First Cruise Experience Aboard the Grandiosa - Part3

[OmegaSeamaster]

Ports of Call: One Excursion and Exploring On Our Own

We had only pre-paid for one MSC excursion, which was the Tunis shopping tour: Medina & Sidi Bou Said. Unfortunately, it turned out to be quite a disappointing experience. We boarded a subpar bus with no air conditioning, which immediately set the tone. The bus first took us to the medina, where we endured a sales pitch at a carpet store and a perfumery. Frankly, there was nothing of high quality to buy on this tour, and we were forced to wait for an extended period—squeezed into narrow, smoke-filled indoor lanes that became unbearably crowded when other tours converged at the same spots. I had hoped it would be somewhat similar to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but the reality was far from it. Sidi Bou Said was equally underwhelming, resembling nothing more than a large car park with vendors peddling low-quality goods and a scarcity of pleasant spots to sit and enjoy a drink. There are a couple of decent photo opportunities with the white and blue buildings but it definitely fell short of being the "Santorini of Africa" as some had described. The entire tour took about 6 hours, with the majority of the time spent at the medina.

As for the other ports, we decided to venture out and explore on our own. In Barcelona, we hopped in a taxi from the port and headed straight to the Sagrada Familia, where we had pre-booked tickets. We spent a considerable amount of time admiring this remarkable cathedral, which was well worth the visit and the cost of entry. Afterwards, we indulged in some delicious lunch at the La Boqueria Food Market, tucked away just off Las Ramblas, offering a charming bohemian atmosphere.

In Palermo, we took a taxi and made our way to Mondello beach, costing us €35 each way (so worked out cheaper than MSC's shuttle service). The beach was absolutely stunning, with its soft sand and crystal-clear blue waters. We rented loungers and an umbrella for the four of us, which amounted to around €60. It was a worthwhile expense for the serene and picturesque beach experience.

We also disembarked in Naples, but instead of opting for the Sorrento tour due to its early departure time of 7:15 AM, we decided to explore the port area on foot. Unfortunately, it didn't leave a lasting impression on us, but did allow us to do a much needed pharmacy visit. 

Overall, I would rate the Tunis excursion a 3/10. As for the other ports, it really comes down to personal choices and preferences. Each port had its own unique offerings, and we enjoyed the freedom of exploring independently.

[Ryan82]

Intersting hearing your experiences. We did the MSC excursions cultural and historical Tunis. We got to visit the ruins of Carthage and the Roman baths. Very intersting. We definitely had a different on Sid Bou Said too. Amazing views from the top over the gulf of Tunis and plenty of photo opportunities. 

[carlmm]

I am with you @OmegaSeamaster about the sales pitch. Totally unnecessary.

But than probably to be expected part of the way things are done there. We would rather have had more time in the vibrant atmospheric alleys of the mdina.

Otherwise our full day tour was overall good: An interesting view of more modern history at the beys' palace, the ancient history at Catharge and the lovely if touristy village of Sidi Bou Said, where we spent some time in a cafe with fresh juices and a great view and some time roaming around.

 

The food served at lunch time was okay, nothing special, we got served some Tunesian wine.

 

A warning to everybody interested in history: There is not much left from phoenician times, a few graves, the basic structure of the harbour. Sad, but well more than two thousands years have past.

Edited July 13, 2023 by carlmm