My husband and I are going on a cruise on May 2011 and one of the port that we will visit is Dubrovnik. We are not certain if we want to take a tour once we get there or if we should go on our own. Perhaps if anyone can suggest any tour company or a driver that can take us to different places (we dont like to go on group tours since we like to take time on each place etc...) thank you in advance for any suggestions.
It depends on what you want to do to and how much time you have. We shared a taxi to the main town from the port to the town and then walked the wall and explored the town and the fort and had a great time. We the finished our day with a great dinner in the Orhan restaurant right near the old town. Very easy to do on your own if you want to.
Nirin
We too stopped there this November. You will be tendered in to the port. Get off the tender walk straight ahead through the arch and to the right. There is the main drag for shopping end exploring. You can enter the castle wall at the end and explore yourself. We chose not to take a tour. Glad we did as we had a great lunch doe 450 kuna about 70 euros of a typical Croatian fish plate it was great. They only take euros in the main shopping area. If you vary from there you will have to go to ATM and get some kunas to pay. Not worth the tours.
What cruise line are you with? Our Holland America ship docked (not tendered) and had a shuttle bus for those not taking tours. I think it was $5 each. We walked round the walls, went into a Croatian museum in a side street near the city hall, into the Church, browsed some stores and spent quite a while at the harbour. Went out the gates at the beach end of the town and had a sandwich and walked along by the beach. If you want a private tour, go to Cruisecritic.com and see the destinations or ports of call section of the message boards and you will probably find others who have done that. Also sign up on their roll call and see who else will be on your cruise. They may have the same idea and you can connect with them for a cheaper, but still private experience.
To the previous posters point, your ship will dock in one of two places, either at the port, or anchor off the old town.. Nearly everything you want to see is in the Old Town, so no need for a driver, since most of the old town is a pedestrian zone. The only issue is getting to the Old Town. If your ship anchors off the old town, a tender will take you in. If your ship docks at the port, this is a couple miles from the Old Town, from there you can taxi, take the public bus, or as noted, there may be a shuttle. You could look in Rick's book and find a private guide, but it is just as easy to do yourself.