Travel To Be Free

I have a question about the Ferry from VERNAZZA TO PORTOVENERE. (Also thinking of hiring a boat for 8 people, however, not wanting to have to transfer from a little row boat into a larger boat, which is what we had to do in Vernazza before.) If we want to go from Vernazza to Portovenere on Sunday, August 11 on the 10:40 a.m. ferry, is there normally a long line this early in the day? (I've seen pictures of extremely long lines there for the ferry.) There's only one ship in port at LaSpezia on that day, so it doesn't seem like the cruise passengers would be to Vernazza this early to be in line to go back towards LaSpezia. (We're taking a cab to Vernazza from the port. Then wanting to see the Cinque Terre from the water, so thought of the ferry.) However, I'm not sure how many other tourists may flood the village of Vernazza around 10 a.m. Any assistance you may have is so greatly appreciated.

It took us a little over an hour to get off the ship. I then prebooked a gentleman who took us to St Paul De Vence.... beautiful if you've never been, google pictures. His name, I believe, was Jean Newman. His email is: newman.vtc.chauffeur@gmail.com. He picked us up at the dock at 10. It took 45 minutes to get to St Paul DeVence. We toured the town and had a nice lunch. Then he picked us up at 3. 45 minutes back to Cannes and he dropped us off at Cathedral Plaza in Le Suquet-the old town on hill above Cannes. That was the end of our time with the driver. We went into the Cathedral, took pictures by the CANNES sign and then walked down through old Le Suquet. We then walked back through the bottom part of Cannes, along the bay, and back to the ship. A great day.

Great information! We will arrive by transport from Villafranche via the Basse Corniche. If we start at the (1) Casino Square for pictures and then went to the (2) top of the rock for the Cathedral, Palace and the old town, this would allow us to know how much time we could spend in the old town before having to get our transport to Eze (as we have lunch reservations at noon). Is this a good plan or is the Casino Square more on your way to Eze? Just wanting to see what flow of travel is best: Casino Square, Top of Rock, Eze OR Top of Rock, Casino Square, Eze? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

We had decided not to go to Nice, but to Monte Carlo, then to Eze with a 12 Noon Lunch Reservation. (If we change our mind again, which I'm not sure I want to do, do you know what is traffic like FROM Monte Carlo back into VilleFranche around 4:15 pm?) All your insight is so appreciated!

I just had a tour guide advise that at this time of the day (8-:30-8:45 a.m.) it can sometimes take up to 1.5 hours to get from Villefranche to Monaco. None of the other companies I've contacted have mentioned this, however, it got me wondering if this correct? It would definitely put us behind schedule, so I'm just checking to see if anyone has a realistic travel time estimate.

Great information! I did send a note Saturday to Friend in France. Waiting to hear back from them. Just wondering if only the 06 drivers can park in the parking garage. A driver without an 06 gave me a much better quote but stated since regulations had changed we were getting the same benefit. Wondering if this is correct.

I have written to a few tour/transport companies. In my request I asked if they have the 06 license to take us to the top of the rock. However, I mistakenly asked to be dropped off in front of the palace, which I now understand no one can do. Do you know if the 06 licenses are allowed to drive any longer to the top of the rock? A few have stated that Regulations have changed. Now even vehicles with 06 license plates are not permitted access in front of the palace. Only Monaco cars have access. They have to park in the underground parking next to the oceanographic museum. It is an approximate 5 minute walk to the palace. (One company with 06 said they had to put in a request, however, not to worry.) I had one company who indicated that they would be able to drop us off in front of the Cathedral instead of the palace. Do you happen to know if everyone does, in fact, have to park in the parking garage and take the elevator? Do you know if this is actually a five minute walk and how long the parking takes. I am trying to figure out how much extra time to allow for all this.

8-7. But we're tendering in, so probably not in until 9. We may just spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo, 3 hours in Eze with 1.5 hours being at a nice lunch and view. Then Nice for 1.50 hours. Assuming it's about 1.25 hours travel between the different cities, Villafranche, Monaco, Eze, Nice and Villefranche.

On the Monaco portion, we will request to be dropped off at the top of the rock to view the palace, go into The Monaco Cathedral for 10 minutes or so and then to a good overlook. About how much time should we allot for the Top of the Rock? Everyone is giving such great information to help me plan.... Thank you!

We're going to have lunch in Eze on the edge overlooking the Mediterranean... that's why we'll be there 3 hours. (Not La Chevre d'Or, but one similar... name escapes me at the moment.) So still considering just an hour in Nice with most sites being "driven by," even though I realize it's not ideal. I'm pulling from your suggestion and altering a little. Will prioritize the Old Port (include Monument of the Dead) and the Promenade des Anglais. Will skip the Chateau Hill and Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice. Then I am considering the following: Le Negresco, Fontaine du Soleil, Place Massena and Place Central. Is there anything else in this general area that is of significance that can be seen from a vehicle? Your help is greatly appreciated.

We've been to the South of France, however, will have family with us on our upcoming cruise that haven't. We will tender into Villefranche and will hire transport for the day. We'll spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo and 3 hours in Eze. Then I'm trying to plan our "Nice" portion of our day. I'm considering doing just a "driving tour" with a few stops for photo-ops. Would like to go down the Promenade des Anglaise-along the sea, turn at Le Negresco, go past Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice (Russian Dome), then what would be a few highlights to drive by? (I realize this cuts out the pedestrian portion of the Old City.) Just wondering what the Top Highlights might be and how long I would need to schedule for this portion?

We've been to the South of France, however, will have family with us on our upcoming cruise that haven't. We will tender into Villefranche and will hire transport for the day. We'll spend 2 hours in Monte Carlo and then 3 hours in Eze. Then I'm trying to plan our "Nice" portion of our day. I'm considering doing just a driving tour with a few stops for photo-ops. Would like to go down the Promenade des Anglaise-along the sea, turn at Le Negresco, Photo Stop at Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice (Russian Dome), then what would be a few highlights to drive by? (I realize this cuts out the pedestrian portion of the Old City.) I think I'm going to copy and also paste this as a main question.

Do you happen to know if Uber still is available in France?

Yes. Thanks for your kind help.

Our arrival is 8:30 AM. As we won’t be on a ship tour, will try our best to be on the first set of tenders to board with just normal que tender numbers (if we’re lucky). But if we aren’t lucky to get on the first few groups, just wondering how long it takes them to get the majority of guests off the ship. 10 or closer to 11??

How long of a tour was it supposed to be? I know you said you were late coming back, so just wondered about how long it actually ended up being, what the travel time was vs. how long you were in Monte Carlo/Monaco.

Yes. I’ll try to move to this question to NCL forum. My husband and I spent the night in St Paul de Vence about 5 years ago. Soooo nice. My sister and BIL have never been so this will be fun. We’ve never been to Cannes, but not loving the big city feel from my research. Will do the old city portion though. Will consider renting a car…. just trying to keep plans as stress free as possible. We had used Uber from St Paul de Vence prior down to train station in Antibes heading to airport. But since it’s a hill village, a little worried about getting the same luck. Are taxis readily available by chance?

The schedule time says 8:30 AM. So, I’m trying to figure out if we don’t purchase the cruises shore excursions, but we do try to put in for tender tickets as soon as were able to, when we might be off the ship. I’m going to try to book us with a vendor to take us to Saint Paul de Vence. Then schedule a time for them to meet us there and bring us back to the top of Le Suquet.

I'm sorry if this has been covered. We will be in Cannes on the Norwegian EPIC, which is around 4,700 passengers. We'll try to get Tender Tickets to get off asap, but as we won't be on a ship's excursion, what is the realistic time we'll be off the ship? (Trying to arrange a time for transport to meet us.)

This really helps. What size of ship were you on? How long did it take them to tender you ashore? If we book transport , I just wondered what time we could request them to meet us.

Do the Tenders drop off at Port de Cannes - Service Commerce on the Google Map? If so then it would be on the side of Cannes close to the Le Suquet, is this correct?

To get out of the port area in Livorno, do you have to take a shuttle? If you prebook transportation to Florence, are they allowed to pick you up at the ship? I am not a huge fan of all the moving parts of a taxi to the train station and buying tickets. Last year in Genoa we missed getting our ticket for the next train to Santa Margherita because the line was so long and the machines weren't extremely user-friendly. So we had to wait about 45 minutes for the next train. It wasn't a great start to our day. The transport companies are VERY HIGH THOUGH!!! Much higher than Rome and Naples. I read about Sightseeing Experience, which has buses across from where they state the ship's shuttle stops in the city. Their prices aren't bad. Has anyone used them?

So the tour operators that sell visits buy them ahead of time in bulk? Do you know of a good SHORT tour of just the Colosseum that may have exact entry times? Also, what time of day is best to visit?

Are the tickets purchased on the Colosseum’s direct site for a timed entrance, skip the line? If so, do the run close to schedule?

Thanks for your help!!!!!