B2B stops in Limassol, Cyprus

[Bruin Steve]

Our cruise planning keeps getting stranger and stranger.

We are on B2B cruises on Celebrity Apex out of Athens.  Originally, the two weeks had some variation with the July 31 cruise visiting Santorini, Rhodes, Haifa and Ashdod...and the August 7 itinerary visiting Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Limassol.

Last week, of course, they canceled Ashdod and Haifa and gave us...Mykonos and Limassol...

Making it all even more difficult, we've been to all four ports before, most of them multiple times.

And we have so much nonrefundable OBC, it only makes sense to do the cruise line's shore excursions. 

So, it has been an interesting puzzle finding things new to us...or that we want to revisit...among the small number of offered excursions.

 

This one is the Limassol conundrum:

We now visit Limassol twice, virtually back-to-back.  It's the last port stop on the first week and the first on the second cruise.  August 5 and August 9.

We visited Paphos last time there, so, when we thought it would be the one visit, we settled on the 4x4 excursion (goes to a dam, a small mountain town and a waterfall) as something different.  We are not really thrilled with big bus tours, so, when we found out about the repeat visit, we figured there's a "Small Group" shorex to Paphos and we really haven't been there in a few years, so...that could work.

 

Then, today, Celebrity posted 7 available shorexes for the new Limassol stop on the July 31 cruise...but, no small group Paphos tour...

 

So, unless they add that soon, the answer appears to be either:

1)  Cancel our 4x4 tour on the second itinerary and move it to the first and book the Small Group to Paphos on the second week...or...

2)  Leave the 4x4 tour where it is and book the shorex to Kourion and the Wines of Omodos--likely a big bus excursion--on the second...

 

"Small Group Discoveries:  Paphos Legends and Myths -- 5 and a half hours -- 

Embark on a scenic journey to Pathos and stop for photos at Petra tou Romiou, also known as Aphrodite's Rock, where legend has it the goddess was born from the foaming waves.

Go to Yeroskipou and visit Ayia Paraskevi, one of only two Byzantine churches found on the island, and then enjoy a local tasting of the island’s delectable soft candy, loukoumi, at a local shoo.

Visit the House of Dionysus and admire the beautiful mosaics depicting scenes from Greek mythology, followed by a stop at Saint Paul’s Pillar."

 

"Ruins Of Curium And Wines Of Omodos -- 5 hours -- Take a scenic drive through citrus plantations to Curium (Kourion,) the main historical attraction of this area with its ancient ruins where you will visit its thermal baths, the Roman theatre and the beautiful mosaics of the second century A.D. belonging to the House of Eustolios.
Visit the nearby ruins of Apollo Temple and continue to the picturesque mountain village of Omodos with its church of the Holy cross and the ancient wine press where you can taste some local wines."

 

What would you do?

[cruisemom42]

Personally I think Paphos is the best bit of Cyprus, but I am into classical antiquity. Kourion (Curium) is also very interesting but they rightly combine it with something else as it does not warrant as much time as Paphos. 

 

Both of the tours you list and describe sound better to me than the 4 x 4 tour you mention first.

 

[Bruin Steve]

All settled...

 

Celebrity, this morning, added the Small Group Paphos tour and all of the Mykonos excursions as well.

We canceled the now moot Ashdod and Haifa shorexes (painful as that was to do that) and booked the Small Group Paphos tour...and the Mykonos Cheesemaking shorex (Just looking for something different in a port we've visited multiple times and have the most all-inclusive full day tour booked for the other leg)...

 

So, now we are all set.  We have the Pyrgos tour and the Santorini and Oia tour set for Santorini...The Best of Rhodes (with Lindos and the old town--full day) and the Small Group inside tour of the palace for Rhodes...Paphos and the 4x4 tour for Limassol...and Best of Mykonos (Delos, monastery, Island tour) and Cheesemaking for Mykonos...

 

Remember, we've been to all of these ports multiple times and looking for something different...so, yes, some of these choices would not be most people's top recommendations.

Edited July 8, 2021 by Bruin Steve

[PTCruizer]

On 7/8/2021 at 4:13 PM, Bruin Steve said:

and the 4x4 tour for Limassol..

Steve, we just did this on the second Apex sailing. My advice is to run, not walk, to your assigned Land Rover so you don’t get stuck sitting sideways in the back. Here is a photo of the vehicles.