Rating RCI Med Ship Excursions

[MERLOTCHAMPAGNE]

We have friends traveling on Splendour R/T Venice at the end of October. They are very active and capable travellers but insist on doing only ship excursions. We have done the Med but with private tours only and have been very satisfied so we are of no help with regard to ships tours. We did one ship's tour in Gdansk Poland on our recent Baltic cruise and were very unhappy with the quality of the tour/tour guide. Can anyone provide comments - positives and negatives regarding RCL ships tours in the Med? They are visiting Dubrovnik. Kusadasi, Santorini and Corfu.

 

Thanks so much!!

[bigboffs]

Dubrovnick, self tour. Lots to see walking the city. As to Kusadasi ( Ephesus) Turkey, we use Hello Ephesus. Other 2, no knowledge. Most ship tours include a prolong stop at one or more "shopping" experiences where there are few bargains;and when luch included, it is long and OK but not much better. When we go "private" tours, we say no junk stops and for lunch a quick sandwich. Much more time to explore and usually cheaper. HOWEVER, if you need a large comfort factor, you would rest easier with the cruise line excursion.

[AF-1]

Was on same itinerary out of Venice in 07.

Dubrovnik: take the RCCL bus downtown to the city. There is enough to do and see in the walled city

Kudiasi: We took the bus tour of Ephasus. Excellent tour

Santorini: We hired a taxi to take us around the island to Oia. Spectacular views and lots of places to eat and shop. Also Fira, which is the town were the ship docks has plenty of shopping also.

Corfu: We booked excursion to Achilleon Palace and a Greek Orthodox Monestary.. The palace was just ok, the monestary was very nice

 

Hope this helps

[marci22]

You should look at the Ports of Call boards for each stop to see if anyone has posted reviews about the ship's excursions there.

[MERLOTCHAMPAGNE]

Thanks all.... I have posted on Ports of Call, Europe- Greece... hopefully we'll get responses to help my friends decide ship excursions or not... if so, which are the best in each port they are visiting..Thanks