Melbourne Angel Posted April 25, 2016 #1 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Hi there, My husband and I are going on our very first cruise ever and we are very excited. We will be on the Norwegian Epic and will be at sea from May 8 2016 to May 15 2016. We will be leaving from and arriving back to Barcelona. The ports we will be stopping at are: Tuesday 10 May (7am-7pm) - Naples/Pompeii Wednesday 11 May (6am-7pm) - Civitavecchia (Rome) Thursday 12 May (7am-7pm) - Livorno (Florence/Pisa) Friday 13 May (8am-6pm) - Cannes Saturday 14 May (7am-4pm) - Provence (Marseille) We are trying to work out land tours/activities at each port and will really appreciate any advice on how to book, who to book with, etc. Thanks heaps :):) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted April 25, 2016 #2 Share Posted April 25, 2016 You have left it very late to arrange independent excursions. Your best hope now is to join the ROLL CALL for your cruise and hope that some members have openings on the excursions they have arranged. To find your ROLL CALL, go back to the main boards page here, scroll down to ROLL CALLS, click on NCL, then EPIC, and look for a thread with the dates for your cruise. A guidebook such as Rick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports will help you work out what you can do on your own, but you don't have much time left to obtain and read it. Some reading on the Ports of Call boards here will help, but you may find you have to book ships tours. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted April 25, 2016 #3 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Hi there,My husband and I are going on our very first cruise ever and we are very excited. We will be on the Norwegian Epic and will be at sea from May 8 2016 to May 15 2016. We will be leaving from and arriving back to Barcelona. The ports we will be stopping at are: Tuesday 10 May (7am-7pm) - Naples/Pompeii Wednesday 11 May (6am-7pm) - Civitavecchia (Rome) Thursday 12 May (7am-7pm) - Livorno (Florence/Pisa) Friday 13 May (8am-6pm) - Cannes Saturday 14 May (7am-4pm) - Provence (Marseille) We are trying to work out land tours/activities at each port and will really appreciate any advice on how to book, who to book with, etc. Thanks heaps :):) in Naples we planned to use local train to go from Port to Pompeii...lots of info online to plan this...ship then put on a bus to and from the ship to Pompeii for reasonable price..drops you off at site then picks up in a few hours..ample time to explore Pompeii I would have on your own planned but be able to switch gears if easier option is open other option in Napes is to go to Capri. There are ferries and hydrofoils from port to Capri. You can also go take a ferry from there to Sorrento and take a train back. Amalfi coast is also doable. but traffic there is a nightmare. We do not normally take ships excursions as they are expensive but did so on one of our earlier cruises that stopped in Naples as the ship will wait for their tours if late. Our tour was late and the ship waited. If you are on your own it would likely leave. ROME easy day trip on train. search on Cruise Critic. people have put full details up with maps and photos of trip. get a return train ticket (use machine to stamp it in the station ) as this also acts as metro ticket in Rome. Plan on a few sites in Rome as you will not have time to do everything. Also, if you go into the collosseum or the Vatican or Vatican museum these take lots of time. for that reason if you can afford it a tour may be worth it as it will cut the lines. Livorno We did the train to Florence and stopped in Pisa on the way back. If you want to see David get tickets online. Time spent there means Pisa a gamble. If taking the train try and plan on not taking the last possible train back to give you a second chance should you miss a train. Cannes We just walked into port here. There are great views up the hill to the left of the port. Hope you have a great trip. Its been awhile since we have done these ports so I suggest using search function in cruise critic to get up to date advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjdcruises4fun Posted April 25, 2016 #4 Share Posted April 25, 2016 I would go under the Roll Call Tool and look for your cruise to see if there is a roll call. Usually you will find other people in the group that have booked excursions. There are also shared excursion that you can look for based on your cruise dates. For example, one that we know of is: http://www.shareashoreexcursioninitaly.com/ Hope that helps. Rachel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sauer-kraut Posted April 25, 2016 #5 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Go to the PORTS OF CALL Boards for Europe here on Cruise Critic! You will get all kinds of information and how to DIY excursions with public transport! So much helpful advice over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerDave Posted April 26, 2016 #6 Share Posted April 26, 2016 Nothing like waiting until the last minute. :eek: I will be on the sailing before you (May 1-8) and booked all my stuff weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne Angel Posted April 26, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted April 26, 2016 (edited) Thank you everyone and so sorry for the late reply. I just figured out how to reply. Edited April 26, 2016 by Melbourne Angel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne Angel Posted April 26, 2016 Author #8 Share Posted April 26, 2016 in Naples we planned to use local train to go from Port to Pompeii...lots of info online to plan this...ship then put on a bus to and from the ship to Pompeii for reasonable price..drops you off at site then picks up in a few hours..ample time to explore PompeiiI would have on your own planned but be able to switch gears if easier option is open other option in Napes is to go to Capri. There are ferries and hydrofoils from port to Capri. You can also go take a ferry from there to Sorrento and take a train back. Amalfi coast is also doable. but traffic there is a nightmare. We do not normally take ships excursions as they are expensive but did so on one of our earlier cruises that stopped in Naples as the ship will wait for their tours if late. Our tour was late and the ship waited. If you are on your own it would likely leave. ROME easy day trip on train. search on Cruise Critic. people have put full details up with maps and photos of trip. get a return train ticket (use machine to stamp it in the station ) as this also acts as metro ticket in Rome. Plan on a few sites in Rome as you will not have time to do everything. Also, if you go into the collosseum or the Vatican or Vatican museum these take lots of time. for that reason if you can afford it a tour may be worth it as it will cut the lines. Livorno We did the train to Florence and stopped in Pisa on the way back. If you want to see David get tickets online. Time spent there means Pisa a gamble. If taking the train try and plan on not taking the last possible train back to give you a second chance should you miss a train. Cannes We just walked into port here. There are great views up the hill to the left of the port. Hope you have a great trip. Its been awhile since we have done these ports so I suggest using search function in cruise critic to get up to date advice. Thank you so much for the info :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Canuck Posted April 26, 2016 #9 Share Posted April 26, 2016 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1518706&highlight=rome+on+your+own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne Angel Posted April 26, 2016 Author #10 Share Posted April 26, 2016 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1518706&highlight=rome+on+your+own Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted April 27, 2016 #11 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Nothing like waiting until the last minute. :eek: I will be on the sailing before you (May 1-8) and booked all my stuff weeks ago. But, you haven't packed...;):p;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fabnfortysomething Posted April 27, 2016 #12 Share Posted April 27, 2016 just a note because the ship doesn't call at a non EU port there will be Spanish VAT payable at about 12% on all onboard purchases including bar drinks If you don't know about this beforehand it's a nasty surprise when you get the letter in your cabin informing you [nothing to do with NCL by the way-applies to all sailings that don't call at a port outside EU] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerDave Posted April 27, 2016 #13 Share Posted April 27, 2016 But, you haven't packed...;):p;) I have my camera, passport and toothbrush packed. What else do I need? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted April 27, 2016 #14 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I have my camera, passport and toothbrush packed. What else do I need? :D Not a thing! You're totally set. You may want to put a clean pair of underwear in your back pocket. Just a thought. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruckerDave Posted April 27, 2016 #15 Share Posted April 27, 2016 (edited) Not a thing! You're totally set. You may want to put a clean pair of underwear in your back pocket. Just a thought. ;) I'm just going to wear two pair on the way over. Front/back, inside out front back again times 2 and I have 8 days covered. :p Edited April 27, 2016 by TruckerDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted April 27, 2016 #16 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I'm just going to wear two pair on the way over. Front/back, inside out front back again times 2 and I have 8 days covered. :p I bow to your resourcefulness. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne Angel Posted April 27, 2016 Author #17 Share Posted April 27, 2016 just a notebecause the ship doesn't call at a non EU port there will be Spanish VAT payable at about 12% on all onboard purchases including bar drinks If you don't know about this beforehand it's a nasty surprise when you get the letter in your cabin informing you [nothing to do with NCL by the way-applies to all sailings that don't call at a port outside EU] Ooooo that's good to know. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2specialkidsforme Posted April 28, 2016 #18 Share Posted April 28, 2016 My first time on the Epic I sailed round trip from Rome (Civi). I was solo and first time in Europe so I took NCL excursions and really enjoyed them. Here are the NCL excursions I took: Naples: Pompeii/Sorrento and Capri - very long day but I really enjoyed each stop. Loved Sorrento so much my husband and I went there for a week this past October and did lots of side trips. Livorno: I took the excursion to the Cinque Terre - loved it! We visited three of the villages - took a bus to first and boat and train between other two then bus again back to ship. Provence: I took a shorter excursion and visited Aix in Provence. Had a very enjoyable day. If you arrive in Barcelona a day or two prior to sailing, I highly recommend going to Park Guell. Absolutely beautiful!!! I have since done more traveling in Europe and additional cruises and have done private tours, etc. In case you can't arrange any private tours - I would recommend the tours I did take. Each was well organized and I felt they were worth the money I paid. Enjoy your cruise!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melbourne Angel Posted April 28, 2016 Author #19 Share Posted April 28, 2016 My first time on the Epic I sailed round trip from Rome (Civi). I was solo and first time in Europe so I took NCL excursions and really enjoyed them. Here are the NCL excursions I took: Naples: Pompeii/Sorrento and Capri - very long day but I really enjoyed each stop. Loved Sorrento so much my husband and I went there for a week this past October and did lots of side trips. Livorno: I took the excursion to the Cinque Terre - loved it! We visited three of the villages - took a bus to first and boat and train between other two then bus again back to ship. Provence: I took a shorter excursion and visited Aix in Provence. Had a very enjoyable day. If you arrive in Barcelona a day or two prior to sailing, I highly recommend going to Park Guell. Absolutely beautiful!!! I have since done more traveling in Europe and additional cruises and have done private tours, etc. In case you can't arrange any private tours - I would recommend the tours I did take. Each was well organized and I felt they were worth the money I paid. Enjoy your cruise!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am getting excited now :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2specialkidsforme Posted April 28, 2016 #20 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am getting excited now :) You are very welcome😀 cant wait to hear how you enjoyed it and what you did in each port. Have fun!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sissaaaaaa Posted April 29, 2016 #21 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Epic is a GREAT ship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin'Christine Posted April 29, 2016 #22 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Nothing like waiting until the last minute. :eek: I will be on the sailing before you (May 1-8) and booked all my stuff weeks ago. No need to be snippy. Just because you booked ahead does not mean everyone has to book ahead. To each his or her own, my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin'Christine Posted April 29, 2016 #23 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I loved the Epic! If the Blue Man Group is still performing, make sure to go. They are fabulous and indescribable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting_Cruiser Posted April 29, 2016 #24 Share Posted April 29, 2016 I loved the Epic! If the Blue Man Group is still performing' date=' make sure to go. They are fabulous and indescribable.[/quote'] They haven't been on the Epic for I think more than a year. I sailed on the Epic last month and Priscilla Queen of the Dessert was the "big" show. SO good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridastorm Posted May 2, 2016 #25 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I'm just going to wear two pair on the way over. Front/back, inside out front back again times 2 and I have 8 days covered. :p I couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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