Advice on ports for Repositioning Cruise: shore excursions

[Vincent Russo]

My wife and I are taking a cruise and we're not rich so we dont want to spend a bundle on shore excursions. Here are the ports: Florence, Monaco, Farcalona, Cartagena, Malaga, Cadiz, and Funchal Madeira.  Do we need shore excursions for all of these or can we wing it for some? Is there a good way to get good guides wihout paying the big ship fees?

[BEVERLY Overdevest]

I am a travel agent. I suggest local transportation,or get another couple to split the cab fares etc. Call a trvel agent to Rent a car, van etc. prior to cruise in the town you maybe in, split fees with other couples. Get museum passes. Read up on your destinations, for info, transportation, places you want to see, etc. Shore excursions can be espensive, & travel agents don't get any commission on ordering them for you. When you get there ask around, for best sightseeing. Don't take the first offer, nor the first person offering. You will have many opportunities, to becoming an expert at this. We had the best sightseeing from a cabby in Tamasia, to showing us around & a great place for lunch, paid him for the day. If, you take a cabby, they will stop where ever you want & they can be bought for the day for touring, where if you drive, you can get lost, wasting your valueable little time there. You might spend, want seems like alot, but remember they are katering to you & your wants & schedule, also, you are spliting the fees.
I hope this will help you, & maybe you might book your next cruise with me.

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Bevs Busy Bee Cruises
Beverly Overdevest M C C
Master Cruise Counselor
12429 Colorado Ave
Bakersfield, Ca 93312

661-399-9515 Bus

[Justin Smith]

Hi Vince, I am a former cruise line cruise director and shore excursion mgr. and have been to most of these places many times. Here are just a few thoughts.

Florence: If you have not been before, it is worth doing a tour to get in all the sights (i.e. the Accademia to see David - except on a Monday, the Duomo etc.). However, if you do one form the ship, make sure it is one that gives you some free time to wander on your own for a couple of hours. The other option is to pre-book the tour with a company like Travel Bound that does this type of program before the cruise. Being that you will probably be going into Livorno on the ship, or some where close, I would not recommend a cab to do this as it is about 90- minutes each way to and from Florence. If you went with a company like Travel Bound or others, they would have a car and driver for you all day depending on your requests. Bottom line in Florence - do a tour to see the sights but make sure you have some free time to fo shopping or the market, get a gelato or sit in one of the piazzas and have a coffee.

Monaco - would maybe only recommend a half-day tour if you want to that includes the Palace and maybe the Rothchild estate. Otherwise, fun place to hang out and walk around on your own. Depending on the time you have there, you could take a train to and from Nice which is about 60 minutes each way (maybe less) and walk around there too.

Barcelona - Same, do at least a half-day tour that takes you to the Gaudi Cathedral and Gothic quarter and then walk around on your own. Las Ramblas (the walking street) is great fun with lots of shops, cafes and street performers. if you are there over dinner a great restaurant is Siete Puertas (Seven Doors) and is walking distance from the ship along the esplanade.

Cartagena - Sorry, don't really know this one

Malaga - can go either way. some epople really like it, others not so much. A half-day historical tour (if you like histry and historical architecure)would be about all you would need here I think. You would want a tour that includes the Gibralfaro and the Alcazaba. If you like Picasso - definitely go to the museum.
Here is a decent web site for Malaga http://www.malagaweb.com/tourist_guide.php

Cadiz - it has been while too but I from what I recall something short and offers and overview would be all you need at the most.

Madiera - do the tobagan ride I'm sure the cruise line will offer more than one tour that includes is but it can be fun and is something different. There will probably be tours that include wineries too if that appeals to you and at least you will sample the local wine.

My base suggestions to you is to do what appeals to you and your wife and you usually will be happy with your choice. While the cruise lines will definite be more pricey for thier tours, sometimes the balance is that it saves you time trying to get all the arrangments made through another source.Hope this all helps Vince and you have a great cruise.

[Vincent Russo]

Beverly and Justin, you two are great. Thank you.

I am not so great because I misspoke on two ports because the shop stops at Malaga but their goal is to visit Granada and when the boat stops at Cadiz the shore excursion goes to Sevile. So if you have any tips on that I'm all ears otherwise I really appeciate what you've done.

[Allison Wright]

Another great resource in many cities is the "Hop On Hop Off" bus...the key factor is making sure you get back to the ship in PLENTY of time for departure. If you are on a ship tour, the responsibility is with the tour group to return you in time, and local currency is not of so much concern. If you are on your own, you have to be sure to factor in getting back to the ship on time with at least a small window of leeway, and remember to be aware of currency conversion issues.

That said, make sure your watch is set to local time, check the local and current conversion rates, and adventure forth! Savor every moment!

Allison Wright, Travel Counselor
www.aces360travel.com

[Vincent Russo]

Good advice Allison. I didn't know about those buses but I will know about them now.

[Ice Queen]

I have traveled the world and while I don't have names, please use Google, and other search engines to find great FREE guides. Put in the place, and the words "free guide". We have had amazing experiences with local guides who volunteer their services to meet, greet and guide you through their town.

I highly suggest in Monaco you skip the town as the shops will give you heart attacks for their pricing, and you spend the day in Eze, which is about 8 km from town. It is an amazing medieval fortress with many art galleries and restaurants, worthy of hours of trekking through the narrow streets and stairways.

Any place that has a hop-on hop-off bus is my kind of place. I always use those to get the feel of an area, and then go back to the parts I want to spend more time visiting.

[Katie Cianciolo]

There are many options to the ship's excursions...your travel agent should be assisting you with these. That's one of the ways I try to set myself apart from others, by doing more for my clients. I put together a destination guide with suggested activities and how to book them. For example in Florence, the ship docks in Livorno, atleast an 1 1/2 hrs to Florence. There are guided walking or biking tours for as little as $35 pp. We work with a number of different suppliers and many times know private guides in various ports. Some ports you can "wing it" - just depends what you want from the experience.

Katie Cianciolo, CruiseOne
www.FunByTheTon.com

[Vincent Russo]

Thanks ice queen and katie. Katie I'm saving your website.

[trudy scotti]

Hi Vincent, I can answer for Florence. I suppose that you land in Livorno. To go to Florence (or Pisa if you prefeir) you have to take a train or a private car and it may be difficoult if you have to spare your time... So, you can visit Florence just wandering in the centre of the city with a good guidebook, but I don't think that you have enough time to do this, I think that you need an organized excursion.