Shore Visit Advice Needed (Dubrovnik, Kotor, Valletta

[Captain Rock]

Our plans include Oceania's 3 November cruise, which begins in Venice and ends in the port-of-Rome. Port visits include Dubrovnik, Kotor, Valletta, La Goulette, Barcelona, Marseille, Monte Carlo, and Livorno.

 

Oceana literature, received to date, does not indicate whether Insignia anchors (tender use) and / or pier locations. Consequently, we would most appreciate information concerning:

- pier / landing proximity to the city (i.e., would it be practical to walk to major attractions)

- availability of local bus tours, walking tours etc.

 

At this juncture we're primarily interested in Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Valletta, but we would also be interested in your recommendations concerning tours and "things to do" for all the port calls.

[nparmelee]

For some ports, dock vs. tender depends on how many ships are in port that day, who gets their first, etc., so the line may have a guess when you get your final documents, but it may still change. We're doing the O Venice to Rome on May 2, but our ports are different than yours. For Dubrovnik, we plan on walking the wall, exploring the town and having dinner at a local restaurant some where in town. For Kotor, we want to be on deck to see the sail in to the fjord, then again just wandering the town. We have heard mixed things about whether we will dock or tender at Dubrovnik, we will be the only cruise ship in that day, but its hard to say. It sounds like a tender puts you closer in to the main old town area, if a dock, we will need to cab it or bus it to the town area, but not very far. For Kotor, it looks to be a dock right in the midst of things. A few people have recommended going to Budva, either with the ship excursion or on your own. Sorry, can't help with Valletta, that's still in the distant future for us.

[Andee]

Dubrovnik: We tendered right in to the old city, but then the seas got rough, and the ship had to move, so Oceania bussed us to the new pier, where the ship was docked. We did a self-guided historical walking tour, incluyding stops in several churches and museums, and we walked the city walls with the audio guide.

 

Valletta: We docked below the old city, so shared a cab up with another couple. It is walkable, but we wanted to save our legs for the city itself. Sights we liked included: Grandmaster's Palace, Manuel Theater, Casa Roca Piccola, Mt. Carmel Basilica, Great Siege of Malta, St. Paul's Shipwreck Church, St. John's Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens, the Malta Experience.

 

La Goulette: We docked. When we got off the ship, we negotiated with a cab driver to take us on a tour of the city, including stops at the fabulous Bardo Museum, and the Medina, where we did another self-guided historical walking tour.

 

Barcelona: We embarked here, so the ship was, of course, docked. Walking Las Ramblas is fun, but we especially loved the Gaudi sights--La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo.

[willmschen]

When we were in Kotor in September (on the Wind Surf), Insignia was docked there. Make sure you are on deck while sailing through the fjord; it's really beautiful. The dock is right by the old town. A great thing to do is to hike up the trail toward the old fortress. There are beautiful views even if you don't go all the way to the top (we stopped at the little chapel.

[meow!]

Oceania docks at both Dubrovnik and Kotor. In Dubrovnik, a ten euro taxi ride (there are plenty of taxis) take you to the "old town", a walled village with just about everything, which is very nice. In Kotor, a short walk takes you into the old town, which is also walled and very nice. Enjoy!

[debsjc]

Here is an extract form the review I wrote of our trip in October - if you would like any more information just ask!

 

Kotor - Took a taxi to the village of Perest for 10 Euros, don't take the ones right by the dock they asked 50 Euros, walk 5 mins away and look for a company like 'Red taxi'.

There were no taxis around in Perest, so may be a good idea to ask your driver to come back for you if you go there... we came back by bus for 1 Euro (you can buy the bus ticket on the bus) - explored the old town of Kotor, which is wonderful.

 

Dubrovnik - Taxi into the old town for 10 Euros (same price for 4 or 2 people, so share if you can) - visited the Franciscan monastery which is pretty but quite small, and not very much to see. After that we waked the city walls, which is about 2km and took just over an hour - this is a 'must do' for this city, fabulous views.

[coskier2000]

Dubrovnik - We tendered directly into old city and did walking tour on our own. Fantastic city and could definitely have spent more time here just hanging out!

[cmajor]

We spent a day in Malta last Sept. We had pre-arranged a tour with Touring Malta. I would recommend them without hesitation

We docked in Valletta walked off the ship ( The Insignia ) & met Flora, our tour guide for the day. Mario was our driver, & as the day was very hot, we really appreciated our air-conditioned car as were were driven between different locations on the Island.

As we had lived on the Island back in the 50s we wanted to visit specific places where we had lived & Flora had researched the locations & mapped out our route for the day. We also visited many of the famous sites. Valletta of course, & we would also recommend Mdina, the old walled city. You can plan the day around sites you want to see, or have your guide give you suggestions. It's a small Island & you can see a lot in just a day.

Flora is extremely knowledgeable, has lived on the Island all her life & her English is impeccable.

The price for the day was extremely reasonable.

[ottawacruzr]

We were on a slightly similar itinerary with Oceania this past October. Dubrovnik is very easy. Walk across the street from where the boat docks, and pick up a daily ticket from the kiosk ( they sell magazines etc). The bus stop is directly opposite and will bring you to the old gates in about 8-12 minutes. It was very inexpensive, and they run frequently. We even went back in the evening and enjoyed a glass of wine in the square. You can walk all over Dubrovnik from there.

 

In Kotor, they pulled up right outside the old walls, and all you have to do it walk across the road. We did hire a taxi right outside the gates of the port and they took us up to the top of the mountains that surround the Kotor basin. If the day is clear you will get a fantastic view. I think it was about 40 Euros, so if you can find another couple to share, it is even cheaper. No one spoke much English, but we got by just fine. It is a very walkable town, with lots of little cafes to sit and enjoy peoplewatching.

 

Have a great time.

[Bruin Steve]

When we were on Nautica in 2006, we tendered in Dubrovnik, docked in Kotor...

 

They brought us into Dubrovnik by tender at the old harbor--directly at the "front" of the old walled city...If you want, you can walk anyplace in the old city from there...We did an excursion...really hadn't planned to, it was our second visit in three years and the first time we had taken an excursion which included a visit to Cavtat--and we were extremely disappointed in Cavtat and all of the pre-announced excursions included Cavtat, so we intended to just walk around the city on our own...BUT, Oceania added a late excursion--the visit to the country farm/winery...So, we took it...and LOVED it...Great trip, fun day...among the things you get when you take an excursion is a stop at the view point for those great almost aerial views of the city...The lunch at the farm was great--food, wine and entertainment...and there was an included guided city tour...and we had enough free time to walk the walls half way around and to visit the Synagogue...

 

In Kotor, the dock is literally across the street from the main gate of the walled city...But I really recommend taking an excursion to Budva--a really beautiful beach resort town with a great old walled city as well...there's enough time in port to see both...and both are uniquely interesting...

[Captain Rock]

We've learned a great deal from your suggestions and will soon ask for similar inputs for the other cruise ports.

 

Again,

Thank you