Excursion Recommendation for Mediterranean Cruise

We have done several Med cruises as well as visited places on your list.

I am not sure what you mean by top 5 excursion. You should be able to do excursions to all these ports, unless you are picking a cruise based on the ports.

!. Naples itself is not much to see, except for the great museum there. However, you can visit Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri and the Amalfi Coast. all those places are great. You can do Pompeii on your own by walking from the port to the train that goes there. It is a must see. The other places would best be done on a tour, especially the Amalfi Coast.

1. Santorini is a special place since your cruise ship docks inside were the island exploded over 2500 years ago. Santorini is on the remains of that island. You can do it yourself, but you would miss a lot. Suggest taking an excursion that covers the entire island, especially the end of the island that has some Minoan archaeological ruins. You might have to walk up the hill where you have the option of taking a donkey. I didn't do that, but you have to watch your step to avoid donkey poo.

2. Kusadaisi is the port for Ephesus, a ancient Roman city in eastern Turkey. It is a great trip with lots to see. You should take a tour or excursion. I would not rate it as high as the first two port and Athens.

3. Athens, is special and you can do it on your own if you don't mind walking a bit. You can take the train from the port of Piraeus into the city of Athens, but you would then walk a bit to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon. It is a MUST SEE. There are other things to see in Athens like the Agora, other ancient ruins as well as great museums like the New Acropolis Museum (must see- it is close to the Acropolis). Also, the Archaeological Museum is super, but you might not have time for it as well.

I haven't been to the other two ports but would not rate them as high as these four from what I have read.

In Naples, Pompeii and / or Herculaneum. In Kusadaisi, Ephesus. And in Athens, The Ancient Agora.

You might want to get a copy of the RS guidebook on Mediterranean cruises. Also look at your cruise line website to see what excursions they offer.

Messina isn't one of Sicily's most interesting cities, so I'd look for an excursion taking you elsewhere. Where to choose would depend on what type of sightseeing you want to do. There are trains running from Messina toward Cefalu and Palermo (to the west) and toward Taormina and Catania (to the south). Those trains aren't especially frequent, which could be an issue when you're on a cruise. I don't cruise, so I have no idea what excursions your ship may be offering, or what is available through commercial tour operators. I'd check the Cruise Critic website, which I understand has useful information on shore excursions.

I disagree that Naples has little to offer aside from Archaeological Museum. It is a large, bustling city with many interesting sights. Some folks find it sort of overwhelming, it's true.

There are not many cruisers on this board. Cruisecritic.com is your friend. Check the message boards there for the specific ports you will visit. Also very useful is the website whatsinport.com. Italytours.com is a reliable private operator so you may want to check their offerings.

To add to the good advice you have gotten: In Naples you can also take the ferry to Capri. Don't pay for any kind of tour for this. The ferry dock is right next to where the cruise ships dock and you have only to walk next door and buy a ticket.

Santorini is beautiful but there is a serious bottle neck with the cable car getting up the cliff on arrival. People regularly report having stood in line in the sun for 2 hours. The way to circumvent this is to book your ship's cheapest tour that will take you directly to the town of Oia. Do this right away as this trick is well known and will sell out quickly. Once there you can let the guide know that you are going off on your own. This gets you on one of the first tender boats and bypasses the cable car. After you have spent enough time in Oia, simply take the public bus to Fira (the main town where the cable car is).

Your ship is likely to offer an "Athens on your own" excursion that is simply transportation back and forth from the port. This is all you need to DIY. You can take the train too but the ship's bus is inexpensive and easy. Go up to the Parthenon, have a nice lunch in the Plaka and see the Acropolis museum.