remember a museum and think it was the Palace. I don’t understand why they would skip it!
The other area , Monte Carlo, does not have much of interest, at least for me.We skipped it.
I think you could do the first part since it says you’ll be carried up by escalators and elevators.
Can’t you find another tour that will focus on all the sites in Monaco’s Royal area and skips the Monte Carlo part? It sounds like give little or no attention to the best parts of Monaco.

enjoy a guided walking tour passing by the Oceanographic Museum, the cathedral, and view the exterior of the Prince's palace. After a short period of free time,

I hear your physio, cane and Voltaren (we call it Voltarol in the UK) formula, but if you don't get your knee repair do you think you would be able to keep up with a guided walking tour - that was a problem for you on the last cruise.

You love animals and birds, and I expect you would love fish and sea creatures. If you just walk past the Oceanographic Museum (often called the Aquarium) you won't see any wildlife. Would you be ok with that? I spent about 2 hours there a few years ago sitting on a bench with my wife in front of a huge window aquarium which went up about 2 stories above us. I was watching a sea turtle interacting with lots of beautiful fish and other sea creatures. I was transfixed.

Same thoughts about walking past the cathedral and the palace - although in my many visits to Monaco I've never been in the palace.

I don't really see the benefit of dropping you off for your free time at the Café de Paris and Casino unless you are a gambler or want an overpriced food or drink.

Outside the front of the Casino and across from the Café de Paris is the Little African Garden (Les Jardins de la Petite Afrique in French) https://www.visitmonaco.com/en/place/the-gardens/7486/the-little-africa-gardens which is an area I like to wander about in and look at the trees and flowers. There will be birds in the trees, and squirrels, probably.

I love Monaco (lots of people on the Forum apparently don't though) but I'm not sure that this particular tour would show it in the best light_

Happy planning

Suki

For now Norwegian only offers 7 excursions for Cannes and none of them are very satisfactory. There may be more offered as time goes on. I am sailing in October and shore excursions can be added up until 5 or 6 months before sail date.

I am aware that I wiil only be walking around buildings and not going in. There are none at all that go inside museums or castles or churches.

I do like casinos and I enjoy Las Vegas. I think that I would like the Atrium at the Casino in Monte Carlo and would possibly enjoy playing the slot machines next door. From my research, there seems to be some magnificent art in the Atrium at the Main Casino.

Thank you for your advice.

.

Hi Nigel,

yes, I am worried about my arthritis. I am hoping that my physical therapy might help but I am aware that it might not.

And yes, I had trouble keeping up with the guided tours on my shore excursion last cruise because of my arthritis. And going on my own was equally as bad.

There are two or three panoramic excursions offered where you mainly sit in a bus getting out to take a picture. Two are in Nice and one is in elsewhere out of Cannes.

As I told Suki in the post before your post., as of right now, NCL is only offering 7 excursions total for Cannes and none of them are fully satisfactory. None at all. I am hoping that more will be added.

It is NOT ok that we are just walking by the Oceanographic Museum. I, too, love aquariums as I also love zoos, museums, churches, castles and historical sites. Like yourself, I can spend a lot of time in an aquarium. You know that I love any kind of nature.

Norwegian is not offering any excursions where we go inside anywhere except for Monte Carlo.

I like casinos and I do play slot machines. One of the reasons that I am attracted to this excursion is because we go inside the Place du Casino. I would like to see the Grand Atrium which is opulent and has some great art from my research . I love the casinos in Las Vegas.

Yes, I am aware tht Monaco and Monte Carlo are not popular with Forum but I like what I have read about both. I think that I would find it interesting. I just wish there was an excursion that worked better for me.

We'll see. There is still time including if I have to have surgery.

Hi bostonphil, I’ve been to Monaco twice and really enjoyed it. The city is beautiful and very clean. There are a lot of hills but it looks like your excursion may help you minimize/avoid some of that. There is a beautiful garden next to the Oceanographic Museum that offers jaw-dropping views of the harbor. We didn’t go into the Museum, but it would very nice to do if you have time. We did go inside the Cathedral to view the graves of Princess Grace and Prince Ranier, very moving. There are some quaint streets with shops and restaurants leading to the Palace. At the Palace there is a daily ceremony to see the changing of the guards.

I was in Monte Carlo once many years ago. I stepped inside the Casino and did some window shopping at the fancy stores. Lots of expensive cars to admire.

The travel time from Cannes to Monaco is about 50 minutes. Does your ship stop in Nice? If it does, the travel would be half that time. Have you considered a private or semi-private tour to Monaco? I usually check Trip Advisor then book directly with the vendor. This would give you some additional flexibility. Whatever you decide, I hope you have a great trip!

Hi Donna

Thank you for the information. It is very helpful.

My ship ports in Cannes. If it is about 50 minutes each way to Monaco / Monte Carlo, that is not going to leave me very much time for my tour. The excursion is only about 6 1/2 hours total.

it almost seems like there are two excursions that have been combined into one. It would be better if NCL offered one excursion just to Monaco and another one just to Monte Carlo.

I do not think there will be very much time to go inside any place given the time frame.

Is it a pretty ride from Cannes to Monaco?

I stick with Norwegian for my excursions because I get $50 off of the excursion as an amenity and then an additional 15% off because I am platinum.

Hi bostonphil, the last time I visited I took the bus from Nice to Monaco. The bus route was along the coastline and the area is very beautiful. Not sure about the train route. I understand that you need to do the excursion with Norwegian. If you think you are physically able, do it. I have arthritis in both knees and one was really acting up during my trip to France last month. Hope you are feeling better. Enjoy your cruise!

Good Morning Donna

It seems that arthritic knees are very common after a certain age group. It was obvious to me on my last cruise that many older guests were bothered by problems with legs and knees.

Norwegian is offering three excursions to Nice from Cannes with two being at the 1 Level which is geared towards those with mobility issues even those in wheelchairs and scooters.

One is a panoramic bus tour which is mostly staying on a bus with some stops for pictures. The other is more active with taking a small train around some of Nice. Neither really appeals to me.

I can still do some walking and want more than a panoramic bus tour.

For now, Norwegian is only offering seven excursions from Cannes and I am hoping that they might drop some more over the next few months, It is still early.

For my cruise last October my doctor gave me an injection before I left home but it did not work. I am doing P T now and gone back to using Voltaren. Hoping for the best but if I need surgery, I will have the surgery.

Unfortunately my knee helped to ruin my last trip. How about your knee? Did it get that bad for you?

By the way if I decide to do a simpler excursion to Nice, is Nice beautiful? I have been watching YouTube videos and it does look beautiful.

I stick with Norwegian for my excursions because I get $50 off of the excursion as an amenity and then an additional 15% off because I am platinum.

Even with those discounts, you may find that a non-cruise operated tour could end up cheaper. Since you have a lot of time until October and since Norwegian's offerings do not satisfy you for now, I think it is worth looking into!

Hi bostonphil, we did a lot of walking in France (8-10 miles a day), and it was rainy and cold. This was the first time my knee bothered me so much. I visited three pharmacies and bought a pair of compression socks, patches, and a gel product. My knee problem didn't ruin the trip but it did slow me down a bit. We’ve been home for a month and it’s finally feeling better. I haven’t tried cortisone shots but have heard from folks with both positive and negative results.

Hope an appropriate excursion opens up for you. I really enjoyed Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Nice.

I agree with balso’s post above. What good is a cruise if they don’t give you enough time or good excursions in ports? You might really enjoy a more comprehensive land tour. I bet there are posters here who can make recommendations.

Hi Suki,

Norwegian does not yet offer many shore excursions for Cannes, yet. It might get better Or it might not . This might be it for Cannes.

However Norwegian offers a lot of choices for many or most of the other ports. There are a couple of ports towards the end of the cruise where Norwegian offers so many good options that I can not make up my mind. I might need help whittling down my choices.

There are still two or three ports that have no excursions at all, yet.

My problem is my arthritic knee. I am hoping the PT will work. And if not, I am looking at surgery

And if not, I am looking at surgery

Looking at people around me, nobody regrets knee surgery after injection failure - it seems that typically, the longer you wait, the riskier the surgery becomes and the tougher the recovery. I am not a qualified medical professional and your individual circumstances may pose some specific problems but I would indeed look into it quite seriously if it has been offered as an option for you.

Balso,

Thank you for your feedback

I am in denial of what I really need.

I go on youtube to view videos that address arthritic knees. You would never believe all the people who have bone to bone arthritic knees and do not want surgery.

But most of the persons who do have surgery are happy with the results.

When I look at the pictures of my last cruise, I forget how bad my knee was. And so here I am planning the next cruise ....

we'll see . There is time before next October

Going back to Cannes, I think NCL has dropped the ball as far as offering excursions but other ports have so many good excursions that i am going to have trouble making up my mind.

One excursion that I have not yet mentioned for Cannes is "The Golden Corniche' and within the explanation is "The Esterel" . This probably means a lot more to you than to me. It is mostly by bus and is Level 1. I will also consider this.

EDIT. I am adding the description of the excursion that I mentioned in the last paragraph It is 3 1/2 hours long and costs $99 but with my amenities, I would perobably have to pay $30 something.

Enjoy the sights along France’s most spectacular coastlines. Drive the famed Golden Corniche and enjoy some time in charming Saint Raphael. Admire stunning coastal views and one of the most beautiful areas of the French Riviera. The road runs close to the sea in some areas and passes between villa gardens set with palms, orange trees and mimosa.

The Esterel has a breathtaking beauty and is made up of fiery red volcanic rocks, which forms a striking contrast to the deep blue of the sea. The fashionable resort town of Saint Raphael is situated on Frejus Bay. The waterfront by the old harbor bristles with activity of the cafes and shops that line Cours Jean Bart and Quai Albert 1st. You’ll have some free time to here shop for a souvenir or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Well, that latest excursion you mention sounds pretty nice if you want something chill. The coastal drive is beautiful, and St Raphael is a pleasant (and flat) seaside town. No huge highlights really, but just nice.

bostonphil, if you are bone on bone, get the surgery! It is a life changer. Do it as soon as possible because you'll need time to go through rehab before your next trip. PT only worked for a little while and then I had the surgery. I had my knee replaced five years ago and am pain free :-)

naalehuretiree

thank for the feedback. very positive and uplift ing.

Balso

Nice is ok with me even without big highlights.

It sounds to be a beautiful and relaxing ride.

I will be in Nice for 10 days in mid-March. If you want to contact me afterward, I can let you know which towns along the Riviera would be easier for bad knees. We will be exploring by train, bus and Uber.
Personally, I would choose other towns along the way and skip the bus excursion (even if it is discounted). I recall Monaco being very steep. We did step into the Casino but did not stay. I think there was dress code way back then.

Why not spend part of the day exploring Cannes? And then take the train to Antibe which is more small town and supposed to be interesting to wander. I do not know if it is level or hilly in the old town area. The train is only 10-15 min ride. You could also Uber, there. There are a number of smaller cities and towns along the rail line so you could make it to several and be back in time for ship departure.

Nice is only 40 min train ride from Cannes. If you went there, then you would see more of the coastal views. The Promenade along the beach in Nice is 4 miles long and level. There are shops and restaurants on other side of the street, to explore.

I go through this Forum, regularay and cut and past suggestions for things to do into a Word document. Then I will take printed copy along with me to remind me of places that I want to see. Along with my RS book. If you do not have his book on Riviera and Provence, I often find them at second hand book sellers.
One piece of advice, I got from RS forum years ago was this......Why spend all that money to take the trip/cruise/flights and then do the "cheap" things once you get there and not do the things you would really enjoy?

Figure out what it is that you like doing rather than always taking what is offered by the cruise line. Do you like historic city centers or wandering through shops or museums. Then make your plan around that.

My friend says that public transportation all along the coast is easy and inexpensive. Last few times that I was there, we had a car. That made it easy, as well. But probably not feasible for your time slot.
All my friends that had knee surgery, were glad they did it. And recovery was smooth and relatively short. Good luck with your decision about doing that. And feel free to contact me after March.

Julienk

Thank you for your generous offer. I will be back with you mid or late March.

I hope that you will write a review of your trip for this forum.

For now, there is only one excursion that Norwegian is offering for Cannes and that is a 3 hour walk. No way. Can't do it.

I took a cruise from London (Southampton) to Lisbon last October and I really messed up when I attempted to do excursions on my own. It became painfully obvious that I need guided tours.

I am the person who can get lost when no one can possibly get lost.

Norwegian is only offering seven excursions for Cannes but I am hoping that they might offer more as we get closer. it is still considered early since my cruise is not until October. Often excursions are not dropped until six months befiore the cruise.

As for my knee. Santa did not bering me a new one even though I left out cookies and milk. I am trying P.T, using Voltaren and a cane. I might try Acupuncture. I really do not want surgery. We'll see.

This is a classic of what is wrong with touring from cruises -- you walk past the palace but don't go in (one of the view interesting places to actually visit in Monaco) then you walk by the Casino but don't go in. What a waste of energy.

Good Morning Janettravels44

Yes, cruises have definite weaknesses and one of them is often the length of the excursions. and what is offered. Often all you see are the specks of sand on the beach but you see a lot of specks of sand that you might not see otherwise. That is how it is with me.

Myself, I would prefer to go to a museum, palace, church, or other landmark and spend time inside and outside.

You can do your own thing and many persons do.

For me, the best option is to take a guided shore excursion. I did try to do my own thing in Bruges and Bordeaux last cruise and it did not work.

My friend uses Uber a lot in and outside of Nice. She says they have been reliable. Maybe you could find a like-minded shipmate to share the ride if you decide to just go into someplace like Antibe for the day. It appears to be level and right on the water. Train goes there as well.

Hi Julienk

Norwegian offers an excursion to Antibes. I have copied a description of the excursion. What do you think?

It is only 3 1/2 hours long. I wish that it were longer.

I think that R S recommended Antibes on one of his shows or youtube videos.

Discover Antibes & Old Market
DETAILS
3 1/2
hrs
Estimate Duration
Antibes is a very popular and pretty resort town that attracts locals and visitors alike. The old town is well preserved, with ramparts along the sea and a protective wall along the port. Spend some leisure time exploring this little gem of the French Riviera. Enjoy nice views over the Bay of Cannes during your drive. Walk by the best equipped leisure harbor of the Riviera, it lies between Fort Vauban to the north and the gate and ramparts of the Old District to the south. An orientation tour provides you with interesting information and scenic views towards the Maritime Alps and through narrow streets where flowers made their way. Your tour ends by the old market (closed on Mondays) and you’ll have approximately 1 1/2 hours of free time. Enjoy the pleasures of the beach, the town or visit the Picasso Museum on your own. There are bars and cafes offering tasty snacks, restaurants of all types and prices and lots of shops. There is a cozy sand beach at the foot of the ramparts with clear blue waters.

We are going to France next year - but I’m going to address your knee problem!
As an ortho nurse and a patient with bad knees - I would recommend that you see your ortho doctor a month or two before your trip. Ask about an injection of cortisone, PRP, or synvisc. I do this before all my trips where I’ll be doing a lot of walking. Whenever I go in for an injection my doctor asks “where are you headed this time?” Ha! He knows me well! This doesn’t prevent surgery - but puts it off a little longer. Personally, I’ve had the best results with PRP (look it up - used by a lot of pro-athletes) but it isn’t covered by insurance yet. Combine an injection with PT and hopefully you will be able to enjoy your trip and do more.

I have not travelled to Cannes, but I did all the research for the area for my elderly mother .

Monaco is a small country that is very hilly. The elevators are spread out and in parking garages, and there will be a lot of walking.

Nice is 30 min by coastal train from Cannes and requires some walking to reach the old town. It’s beautiful and has a lot to see if you like museums and architecture. The hop on hop off bus has a stop at the Jean Medici train station (reserve tickets in advance) and it includes four stops in Villefranche, a colorful sea front town. Villefranche is hilly, but it looks possible to hop on and off at the top and bottom of the town.

You can reach beautiful Antibes by train in 15 minutes. The old town is half a mile from the station. It’s mostly flat and the Picasso museum has an elevator. Research a walking route that includes the beautiful alleyways.

St Tropez can be reached by boat from Cannes. Port Grimaud can be added to the visit as well. Both are flat.

Valbonne is a colorful old village 45 min from Cannes. It can be reached by public bus. It’s famous for its market on Tuesdays and Fridays.

A tour that includes beautiful Saint Paul de Vence would be special. You can download an accessibility map that outlines a route through the village that’s flat. This tour would probably include other villages and/or Antibes.

It’s cheaper to take a small group or private tour than an NCL excursion. Go to the cruise critic boards and look for your cruise roll call. It’s likely there are other passengers looking for people to join them on their small group tours.

The public trains are very affordable and allow you to hop on hop off on the way to your final destination. Trains get very crowded at rush hour so keep that in mind when you make your plans.

Also, if you catch the train to Monte Carlo/Monaco, the local bus takes you to all the sights, including the casino. The casino is ten minute walk downhill from the train station. The oceanography museum has an elevator. The top floor (not roof top) is where the palace, cathedral, and old town are located. However there are stairs exiting the building that may cause you some difficulty. Watch a YouTube walking tour of Monaco to get a better idea.

Good Morning faye.harlin

Thank you for your information.

I did have an injection before my last cruise and it did not work. I was in pain my whole last cruise when walking, a lot of pain, unfortunately. It did help ruin my trip.

Right now, I am using Voltaren, doing my exercises or P.T., using an elastic sock and a cane. I am going to buy a knee brace.

I have to be careful with OTC meds for pain because I have some kidney failure due to my diabetes.

Hoping, hoping and more hoping that I can delay surgery.

Here's to a Happy 2024 with less knee pain for all of us.

Noelle,

thank you for all the information. I am going to have to digest it and get back with you.

I am only going to be in Port a few hours and will need to make a choice but it seems like whatever I do, it will be both beautiful and interesting.

Noelle

Norwegian offers this excursion. How do you feel about this one?

Grasse & St. Paul De Vence
DETAILS
5
hrs
Estimate Duration
Leaving Cannes, you'll turn inland to Grasse, birthplace of the French perfume industry. Here you’ll visit a perfume factory for a tour and learn how flowers are boiled and the essence condensed in one of the world’s oldest distillation processes. Your coach then crosses the Loup River canyon before entering Saint Paul de Vence, the meeting place of artists and stars. Your exploration of this 16th century walled village begins as you enter the village by the main gate.

Discover that this village, typical of other fortified villages guarding the frontier, has retained much of its medieval appearance, its ramparts remaining remarkably intact to this day. Here you’ll have an opportunity to stroll through the narrow, cobblestone lanes exploring the many wonderful boutiques and art galleries before returning to your ship.

Hello y'all

Because of all your responses, I have gone from not being excited about any of the excursions to being excited about all of them.

Now I have a choice to make.

Thank you.

I looked up the NCL Saint Paul de Vence shore excursion and it’s listed as activity level 2. That makes it fairly active. If you follow the accessibility map around the town and enter from the back entrance, it’s downhill through the town to the start. Perhaps you can look at a SPDV YouTube video to get an idea before you pay for a tour.

Cannes is a tender port, FYI.

I saw a half day tour to Valbonne and Grasse if SPDV doesn’t work.

Happy New Year Noelle

I could still try Level 2. Some of them are not as strenuous as one might expect while on the other hand sometimes Level 1 can be more strenuous than expected.

There is a number to call for Port Excursions but it seems to be just a call center that books the excursion. Sometimes the person on the other end does not have very much additional information, if any.

This is different than years back when you called and Shore Excursions really knew more. They had even been on some of the excursions. That may be when Shore Excursions really worked for Norwegian. I might be wrong but it seems that Shore Excursions is just a third party call center.

Hopefully NCL is going to drop some more excursions before it is all said and done.

In this day and age it is foolish not to address your knee problem and improve your life. If you are old enough to be on Medicare, it is covered. I had my hip replaced, a golf buddy had both knees replaced, and my sister had both knees replaced. No one would ever go back to what it was before.
So you either linger on, as is, trying things like injections or copper knee wraps and ointments and voodoo medicine, ignoring what thousands have already proved to be a safe fix for their knees and hips, or you suffer, wondering if this trip is too much and the next one even worse.

treemoss2

Thank you for your feedback.

I am aware that most (not all) people have successful surgeries and are happy with the results

I just do not feel ready for surgery. I am choosing other options for now. When the time is right for me, I will have surgery.

I am someone who takes a very conservative view when it comes to surgery. And I am not alone.

And yes, I continue to plan my next cruise, bad knee or not. Now that I know how to manage it, I think it will be easier on me.

My doctor had given me an injection for my last cruise which did not work. I was not prepared for the injection not to work.

Happy new Year and thank you for your caring.

I just wanted to put in a word of thanks to Noel for her summary of how to get along and what one can do based in and along the Riviera. I will be doing My way France in the fall and have been thinking about doing a few day trips and staying an a few days after ibased probably in Nice perhaps the same hotel. At any rate thanks again for such a nice summary of options. I have bookmarked your suggestions.. this forum is always so wonderfully helpful.

any updates, bostonphil7, or is everything ticking along?