10 Day Greek Isle/Italy NCL last min booking! HELP!

[Essiesmom]

Just because you fly into Rome does not mean you have to return from/through Rome.  Many cruises start and end in different ports.  EM

[kelib]

If they really like the history then the extra time in Rome and Athens would be worth it. 

[KeithJenner]

10 minutes ago, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

 

Ahh I was thinking it would be bigger deal to fly our of Athens since it was flying out of different area than they would come in at.

There is no requirement to fly back from where you arrive. I do it the other way (I live in Europe) and often fly into one US city and back from another.

[MeHeartCruising]

12 minutes ago, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

Ahhh decision has been made! They are going with the NCL 10 day! We are making progression!

Norwegian cruise: 10 day Cruise Greek Isles & Santorini, Mykonos & Florence 

Date: May 16th-26th

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Rome

Santorini

Athens

Mykonos

Olympia

Valleta

Messina

Salerno

Florence

Rome

 

 

 

I think this is a great choice.  It's a great itinerary for anyone and, in particular, perfect for first timers.  have them fly into Rome either the day before or 2 days (or more before the cruise).  Book their hotel in central Rome and not at Civitavecchia.  FYI, Civitavecchia is the port for Rome and is 60-90 minutes from Rome.  But there's not much there to explore.  There are multiple ways to get from central Rome to Civitavecchia on the morning of the cruise.  Review the Italian Ports forum for options.

 

As someone above mentioned, have them buy Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruises book.  Depending on their phone/tablet/computer, you can get it in electronic form quickly or in paper form to take with you.  That should give you a great idea of what to do in most of these ports.

 

I hope the kids appreciate your gift.  It's awesome.

 

 

[KeithJenner]

11 minutes ago, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

Ahhh decision has been made! They are going with the NCL 10 day! We are making progression!

Norwegian cruise: 10 day Cruise Greek Isles & Santorini, Mykonos & Florence 

Date: May 16th-26th

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Rome

Santorini

Athens

Mykonos

Olympia

Valleta

Messina

Salerno

Florence

Rome

Rome - As stated, spend a few days in Rome beforehand if you can. Lots to do and many people like a tour, but Rome is very walkable and you see lots when doing so. Getting to the port is a bit of a pain. There is a train to Civitavecchia but then you are still a way short of the port. Most popular is a transfer of some sort. We like to use public transport if we can, but use transfers these days for Rome departures.

 

Santorini - As I mentioned earlier, the tender/cable car is a pain. Don't be tempted to use the footpath up or down the hill, as the donkeys are not well controlled as they come down. We like to visit Oia and use the cruise ship excursion to avoid the cable car on the way there.

 

Athens - Whilst it it only a few miles to the city centre, it is a bit of a pain to do it yourself (it is a bit of a walk to the train station. It is worth getting some sort of transfer even if you are going to explore yourself. Again, loads to see and do. If you are doing it yourself then look at booking Acropolis tickets in advance.

 

Mykonos - Assuming you dock, there is the choice of a bus or boat shuttle into town. If you tender then you will be dropped off in town. It's a nice town to wander round, but also worth considering getting the ferry to Delos. NCL offer a tour, but it is quite easy to do the ferry yourself (we haven't done it yet, but are probably going to later this year).

 

Olympia - You are a little way from Olympia itself, which is well worth visiting. We hired a car to drive there, but otherwise you will need a transfer of some sort. There is a train station I think, but I didn't really look into that. There are some quite popular beaches around the port, I believe, if you don't fancy the journey.

 

Valetta - Not been there yet, but have started planning for our visit there later this year. You dock close to the town centre, and there is a lift to get up the hill to the centre. There seems to be lots in the city, so we won't be travelling far.

 

Messina - The most popular places to visit are Mt Etna or Taormina, which is a nice town along the coast from Messina. You can get to Taormina by train, but it is easier (and maybe not much more expensive) to get a transfer. A lot depends on port times (and days) as the trains are sometimes not frequent.

 

Salerno - Not been there, but been to Naples many times. There is a lot around, like Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri, but I can't comment on how easy it is to get anywhere. If I could visit just one place in the area it would be Pompeii.

 

Florence - You dock at Livorno, which is quite a way from Florence. Pisa is a lot closer and can be reached by train. If you want to do Florence then you really need an excursion (we have never gone to Florence from the port due to this). To be honest, I'm not a fan of this stop as everywhere is quite a distance, and you need to pay for a shuttle to even leave the port. We have stayed onboard in Livorno far more often than we've left the ship.

 

There will, of course, be many other options that I haven't mentioned. For example, there are tours to Conque Terre from Livorno. It is also quite a way away, but is likely what we will do next time we get off the ship there. It''s supposed to be very nice even though it would be a rushed visit.

[The Traveling Man]

Just now, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

Ahhh decision has been made! They are going with the NCL 10 day! We are making progression!

Norwegian cruise: 10 day Cruise Greek Isles & Santorini, Mykonos & Florence 

Date: May 16th-26th

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Rome

Santorini

Athens

Mykonos

Olympia

Valleta

Messina

Salerno

Florence

Rome

 

This itinerary features three ports that are not on the other cruise, Olympia, Valleta, and Florence (Livorno).  It misses one on the RCL cruise, Ephesus.  The NCL cruise also specifies a stop in Messina, while the RCL has a stop somewhere in Sicily, perhaps in Messina.  Another major difference is the out and back from Civitavecchia (Rome) rather than repositioning from Rome to Athens.  Many of these ports provide excellent opportunities to explore on your own if you don't want to take an excursion.  In Santorini you can take the cable car to the top of the hill and find plenty to do just exploring the town of Fira.  Another choice would be to take a tour (possibly by boat) to the town of Oia, with a bus back to Fira.  Athens is about a half hour bus ride from the port city of Pireas.  A hop-on, hop-off bus is a great option here.  Just be sure to allow enough time for the return to the ship.  Mykonos is definitely a walkable port of call.  There usually is shuttle service available from the pier into town for a small fee, but we have walked it many times.  There are some terrific seaside restaurants for fresh seafood.  Olympia is one place where a tour is recommended.  The site of the original Olympic venue is memorable.  Book a tour guide for a comprehensive historical tour.  The museum houses artifacts from the original site.  Be sure to get photos of the site of the original stadium plus the location when the Olympic torch is lit.  Valleta, Malta is easily walkable from the pier.  The trick is to walk down the seaside road a few hundred feet from the pier to find the outdoor elevator that takes you up to the town of Valleta.  The Grand Master's Palace and St. John's Co-Cathedral are must-sees.  In Messina, be sure to note that many merchants close their shops from about noon until mid afternoon in observance of the Italian version of a siesta.  Depending upon the ship's arrival and departure times, you may find yourself all dressed up with nowhere to go if you don't plan ahead.  Salerno offers many options.  You could take a tour of Pompei, a ferry to Capri, a bus tour of the Amalfi coast, or simply enjoy the city of Salerno.  In Livorno you will need a tour to visit either Pisa or Florence.  I would recommend a small tour van rather than one of the tours which use a full size bus.  The towns of Pisa and Florence each feature many narrow streets which the larger buses can't use.  The bus will drop you off in a remote parking lot which is a 20 to 30 minute walk from the heart of the city.  The smaller vans can take you right to the most important sites, saving you many minutes getting to and from.  It definitely is worth the added expense of the "exclusive" tour vs. the big bus. 

[old nutter]

One important point about the med is not just what is there now, but what was there in some cases thousands of years ago and in between as well.  Moving around on your own can be fun, but without either many hours of research or booking a trip that is escorted by someone who you trust to tell you the whole stories of the places.  Whether you chose a private tour or do an NCL one is more a choice of cost or smaller groups not what you will get out of the trip.

 

I can point to a couple of  trips that would take many visits for you to understand without a really good guide.  Both trips are in Naples, Herculaneum and Campi Flegrei.  In Herculaneum, almost every step uncovers a snippet about both the AD79 eruption of Vesuvius and the implications of the Greek and Roman societies at the time and how they recovered from the disaster.  If you have travelled half way round the world to visit the place, it would be wasted if you cannot get underneath the place and this only happens if you make the most of your short time on the site.

 

Campi Flegrei is a huge flat volcano some 5-7 miles across and it was where the Greek and Roman fleets were headquartered around AD100-300.  The whole land area has moved up and down several feet in the past few years because of the magma movements.  You can see the entrance to Hell and where the second most important Oracle sat and sit in the cave where she gave out her prophesies. 

 

You would never find these special places on your own in the short part of a day you will have there.  I only use these examples to highlight how all of the ports on med cruises have so much to show of their existence and the influence they have had on the whole of western civilisation over thousands of years.  Those of us who live in Europe and can travel round all of these places numerous times have the luxury of time to learn for ourselves.  Those who are coming to these places and countries from a long way away for the first time need to make the most of every minute of the trip and you can only get that by having experienced guides show you inside the places.  That way you will get a much better idea of why we Europeans are so outward looking and then go back home and start planning your next trip here.  Above all, remember that the sun and sand is pretty near the same all over the world, so why not make the most of the beach time near home and learn how and why the rest of the world does what and how it does by delving deep inside the history of thousands of years, not a few hundred.

[jsn55]

6 hours ago, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

also, for those that have asked, this is the two trips im trying to help them decide on:

Norwegian cruise: 10 day Cruise Greek Isles & Santorini, Mykonos & Florence 

Date: May 16th-26th

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Rome

Santorini

Athens

Mykonos

Olympia

Valleta

Messina

Salerno

Florence

Rome

 

Royal Caribbean cruise:  7 nights Greek Isle Cruise

Date: May 15th-22nd

Ship: Enchantment of the Seas

Rome

Salerno

Sicily

Santorini

Ephesus (Kusadai)

Mykonos

Athens

*NOTE* this cruise starts in Rome, but ends in Athens. Im assuming this wouldnt be too much of a hassle to get a flight from Athens to Rome? then to US? or is this something I want to avoid?

Check 'multi-city' for the air as well as two O/W tix via Roma.  And also check a R/T from Roma with that intra-euro flight.  Airfares have been INSANE for months, so it's worth exploring every idea.  With the new job, the length of the trip is probably quite tight, but getting in a day before the cruise is vital.  As far as long bus rides on a shore excursion, they should scrutinize the details.  I love gazing out a bus window at the scenery, anything over an hour makes my husband break out in hives.

Edited April 23, 2023 by jsn55

[complawyer]

we book multi city on many occasions you can fly into rome and return from athens. last year we flew into venice and returned from rome. a few years ago we booked into hong kong and back rom singapore. later this year we're flying into london for  a cruise and returning from stockholm. it is really  no problem.

 

since both sites are stocked with amazing sites, i would book maybe 2 days ahead of sailing to rome, and another 2 days of sightseeing in athens. you can always find a shuttle service to transfer you from rome to citiavecchia (rome's cruiseport) .  also alot of times we merely hire a cab to take us around. it's usually cheaper than the ncl shore excursions, and all the ones ive ever taken are friendly, reputable, and always get us back to the ship on time. 

[gotscrapz]

On 4/22/2023 at 11:54 AM, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

Ahhh decision has been made! They are going with the NCL 10 day! We are making progression!

Norwegian cruise: 10 day Cruise Greek Isles & Santorini, Mykonos & Florence 

Date: May 16th-26th

Ship: Norwegian Breakaway

Rome

Santorini

Athens

Mykonos

Olympia

Valletta

Messina

Salerno

Florence

Rome

 

 

Ok I did one similiar - Rome - Santorini - Athens - Mykonos - Valleta / Malta - Naples - Messina - Livorno / Florence - Rome. I went in September and researched for a few months. I have lots of info. we spent a few days pre-cruise in Rome and went up the Amalfi coast on a private tour and to the Vatican etc. We did a mix of the ship and private tours - it was a blast, and exhausting. If you want specific booking info, it would be easier to email - but I will say many of our excursions, etc sold out well before we sailed. I will read a bit further down to see what they like and what ports they are still looking for. 

[eileeshb]

When checking air routes try to avoid CDG in Paris for connections as the french air traffic controllers and other unions are rather fond of striking.  It’s pretty unsettled around Paris at the moment as their President has just raised the retirement/pension age from 62 to 64.

 

If your flight searches offer Ryanair or EasyJet as connection options within Europe they are both budget airlines so check baggage rules. There’s also Icelandair who do transatlantic flights on a budget airline model. 

[gotscrapz]

Ok I don't see much more info so I will brief - if you want more info let me know. I can send you company info etc because I am not sure of the rules on CC unless in the Port forum.

 

This ws the 1st cruise that I booked so many NCL excursions and was happy to have the FAS $50 credits. Many our excursions were far from the port and I wanted to make sure we got back to the ship!

 

Rome - Day 1 arrival - we were pretty central and did walking around to local things - like Plaza Navona, local architecture, and local restaurants. It was a busy day though. Spanish steps, local historical buildings - Pantheon. 

 

Day 2 - private our up the Amalfi coast - long but so worth it! We took the high-speed train from Rome to Naples and were picked up there - went to Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello.

I think it was $300 E for 2. I know the price varies for the season, but we were in high season. Plus tip - we did $60 E I think.  Nice clean car- Mercedes? The driver was great, we let him know how long in the area and modified it based on what we did and saw. It was hot and humid and he would get the car running and AC going before our meeting after each stop and had cold drinks. It's a long day 12 hours I think? and it was a snapshot really of each area - but so glad we did it and now we are planning a land trip for next year and know where we will go back too!

Might be bookable?

 

Day 3 the Vatican in the morning - walked from our hotel - group tour of like 16 max $120 E for two. Skip the line tickets. Truly again, worth every penny. We had a funny British guide - knowledgeable and humorous - and yes we did skip many lines. We did the Basilica as well because as a Christian I had to see The Pieta and the Sistine Chapel. This was about  3 1/2 4 hours if I recall. Then a little time in the square there. For us - it moved quickly but we saw a lot and it is a must-do. 

Should be easily bookable - many options.

 

No idea what we did in the afternoon lol, I do know that night.

 

Night 3 - we did, don't laugh, a golf cart tour. 

This was super fun and cheap. I think $100 ish E. We were picked up from our hotel and she went where we asked and some other really cool places. I know we went to the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and so many cute cobbled streets with gorgeous buildings and historical sites- the guide was super knowledgeable and flexible. It was so fun to see everything lit up and night and many local places that people together - so many amazing squares with street music and food and drink carts, the outdoor restaurant with the Umbrellas. It was 2 1/2 hours if I recall. 

 

Day 4 - cruise port! Sail away! we used a shared shuttle from Rome, which was super cheap but I personally wouldn't do it again. It was recommended here and groups of us the that other library faces place. We were with mostly cruise passengers. It was maybe 1-1/2 ride to port from Rome with all of the pick-ups. Our driver was a hot mess- rude, etc. People weren't always ready- one couple didn't cancel but hadn't told us so that was a mess - that took a while. We were squished lol. But I think it was like $35 E a person and we got there about 12 / 1230 if I recall. So it worked - but I am a point in life where I'd rather pay more and be comfortable. 

Easily bookable.

 

Okay, I am not sure which day was what...

 

Santorini - we did the ship's wine-tasting tour. We enjoyed this, It got us up to the top - which if you don't book an excursion is a situation itself. We went to a winery with breathtaking views - wine, snacks etc. It was extremely hot and humid and I didn't think the wine was the way to go lol. But we enjoyed the view and the setup - nice tables/chairs/ umbrellas. The staff was amazing - clean bathrooms! I do understand there are different wineries and may rotate  - but ours was very nice. I can get you the name if you want.

 

Then we went to - oh gosh - I am not sure, but where the famous blue & white building with the cross and the bell overlook.. breathtaking, saw a few of the famous photo spots and pretty areas with the white steps and bougainvilleas. 

 

After that guide took us to the main area/markets and we were on our own. We enjoyed walking around and buying some handmade things. They had everything from small and large paintings (I bought some 5x7s), pottery, and food/drinks. Fun stuff.

 

Then we got in the long line to take the funicular down - important to watch the line - it is your way down and important to catch the tender back! Great views and a little fun lol.

 

Ship booked- so check there. I did not want to this excursion - my mom booked it. I ended up really liking it and found we saw so much of the area and hit the highlights. IDK maybe $100 pp with excursion credit like $150 total for 2.

 

Ok to be continued.. I am happy to send info and pics for anything they have an interest in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gotscrapz]

17 minutes ago, eileeshb said:

When checking air routes try to avoid CDG in Paris for connections as the french air traffic controllers and other unions are rather fond of striking.  It’s pretty unsettled around Paris at the moment as their President has just raised the retirement/pension age from 62 to 64.

 

If your flight searches offer Ryanair or EasyJet as connection options within Europe they are both budget airlines so check baggage rules. There’s also Icelandair who do transatlantic flights on a budget airline model. 

We flew American - it wasn't cheap - at the time gas $6.00 a gallon though. we are in Lake Tahoe so we flew from Reno - changed planes in Dallas and then straight to FCO in Rome. Same route back.

 

[gotscrapz]

Seriously I have detailed itineraries and contacts if they like any of what we did - happy to share. Also - Get Rick Steve's Italy book - Amazon $17 if your local bookstore doesn't have it ( I am a shop local girl but you are short on time! ) and so much detailed information - especially transportation options with detailed directions plus tours/sights/restaurants - lists from a slice of pizza to a 6-course meal. Pull out Maps even! We sued this - we had Greece and Italy books of his. And we used them!

 

And a big congratulations on his graduation! I have two sons in engineering programs - 1 mechanical engineer working on his bachelor's, 1 son in the military, 1 electrical engineer starting his master's, and my daughter who is halfway through Cosmo school. I just finished my master's this month as well - I am in healthcare. so I get it!

[jsn55]

2 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

Ok I don't see much more info so I will brief - if you want more info let me know. I can send you company info etc because I am not sure of the rules on CC unless in the Port forum.

 

This ws the 1st cruise that I booked so many NCL excursions and was happy to have the FAS $50 credits. Many our excursions were far from the port and I wanted to make sure we got back to the ship!

 

Rome - Day 1 arrival - we were pretty central and did walking around to local things - like Plaza Navona, local architecture, and local restaurants. It was a busy day though. Spanish steps, local historical buildings - Pantheon. 

 

Day 2 - private our up the Amalfi coast - long but so worth it! We took the high-speed train from Rome to Naples and were picked up there - went to Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello.

I think it was $300 E for 2. I know the price varies for the season, but we were in high season. Plus tip - we did $60 E I think.  Nice clean car- Mercedes? The driver was great, we let him know how long in the area and modified it based on what we did and saw. It was hot and humid and he would get the car running and AC going before our meeting after each stop and had cold drinks. It's a long day 12 hours I think? and it was a snapshot really of each area - but so glad we did it and now we are planning a land trip for next year and know where we will go back too!

Might be bookable?

 

Day 3 the Vatican in the morning - walked from our hotel - group tour of like 16 max $120 E for two. Skip the line tickets. Truly again, worth every penny. We had a funny British guide - knowledgeable and humorous - and yes we did skip many lines. We did the Basilica as well because as a Christian I had to see The Pieta and the Sistine Chapel. This was about  3 1/2 4 hours if I recall. Then a little time in the square there. For us - it moved quickly but we saw a lot and it is a must-do. 

Should be easily bookable - many options.

 

No idea what we did in the afternoon lol, I do know that night.

 

Night 3 - we did, don't laugh, a golf cart tour. 

This was super fun and cheap. I think $100 ish E. We were picked up from our hotel and she went where we asked and some other really cool places. I know we went to the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and so many cute cobbled streets with gorgeous buildings and historical sites- the guide was super knowledgeable and flexible. It was so fun to see everything lit up and night and many local places that people together - so many amazing squares with street music and food and drink carts, the outdoor restaurant with the Umbrellas. It was 2 1/2 hours if I recall. 

 

Day 4 - cruise port! Sail away! we used a shared shuttle from Rome, which was super cheap but I personally wouldn't do it again. It was recommended here and groups of us the that other library faces place. We were with mostly cruise passengers. It was maybe 1-1/2 ride to port from Rome with all of the pick-ups. Our driver was a hot mess- rude, etc. People weren't always ready- one couple didn't cancel but hadn't told us so that was a mess - that took a while. We were squished lol. But I think it was like $35 E a person and we got there about 12 / 1230 if I recall. So it worked - but I am a point in life where I'd rather pay more and be comfortable. 

Easily bookable.

 

Okay, I am not sure which day was what...

 

Santorini - we did the ship's wine-tasting tour. We enjoyed this, It got us up to the top - which if you don't book an excursion is a situation itself. We went to a winery with breathtaking views - wine, snacks etc. It was extremely hot and humid and I didn't think the wine was the way to go lol. But we enjoyed the view and the setup - nice tables/chairs/ umbrellas. The staff was amazing - clean bathrooms! I do understand there are different wineries and may rotate  - but ours was very nice. I can get you the name if you want.

 

Then we went to - oh gosh - I am not sure, but where the famous blue & white building with the cross and the bell overlook.. breathtaking, saw a few of the famous photo spots and pretty areas with the white steps and bougainvilleas. 

 

After that guide took us to the main area/markets and we were on our own. We enjoyed walking around and buying some handmade things. They had everything from small and large paintings (I bought some 5x7s), pottery, and food/drinks. Fun stuff.

 

Then we got in the long line to take the funicular down - important to watch the line - it is your way down and important to catch the tender back! Great views and a little fun lol.

 

Ship booked- so check there. I did not want to this excursion - my mom booked it. I ended up really liking it and found we saw so much of the area and hit the highlights. IDK maybe $100 pp with excursion credit like $150 total for 2.

 

Ok to be continued.. I am happy to send info and pics for 

LOVE posts like this!  So much information and so very helpful.  I would really enjoy flying around a major city in a golf cart, I will look for that opportunity in the future.  

2 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE 

[SEE3]

2 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

Seriously I have detailed itineraries and contacts if they like any of what we did - happy to share. Also - Get Rick Steve's Italy book - Amazon $17 if your local bookstore doesn't have it ( I am a shop local girl but you are short on time! ) and so much detailed information - especially transportation options with detailed directions plus tours/sights/restaurants - lists from a slice of pizza to a 6-course meal. Pull out Maps even! We sued this - we had Greece and Italy books of his. And we used them!

 

And a big congratulations on his graduation! I have two sons in engineering programs - 1 mechanical engineer working on his bachelor's, 1 son in the military, 1 electrical engineer starting his master's, and my daughter who is halfway through Cosmo school. I just finished my master's this month as well - I am in healthcare. so I get it!

Hi!  My daughter and I are doing a NCL Med cruise in June and I would love your itineraries and contacts , if you wouldn't mind sharing.

 

[cruznurse]

On 4/22/2023 at 12:26 AM, 1stXCruiser2014 said:

Good evening. I don’t think I’ve ever posted it on the forum needing more help than I do right now. Lol.
 

First and foremost, I would like to say that I am a planner like years in advanced planning. So I am totally out of my element doing something with such short notice!!! 
 

Without going into more great detail, and to just give you the basics of what I need help with: 

 

My son & his gf  has been gifted a 10 day cruise that he has chosen the 10 Greek Isles Round Trip Rome-Santorini,Athens & Florence Cruise on May-16th-May 26. He is 23, and has been fortunate enough to have traveled several times out of the country. However, never on a cruise line and never to these areas.
 

My questions are these:

 

- do you have to book flights through NCL? I am booking the cruise tomorrow for them, and after reading some things are here I’m confused as to whether you have to or if it’s just offered to you.

 

- They both are very interested in touring the historic parts of all of these ports.  They both love history, however, in saying that picking these excursions are extremely hard! Where can I go to look to see what excursions are recommended for this type of experience?

 

- There is also another cruise, that’s very similar to this one that Royal Caribbean is offering ( 7 night Greek Isle tour- May 15)  We are torn between booking through NCL or RC. The price difference between the royal Caribbean trip is significantly different and lower than the Norwegian trip. One reason is because there’s only limited lower quality rooms available on the royal Caribbean trip, and Norwegian haas several balconies and suites available. But ieven saying, that the cost is still significantly different, the RC is around $1900 ( window room) and Norwegian is about $4000 ( balcony) I know the cruise is the difference of three days between the both, but can any of you recommend one cruise or the other?

 

I will not rest until this is done lol he’s graduating from college in two weeks and starts his job in June. So we only have the month of May to do this for him! I sincerely apologize if I’m poor this in the wrong place, and please let me know where I need to post it. Any, and all help and advice would be extremely appreciated!  

I was also gifted a Med cruise by my daughter for my "big birthday" celebration for next summer and we also were deciding between RCCL and NCL and chose the NCL 10 day Epic... more days, ports, and also as some said once you factor in the Free at Sea the cost is equal. So good choice for your son!

[cruznurse]

5 hours ago, gotscrapz said:

Seriously I have detailed itineraries and contacts if they like any of what we did - happy to share. Also - Get Rick Steve's Italy book - Amazon $17 if your local bookstore doesn't have it ( I am a shop local girl but you are short on time! ) and so much detailed information - especially transportation options with detailed directions plus tours/sights/restaurants - lists from a slice of pizza to a 6-course meal. Pull out Maps even! We sued this - we had Greece and Italy books of his. And we used them!

 

And a big congratulations on his graduation! I have two sons in engineering programs - 1 mechanical engineer working on his bachelor's, 1 son in the military, 1 electrical engineer starting his master's, and my daughter who is halfway through Cosmo school. I just finished my master's this month as well - I am in healthcare. so I get it!

I am also doing this itinerary next summer and would love to see your detailed lists... I am an over planner probably from years in Healthcare and research! Congratulations on your Masters too! Thanks 

[jsn55]

14 hours ago, cruznurse said:

I was also gifted a Med cruise by my daughter for my "big birthday" celebration for next summer and we also were deciding between RCCL and NCL and chose the NCL 10 day Epic... more days, ports, and also as some said once you factor in the Free at Sea the cost is equal. So good choice for your son!

You did a good job raising your daughter!  We're booked on Epic in October.  Reviews are hysterical.  People just go nuts over the dumbest things.   Best review is recent ... she reviews 'the worst ship in the fleet' and what a great time she had on her cruise.

[KeithJenner]

23 minutes ago, jsn55 said:

Best review is recent ... she reviews 'the worst ship in the fleet' and what a great time she had on her cruise.

To be fair the Epic is, in my opinion, by far the worst ship in the fleet (that I've sailed on) but I've had a great time all four times I've sailed on her.

[jsn55]

6 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

To be fair the Epic is, in my opinion, by far the worst ship in the fleet (that I've sailed on) but I've had a great time all four times I've sailed on her.

Well, see?  There ya go! 

 

I think any pax would have to work hard to not have a good time on a cruise.  Can you spell 'good attitude'??

[SpacemanSpiff]

On 4/22/2023 at 8:40 PM, jsn55 said:

Check 'multi-city' for the air as well as two O/W tix via Roma.  And also check a R/T from Roma with that intra-euro flight.  Airfares have been INSANE for months, so it's worth exploring every idea.

This is how we did ours (we're kind of the reverse -- flying into Athens, then back from Rome).  Looking at two one-way flights was almost twice as high as the multi-city (aka "open jaw") flights.  But .as jsn55 said, try all the permutations possible.

[gotscrapz]

I would be happy to give you more information tomorrow, sorry for the delay. Crazy at the hospital but tomorrow night and Friday before I leave for my cruise I will have some time 🙂

Edited April 27, 2023 by gotscrapz

[cruiseaholic78]

And last but not least get them/one of the to register for CC and join their roll call.

happy planning

Rosalyn

[1stXCruiser2014]

On 4/22/2023 at 3:31 PM, KeithJenner said:

Rome - As stated, spend a few days in Rome beforehand if you can. Lots to do and many people like a tour, but Rome is very walkable and you see lots when doing so. Getting to the port is a bit of a pain. There is a train to Civitavecchia but then you are still a way short of the port. Most popular is a transfer of some sort. We like to use public transport if we can, but use transfers these days for Rome departures.

 

Santorini - As I mentioned earlier, the tender/cable car is a pain. Don't be tempted to use the footpath up or down the hill, as the donkeys are not well controlled as they come down. We like to visit Oia and use the cruise ship excursion to avoid the cable car on the way there.

 

Athens - Whilst it it only a few miles to the city centre, it is a bit of a pain to do it yourself (it is a bit of a walk to the train station. It is worth getting some sort of transfer even if you are going to explore yourself. Again, loads to see and do. If you are doing it yourself then look at booking Acropolis tickets in advance.

 

Mykonos - Assuming you dock, there is the choice of a bus or boat shuttle into town. If you tender then you will be dropped off in town. It's a nice town to wander round, but also worth considering getting the ferry to Delos. NCL offer a tour, but it is quite easy to do the ferry yourself (we haven't done it yet, but are probably going to later this year).

 

Olympia - You are a little way from Olympia itself, which is well worth visiting. We hired a car to drive there, but otherwise you will need a transfer of some sort. There is a train station I think, but I didn't really look into that. There are some quite popular beaches around the port, I believe, if you don't fancy the journey.

 

Valetta - Not been there yet, but have started planning for our visit there later this year. You dock close to the town centre, and there is a lift to get up the hill to the centre. There seems to be lots in the city, so we won't be travelling far.

 

Messina - The most popular places to visit are Mt Etna or Taormina, which is a nice town along the coast from Messina. You can get to Taormina by train, but it is easier (and maybe not much more expensive) to get a transfer. A lot depends on port times (and days) as the trains are sometimes not frequent.

 

Salerno - Not been there, but been to Naples many times. There is a lot around, like Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri, but I can't comment on how easy it is to get anywhere. If I could visit just one place in the area it would be Pompeii.

 

Florence - You dock at Livorno, which is quite a way from Florence. Pisa is a lot closer and can be reached by train. If you want to do Florence then you really need an excursion (we have never gone to Florence from the port due to this). To be honest, I'm not a fan of this stop as everywhere is quite a distance, and you need to pay for a shuttle to even leave the port. We have stayed onboard in Livorno far more often than we've left the ship.

 

There will, of course, be many other options that I haven't mentioned. For example, there are tours to Conque Terre from Livorno. It is also quite a way away, but is likely what we will do next time we get off the ship there. It''s supposed to be very nice even though it would be a rushed visit.

 Thank  you SOOO much for this amazing information! All the time you took to write this is VERY much appreciated!!