Hello,
My wife and I (mid-50's) will be on a Celebrity Cruise next fall with a stop in Portofino. Due to an abundance of OBC, we are interested in taking a ship's excursion to see the Cinque Terre area. Currently Celebrity is offering 2 different excursions and I'm curious if anyone has any input or advice they can share. Both are listed as 9 hour tours. The brief descriptions are below:
Cinque Terre Villages ($300) - "Belvedere, Cinque Terre, a national park and territory protected by UNESCO, is known for its dramatic scenery, which you'll admire as you journey through two lovely villages. The area is dotted with cliffs that rise sharply from the sea, sheltering secluded rocky beaches and coves. From Portofino, begin your tour with a scenic coach drive to Levanto, then board the train to reach Monterosso. Enjoy a guided walking tour and then embark on your own exploration. A taste of pesto bruschetta with a glass of wine at a local restaurant completes your visit. Then, board a local minibus and enjoy a scenic Cinque Terre drive to Manarola, where you'll follow your guide and then be able to explore on your own. Savor the last memories of Cinque Terre before returning to your ship."
Coastal Cinque Terre - ($230) - "Cinque Terre, a national park and territory protected by UNESCO, is known for its dramatic scenery, which you'll admire as you journey through two lovely villages. The area is dotted with cliffs that rise sharply from the sea, sheltering secluded rocky beaches and coves. From Portofino, travel by boat to Rapallo, then board a coach for the scenic drive to Levanto, where you'll hop aboard a train to reach Vernazza. You'll have about an hour to explore this small but charming town. Enjoy a guided walking tour and then take more than two hours at your leisure to embark on your own exploration. Browse the shops, pop into a café for a snack or drink, and chat with locals. Stroll back to the station and hop aboard your train for the ride to Levanto. After a scenic drive back to Rapallo, board a motorboat bound for Portofino to return to your ship."
Thank you!
Brian