texasstar

You can do both the pre and post trips easily on your own and save a lot of money.  Both cities are easily walkable.  Just do your research before hand.  You do not want to miss either city.  I have not cruised with UniWorld, but have friends that have.  I did this cruise with AmaWaterways and loved it.

Check out Windstar. They have a great cruise that covers that area.  Sign up for their 7 for 7 specials, it is sometimes listed there.

Thank you.  Good advice

I will be on a cruise in May that makes a stop in Trapani.  I would like to see Erice, but it is listed as strenuous.  For those that have been, how difficult is it?

Is it just a lot of walking, or are the stairs difficult? 

Thank you for your responce.

Try the Auto Europe site.  I have used them before successfully.

Windstar.

11 hours ago, Thejuggler said:

We hired a car for two days on a 7 day holiday to Sardinia during late May about 10 years ago, but we were in the north near Alghero not around Cagliari.  We covered a few hundred trouble free miles and saw plenty.

 

General thoughts was driving isn't as chaotic as the Italian mainland.  It was easy enough, plenty of motorways, roads not busy, roadsigns in towns pretty hopeless so satnav is required,

 

Traffic police were everywhere checking speeds, which is also an issue as speed limit signs are sporadic, so know the limits before you travel.

 

We hired our car from the hotel, but I'm sure you will find options online.

 

 

Thank you for your advice.

We are on a Windstar cruise in May with a stop in Cagliari.  Has anyone had experience driving on the island and what are the best options for renting a car?  Thank you for your advice.

So sorry,  Try putting an ice pack on the area.  It might help until you can get professional help. Hopefully, the new antibiotic will kick in and give you some relief.

Thank you Edinburgher and Cruise Mom

Any other tour ideas when docking in Cagliari, if you are not interested in beach time?

Have you thought about a river cruise? They are smaller and much easier to meet people.  Depending on the cruise line you choose, excursions are included.  I have not traveled solo on one, but I think I would feel comfortable doing so.

Check out AmaWaterways.

15 hours ago, newgrange said:

When on our last cruise of the Eastern Med (way back in 2014) we booked a taxi from the cruise terminal and went up to Ambelonas where the very pleasant owner served us a traditional Corfiot meal in the old family olive farm,. It was really a pleasant day.

I'm delighted to see she is still going.

https://ambelonas-corfu.gr

Thank you.  That sounds delightful!

I have not sailed on Avalon, but have  been on 4 cruises with AmaWaterways.  I would not call them formal. The food is very good, if that is important to you and all excursions are included.  

7 hours ago, Susan2771 said:

In August 2023, we used Corfu Taxi Tours for our day in Corfu.  It was a fantastic day and Spiros was an excellent guide and driver.  He was very funny, accommodating and flexible in what we wanted to do, and there was a lovely snack stop that was so filling.  This is the website and Spiros was very quick to reply.  Spiros Kritikos - Unique Private Taxi Tours in Corfu (corfutaxitours.com)

 

For our stop in Argostoli we used Kefalonia Taxi Service.  It is such a beautiful island.  You  must be sure to book a beach break, the water is out of this world.  Be sure to bring flip flops though in case you end up at the beach with stones.  Your feet will thank-you for it.  The underground lake is also amazing.  We used  Kefalonia Taxi Service | The Local Premier Taxi Firm   On the website for the premium tour which is what our group of 8 booked, it is impossible to do all those stops in 7 hours with the lunch break.  We were cutting it close to get back to the ship and were a tad nervous.  Also because it is very mountainous and lots of ups and downs driving and a lot  of curvy roads, one of the people in the group did experience motion sickness so maybe have some motion sickness pills just in case.  It is a gorgeous destination though.

 

Enjoy planning your adventure!

Thank you so much Susan!

I am also prone to sea sickness, and the wrist pressure band and ginger chews really helped me.  I was skeptical, but they worked.

They really take care of their gentle walkers.  Just make sure that you get in the "pink" group when you arrive at your destination.  In Salamanca, they even arranged taxis back to the restaurant for those that needed them.  They are very accommodating in Lisbon and Porto also.  We were in Lisbon on our own before joining the pre-stay group.  We took a Tuk-Tuk tour which worked out well because he drove you as close as he could, so you were not climbing hills.  Once we were on the pre-tour, they also had different groups for those that had difficulty with hills and stairs.  It is a great trip.

Thank you so much for your excellent review.  This cruise has been on my radar, and has moved up a notch because of your review.

In August on the Douro, we were able to add the extension for the cruise director on the total for the trip with our credit card.  If you are paying in cash, it will need to be in Euros.

Petoonya, so sorry for your loss.  I lost my husband in April of this year, and like you, I am not through seeing the world.  I went on a river cruise in August with an old friend, and I am going with my sisters, I think on the same cruise in reverse that you are going on, in May.  I haven't ventured out on a cruise as a solo yet, but I think I could.  It is easy to meet people on the small cruises, and Windstar travelers are so congenial, I think you will be fine.  There will be moments when you are sad, but that is ok.  It will get easier.  I was wondering what happened to you, as you always provided such good information.  Blessings to you and may your travels bring you joy.

Thank you.  I will check them out.

We will be on a Windstar cruise in May 2024 and prefer to do private shore excursions rather than ship excursions.  

Does anyone have any suggestions for excursions they have been on that they would recommend?

Thank you.

If I may butt in, we stayed at the Hotel Madison and really enjoyed it.  It is a small hotel in the St. Germaine area, within walking distance to everything, lots of restaurants, and they have a self-service laundry you can use if you need to.

I don't think it is the Euro amount of the tips that is bothersome.  It is the hassle of having to make sure that you have some small coins available. It is awkward to know when to tip them also. I suggested that AmaWaterways that they increase the amount they were charging us to cover this if they felt the need. The response I got from the cruise director, whom I liked a lot, was "that is the way everyone wants it."  Don't think so.