waterlegs

According to the description of the tour in post #2, the route is Naples to Salerno by bus, Salerno to Amalfi by boat, Amalfi to Vietri to Pompeii by bus. It does not go on the Amalfi-Positano drive, which is the real part of the Amalfi drive. The Salerno-Amalfi portion is the least scenic part and a real misnomer to let you believe that you are doing what is really known as the Amalfi drive.

 

I second other suggestions to look for shared excursions (in a van, not a bus!) whether through you roll call or private companies. Some private tour companies arrange for the sharing and you might not need to put together a group on your own. Look up some of the private tour operators and start a thread in your roll call.

Nobody in my roll call seems interested in tour sharing so far. I have been looking up private tours. Alot seem to demand minimum group numbers but saw one called something like italybylocals and they seem to take individual bookings and take in Positano and Ravello. I dont think they are licenced guides but that wouldnt bother me really. Anyone heard of this tour group?

When we did our first med cruise the Solerno port visit was by far our favorite. We did the group tour to visit Pompeii and that was a top destination for me as I have been fascinated with the history. We were lucky when we returned back to port and had enough time to take the water taxi type boat from Solerno to Amalfi and back. It was an absolute treat to view the coast by boat and spend a couple of hours in town. It was enough time there to realise that I want to go back and stay an extended period.

 

We happened to do the boat ride by chance as we did not plan it and just saw the time schedule worked. A little risky, but well worth it.

 

I know your port is Naples so it may make it more difficult or the timing not work, but the two times I have been scheduled to stop in Naples have been cancelled. So, that might change too.

Really? Why was the port of Naples cancelled? Did you get to another port instead?

Here is a recent Freedom review, with Compasses, which will list all the events, including shows:

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2425744

Thanks Bob. Unfortunately the print is too small to read on my pc and couldn't zoom in on it either. Would the schedule and times be the same on a Med cruise?

we are doing our first cruise in May on FOS and we were given mtd. Does anyone know what times the evening shows are on at and how much time we should count for meal duration. We want to reserve for the first two nights. We would be early eaters and a party of four. Can you reserve for as early as 5.30pm?

Thanks for the replies so far. I should have stated that Florence is a must for us but would ideally like to see Pisa too if I can. There will be our party of four for that excursion. There are many ship excursions to Florence however and it is hard to know which one to choose.

I will be alone for Naples stop and want to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. I was considering the ship excursion Amalfi coast by land and sea. Certainly if I found people on my roll call looking for extra people to join a private tour I would do so.

With the deluxe drinks package are drinks free up to $12 each on any part of the ship?

To be honest I would find it hard to prioritise one over the other. I really want to see both. I don't want to spend more than about two hours in Pompeii but definitely want to visit it. I know I wont get to see every town on Amalfi coast and accept that. My roll call is not very busy yet and nobody looking to share tours on it to any of the places I want to visit. Happy to give it til late March before booking via ship.

Sailing on FOS in May in the Western Med. Wondering if anyone can recommend any of the ships shore excursions for La Spezia and for Naples? So much choice it is confusing.

I have never understood using cash. Whether you pay the cruise line cash or pay your card off when you get home, it's the same thing. Personally for me, if it's the same, I'd rather have the extra points on my credit card for more free vacation.

It is a practical thing for me. I dont have a credit card in my own name and my husband isn't coming on the trip. Our debit card is for paying bills etc so don't want to use it while away. Neither do I have a credit card.

I have a port stop in Naples in May with RCI. I am the only one of my party that wants to visit this area so thinking about the ship excursion which is Amalfi coast by land and sea and Pompeii. I think it allows a visit to Amalfi town but doesn't stop at other towns. Are many of these coastal towns similar to visit? Does it sound like a good excursion? I think the boat part of the trip is 45 mins long. Would I see more from the boat than on the bus?

Can you settle the seapass/onboard bill at the end of the cruise with cash or must you use a credit card?

Have my first cruise on Freedom of Seas in May in the Med. I cannot keep in my head which dining venues are "free" and which ones you pay extra to dine in. Could someone post a list of cafes and dining venues that are free please, so I don't make an idiot out of myself. Thanks.

Has anyone here ordered or requested healthy option meals while cruising? I am thinking in particular on Royal caribbean but open to hearing feedback from other lines too.

If you do not want to deal with your phone issues, consider buying one of the smaller tablets...which are now becoming relatively inexpensive. They have many of the advantages of a laptop....with much less bulk (the smaller ones can easily fit in a purse). Internet access is becoming increasingly easier to find throughout Europe. Many cafes /restaurants and coffee shops offer free internet to their customers. Your crew will likely no all the free closest internet sites....in every port. Just ask your cabin steward, waiter, or any of the bar staff.

 

Hank

Thanks Hank. You are like some type of saviour answering all my questions these days. lol

Is the fee for the chairs only or is it to access the beach? Wondering can you just walk along the seashore without paying or can you sit on the sand on your towel or is it seats only?

Thanks for the info. I have looked at youtube clips of Cannes and Monaco and have to say that Cannes appeals alot more to me. Seems more pleasant. This has brought another question to mind. If I ask for a return ticket from villefranche to cannes will it let me get off in nice on the way or way back or would I need separate tickets? Also do you know what time the flower market ends about? Midday?

Maybe this is helpful.

 

http://www.cruise.co.uk/guides/cruise-information-plug-types/

Thanks. So that link says only two pin US sockets. Even if they have euro round that is no good to me. Better start looking at adaptors. Thanks everyone.

Are sockets on RCI round or square and two or three pin please?

Everyone seems to recommend the flower market...it must be really something. Looking at google map the train station seems an awful long distance from the promenade. Can you walk it or is there a shuttle or anything?

Thanks Hank. Yes, I am not looking for a big exploration of any of the places. Just a relaxing day. Happy to just walk the prom and maybe old quarter of nice. I might only stay at most an hour in cannes. The area directly around villefranche sounds nice too though for walking around. Will see what the rest of my party are doing and what weather is like.

I know there are other posts with similar questions. I guess I started a new thread as wondering between these two because we are in Villefranche the day before the Cannes film festival starts and about nine days before the Gran Prix in Monaco starts. Have heard very mixed feedback on both places. Is the race arena under construction going to make visiting Monaco difficult? Is there any chance of celeb spotting in Cannes the day before the festival starts? I want to visit nice too, although I am just relaxing on this port day and strolling around places. Nothing specific I want to see.

Are you looking for an Internet Cafe because you need a computer or are you looking for an Internet Cafe for Internet connectivity using your own device? Just asking because it would be far easier to find a hotspot than an IC.

 

Have you tried teaching the 'net using your favorite browser yet? I just did one and several points showed up, including Yelp...

Hi slidergirl

Ideally for a computer. I have a smartphone but can't seem to get email on it. Have time to try and sort that out in case. Don't want to be spending long time in a cafe either, with ports to enjoy.

If there are no delays, guests can usually begin disembarking within 30 minutes of arrival. You can leave the ship anytime before all aboard.

Thanks so much. Thinking it might be easier to get public transport when the bulk of the crowds have gone already and always nice to know I can off later if I sleep it out.

wondering about cybercafes/internet cafes in Marseille, Villefranche, Nice or Cannes? Are they in main town areas, easy to spot and any idea of which towns would be cheaper or dearer?

Just wondering are there any internet cafes either close to port of Naples or within easy access of tourist areas of Florence and are they open all afternoon?