Hello,
I will be taking a mediterranean cruise and would like feedback on the must do attractions for the following. I will be travelling with a good friend and my 16 year old daughter. We will be spending time in Rome a few days prior to boarding the cruise. I would like a nice mix as well as beach time. Any feedback on best beaches in the Greek Isles would also be helpful.
Santorini
Athens
Corfu
Mykonos
Oympia
Kasadasi Turkey
Your feedback is much appreciated! Thank you.
How much time ashore at each stop? Keep in mind that on Mykonos and Santorini, at least, you will be tendered ashore by small boat which cuts down your free time. And if you don't sign up for the ship's land excursion tour you'll lose even more time since those who have are given first priority to get off the ship.
Hello,
We will be at port on average 10-11 hours at each stop. I have heard that you are better off booking own excursion vs. booking through the cruise port due to cost. In addition, I have heard that it is fairly easy to get around at each port. I don't mind seeing a bit of history but with all the history that we will be seeing in Rome, Venice, Florence, etc. I would like our visit to the Greek Islands to be a bit more relaxed to include a beach stop if indeed the beaches are worth a visit.
Hello
I have actual times at each port
Santorini - 8 - 9PM
Turkey - 8 - 5 p.m.
Mykonos - 1:00 a.m. - 6pm - I am thinking we may get off the boat at 7 or 8a.m.
Athens - 6AM - 5:45 p.m.
Olympia - 8 - 5 p.m .
Corfu - 7 - 5
Santorini- There are some fun trips here. The tender will take you ashore, and there are lots of small shops selling tours of the area. The caldera tour is fun as you go to the volcano, climb to the top, then continue in the boat to a lagoon where you can swim to some warm springs. The whole trip is 3 hours and costs about $25 a person. Go to Oia, it is much nicer than Fira town and has fewer tourists. You can take the public bus or a taxi. That will easily fill a day.
Athens: Acropolis, agora, Plaka district. There is a metro that takes you from the port to the main town. Very easy to do. Just Google "Piraeus Metro" and you should be able to find the stop.
Corfu: You can rent a car and go all over the island. The town is fun to walk around. St. Spiro's church is pretty. I did a ship tour to Albania, which I would recommend.
Mykonos: I would go to a beach, here, as it is similar to Santorini.
Olympia: We rented a car and drove to Olympia from the port. Very easy to find, lots of signs, much cheaper than a ship tour. The ruins are self explanatory and have signs telling you what you are seeing.
Kusadasi: Ancient Ephesus! plus the Temple of Artemis, the museum in town is worth a look, and the Isa Bey Mosque is interesting. Search Ephesus tour cruise ship, and you will find a host of operators.
PM me for any more info!!
