Equinox out of Barcelona Questions

[bogofman]

We will be on Equinox (14 nights ) out of Barcelona in August.

 

We like to organise our port trips ourselves, I have questions relating to where the ship docks in the following ports.

 

Could someone who has recently returned from similar cruise offer guidance.

 

Marseille

Livorno

Salerno

 

I'm practically interested in the part of the dock the ship is moored, and whether local buses can be used to get into town.

 

I know the docks are some way out of town, although looking t maps of Salerno it maybe walkable (20-30 minutes)

 

has anyone caught the Salerno train to Paestum? It looks easily do-able.

 

Thanks

[4774Papa]

Research is not that hard:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=167

Where You're Docked

Ships dock in two main areas of commercial piers in Marseille, both north of the Vieux Port area.

 

Hanging Around

The cruise terminal is located in a highly industrial area, and the main part of town and major tourist sites are located a cab or shuttle ride away. However, there are a few shops right where the ships dock featuring souvenirs from Marseille and Provence, such as wonderful scented soaps.

 

Getting Around

By Taxi: A cab or shuttle is required to reach the main part of town and the major tourist sites. The taxi ride may cost 8 - 18 euros, depending on where in the harbor your ship has docked; most lines offer a shuttle into the Vieux Port for 5 euros each way.

 

On Foot: Once in the Vieux Port area, most of the major sights are within walking distance, although some (Basilique Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde for instance) require an uphill hike. For more distant venues, the Marseille subway system is a simple, two-train affair, with a station in the Vieux Port. It is safe and easy to navigate.

 

By Rail: For visitors who prefer a less strenuous introduction to Marseille, the "Little Train" offers covered open-sided cars pulled behind a motorized miniature engine. The more popular of the lines departs every 30 minutes from the Quai des Belges at the port's eastern edge. It offers a comprehensive drive-by that lasts slightly over one hour and includes a stop at the Basilique Notre-Dame. Cost is 5 euros.

 

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=83

 

Getting Around

Getting To Florence: If traffic isn't a huge factor, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes to drive to Florence from Livorno. Taxis line up outside the ship; we were quoted a one-way price of 160 euros (your best bet is to negotiate a round-trip fare so the driver will wait around for you). Taxi drivers will also happily offer daylong tours of Florence and Pisa. However, Florence is a small city, and the traffic can get clogged. With a map, though, it's not difficult to find your way around. For more info, visit http://www.tuscanybytaxi.it.

 

Otherwise, ships typically provide shuttles to Livorno's Piazza Grande; the train station is then a 15-minute cab ride away. Getting to Florence by train takes about an hour and a half, and there are several "early morning" departures. Trains return to Livorno from Florence's Santa Maria Novella Station -- check the train schedule just prior to your cruise. One-way fares cost about 8.50 euros (first class) or 5.50 euros (second class).

 

Most cruise ships offer "shuttle service" (one motorcoach to and from Florence) for those who want to travel independently. Because of the distance and the likelihood of traffic problems, we've found these to be a good deal (plus, on our recent "shuttle" on a Crystal cruise a guide accompanied our ride -- and was most helpful in offering recommendations).

 

Hertz and Avis offer outposts there -- reservations are highly recommended -- though each sets up a table at the dock. One warning: Driving can be challenging, and even though they advertise that it's easy to park in Florence, that's simply not true. Unless you're planning to visit other Tuscan spots, such as Lucca or San Gimignano, we'd recommend using your ship's motorcoach transportation.

 

Getting Around In Florence: Florence is a walker's town. Its historic areas are compactly laid out, but be careful. Its drivers (from waspish Vespas to cars) are not necessarily welcoming to pedestrians!

 

Watch Out For

Just as you would in any town heavily populated by tourists, beware of pickpocketing and petty theft (and Vespa-snatching thieves). Depending on the time of year, shops tend to close from 1 to 3:30 p.m. for lunch. Beware of traffic, particularly motor scooters, which often are driven at high speeds by drivers careless of pedestrians. And, before booking your cruise, make sure the ship's call at Florence is not on a Monday, when major museums and galleries are closed.

 

Don't Miss

Florence is home to many Renaissance masterpieces. One of the world's best-known statues, Michelangelo's David, is the stunning (and colossal) high point of a visit to the Accademia (Via Ricasoli 60, closed Monday; open Tuesday through Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.), where art-lovers will find much else to admire, as well. A short walk away, a spectacular collection of paintings and murals by the early Renaissance painter Fra Angelico can be found at the museum (and former convent) next to the church of San Marco.

 

The city's Gothic-era Duomo (Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 5 p.m.), also known as the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, is one of the world's largest. Entrance to the church is free (expect a long line), but visitors with limited time can buy tickets at the Museo del Duomo behind the church to ascend the dome's 463 steps for a fantastic view of the city and the neighboring countryside. Views from the terrace of the dome (about halfway up the climb) are equally dramatic. Less energetic tourists can see much of the same view from the rooftop bar and coffeeshop of the fashionable department store La Rinascente (2, Piazza della Republica).

 

The church of San Lorenzo, in the city's main market district, houses tombs of the Medici family, as well as the tomb of Donatello. The church is part of a complex that includes Michelangelo's magnificent Laurentian Library and the stunning stairs leading up to it.

 

The Uffizi Gallery (http://www.uffizi.org) houses one of the greatest collections of mostly Italian paintings in the world, including Botticelli's famous Birth of Venus and exquisite 13th- and 14th-century paintings, as well as works by Rubens and Rembrandt. Flights of stairs lead to the galleries, but if climbing them is a problem, ask for directions to the elevator. Because visitors are limited in number, it's a good idea to secure reservations in advance, a process that is easy to do online.

 

You've also got to see Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge in Florence; this one's lined with tourist-oriented shops selling mostly jewelry. It's also a great way to head over to Florence's "Left Bank" -- otherwise known as the Oltrano. Here you'll find Pitti Palace (Piazza Pitti), home to multiple attractions including: the Galleria Palatina (open Tuesday - Sunday 8:15 a.m. - 6:50 p.m.), known for its collection of Raphaels; and Boboli Gardens (Tuesday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., open sporadically on Monday) which is a gorgeous landscaped park/garden, with a cafe within the grounds.

 

Been There, Done That

Pisa, home of the infamous Leaning Tower, is a delightful Tuscan city that's also on the Arno River -- and the closest tourist spot to Livorno.

 

For designer shoppers, the relatively new Firenze Outlet, about 30 minutes south of Florence, is absolutely fabulous. The sleek, outdoor shopping area, incongruously located in the heart of the Chianti wine region, features shops such as La Perla, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Emanuel Ungaro, Fendi, Burberry, Gucci, Frette and Tod's -- among others. The whole facility is much more elegant than those in the U.S. (there's a swanky wine bar and cafe on site), and discounts can be as much as 50 percent.There is shuttle service available from Florence; call the Information Centre at 011-39-055-865-7775 for details. We recommend renting a car; take the A1 motorway towards Florence, pass the city and take the exit marked Incisa, then follow the signs. The main area of exclusive boutique shops in Florence can be found on and around Via de' Tornabuoni (with shops like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Bulgari, among others) and Via della Vigna Nuova. For antiques and funky artisan crafts, head for Borgo Ognissanti and the Via Maggio, in the Oltrarno neighborhood (the other side of Ponte Vecchio, toward Palazzo Pitti). And, of course, jewelry options abound on the famous bridge of the Ponte Vecchio.

 

For serious Prada fans, the Prada Outlet is as famous for being hard to find as for the great deals you can discover. It's located in Montevarchi (also south of Florence); call 011-39-055-91-901 for directions.

 

Lucca is one of the most beguiling undiscovered treasures of Tuscany. This medieval walled city dates back to the time of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, and later embraced the Renaissance era. Major sights to see include the Romanesque-styled Duomo, built in the 13th century; the Museo ****onale di Palazzo Mansi; and the San Michele in Foro, with its bustling, fabulously atmospheric piazza. We have to admit, though, that our favorite activities in Lucca include simply poking around the narrow streets, investigating gorgeous gardens, and shopping with locals and tourists alike. Active types can rent a bike and cycle atop the Passeggiata della Mura, the ring of ramparts that enclose the walled city. We also love sipping Lucchesian wine at a sidewalk cafe, and lunching at Osteria del Neni.

 

Beach aficionados should head to the Ligurian resort town of Forte dei Marmi, the area's most elite summer resort town. It's also got designer shopping and a whole raft of restaurants along the beachfront. While there, visit the nearby town of Pietrasanta, a hub for artists and sculptors and a simply lovely small Italian town; we had a memorable nouvelle Italian lunch at Con Che (Via del Marzocco, 82). And just a note: These villages lie between the Mediterranean Sea and the Apuan Alps, and the white expanse you see near some craggy peaks is not snow -- it's marble. These mountains are the source of much of the marble gracing some of Italy's greatest monuments. Indeed, Michelangelo sourced his from nearby Carrara.

 

 

We have ported in Marseille and Livorno, but took ship's excursions there. If you go on your roll call for your cruise, you can probably find some private tours.

 

I suggest for Marseille going to Avignon, or away from Marseille. Marseille is a bit on the seedy side.

 

If you don't go to Florence from Livorno, check out Pisa and Lucca.

[Du vent dans les voiles]

In Marseille, you can take a boat tour to Les Calanques, (beautiful scenery) and also one to Le Chateau d If ( Marseille's "Alcatraz" where the Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas's hero was a prisoner ).