I'm taking a cruise through Italy, Greece and Turkey and was wondering if it's worth it to sign up for the excursions they provide (priced anywhere from $60-$300 per person per excursion) or if I could just take the Rick Steves book with me and wing it on my own. Some of the stops are longer (12 hours), while others are shorter (6-8 hours). I'm worried about using my time wisely, but also about the quality of the experience - how backdoor can it be if I'm getting off a bus with 50 other cruisers. Anyone taken one of these excursions and regretted it? Or not taken one and wished they had?
Posted by
Gretna, LA, USA
9 posts
We are also taking a similar cruise with Costa cruise lines on the Atlantica. We will probably take the excursions because it makes the best use of your time, unless someone knows a private tour guide and that would be the way to go. When are you sailing? I also heard that we do not need visas for Turkey or Egypt IF we do an excursion through the cruise line.
Posted by
Gretna, LA, USA
9 posts
We are also taking a similar cruise with Costa cruise lines on the Atlantica. We will probably take the excursions because it makes the best use of your time, unless someone knows a private tour guide and that would be the way to go. When are you sailing? I also heard that we do not need visas for Turkey or Egypt IF we do an excursion through the cruise line.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
473 posts
A lot would depend upon what you're interested in seeing in each city. Does you guidebook provide good info on how to get into town via public transportation or are taxis reliable? Then I would lean towards doing it on my own. Alternatively, is there a sight offered by an excursion that is hard to reach? Then take the excursion. Every excursion and port of call is different, so it's hard to lump them into one category, as to whether or not they are worth it.
Posted by
Kirkland
210 posts
As always, it depends ... If the ship docks in town (ie, we can walk to the town's main square from the ship), then we always plan to explore independently. If the ship docks a distance from town or the main attractions are a distance from the ship, we often opt for the ship's tours because we don't want to risk having the ship pull away without us (if a taxi breaks, etc). The ship will always delay its departure until all it's sponsored tours have returned - no such luck if you're on your own.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
83 posts
While I never did the cruise thing, you can't help but run into people on your trip who are doing it. Here are my observationsIf you don't have to reserve ahead, you should still have time to investigate places you'll be docking at. I think the major advantage to organized tours is the convenient transportation -especially considering the region you'll be in. Even with a good guide book, trying to get to/from a port like Civitavecchia to Rome could be a challenge. However, if you were landing in Nafplio, Greece that would be a town easily explored on your own since the port is adjacent to the town.Sorry for the very general advice, but I feel for your situation. It's not easy getting a 'backdoor' experience while a clock is ticking, but with a little homework you'll probably find an adventure or 2 on your own.
Posted by
Standish, Maine, USA
8 posts
After taking a cruise from Venice to Greece and Greek Islands, my suggestion would be do the islands independently(unless there's something specific you want to see), but do the tour in Athens. We had a terrible time with the Athens taxi drivers at the cruise port in Piraeus. We did prevail in keeping the cost lower, but it took us about 20 minutes of arguing.
Even if you don't stay with the excursion group.
We did the islands independently and loved our experiences.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
191 posts
I would recommend taking the excursions in the cities you have limited time in, and then spend your time indepently in cities when you have more time to explore and maybe get lost.
If your out on your own and don't make it back to the ship on time it will leave with out you, however if you are on an excursion set-up by the ship, the ship will wait for the excursion group to get back even if your late!
Also consider an excursion when there are many important things you want to see in one city, these excursions can be worth the money, because they are efficant and can pack the most in, in the least amount of time.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Hi, for most helpful answers to this question, you need to post which ports of call.
Athens excurisions save hassles,
Mykonos and Santorini , no point, do it on your own.
Turkey, might be worth doing excursions.
Why not post each port and see what consensus is on what to actually see or do in ports.
Do NOT feel you need to pay the highly inflated port tour prices in every stop. In places where there is good transportation options, or like on some of the smaller islands, you can just walk into town or taxi it, then do so.Ship sponsored tours do have some merit in some places though. For instance, do you speak Turkish? Are you comfortable travelling an hour or more inland on public transport secure in the knowledge you will be able to get back as easily ?