Carnival Freedom greek itinerary bad!

[voyages]

Have you seen the itinerary for the new ship Carnival Freedom for 2007. Lousy, I don't know why they call it the mediterrenean and Greek Islands. They don't stop at any of the popular Greek islands like Mykonos or Santorinia or Corfou. Instead they will be at dock for the last day in Rome before disembarkation. They would of been better off to add one of the more popular ports of call on the way to or on the way back from Turkey. Shore excursions out of Civitavechia into Rome are very expensive, a waste of time because it takes 2 hours to get into Rome if your lucky with traffic and 2 hours to come back to the ship. So you only get to see the highlights and don't get to visit the vatican or any of the most important sights, only an overview.

And then on the next day you disembark and go either to the airport for your flight home or some real sightseing with a couple of nights in Rome. Price of shore excursion for 2 is more expensive than 1 night in a good hotel in Rome for 2 (about $250.00usd). What a waste of time. Who ever did this itinerary was way off the track. If it wasn't for this the rest of the itinerary is great and so is the price. But if I do make up my mind after comparing with other options and decide to go with Carnival, I will definetly make this an eleven day cruise instead of 12. I will get off with my luggage when we get into Rome and stay there for a couple of nights. This is ridiculous to come back to spend the night in Civitavechia just to pack up and then go back the next day.

We should all complain to Carnival and have them add another port, then they would really be in business.

What do you think?

Denis

[big_duck]

What do you think?

 

All's I've seen is a list of ports of call in a press release. Where have you seen the official itinerary?

[mrdood]

What do I think? Why thanks for asking, I am thinking this is not a cruise you would go on. Just a hunch, but do you want to take bets whether the ship sails full or not?

 

What does not sound good to you, may be awesome to others. That is why there is more than one cruiseline!

[zqvol]

Have you every been to the islands you mention? Any idea if the infrastructure will support a ship of 2700 passengers. I doubt very seriously that any of them can. Santorini is a tender port and Mykonos is too. A lot of the islands in the Med and in the Caribbean (Saba, St. Barths, Iles des Saintes, etc.) for that matter cannot support the large ships.

[cruiseburger]

I am thrilled to death that Carnival is going to Istanbul and Izmir (Ephesus). I think that Santorini is one of the most beautiful places in the world but have been there and to Mykonos a number of times. As for Rome, anyone who hasn't visited before should make independent arrangements to stay for a few days. I have no problem going straight to the airport from the ship. Count me in.

[aqua]

Voyages, You need to contact Carnival if you plan to disembark early. We considered doing that once on a European cruise, and Celebrity told us that we had to follow immigration rules as to when we could leave the ship. It is probably not be a big deal, but you need to let them know your plans so they can get you cleared. You don't want a problem at the airport while trying to leave the country!

[voyages]

Aqua, I would not be leaving the country but I would go and spend 2 or 3 nights in Rome, but don't want to spend time driving back and forth from Civitavechia to Rome.

I was on the Liberty last year and did the Grand med. itinerary and it was great.

Going to Istambul is also great and so is the rest of the itinerary except for the last day in port. I just think that the ship could do one extra port in the Greek islands, even if it has to tender, other large ships like the Grand Princess or Celibrity Millenium stop in some of the nicer islands. Then we could finish with a day at sea. This way the shops and the casino would be open and poeple could relax and pack up and do some last minute shopping on board. I've also been on mediterranean cruises that ended in Venice and you get to spend the last day on the ship and that is also fine, because downtown Venice is but a few minutes by vaporetto or boat taxi from the ship. The ship becomes your luxury hotel right downtown. But anyone that has been to Civitavecchia and Rome knows this is not a good thing.

Denis

[TravelWorks]

greek? Greek!:D

 

The stop over night in Rome on the last day...It doesn't make much sense...I do agree....because you have to fly into Rome early before the cruise....just to deal with the time zone changes and you will probably be seeing Rome and/ or the Vatican pre or post cruise anyway....

 

If they do not make another port day...like Sicily on your way back...they should at the very least let the last day be a nice day at sea...

and not just sitting in your debarkation port over night!....:cool:

 

Other than that the itenerary is wonderful!:)

[LHP]

I just emailed my PVP today about this cruise. I have already spent 4 days in Rome (out of the 2 weeks we spent in Italy) so I would use the last day like a sea day. I am very excited about the ports they have selected. (Especially Izmir).

[Arizona Travelers]

I plan on taking this cruise and I took the Grand Med last year as well. I'd like to see some of Civitavecchia on the last day since we did 3 day pre and 3 day post cruise in Rome last year.

 

Cayce

[LEtue]

Are we sure the overnight is at the end? Some cruises in the Med start with an overnight on board in Barcelona and Venice.....

 

Does someone actually have details?

[big_duck]

Are we sure the overnight is at the end? Some cruises in the Med start with an overnight on board in Barcelona and Venice.....

 

Does someone actually have details?

 

That is what I'm talking about. Kinda hard to slam an itinerary that hasn't been released yet.

[salty dingo]

Maybe they cannot get the ship provisioned in a few hours turnaround as they can in Miami. Maybe that is the reason for the longer time in port.

 

I would not be too harsh on their choice ports of call - if you don't like it, don't go... please!

[KLV2cruz]

I called my PVP today and rec'd the itinerary and yes we do have an overnight in Chiv. It would be nice to have another day at sea but as for the itinerary it's great and we really do stop at some really great ports. To each there own. Like said, lots of ships out there for different folks.If you want to see the Greek Isles the smaller ships look better with more of the Greek ports. We are planning on this cruise now and are on the Liberty Med in Oct06. I was so excited to see Carnival doing Greece and parts of Turkey. We plan on going the Sept 22,07 sailing. The price is right! As for in and out of Rome just go to the ship. It depends on the airfare also. I have $699 air this year to Rome so maybe I'll get lucky again.

[queenslander]

Hi Kat,

Would you be able to post the itinerary you received - I would love to see it!

 

Voyages - I agree with you about the overnight in Civitavecchia on the last day. I went on the Liberty last year and it took us over 2 hours to get to where we wanted to be in Rome. To go into Rome and then return to go back on the ship before disembarking the following day seems like a waste of time and money because it is -as you said- very expensive for transfers. I don't think they planned that very well!

 

Joyce

[KLV2cruz]

The itinerary is as follows,Chiv(Rome), Naples, Sea, Rhodes, Ishmir, Istanbul, Cruise the Dardanelles (sea day), Athens, Kataklon, sea day, livorno, overnight Chiv.(Rome).I don't know what there is in the port but I'm sure there is something fun to do on the last day.If nothing else wind down!

[surfklutz]

What a weird idea of the last day as an overnight in Civitavecchia- won't most people who want to see Rome just extend? To go into Rome for the day - then make your way back to the ship - then disembark to go an hour in the same direction for the airport is just insane. Who was the itinerary planner on this one anyway?

[surfklutz]

That is what I'm talking about. Kinda hard to slam an itinerary that hasn't been released yet.

 

Slam?

[big_duck]

Slam?

 

Slam

v. slammed, slam·ming, slams

v. tr.

1. To shut with force and loud noise: slammed the door.
   
2. To put, throw, or otherwise forcefully move so as to produce a loud noise: slammed the book on the desk.
   
3. To hit or strike with great force.
   
4. Slang. To criticize harshly; censure forcefully.

Carnival Freedom greek itinerary bad!

[Littlegoo75]

I don't care, Count me in!! I have never been to any of those places, so it will all be new to me. As for the stay in Civitveccia, I will probably just hang out on the ship, and leave when it's convenient and stay in Rome for a couple of days, no biggie to me.

 

I too am looking forward to the complete official itinerary to view, and am planning on sailing on the April 19th, 2007 cruise regardless. Anyone know what the typical average weather is that time of year? When I was an exhange student in southern Spain, I remember April being very nice. I would hate to do it in the summer, as I would rather not be in 90-100 degree weather. Weeee... Can't wait!

[surfklutz]

Slam

v. slammed, slam·ming, slams

v. tr.

1. To shut with force and loud noise: slammed the door.
   
2. To put, throw, or otherwise forcefully move so as to produce a loud noise: slammed the book on the desk.
   
3. To hit or strike with great force.
   
4. Slang. To criticize harshly; censure forcefully.

 

Got ya - But the quote you captured in that post was hardly a slam.

[I Luv Crusin]

First, since they turn around the Liberty in a day I don't think it would take longer for the freedom so I don't think that's the reason for two days in port.

 

Second, maybe there are other tours out of Chiv. to places other than Rome two hours away that you could do on the last day on the ship. I wonder what time they get into Chiv. Right now Liberty gets into Venice at 2pm and leaves at 5pm the next day.

[big_duck]

Got ya - But the quote you captured in that post was hardly a slam.

 

No, but I wasn't going to quote the whole thing - Doesn't like the stops in Greece, doesn't like the Rome overnight, etc, etc.

 

I for one have every intention of being on her next year, for this itin. regardless. :D

[lsp]

Did I miss something where it said you have to go on the Freedom even if you don't like the itinerary? I unfortunately haven't seen an "official" port of call so I can't say much. I do not like Civitavecchia after visiting it on the Liberty, just a stop point before going to the airport the next morning for a very early flight. If you don't like the stops then stay on the boat or don't get on it at all. There are some of us who are looking forward to this trip.

 

Linda

[aqua]

Voyages, I wasn't planning to leave the country either. I just wanted to disembark a day early due to an early morning flight the next day. Celebrity told me that I had to arrange it well in advance. I understand why you want to leave the ship; I have traveled between Civitavecchia and Rome by train twice. It isn't very convenient, and Rome requires lots of time. I just think you should call Carnival and give them a heads-up about your plans. Have a great trip!