Athens included tours

[oceanview64]

Hi all,   We are booked for Sept 2020 Viking Sea for the Empires of the Mediterranean starting in Athens and onto Venice.  We went to Athens in 2010 and have been to the Acropolis and Parliament and also gone on a tour to Cape Sounion.   For the 2020 trip we plan to go into Athens a day early and want arrange a tour but we don't want to duplicate what Viking will be offering us for the day and a half that we will be docked in Piraeus.  If anyone has kept or knows what the included tours are in Athens this September perhaps you could let me know.  Many thanks in advance.  Jan

[cocopico]

42 minutes ago, oceanview64 said:

Hi all,   We are booked for Sept 2020 Viking Sea for the Empires of the Mediterranean starting in Athens and onto Venice.  We went to Athens in 2010 and have been to the Acropolis and Parliament and also gone on a tour to Cape Sounion.   For the 2020 trip we plan to go into Athens a day early and want arrange a tour but we don't want to duplicate what Viking will be offering us for the day and a half that we will be docked in Piraeus.  If anyone has kept or knows what the included tours are in Athens this September perhaps you could let me know.  Many thanks in advance.  Jan

There is only one “included” tour in Athens, which is a “panoramic” tour of the city.  It is described on the Viking website as “See the highlights of Athens by motor coach and visit the National Archaeological Museum. From the port of Piraeus, journey with your guide into ancient Athens. You will pass the small harbor of Zea, whose 5th-century BC dock still survives, and the elegant promenade at Mikrolimano. In the center of historic Athens, you will see the Hellenic Parliament and Syntagma (Constitution) Square, as well as the distinctively uniformed Presidential Guard, or “Evzones,” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Your scenic drive also includes views of Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Following the panoramic tour, you will visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s great museums. With more than 11,000 exhibits, it provides a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of prehistory to Late Antiquity. If you would like, enjoy a coffee at one of the many local cafés during your free time.”

[Mitina]

7 hours ago, cocopico said:

There is only one “included” tour in Athens, which is a “panoramic” tour of the city.  It is described on the Viking website as “See the highlights of Athens by motor coach and visit the National Archaeological Museum. 

We were on the Venice to Athens route. But in addition to whatever you do on your early day, the first day on the ship, Viking should provide a shuttle. The panoramic tour portion is very limited, so there won't be much duplication. If you take the included early, you'll have the remainder of the day to see more sights and shuttle back. 

After the museum visit, we walked on our own to the central market and then the Plaka district. Shuttle picks up from the nearby Hadrian's Arch to get back to the ship. 

[cocopico]

24 minutes ago, Mitina said:

 

After the museum visit, we walked on our own to the central market and then the Plaka district. Shuttle picks up from the nearby Hadrian's Arch to get back to the ship. 

We did the exact same thing.  In general, whenever we opt to take an included tour in any port we try and get the earliest one so we an hang out on our own afterwards.  

[oceanview64]

13 hours ago, cocopico said:

There is only one “included” tour in Athens, which is a “panoramic” tour of the city.  It is described on the Viking website as “See the highlights of Athens by motor coach and visit the National Archaeological Museum. From the port of Piraeus, journey with your guide into ancient Athens. You will pass the small harbor of Zea, whose 5th-century BC dock still survives, and the elegant promenade at Mikrolimano. In the center of historic Athens, you will see the Hellenic Parliament and Syntagma (Constitution) Square, as well as the distinctively uniformed Presidential Guard, or “Evzones,” at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Your scenic drive also includes views of Panathenaic Stadium and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Following the panoramic tour, you will visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the world’s great museums. With more than 11,000 exhibits, it provides a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of prehistory to Late Antiquity. If you would like, enjoy a coffee at one of the many local cafés during your free time.”

Many thanks to you Cocopico - this is exactly what I needed

[geffric]

We started in ATHENS on the Viking Orion ATHENS to MUMBAI.  The first day we did the hop on hop off..the next day was the included tour. It drove past sites and you visited the museum.. that was it.. it did not include entrance to any other sites.. 

On our cruise we left ATHENS early so exploring was done before the cruise. There is a free walking tour that was VERY informative..

[lackcreativity]

5 hours ago, oceanview64 said:

Many thanks to you Cocopico - this is exactly what I needed

The descriptions (but not the prices) of the tours for every port are listed on the website even before you are able to view them on My Viking Journey. On the itinerary page for a given cruise, click on each day and then the list of the included and possible optional excursions will appear.   ( Each particular sailing of a cruise may have some differences.) Click on a given tour to read the description.

Edited July 24, 2019 by lackcreativity