HAL Mediterranean ships excursions?

[chloes nana]

I need some help please! my dh and I will be going on our very first ever cruise and doing the Holland America Mediterranean Adventure 20 day cruise in August. I have been reading here on CC not to ever take the ships excursions always do your own. well, the price is not an issue here, and since we have never traveled out of the US and have never been on a cruise, we really don't know what to expect. So I have booked HALs excursions and they are going to almost all of the places and things we wanted to see. they range from 4.5 hrs for the shortest pnes to 8.5 hours for the others. What are the down sides and plus sides to ships excursions? Alot of these are the World Wonders limited tours. I would truly appreciate and and all feedback! Pros and cons please. :)thanks for all your help!;)

[paul929207]

The main downsides are cost and touring with a bus full.

 

Advantages include ease - someone else worries about all the details.

You will not miss the ship - it will wait if a ship excursion is delayed.

The cruise line has checked out the tour operator. They may not be great, but they are rarely awful

 

For you first trip, you are wise to go with the ship's tour.

 

Have you joined the roll call foryour cuise? There you may find people planning independent tours and wanting people to shar the cost.

[chloes nana]

The main downsides are cost and touring with a bus full.

 

Advantages include ease - someone else worries about all the details.

You will not miss the ship - it will wait if a ship excursion is delayed.

The cruise line has checked out the tour operator. They may not be great, but they are rarely awful

 

For you first trip, you are wise to go with the ship's tour.

 

Have you joined the roll call foryour cuise? There you may find people planning independent tours and wanting people to shar the cost.

funny you should ask! I started the roll call and it is very slow so far. I just keep hoping it will pick up soon. thanks for your response.:) I just want to make sure they don't just drive and say on your right and on your left, and you never get out, or you miss some of the sites due to "pokey Joes":D

[2cruisealot]

Hi, in my experience you have to read the description of the tour carefully to give you some clues. If it specifically says "you will stop at" or "you will have time to take a photo or go shopping" etc then you know you will be stopping at a particular place. If it says something like "on the way you will see..." then that usually means you drive by and don't stop. Mostly the tours will stop at places and points of interest that are good for tourists. If you have something specific you want to see and are not sure if your tour will go there or have enough time there, find out before you leave on your cruise what the options are to visit it independently so you are not disappointed. Have fun!

[Essiesmom]

When in Livorno, if you are on the Pisa and Lucca tour, they bus you to Lucca and a guide with earphone/ipod type system leads you all over the town. In Pisa, you drive to the town, park the bus a walk a considerable distance to the area of the church and belltower. Lots of souvenir shops there...

In Barcelona, I did the tour to Montserrat, but I will be there in Oct. again, and plan to do the Barcelona and Gaudi tour, because I want to go INSIDE the Sagrada Familia, which the highlights tour does not do. In Palma, I did the highlights tour, which took us first to the castle for panoramic view, then down through town and to the cathedral. Then they drive you through town, stop opposite a bullring, and take you across the street to a Mallorca pearl 'factory' with, of course, extensive sales room.

the highlights tour of Monaco/Monte Carlo buses you around for panoramic view and then to the old city, where you leave the bus in a garage and walk all over. Then back to the bus for a ride around the Grand Prix circuit, and park in another garage and walk up to the casino. You have time to wander around there, as well a a little time in the old city. Can't help you with Palermo or Naples, but I envy you Tunis...EM

[chloes nana]

When in Livorno, if you are on the Pisa and Lucca tour, they bus you to Lucca and a guide with earphone/ipod type system leads you all over the town. In Pisa, you drive to the town, park the bus a walk a considerable distance to the area of the church and belltower. Lots of souvenir shops there...

In Barcelona, I did the tour to Montserrat, but I will be there in Oct. again, and plan to do the Barcelona and Gaudi tour, because I want to go INSIDE the Sagrada Familia, which the highlights tour does not do. In Palma, I did the highlights tour, which took us first to the castle for panoramic view, then down through town and to the cathedral. Then they drive you through town, stop opposite a bullring, and take you across the street to a Mallorca pearl 'factory' with, of course, extensive sales room.

the highlights tour of Monaco/Monte Carlo buses you around for panoramic view and then to the old city, where you leave the bus in a garage and walk all over. Then back to the bus for a ride around the Grand Prix circuit, and park in another garage and walk up to the casino. You have time to wander around there, as well a a little time in the old city. Can't help you with Palermo or Naples, but I envy you Tunis...EM

this is our itenerary and excursions:

1) Tuscan Landmarks: Florence and Pisa -11 hours

2) Nice & Eze -4 hours

3)Gaudi's Barcelona -4 hours

4)Palma de Mallorca Highlights-4 hours

5) Best of Tunisia-8 hours

6)Palermo/Temple Valley Wonders- 8.5 hours

7)Sorrento & Pompeii -8 hours

8)Historic Dubrovnik- 4 hours

9) Corfu/Achillion, Kanoni & Corfu- 4 hours

10)Katakolon/Ancient Olympia & Corfu- 4 hours

11)Santorini- Essence of Santorini -6.5 hours

12)Kusadasi/Three ancient cities: Priene, Didyma & Miletus- 6-6.5 hours

13) Athens- The Best of Athens-7-7.5 hours

14) Messina-Classic Messina- 4 hours

we opted for the Gaudi tour in Barcelona first thing when it came available