Seaborn excursions vs, 3rd party

Hello fellow cruisers, my spouse and I will be taking our first Seaborn cruise in September (11 day Mediterranean) and I have a couple of questions I'm hoping some SB veterans can shed some light on regarding excursions. I'm specifically interested in hearing your thoughts about the swim/sail/sightsee offerings such as the Cinque Terre UNESCO tour in Livorno, Camogli Cruising in Portofino and the Blue Lagoon in Malta. Overall I'm just wondering how many people are on an average excursion? Is a “small group” 8-10 people or 25-30 people? If booking a SB excursion is it best to book in advance because they book quickly or is it ok to wait until we are onboard? What are your thoughts on booking through a third party? Thank you in advance for your tips and suggestions.

Cheers!

L+H

Overall I'm just wondering how many people are on an average excursion? Is a “small group” 8-10 people or 25-30 people? If booking a SB excursion is it best to book in advance because they book quickly or is it ok to wait until we are onboard? What are your thoughts on booking through a third party? Thank you in advance for your tips and suggestions.

 

Cheers!

L+H

The buses on any of SB excursions we have done are only ever half to 2/3 full, our experience is that is the max they put on a bus. When to book - it depends, we had a case in Bar Harbor where we booked months before and were wait listed of the time slot we wanted. Ended up not getting it and had to take the less favorable slot. But in another port we had a hire car booked but because of the weather, decided on the morning to do the SB excursion, made the booking at guest services and canceled the car.

On those tours, check out YouTube, Ralph Grizzle, Avid Cruiser. He does Seabourn excursions and has some of those. We looked at the sail/swim blue lagoon one yesterday as we have it booked but may look at changing. He also has the Portofino boat from Santa Margarita on YouTube. Search on Ralph Grizzle and you will find them.

Thank you so much ab21au for reply and the you tube tip! Cheers, L

We did the Seabourn Cinque Terra tour last year not from Livorno, but from Portovernere. The individual groups are always less than 20 folks at max and oftentimes smaller. However, there can be several different buses going on the same tour, particularly if it is a popular tour. They do occasionally get sold out, especially if it is a limited participation thing. One thing about going there from Livorno is that it will be a long trip and you might want to consider the assurance that the ship will wait for a Seabourn tour but not for private arrangements. And I have found the guides that Seabourn uses to be excellent, particularly in places like Italy and Greece where having a certified guide is important. By the way, we were supposed to go by boat but due to the sea conditions took the train instead, which was an experience in itself. It was a great tour.

The great advantages of using any ship's official excursions, are peace of mind and convenience. The downside is always cost. If your are on a SB excursion you will meet on the ship and be escorted almost everywhere. If you go independently you will have to arrange where to meet your guide, then find them.

When cruising the Mediterranean we almost always tour independently.

Malta is very cheap to travel around.

Many thanks Tim & Hoosier for your insights. I think we will stay with Seaborn for the Cinque Terra tour, peace of mind wins out over $$ LOL. Malta looks great and as you say looks doable on our own - one quick question; Valletta seems small ento get around on foot, did you find that to be true?

Much appreciated, L

Many thanks Tim & Hoosier for your insights. I think we will stay with Seaborn for the Cinque Terra tour, peace of mind wins out over $$ LOL. Malta looks great and as you say looks doable on our own - one quick question; Valletta seems small ento get around on foot, did you find that to be true?

 

Much appreciated, L

Valletta is very easy on foot.

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2 lucky kitties - if you haven't already done so, go to the referral thread at the top of this board (this is the only one) and ask for a referral voucher you will then have $400 to spend on a tour - feels less painful then ;)

there's also an easy HiHo bus to nearby villages. The Co-cathedral in Valetta is a must.

Valletta is very easy on foot.

 

 

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;p Thank you Techno for the coupon tip, I kept seeing things about it but didn't realize exactly what it is until your post ;p

Jozi, thank you for confirming about Valletta. We'll definitely check out the bus. Malta is one of the ports I'm most looking forward to!

Cheers!

L

;p Thank you Techno for the coupon tip, I kept seeing things about it but didn't realize exactly what it is until your post ;p

 

Jozi, thank you for confirming about Valletta. We'll definitely check out the bus. Malta is one of the ports I'm most looking forward to!

 

Cheers!

L

If you are in Malta on a Sunday, the churches will be closed to tourists. However, if you go to the Co-Cathedral for an early Mass and simply sit there quietly, you will have the chance to admire the architecture. You will also get a chance to walk around the nave in between services to look at all the side chapels, which are spectacular. Just don't get your camera our and act like a tourist.

Here is the timetable for services:

https://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/

Look at one of the side chapels.

http://www.cityofvalletta.org/content.aspx?id=46644

The Grandmaster's Palace is a short walk from the church and well worth visiting.

Sometimes you cannot win, we are in Malta on a Sunday. We are in Rome on a Wednesday and St Peters is closed wed morning for the pope. :(

Don't mind going to a service, we often do in a different culture, provided it fits with tours etc.

Sometimes you cannot win, we are in Malta on a Sunday. We are in Rome on a Wednesday and St Peters is closed wed morning for the pope. :(

 

Don't mind going to a service, we often do in a different culture, provided it fits with tours etc.

You can always go 10 or 15 minutes early. If they ask, say you are going in to the 7:45 or 9:15 (or whatever) Mass. Make sure you say "Mass", not "service." Then seat quietly towards the front and then walk over to the chapels on the right side of the nave. They are the most spectacular. Make sure you sit back in a pew at the beginning of Mass. Then you can leave discreetly after a while. The 9:15 Mass has a magnificent choir and it is well worth listening in for a while.

Going to the 7:45 should not interfere with any of the tours.

You can always go 10 or 15 minutes early. If they ask, say you are going in to the 7:45 or 9:15 (or whatever) Mass. Make sure you say "Mass", not "service." Then seat quietly towards the front and then walk over to the chapels on the right side of the nave. They are the most spectacular. Make sure you sit back in a pew at the beginning of Mass. Then you can leave discreetly after a while. The 9:15 Mass has a magnificent choir and it is well worth listening in for a while.

 

Going to the 7:45 should not interfere with any of the tours.

Thanks for the info, sounds like a good plan.

Valetta is a lovely place to walk around, with beautiful buildings, and so easy to access from the cruise terminal. There are also hop on hop off buses right outside the terminal, which give a good overview of the Island.

We did both on our visit last year. We were lucky to have a marvelous Sail in with Judy the assistant CD singing opera, it was really special, certainly rivalled the Sail away from Venice

Thank you cjjersey! Sounds like the hop on hop off bus is the way to go.

Cheers!

L