jas283a

6 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

Your flight would have to be fairly late in the day for this to work.

Our flight is around 5 PM, so I think we'd have time from what I've read. 

Just picking up this thread. Quick question, I had seen somewhere that you can often do a tour of Stonehenge (or Windsor castle) on a transfer to the airport. We’re on Princess in June and they offer this. Any recommendations for companies to look at?

50 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

It is 2 visits per person with Plus.

Thanks for summarizing for us. I tried to follow that thread, but after page 2 of 50, I needed the gist!

We did Mendenhall walk-up. There was plenty of other buses, didn’t seem like a problem. Granted this was pre-COVID. Grabbed a car in Victoria, it was fine. 

12 hours ago, funinthsun said:

Has anyone done this tour recently from cruise ship port.  Can you tell me about how long the bus ride is to and from?

Thank you in advance.

 

I did it in March. It’s at least a hour, between an hour to a hour and a half. We’ve done it twice through Native Choice, highly highly recommend. You will not be disappointed and they will easily make sure you’re back in time. The nice thing on the way back is you have the AC to cool you off from the jungle. 

On 7/7/2022 at 9:24 AM, hallasm said:

Thank you for confirming the shuttle bus stop - it is in the direction of ‘Copenhagen International School’ which can be seen from the metro station by the harbor.
There are no final decisions regarding the extension of the metro in the direction of the cruise terminals.  At best, it will happen around 2030.

Something to be aware of, we just found out the hard way, that the shuttle goes until only 1 PM. Because of our daughter’s missing luggage, we got off the Metro much later than anticipated and were there about 1:10. After waiting 10-15 minutes, we decided to do the 30 minutes to walk it (on maps we thought it was a little less than a mile, we’re pretty sure it was close to 2 miles). It all worked out, but several of us would’ve been left in the lurch if our family didn’t just decide to walk. 

4 hours ago, jlacy1987 said:

We are taking a cruise in December (12/18-12/23) on NCL Breakaway. Stopping in Costa Maya and Cozumel. I've been to both before but that was about 10 years ago and pre-kid. We will be going to Playa Mia in Cozumel so we don't have to do anything beach related in Costa Maya but I'm still coming up blank on ideas. My 14 year old stepson will also be with us and finding activities that will suit both a 14 year old and an almost 3 year old is difficult. I'd prefer to book directly through NCL since we have some short excursion credits available to us, but all I really see is through them is either the Beach Escape Beach Club or the Jeep Safari & Beach tour (we could bring our car seat with us since we are driving to the departure port). 

 

I'm not sure a ruins tour would entertain our toddler, although she is a great traveler and just loves going places and doing things. I'm sure my stepson would enjoy the ruins. But I'm also not sure if it's worth spending 2 hours on a bus round-trip while trying to keep our toddler entertained.

 

If all else fails, we might do the aviary at the port. 

 

I see recommendations for Maya Chan but other than kayaks, it looks like they are mostly a lounge around and swim in the ocean kind of place? 

We did ruins with my then 6 year old (who is not necessarily a go with the flow child, especially then). It was not a fun experience, especially for my wife. The problem was her getting hot and sweaty quickly, which you can’t avoid in the jungle. I would not recommend with a 3 year old unless they’re super easy going and adventurous. Even them still a long bus ride. 
 

I think the aviary at the port was really fun and I think would be perfect for you 3 year old and your 14 year will probably like more than they admit it. But that’s 30 minutes 😂. We’ve never done Mahahual or beaches there, so couldn’t say. Maybe 7 colors lagoon?

40 minutes ago, ChildofPisces said:

Hi All, 

 

Husband and I are very interested in this excursion - I was wondering if anyone knew what company Princess contracts with for this excursion, so I may check reviews. 

 

I am weird about booking non-ship excursions, but would like to be able to see reviews of the company before we book.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Best, 

 

ChildofPisces

We took a pirate ship whale watching excursion, an independent one but bet it’s the same company. We used the Buccaneer Queen, the company is Wild Cabo Tours, I think. If it’s the same company highly recommend them, we had a wonderful time with the ambiance, food, drinks, etc. outside of the actual whale watching. 

5 minutes ago, carolina_yankee said:

Thank you for the review! We are very likely to go with Native Choice as a result - the cost savings is quite significant and it seems like it would be a better experience. 

Our guide was Edder and our driver was Miguel. Say hi if you happen to see them, you’ll have a great time. 

8 minutes ago, Leapinggreenly said:

hello. i would so appreciate advice on boat cruise in corfu. i'm having difficulty finding private operatprs as our port time is short.  thanks so much

Sorry we did a ship excursion and had a longer port day, can’t help you there. 

8 hours ago, scoobiewife said:

We are doing a Greek Isles cruise in November.  We are a group of 9 ranging in age from 24 to 73.  Can anyone tells us which ports below are easy to do on our own/ideas for each port:

Saint-Tropez, France

Messina, Italy

Corfu, Greece

Olympia, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Kusadasi, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Volos, Greece

I’ve been to Corfu, Santorini, and Olympia (Katakolon), sorry can’t help on the others. Assuming you want to go to Olympia, it’s an hour away from the port. We were there last July so things in port were just starting to open, so we went through the cruise, I was glad. We did a ship excursion in Corfu, loved it, but could be done DIY depending on what you want to do. Santorini, I would say same thing as Corfu (that time we did DIY to Oia). Here’s how I would rank the 3 on these factors:

Need Good Physical Stamina

1 Santorini 

2 Olympia (Katokolon)

3 Corfu

Amount of Planning

1 Olympia (Katokolon)

2 Santorini

3 Corfu

2 hours ago, biksgirl said:

Hello,

 

   My family of 4 will be in Mykonos in July. We have never been.

 

I want to just spend the morning/early afternoon relaxing at a beach, but DH and kids (aged 15 and 17) want to go to Delos before meeting up with me for lunch.

 

I've already asked here, and the recommendation was not to book a sunbed ahead of time, but just go to a beach and rent one once I'm there. Do you have a recommendation where a single woman will feel safe and not scammed?  Does anyone know if I'll be able to rent 2 sunbeds even though I'll be the only one there for a few hours?   

 

How should the rest of them go to Delos? There is always the option of booking through the cruise line, but I try and do things on our own. Is there an easy way to get a tour once we are on the island? 

 

Thanks

 

We were going to do Delos on our own, I think pretty easy to do, just be aware of the ferry schedule from Mykonos to Delos and when you ship will be there. I would just look it up online. Also some ships dock in port (and then you have to walk or take a water taxi to the main area, but the water taxi takes you right next to the Delos ferry), or tender, so factor that in to the timing of your port time and ferry departures/return ferry. Our schedule would’ve worked out just fine. We didn’t go because we were too tired.

I think you were given good advise on beach, we didn’t do the beach so I can’t recommend anything. There’s a strip of cafes and restaurants very close to the Delos ferry, I would plan to meet up there when your family is due to return and grab a bite or very yummy gelato!

On 6/10/2022 at 12:20 PM, carolina_yankee said:

We will be in Costa Maya mid-November and want to do the 4 hour Chcchoben excursion. Given we have a fair amount of on-board credit, we are considering taking Celebrity's version, but generally prefer using local vendors directly if we have a sense the experience will be better. This is also a relaxation cruise for us, so we are generally looking at 1/2 day excursions to maximize ship time.

 

For those who have done Celebrity or Royal Caribbean (assuming the tours would be similar),  how crowded were they and how good were the guides?

 

For those who have used Native Choice - how long should we budget for the walk from the ship to their location? Their guides sound pretty informed - is that the case? Size of groups and comfort of vehicle? They seem well recommended and a class act.

 

Thanks for any tips or experiences you can give!

 

 

I’ve done Native’s Choice twice. Hands down I would do them again. It’s about a 25 or so minute walk from leaving the ship (if you don’t take the pier shuttle) to their office, 15 minutes or so for pier and port area and 10 or so minutes once you exit the port. They drop you off right outside the port area so it’s a shorter walk back. They do an excellent job explaining how to get there. One time it was an air conditioned bus, another time air conditioned van. Both very comfortable. Had water to keep you hydrated.
 

First time just ruins and about 25 people (pre-pandemic). Second time ruins plus authentic Mayan meal, there were 8 of us (March 2022). The last time with the meal was easily one of the best excursions we’ve ever done, and sailed quite a bit. The food and cultural experience was unforgettable (though it is a much longer day, but the meal part was very low key and relaxing). You make your own tortilla from scratch, eat an authentic meal made from scratch using all ingredients grown in the garden where you are eating (the hibiscus drink was particularly memorable), while they explain what all the trees and plants are, and how they’re used. And it’s not a tourist trap, either, felt very authentic. 
 

Both times the guides were excellent, responsive, and could answer any questions you asked. Also moved at a pace to avoid any crowds from others coming. They are very observant of time and you feel confident the whole time you will get back to the ship with time to spare. I understand if you have the ship credit, but again I can’t more highly recommend Native’s Choice!

3 hours ago, David1975 said:

Thanks for your reply, 

 

I'm quite happy to set aside a few weekends to really look into things and do some research on the different options. Flicking through some threads here, I've read the negatives such as return transport not appearing etc, but for every bad one, there are 10 positives. With this being the first time cruising I just want everything to go smoothly without any drama as such, not to say there may not be drama, but trying to keep it to the absolute minimum.

 

Spent an hour this afternoon just looking at the first stop with what the ship excursions are and then searching private options, and one, in particular, is actually better priced than the private one, so definitely worth taking the time to delve into it. 

 

Peace of mind is key, i'm more of a risk-taker, my wife a worrier, so keeping the other half reassured and happy is key in all this 

It’s the same way with my wife and I, absolutely get it!

38 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I am not a fan of shore excursions in general but that's just my own experience. For someone a bit hesitant, my suggestions based on your ports would be:

 

• Kusadasi:  Take a tour of some sort, but definitely get to Ephesus. Many excursions combine Ephesus ruins with other things, but Ephesus is the big "wow". It's about 25-30 minute drive from the port. Having a guide makes it come alive. Try to find a tour that includes an inside visit to the "Terrace Houses" within the site.

 

• Rhodes:  The entrance to the old town is mere steps from where you get off the ship and it is a fairly small, contained area. Quite easy to do on your own (if you do a little research about the attractions -- definitely want to see the Palace of the Grand Masters, the old Hospital that's now a museum, but mainly just wander the streets).  Very little chance of getting left by ship.

 

• Mykonos:  If you just want to wander and experience a classic Greek isle with winding pedestrian streets and whitewashed shops/windmills, you can get to the old town easily on your own whether your ship tenders (right into town) or docks (take a cheap shuttle ride).  If you want to see Delos, a tour may be easier than doing it on your own, although both are possible. You can also visit one of the many beaches by taxi or bus.

 

• Corfu:  If you just want to visit Corfu town, you can easily get transportation there and back on your own. There is a very pretty promenade (Venetian), a couple of churches worth a visit, an icon museum and an archaeological museum in town.  If you want a broader overview of the island, take a ship tour or just a taxi tour. Note that the Achilleion Palace is closed right now for restoration (one of the biggest attractions outside of the town).

 

• Santorini:  It's a bit of a runaround to do on your own, especially if there are several ships in port as there are some pinch points (e.g., everyone not on a shore excursion must tender into a separate port, must wait for the cable car up to the top of the cliff, and so on. Tours get tendered to a separate location (before all others, I might add) and get on buses.  Oia is what most people want to see -- the iconic white houses and blue roofs. It gets very crowded from mid-morning. To get their on your own from Thira (where you arrive) you'd need to take a local bus or taxi from the cliff top OR a boat from the place where tenders arrive.  Beware of the cable car line in the afternoon which can be quite long -- the other alternatives are not ideal and involve a long walk down the somewhat steep and slippery stairs or a donkey ride which is even worse.

 

• Heraklion:  The chief site is Knossos and it's worth seeing. Like Ephesus it's not terribly far from Heraklion proper, but probably worth taking a tour to get the insights from a guide. Some tours will also include the (new and very good) archaeological museum in Heraklion. If yours doesn't, you could ask to be dropped off in town before the bus goes back to the pier and you can walk to it on your own, then back to the ship -- it's not a long walk, maybe 30 minutes.

 

 

 

I haven't been to Patmos, Bodrum, or Kefalonia. In Bodrum I think there are things to do in town within walking distance of the port. For me, I'd want to get out to see the remains of the Tomb of Mausolus (the monument that gave us the term "Mausoleum").  While there's not much left of it, it's one of those iconic places I enjoy.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great specific advise for each port (at least the one’s I’ve been to), I would agree with all of it. I’d add for Heraklion, we did Knossos and the museum DIY, using a Hop on/Hop Off bus. We chose not to, but you can hire guides once you get there. The museum was amazing and I would highly recommend. 
 

I might also say pace yourself, especially if you don’t have any sea days. If you have multiple all-day excursions you will wear yourself out quickly, especially since it will be pretty hot in August. So if, for example, you are out all day in Heraklion with Knossos and the museum, maybe you plan for an easier, shorter day ashore the next port in Mykonos (unsure an itinerary, just an example). 

29 minutes ago, David1975 said:

Hi all, 

We have booked our first ever cruise and chose to go with NCL on board the Jade to sail around the Greek islands in August, and this site has been a godsend for us, as most of our questions have been answered on these boards.

I'm eager to find out as newbies to this, would it be more beneficial to use the cruise company excursions for trips, than start to plan our own?

My big concern is something going wrong and us not making it back to the ship on time

I appreciate the cost difference but i suppose it's the reassurance of possibly having fellow passengers on the same trips and not being stranded

TIA for any replies

David & Cathy

First of all, congratulations you will love it. I usually do a mix and it depends on a couple of things. First, how far away from the port (or complex is it) to get to the thing I want to see? Farther/more complex=go through cruise.
 

Second, how much of a planner are you or how much time do you have to plan? You can do all the same things often on your own (referred to as DYI in the forums), but it will take research and planning, and sometimes a small leap of faith. These forums are invaluable for that (as are placed like Trip Advisor), but it also depends on things like risk tolerance and whether planning/research is your thing. Independent tour operators that you’ll find on Cruise Critic forums can often be a happy middle ground. 

Third, what’s the price difference? Sometimes the price difference isn’t much and then why not through the ship. Other times there’s a BIG difference and it feels worth it. Flexibility plays into this too. Sometimes you want to do X not Y, but on a ship tour you get what you get. But sometimes sacrificing that for peace of mind is worth it. 

3 hours ago, Over from NZ said:

Thank you. Did the HoHo take you to Knossos?

Yes it worked out great. 

13 minutes ago, lisakerrycruisers said:

I will be in Katakolon in October. Does anyone recommend a private company to see Olympia? Has anyone used ToursByLocals? 

I can’t say, we used the cruise line for the excursion (last July when Covid made everything iffy). It was a great experience, we also had lunch and dancing at one of the local restaurants. I don’t know that you will save much $$$ and it was absolutely at trip highlight. It’s about an hour away, so choose wisely, so you don’t get stranded. And NCL just put out that Greece and other EU need boosted. And Greece requiring masks for now (who knows by October). 

On 6/4/2022 at 8:05 PM, TexasUSAcruiswr said:

We do have sea days. She is in her 80’s so realistically it’s not going to be all day excursion everyday. Thanks for the recommendation of Nauplion. 

If you have sea days that helps. We didn’t, so we figured out the need to pace ourselves quickly. You will expend a lot of energy in Santorini like other posters said, might be with saving for Athens or Naples (both would be higher on my list than Santorini). 

3 hours ago, coontech said:

I read the entire website for cavetubing.bz and I am confused because it says you have to wear masks.  Does that mean just on the vans/busses or do they want you to wear masks on the river, too?

We didn’t go with them, but saw them at the cave tubing. Either it’s a new requirement or for the van/bus because we saw no masks on the River at all. 

7 hours ago, Over from NZ said:

Hello. Any advice on this port? Things to see, tour operators that are good and so-on. Is it far from where the ships dock etc? TIA! 

 

We did our own thing and it worked out great.  We used the Hop on Hop Off (bought in port no reservation) and that worked out well. The big draw is Knossos palace, with the corresponding archeological museum (where you find all the Knossos artifacts). That’s where we spent our time, though there were other cool things on the stops we didn’t have time for. The bus dropped of and picked up very close to the port. 

1 hour ago, TexasUSAcruiswr said:

Hello!

I’m traveling with my mother and our Greek Island itinerary on Celebrity Beyond is jam packed. What port(s) would you suggest to skip and/or not do a shore excursion. I want to make sure she has an incredible time, but isn’t too exhausted at the end of the cruise. Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance. 
 

Ports of Call

Athens (not missing this one)

Rhodes

Santorini 

Mykonos 

Nauplion

Argostoli 

Naples (not missing this one)

Tough to say, though I understand why. I don’t know Nauplion or Argostoli, but of the first 3, I would say Mykonos would be a good low key one. You could walk port area, maybe a picture or two of the windmills and call it a day (what we ended up doing). Also know Santorini is beautiful, but exhausting, so keep that in mind (and I consider it a must see as well). 

I will preface this by saying we went last July, so Covid made everything different in so many ways, not sure what’s similar or different. We went to the Acropolis site, used a QR code to buy tickets online at the site. Saved us a 10-15 minute wait in line to purchase tickets (this was the preferred way), no line to actually get in. It would’ve been nice to walk right in vs. taking the time to buy on my phone at the gate. We went on a Sunday around noon. 
 

The Acropolis museum down the hill where all the cool artifacts are, however, was a different story. It was sold out at our time because it was capacity controlled (Covid), the wait time and line was hours long for later time slots, and you had to wait in line even if you had a reservation. We had to skip the museum to not miss our cruise, which looked super cool from what we could see. That’s where a “Skip the Line” pass or tour guide package would’ve been 100% worth it. We met someone who had bought that, they just walked up, met their guide, and then walked past all the masses right inside.
 

I bet there are combo tickets where you can do both. I don’t know about one type vs. another, hope this helps. 

As first time cruisers, first of all congratulations.  My wife and I were about your age when we went on our first cruise (that time we took our kids) and we've kind of been hooked ever since.  As far as to answer your question, all of the bigger, cheaper cruise lines (Royal, Carnival, Norwegian) tend to have more kids because they are cheaper.  But basically, no matter the line, you will find more kids if you go when kids are on vacation, which makes sense.  You will find adult only spaces on almost every cruise line and ship if that's what you are looking for (and spaces catered to family if that is what you are looking for). 

My wife and I did Greece last year with NCL (it was adult only because of Covid and vaccine requirements, so I couldn't say how it is normally) and we had an amazing time.  I would say 2 deciding factors if you're looking at Greece.  First, I think the itinerary would be a really big deal, probably even more important than what line you're going on for this type of cruise.  Second, what type of things do you like to do?  Certain ports stops are more amenable than others for, say, cultural activities vs. the beach.  Just things to think about.  

We went to Mr. Sanchos and didn’t do the all-inclusive. They let you on a separate beach area they call a La carte. There is an expectation you’ll order food/drink plus you have to pay for any water activities, but you can use their changing facilities and such. The snorkeling is decent in the area and you don’t get bothered by vendors, unlike other beaches I’ve been to.