Mediterranean links

[BaseballMomof4]

My family and I found the maps we purchased from MapEasy were a great way to map out our planned destinations for the day. They are reasonably priced, laminated so they hold up well and very, very easy to read.

 

They are not available for all destinations, but the ones that are available are definitely worth the $7.95.

 

http://www.mapeasy.com/home.cfm

 

I got my MapEasy maps of Rome and Florence yesterday! Ordered them online - $7.95 ea.

 

I am attaching a corner of the Florence map to show why I love MapEasy so much!

[bluwes]

What a great idea.

I appreciate most on here are from the other side of the atlantic so For anyone wishing to fly in and around Europe before or after the cruise there are a few low cost airlines to checkout...

 

Ryanair

EasyJet

FlyBe

Jet 2

Iberia

 

I hope that helps someone, just be aware as they are low cost airlines baggage rules tend to be adhered to strictly :)

 

One of our cruise mates onthe Magic in 2011, did just that. They flew into Manchester from JFK and then Jet2 to Barcelona. Returned the same route. worked out cheaper than flying to Paris or Heathrow and then connecting on to Barcelona.

Definitely one to consider

[Velvetwater]

Be careful with RyanAir folks...lots of really unhappy customers for those guys (including a friend's ruined honeymoon) and they are considered the bargain basement of airlines not to mention the hidden luggage costs.

 

I can really recommend Flybe and Easyjet though from personal experience.

[bridgetjonesni]

Be careful with RyanAir folks...lots of really unhappy customers for those guys (including a friend's ruined honeymoon) and they are considered the bargain basement of airlines not to mention the hidden luggage costs.

 

I can really recommend Flybe and Easyjet though from personal experience.

 

I agree, I flew Ryanair once and never will again. I'm 5'10" and my husband is 6'1" and our knees were completely squashed against the seat in front of us for the whole 3 hour flight. The seats are really uncomfortable too and the inside of the plane is lurid yellow and blue, which gave me a headache after an hour or so. Plus they really go for the hard-sell. Everything costs extra (changes, food, luggage, infants and even checking in at the airport as opposed to online!), then they spend the whole flight trying to sell you duty-free goods, Ryanair calendars, etc, etc. We walked off the plane and agreed that even if it cost us £100 more in future, we would go with any other airline than Ryanair. :cool:

 

I can second the recommendation of Flybe and Easyjet above, and also throw into the mix Jet2 and Aerlingus.

[b_cruise]

Italy tours...easy to sign up. You give your cc but they do not charge it. You can cancel with an email. I have used them on two cruises and will be using them again it is joe bananas italytoursharing.com

 

 

Hop on buses in barcelona..u can usually get discount through hotel.

 

Prebook trains in advance, can get way better deals

 

Easy jet worked for me as well!

 

Be careful when they bring u bread at a restaurant because a lot will add charge on bill.

 

Water...they ask with or without gas ( in Greece the waiter set it on out table and we were charged without asking)

 

Some restaurants in dubrovnik still do not take euros or cc, so ask if u do not have local currency ( that was suppose to change but it happened to me)

 

Make sure u have a couple euros for the people mover in Venice

 

Free wifi at lots of port cafes..just buy a beer..CHEERS!!

[Velvetwater]

 

 

 

Some restaurants in dubrovnik still do not take euros

 

It is often a misconception that an new EU country will immediately be switching to euros. Croatia's currency for long term future is still Kunas and although bigger establishments will accept Euros and quote prices as such(on a non official basis) most of the little great places will want kunas.

 

We are taking both Euro and Kunas with us ashore.

[heatherbelle]

At the end of the main drag in Dubrovnik, there are a couple if cash points, and banks I used my debit card and withdrew some krona here. The taxis took Euros and prices were in a board in the port.

Edited April 19, 2015 by heatherbelle

[Hadders]

Hi, we are a family on our first cruise. We are interested in joining up with other groups who would like to take private tours during the duration of the vista cruise. Our boys will both be 10 at the time of our trip and are very friendly towards other adults and children alike. If you are interested in joining up for a trip on any of the ports, please let me know.

[b_cruise]

Hi, we are a family on our first cruise. We are interested in joining up with other groups who would like to take private tours during the duration of the vista cruise. Our boys will both be 10 at the time of our trip and are very friendly towards other adults and children alike. If you are interested in joining up for a trip on any of the ports, please let me know.

 

You need to find your Roll call on cruise critic. There you can post for tour sharing. I have cruised Europe a few times now and had terrific tours with italytoursharing.com, messinataxi, and Barcelona day tours just to mention a few. But find your roll call, post your tours and others will join😃😃

[debpaytond]

We regularly use the compny for airport transfers. Only dlightly more than using the airport bus and much cheaper than a taxi. We paid £15 for 2 people direct to the hotel and the airport bus was £14 plus you would have to walk from the main square in Barcelona to your hotel

 

https://www.hoppa.com

 

Currently a 25% discount on too.

[Mflores87]

Italy tours...easy to sign up. You give your cc but they do not charge it. You can cancel with an email. I have used them on two cruises and will be using them again it is joe bananas italytoursharing.com

 

I found the italy tour sharing site useful. Lots more options than the Carnival excursions at many of the ports. Only cheap if you get enough people, though!

 

 

If any of you happen to be on the May 14 med cruise, I'm arranging a Lucca & Florence tour.

Link: https://italytoursharing.com/livorno...a-livorno-port

Group name is Flores & Friends (https://italytoursharing.com/groups/details/691)

[b_cruise]

I have gone through my past 3 cruises to Europe and found all these links. I have only posted links where I have used the company and was HAPPY. No links that were not good such as Sun Transfers in Barcelona- do not use,

 

https://Italytoursharing.com (great tour sharing- arrange on your roll call)

 

https://www.joebananalimos.net (great private tours)

 

http://www.sicilytaxiservice.com (great transport- arranged 8 people for very low prices to Taromino from Messina)

 

mykonoshorseland@hotmail.com (horseback riding Mykonos- pickup and drop at port)

 

Doria Ltd. Team <dubrovnik-tours@outlook.com> Dubrovnik

 

Nursen - Ephesus Shuttle <nur@ephesusshuttle.com> Ephesus Shuttle from Kusadasi

 

http://www.eljardi-barcelona.com hotel in barcelona (gothic area) $110 euro, clean Rick Steeves recommended- I enjoyed area, great price.

 

http://www.casamarcelobarcelona.com great B&B Barcelona

 

info@lisbontaxis.com.pt prearranged taxi in Lisbon (excellent)

 

http://www.runnerbeantours.com free walking tour in barcelona (tip at end)

 

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/ train paris to barcelona tickets

 

http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/en/product/21/barcelona-bus-turistic.html HOP ON BUS BARC. although check with your hotel because they offer 5 euro off usually if u buy through hotel

 

http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm Colleseum tickets Rome

[cruiser1202]

I have gone through my past 3 cruises to Europe and found all these links. I have only posted links where I have used the company and was HAPPY. No links that were not good such as Sun Transfers in Barcelona- do not use,

 

https://Italytoursharing.com (great tour sharing- arrange on your roll call)

 

https://www.joebananalimos.net (great private tours)

 

http://www.sicilytaxiservice.com (great transport- arranged 8 people for very low prices to Taromino from Messina)

 

mykonoshorseland@hotmail.com (horseback riding Mykonos- pickup and drop at port)

 

 

Doria Ltd. Team <dubrovnik-tours@outlook.com> Dubrovnik

 

Nursen - Ephesus Shuttle <nur@ephesusshuttle.com> Ephesus Shuttle from Kusadasi

 

http://www.eljardi-barcelona.com hotel in barcelona (gothic area) $110 euro, clean Rick Steeves recommended- I enjoyed area, great price.

 

http://www.casamarcelobarcelona.com great B&B Barcelona

 

info@lisbontaxis.com.pt prearranged taxi in Lisbon (excellent)

 

http://www.runnerbeantours.com free walking tour in barcelona (tip at end)

 

http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/ train paris to barcelona tickets

 

http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/en/product/21/barcelona-bus-turistic.html HOP ON BUS BARC. although check with your hotel because they offer 5 euro off usually if u buy through hotel

 

http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm Colleseum tickets Rome

 

Great info Thank you!

[Vonnie1]

Hi everyone

I thought it was about time i found my roll call for this years cruise.

We are a party of 4 adults- two couples- looking forward to the brand new carnival ship. So pleased and excited to have Carnival back in Europe . Its been too long!!!!

My husband and I sailed on Carnival Breeze back in 2012 again as a brand new ship. We have sailed on NCL a few times as well as Carnival. We have done quite a few of the ports we are sailing to on this year;s cruise but if anyone is doing anything different in Rome apart from the usual sights and needs 4 extra to make up a group then let us know. Also we are looking for ideas for Sardinia and also in Naples we want to go down to Sorrento and across to Capri as we have been to Naples before and visited Pompeii a couple of times.

I will have a look at ShoreBee.com but in the meantime if anyone has any suggestions for the above I would be grateful.

We are arriving in Barcelona on 4th August from the UK and staying in a hotel on Las Ramblas.:)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2175351

[Scratchrat]

You can all check out my blog at kascapades.wordpress.com and follow my ports and cruise info!

 

I'm from Europe and will be aiming to give you as much info as I can :)

[jazm2011]

What a fantastic idea and resource!