help with SOS eastern med shore excursions

[edpeeks]

My wife and I are going on the Splendour of the Seas June 30, eastern med. cruise. The ports are Mykonos,Athens, Katathon, Corfu & Split, Croatia. We have been on 16 cruises and have done the western med. before booking all of our shore excursions independent of the ship's excursions.

 

I have read all of the CC reviews of previous cruisers and have searched yahoo for the indivdual ports. I have turned up nothing but very, very, very expensive tours. Will somebody help out there? I know there are plenty of cruisers who have been on the itinery before and there are plenty of cruisers on the ship when we will be on it. I'm stumped. I thought I was slick in finding tours, but my head is spinning.

 

The ship's tours historically are cattle calls. Therefore, we have always done well independently. Well, I am depending on you all. Thanks in advance.

[fmax]

I'm doing this cruise in October and have done some research already. I think, in general, they're more manageable on your own and there's not necessarily a need for private tours. The following is some info I've found on these boards for these ports and I'm sure if you do a search on any that interest you, you'll find more info:

 

 

MYKONOS

 

Things to do

• Check out the Pelicans & Windmills

• Take bus to local beaches (Paradise, Platis Gialos, etc)

• Delos: boats to delos leave every half hour to an hour from the harbor in mykonos, approx 9am till about 3pm. the boat trip takes about 20 minutes and you can easily spend 2 or 3 hours or more on delos.. ~$10pp/RT

Useful Websites / message threads

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=117807

http://www.mykonos-web.com/index.htm

http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/mykonos/mykonos-villages.htm

 

Getting Around

bus to Platis Gialos beach. Once in town find the windmills and then walk past them continuing uphill to the bus stop. It is a busy spot (you will know it when you see it and most likely there will be buses parked there) with a convenience store where you buy the ticket for 1 euro each way. The name on the bus is Platis Gialos and Platis Gialos is the end of the line and it takes about 10-15 minutes to get there. The bus runs about every half hour.

 

Restaurants/Food

Hotel Acrogiali ( Platis Gialos - second one you come to as you walk along the beach) right on the sand, and afterwards they invited us to stay on the beach and use their chairs etc.

 

 

Beaches

http://www.mykonos-web.com/beaches/

Platy Yialos is a pretty family type beach

Paradise beach, about 10 minutes away by boat – no return until late p.m.

 

 

PIRAEUS (ATHENS)

 

Things to do

Acropolis

museum near the Parthenon that is included in your ticket price

Greek and Roman Agoras included in your Acropolis ticket price

Panathenean Stadium, where the opening of the Olympics

changing of the guards at the President’s residence.

Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon is located.

National Archeological museum.

Plaka area

Syntagma square - change of guards in front of the Parliament building hourly

 

 

Drivers/Tours/Getting Around

Spiros at http://www.athenstaxi

Paul - uses three different web sites:

http://www.*****

http://www.greecebytaxi.com with the secure form

http://www.athenstaxi.org\

Rania Vassiliadou (licensed guide).

http://www.athenswalkingtours.gr/

http://www.oasa.gr/greek/transport/P...AIAS1e2005.PDF

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showt...ghlight=athens

Petros Mazarakis from spiros taxis mini-bus@otenet.gr

 

Idea of Cost

1.Private Tour: 100 euro total + tip

2.Lunch with beer and wine: 40 euro (tip included)

3.Temple of Poseidon: 8 euro total

4.Acropolis and Agoras: 24 euro total

5.Postcards: 5 euro

http://www.greektravel.com

 

Purchases

soap made with olive oil. Only 1 or 2 euros each!

In the Plaka visit Brettos liquor store & distillery (sample Ouzo and Brandy)

Soap made with lemon and olive oil.

Soap made with olive oil and honey.

Look for bottles of Feta cheese and Olives in Olive oil.

Jewelry

Ceramics

 

Websites/Message threads

Acropolis: http://www.ametro.gr/akropoli2/start.htm

Athens: http://www.athensguide.com/sightseeing-bus.htm

http://www.athensguide.com/index.html#Athens

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=314173

http://www.athensguide.com/sightseeing-bus.htm

http://www.athensguide.com/index.html#Athens

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti...ens.htm#glance

http://www.chem.uoa.gr/Location/AthensMap/Athensmap.htm

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=127570

http://www.greece-athens.com/

http://www.athensguide.com/

http://www.oasa.gr/greek/transport/Pdf_enothta_xartes/PEIRAIAS1e2005.PDF

 

Getting Around

The train from the port into Athens runs about every 3 minutes. When you get off the ship go left and just follow the sidewalk along the port. When you reach the “Plateia Karaiskaki” plaza there is a big fork in the road. At this point turn to the right (you’ll be walking away from the port). Now keep your eyes open and about 1 city block up on the right is the Metro station. Most big cities have the Metro marked with large letters or just a big red “M”, but unfortunately that is not the case here. So keep your eyes open or you could walk right past it. The walk is about 1.5 miles (30 minutes).

 

Take the Line 1 Metro. Go to the ticket counter and ask for a round trip ticket. You will get two tickets (one for each direction) at a cost of Euro 0.70 cents a piece. Stamp one of your tickets in the yellow time stamp machine before getting on the train. (Do not stamp the second ticket until you are ready to come back. Once stamped the ticket is only good for about 90 minutes.) When the Metro leaves Pireaus there will be 5 stops before it comes to the “Theseum” stop. Exit here for the Acropolis. If you just want to go into Athens itself for shopping stay on for the next exit, which is the “Monastiraki” stop.

 

CORFU

 

Things to do

Achillion Palace (http://www.corfunext.com/achillion_palace_corfu.htm)

Paleokastritsas (http://www.holiday.gr/page.php?page_id=331)

Corfu tour

Pelekas (http://www.pelekas.com)

Kanoni (http://www.wordtravels.com/Attractio...actions/Kanoni)

Spianada Square (http://www.corfuxenos.gr/corfu/corfu_town.htm)

Church of St. Spyridon (http://www.corfunext.com/saint_spyridon.htm)

palace of St. Michael and St, George (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_o..._and_St_George)

Venetian Fortress (http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21208a/e212ha03.html)

Pontikonisi (http://www.holiday.gr/page.php?page_id=332)

Monastry of the Virgin Mary (http://www.thegreektravel.com/corfu/...alaiokastritsa)

 

 

Private Drivers /Companies

Dimitrius at taxi116@in.gr 30 EU per hour/ 4 hr. tour 120 EU

Dafnis, Dimitris taxi116@in.gr

 

Useful Websites / message threads

http://www.corfu-greece.biz/corfu-town.htm

http://www.greekisland.co.uk/corfu/corfu.htm

http://www.corfunext.com/services_for_cruises_corfu.htm

http://www.gogreece.com/travel/places.html

http://www.holidaycorfu.org/

http://www.foi.org.uk/islands.php?is...fu&page=around

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...fu_Island.html

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=303820

 

Getting around

http://www.car-hire-corfu.com/towns/corfu_town.htm

Car rental agency at the terminal when you get off the ship. Cost approx 75 euros for the day including insurance, tax, etc.

 

Restaurants/Food

"Pizza Pete's"... sits on the cliffs just south of the harbor area in town

Get a table right at the rail...You can look straight down into Adriatic. The restaurant next door (Same patio, across the divider--same ownership, same kitchen--is called Antranik...and dates back to 1920

 

Things to buy

jewelry , local liquer Kumquat ,and olive oil

Triton

http://www.greeka.com/ionian/corfu/corfu-shopping.htm

http://www.travelinfo.gr/corfu/shopping.htm

 

 

KATAKOLON

 

Things to do

60 & 80 Euros for a taxi from Katakolon to Olympia and back.

need to hire the cab to take you and wait there for your return.

Very few taxis were found at Olympia that were not already

They also stated that Olympia has no guides for hire at the site.

Katakolon has one street of shops to offer and a quaint harbor.

Winery tour

 

The town of Katakolan is about 50 metres from the ship's berth. The town is lovely but tiny - you can walk around it in 10 minutes. There are some nice souvenir shops and cafes/restaurants - but not many.The lamb is very good here. The beach is OK (slightly gritty)but not anywhere near the standard of the best European beaches. There are a few umbrellas which are free but no other facilities. It''s about a 5 minute walk from the town centre.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=194740

 

 

Private Drivers /Companies

Gemma Economopoulou - geconom@otenet.gr).

http://www.travelswithfriends.com/Private_Guide_Athens_Gemma.htm,

 

 

SPLIT

 

Things to do

Hvar Town - http://www.hvar.hr

Start at Riva – sea promenade

Diocletian’s palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletian's_Palace)

Local Market – Under eastern walls of diocletian’s palace, southern promenade

Marmontova – pedestrian shopping street

Cathedral of St. Domnius

Narodni Trg – people’s Square

Ethnographic Museum - http://w3.mrki.info/split/etnog.html

Archaelogical museum

Poljud Stadium

St anthony’s monastery

Sejska

Marjan

Ivan Mestrovic Gallery

Croatian Maritime Museum

 

Useful Websites / message threads

http://www.visitsplit.com

http://www.croatia-travel-guide.com/en/Split

http://www.iexplore.com/cityguides/Croatia/Split/Where+to+Go

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Croatia/Dalmatia_Split_Region/Split-384998/Things_To_Do-Split-Riva_Harbour_area-BR-1.html

 

 

Getting Around

http://www.promet-split.hr/grad.asp (map of split)

http://www.cromaps.com/vacmap/split_index.htm (map of split)

Turist biro – office located on waterfront at Riva – tourist info

 

 

Restaurants/Food

Gulja – pizza

Kibela – opposite cathedral

Kondoa Kodjoze - seafood

Konou Varos

Saajevo

Ziaria Ribica - buffet

 

 

Things to buy

Fresh honey products

Lavender oil/dried lavender

Dried figs/plums

Diocletian cellars has a craft market

Daily market at obala lazerata

 

 

Info for Split was hard to come by on the boards - I think much of this info was taken from travel guide books - Frommers, Foders, Rough Guide etc.

 

 

Frances

[redzin]

Hi, My husband and I and another couple will be on the cruise. I asked two questions right above your post. Think we'll do Athens on our own. Still not sure about other stops. Haven't booked anything yet. We've been to the Med cruise out of Barcelona 2 years ago and hired all private drivers and loved it. Where are you guys from. I posted a roll call for our cruise today also. Off from work. Rona

[edpeeks]

Fmax...thank you so much for sharing your research. I am impressed. And I will use all of it! CC should consider putting you on staff.

Rgrams...thank you for your input. My wife and I are from East TN. I am a Chiropractor (57) and my wife offers Arbonne (39). We are on this cruise to celebrate my wife's July 5th birthday. Also we will belatedly celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. We love to cruise, usually 2-3X/year. We look forward to meeting CCer's on the boat.

[zagmom03]

fmax,

Thanks for sharing all the information you have collected. It would have taken me days to do that. My husband and I are doing the Eastern Med/Greek Isles on the Emerald Princess in July and have doing research on guides for the Greek ports.

 

Thanks again!

 

Vickie

[tom_uk]

(Mykonos) Paradise beach, about 10 minutes away by boat – no return until late p.m.

 

I believe that there are buses to/from Paradise beach just as there are to/from Platis Gialos, and the leave from the same place in Mykonos town.

[claudia70]

After much searching,( yahoo,google aol) we booked a private tour in olympia from katakolon port

with Aristotelis The cost was very reasonable and the guide was knowlegeable about the area of olympia, it's history, people etc

 

i hope this will be helpful :)

 

www.kastrokyllinis.com/kastro-kyllini-taxi.html