QE2 Mediterranean

[ggo85]

If anyone has taken a QE2 western Med cruise, can you recommend any particular shore excursions as noteworthy (good or bad)? Our ports include Lisbon, Barcelona, Rome, Sardinia, Monte Carlo, Palma and Gib. Didn't post this msg on other forums b/c I'm specifically interested in Cunard/QE2 excursions, not the ports in general. Thanks!

[juliecat]

I did one of Cunard's Gibraltor excursions that included the tour of the rock and visit to the apes. Skip it. You can very easily hire a taxi/guide for a lot less money or even walk into town (maybe 15 minutes) and do it on your own. Our guide was very insistent in our shopping in his recommended shops at the end of the tour; we even watched him get his kickback from one shopkeeper!

 

Julia

[pnhmrk]

I did one of Cunard's Gibraltor excursions that included the tour of the rock and visit to the apes. Skip it. You can very easily hire a taxi/guide for a lot less money or even walk into town (maybe 15 minutes) and do it on your own. Our guide was very insistent in our shopping in his recommended shops at the end of the tour; we even watched him get his kickback from one shopkeeper!

 

Gibraltor :eek: - Gibraltar:)

 

My advice would be to avoid Cunard tours wherever possible - most are very expensive and you don't get to see that much. If there are two of you then taking a taxi for a half day tour will cost you about the same and you'll see a lot more without having to wait for everyone else to get on/off the bus. That said if you really want to do the Cunard excursions then you can't book them until you're onboard. They'll send you a booklet detailing the tours available about 2 - 3 months before you travel but if you look at http://www.cunard.co.uk/CruiseItinerary_Tab.asp?CruiseID=2832&LeftNav=Planner&Active=&Sub=&OB=&Region=12&ShipID=QE2&CruiseDate=&Duration=&Tab=Shor

see what excursion they should offer. My advice would be to take an excursion that only lasts for half a day (there's plenty to do that isn't tour based) and doesn't take you a long way from the ship (you don't want to spend hours travelling and then not see much).

[Morgans]

It sounds as though we are doing the same cruise! We're only planning two of the ships's excursions - the Soller train in Majorca (as time constraints make it difficult to do it ourselves) and the drive to Rome for "Rome on Your Own."

We are re-visiting all of the ports on this holiday so will just do our own wandering. Looking forward to it very much. (BTW there's a decent guide on the Cunard website to the excursions for each port if you haven't seen it already.)

 

Margery M

 

 

Marge M

[cunardqueen]

Hi

In Gib l did the "elegant tea" tour and that was quite nice, a trip out to Europa point, then on to the Catalina? hotel, It was advertsied as the Rock Hotel but was changed without telling us for a superb morning tea, scones, fresh cream and jam we had about an hour there in the hotel, possibly about 90 of us then a quick tour round Gib and they dropped you near the main street for the very good duty free:D shopping and then you can walk back to the ship.

Last time l was there was 88 and there has been quite a change since then. Going again there during the Oct cruise and will probably just walk ashore for trot round and get a bottle or three.....

Nice again in 88 took the tour to Monacco and the Casino (wear trousers or you wont get in ) Nobody told us this fact and there was a few of us had to borrow trousers to see inside this great place, which did cause a stir;)

Personally l prefer a cunard tour, yes l know they are expensive, but you are with like minded passengers, and you meet lots of new faces.

They do offer a good selection so do study the tour information and maybe even go to the port lectures onboard.

I would agree with pnhmrk, do a half day tour and come back "home" for lunch, you can then go and explore further in the afternoon.

[pnhmrk]

In Gib l did the "elegant tea" tour and that was quite nice, a trip out to Europa point, then on to the Catalina? hotel, It was advertised as the Rock Hotel but was changed without telling us

 

You can get a taxi to the Rock (far better than the Caleta Hotel in my opinion), have a light lunch on the "Wisteria Terrace" (fantastic views over the Bay of Gibraltar) and a taxi back to the ship for less than the tour. If it's wet and you can't sit outside they also have lounges with fantastic views:)

 

Going again there during the Oct cruise and will probably just walk ashore for trot round and get a bottle or three.....

 

They are far cheaper in Gib than the UK and Cunard doesn't confiscate them when you go back on board (or they never have with us anyway).

 

Personally l prefer a cunard tour, yes l know they are expensive, but you are with like minded passengers, and you meet lots of new faces.

 

Good reasons to do a tour with Cunard:)

 

They do offer a good selection so do study the tour information and maybe even go to the port lectures onboard.

 

Even if you don't intend going on the tours you can pick up useful hints about what to see at the talks. You can normally wait until after the tour talk before booking your tour - the only exception is where participation is strictly limited(such as the Elegant Tea), if you don't book those as soon as you board you'll find that they've already sold out.

[KarenR_UK]

My advice would be to take an excursion that only lasts for half a day (there's plenty to do that isn't tour based) and doesn't take you a long way from the ship (you don't want to spend hours travelling and then not see much).

 

Generally I would agree re a half day tour (just too tiring otherwise), but I have for the last couple of years taken 1 full day tour. As a solo traveller, I don't go ashore on my own much, and when I do, I wouldn't stop to eat - on a full day tour you (usually?) get a 'local' meal and its a good way to actually try local cuisine if you don't intend to try a cafe etc by yourselves.

 

Re the expense, yes Cunard tours are expensive, (even more so in Norway and Iceland - hate to think what my bill is going to be at the end of that one:eek: ), but you need to factor in how much you will enjoy it doing it yourself (and many people do, I just know I won't because I am solo). You do get, usually, a quite knowledgeable guide and everything is organised (including toilet breaks - see below), its difficult to get lost - and the most advertised, though possibly not entirely true - the ship won't leave without you.

I actually stayed on board a couple of times last year - that in itself is very nice - quiet and relaxing - you can stand and watch all the people queueing for taxis (that was Gibraltar) and shuttle buses (Livorno) and then just go and sit and relax with a drink or coffee on one of the (miraculously) free chairs or sunbeds. Then watch every rush back, hot, tired and sticky, few hours later.

 

Re specific tours, the only place I have been with Cunard is Sardinia and we did the 'Nora' tour (roman ruins) I found it very good. It was probably one of the most enjoyable on my last cruise.

 

I have done Gibraltar, Monte Carlo, Lisbon and Barcelona with P+O, and from what I can see most the the cruise lines offer similar cruises, so I hope you wont mind if I briefly mention them. Gibraltar - all the tours seem very similar - all include the apes den, shopping, most include the caves, some add a little extra at the end, but last time (with Cunard) not different enough to make me want to do the rest of it again (I stayed on board and watched Oriana sail out)

Monte Carlo can be done independently on foot quite easily - well the presidents palace (?) was at the top of a hill, but others did walk it - we took one of the few bused tours so got a lift - if taking a bused tour be aware, they are 'town' buses with fewer seats than people on tour (for P+O anyway) - we had to stand the whole way as it is advertised as an 'easy' tour and many older people took it (despite the fact my brother had us up to 2 or 3 am in the casino the night before:D ). Most tours in Monte Carlo were walking tours.

 

Lisbon I took a walking tour of the old town - it was very fast, didn't get many photos on that one.

Barcelona - depends on how many ships are in - nearly all the ships' tours focus on the Sagrada Familie (sp?), and it was bedlam when we were there (though not as bad as Pathenon in Athens last year:eek: ) - you might find it better not to do a ships tour including it and go under your own steam in order to arrive outside the busiest times. The tour I did also included the Gothic Quarter and the Spanish village - this was very interesting with examples of different styles of Spanish architecture - there are also a number of arts and crafts featured - for example, there is (or was in 2004) a glass 'factory' there. It was quiet after the Sagrada and there were not many people there - it also had the nicest toilets <VBG> (the earlier toilet break was at a shop by the Sagrada, only one toilet and a very long queue snaking out the shop!!:eek: ).

 

One final thing to mention (If anyone is still reading) - if you want to do shopping, especially in Spain, don't do a morning ships tour - you won't get time on the tour, and if you go back to the ship for lunch, by the time you get out again many of the shops are shut and won't re-open til 4, just as its time for you to start think about getting back on board. We spent a lot of time window shopping and sitting in bars:D

 

Karen

[Kindlychap]

I think one gets priority for tenders if one is part of a tour party.

 

Unless your cabin is a Q2 or above grade then you might want to bear that in mind. I have heard stories of very long waits otherwise....

 

Matthew

 

PS Information relates to QE2 only.

[pnhmrk]

I have heard stories of very long waits otherwise.

 

Yes, but who goes on a tender intensive cruise more than once?

[cunardqueen]

Yes, but who goes on a tender intensive cruise more than once?

 

They are good for getting some superb shots of the great lady!!! and if you come back early enough on an empty tender sometimes the crew can be persuaded:rolleyes: to approach from the bow, and those shots are great !!!

[Fifer]

We followed a similair itinerary on QE2 in 2005. Having had our fill of ruins/traffic jams/bad buffet lunches on earlier tours, in Rome we were delighted with an all day tour entitled Alban Hills, Castel Gandolfo & Wine Villages.

 

The numbers were small - no more than 50 of us; the pace leisurely; the sights wonderful - Castel Gandolfo and Nemi in particular; and we had quite the best vineyard visit with extensive tasting direct from the barrels, followed by a superb lunch served to us by charmimg local staff - and not a buffet table in sight!

 

We all agreed it had been a memorable day as we rolled contentedly back to the ship. Highly recommended as a low key, low hassle relaxing day - but it's not cheap.

 

Gavin

[Kindlychap]

Yes, but who goes on a tender intensive cruise more than once?

 

Those who travel in the rabbit hutches?

 

Matthew ;)