edinburgher

Try internet searching something like "Naples for teens" as something to interest to them might be among the results Otherwise consider Pompeii or Herculaneum or climb Vesuvius, the active volcano. (Herculaneum and Vesuvius are doable in one day as the arrival train station is the same for both) If Vesuvius clear in the morning go there first. If cloudy go to Herculaneum first in the hope the cloud will clear on Vesuvius after you finish in Herculaneum.. Have them read about these amazing sights before travel. Eat pizza in the city where it was created. Visit "Christmas Street".

Try internet searching something like "Marseille for teens" as something to interest to them might be among the results.. Once in the city itself, a private tour isn't always essential as it is quite easy to DIY. Boat tours out to the Chateau d'If (Count of Monte Cristo) leave from the Vieux Port, as do boat tours to the Calanques at Cassis. Enjoy the Vieux Port area itself, and go up to Notre dame de la Garde. There is also the newer MUCEM complex attached to one of the historic forts which protected the port. And there are good museums. Apart from metros and buses, there is a HOHo route and a little tourist train which chugs up to N D de la G.. Much depends on their interests and as you gave no clue as to these, ask them to read about the city and give you suggestions..

visiting Akureyri, Isafjordur and Reykjavik. Post #5 directly above this one is trying to help you reference this recent thread which should help you with plans for Akureyri. As itt doesn't begin that way you need to read it through. .https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2910739-akureyri-activities/#comment-64715461 Isafjordur itself has almost nothing to offer and a shorex is advised. You can find and read all previous threads asbout Isafjordur by using the search box directly under your user name. Reykjavik is an easy one. Do the Golden Circle tour.

Can I ask which hotel in Sorrento you stayed. Sorry but it was so long ago I cannot remember, and it was booked as a flight/hotel package through a UK travel company. It was my second visit there, but a first for my other family members.What I can advise is that you should book a hotel on the lower level of town, as many hotels are uphill and really quite inconvenient for independent sighsteeing. On my first visit we were uphill and it was a nuisance to be there, so on the family visit we looked specifically for one on the lower lever where we could walk out the hotel and be in the centre, convenient for everything there and an easy walk to bus, train and ferry. It made quite a difference and meant we could also enjoy an evening stroll if we wanted, window shopping or to sit in a cafe or bar. it was nice to have that option.

I was able to re-fare my October cruise and not only saved several thousand but also acquired $800 onboard credit! Unfortunately Brits do not have that option. The price we pay is the price we paid at the time we booked. It can be done, but usually only if we cancel the booking and re-book, but that means losing the deposit paid at the time of booking and any OBC or other bonuses in place at the time of booking. Some calculations are needed as the re-booking gain may be more than the deposit loss, but that isn't always the case. We did (I think )at least 6 with SH and yes, their lecturers were almost always excellent apart from a few who were too pedantic. The after lunch lectures often found a good number of pax fast asleep! Also sailed R8s with PandO and Princess when they had one each. The ships are pretty old now and despite refits, may not have many more years left so make the most of them while you can.

the other major advantage to sailing smaller ships, is that, not only did we visit less frequented ports, we were also able to sail upriver and dock centrally in towns such as Bordeaux, Seville and Saigon/HMC amongst others., Seville. twice.

Will absolutely come back here to report what we end up doing. I am finding scarce information on these small ports we are visiting this year. It would be helpful to have more. Absolutely agree. Anything at all you could add would be a bonus. cruisemom42, the same request to you, but if you would also think about adding something to the ROVINJ thread (should you decide to stay there), or give your opinion on the possibility of visiting Pula( if that is where you end up) from Rovinj , that too would be a bonus for others. Have you read the book by any chance? Sorry, no, have not read it, but did read much about the dragon connection with the city when researching it. We too prefer smaller shiops as they visit less frequented ports which the bigger ones cannot use. We only did 4 with Azamara, back in the day when it was the "original" Azamara, and before pricing took a rather dramatic upturn which we felt was too much for us. We loved all the R8's, sailed most of them with different lines. Our first introduction to that size were with the original Swan Hellenic, these days no longer (although the name was bought in the last year or two) and we sought these ships with whichever line had them.

Has anyone hired a guide that would drive them to Alberobella, Italy? Brindisi is not so much a"destination port"as a" gateway port," with a really good selection of places to visit in the surrounding area, some closer than others. Alberobello (note spelling for best internet/CC search results.) is all about seeing trulli, which is presumably your intention? We didn't do that as we had seen them numerous times on tv shows. We did hear other pax saying afterwards that their shorex was a little boring as "if you have seen one, you have seen them all". and "one house with a pointy roof is much like any other" Other pax went to Lecce and enjoyed that shorex. There is much about Lecce online and you could read about it to help you decide whther that could be combined withg the trulli. for a more interesting day as It has a lot to offer. it is also quite an easy DIY outing. We would have gone there, but there was a shorex to MATERA, on offer,a truly unique town which has featured in many major films and which we had seen in a tv documentary, so we opted for that one and it didn't disappoint.. It was definitely a unque experience to visit there and there is nowhere else in the world like it. Do read about MATERA online, also look at images, because if it is an option as a shorex, I would recommend you give it serious consideration.. I think the distance is a little too far for a private tour, at least for us, but ohers have different time/distance limits.

I've seen some advice to NOT take the vaporetto if transporting luggage. With a smaller amount of luggage, it will be easier for you to cross whatever number of bridges you will need to cross to reach your hotel. Some folks take the number of bridges AND the closest vaporetto stop into account when researching hotels. There should also be porters at or close to the train station, and you could consider using that service.

same reply as i gave on your Greek ports thread. Have you tried internet searching something along the lines of "(name of town) for teens?" worth a try for each and you may find some good suggestions. And there are five of you to research each of your ports which will reduce your own research time, and your teens might enjoy looking at the options and choosing which appeal to them.

have you tried internet searching something along the lines of "(name of town) for teens?" worth a try for each and you may find some good suggestions.

This is another of these "difficult decisions" port stops as there are way too many options for the time you will have in port, and where a land holiday woiuld be a better option to give more time to explore the area. And Cannes is a tender port so extra time getting off and on again will eat into your time ashore. Thinking (like Hank) that you are being over ambitious unless you only want the briefest glimpses of each place on your wish list and that could leave you disappointed. Might it be a better idea to pick just ONE of Nice, Monte Carlo, or Eze and see it more in-depth than a drive through would offer? Of the three, as already mentioned, Eze would be the most difficult to DIY due to its location and lack of a train station, but either Nice or Monaco would be easier with trains from Cannes to both, and the railway line runs alongside the coast most of the way so there are views.. You could look at online info for both Nice and Monaco to see which appeals to you most then plan your day from there. Nice is closer than Monaco to Cannes so there would be a little time saved, but not a huge amount. Do remember that if travelling by train, you MUST remember to validate your tickets before boarding the train otherwise you would be fined should there be an inspection..If you didn't know about the validation requirement, try googling for information on how to do this. After posting this, I noticed a different thread just a few down from yours and it would be useful for you to read it. as there have been changes at Eze and these would also impact your time there: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2917259-how-long-and-difficult-is-the-walk-up-to-eze-village-from-the-bottom-of-the-hill/

For a better chance of it being read by folks who did it, maybe think about also asking this same question on the Carnival forum?

It’s rather expensive We didn't do this shorex but others on our sailing did. My understanding is, that the first and last parts of this shorex are by privately chartered plane which would explain at least some of the cost.

I wouldn't be satisfied with two glimpses We had a lot more than" a glimpse" of the city, possibly a couple of hours,also had plenty time at Bled Castle, but would have enjoyed much more time around the lake to take a boat trip and to enjoy the setting. Should we ever return, would probably opt for a longer excursion to only Lake Bled, but the city is very appealing, easy to navigate and really easy to see the main sights so we were very happy that we visited. And watch for dragons(!) The symbol of the city, they can be found here, there and everwhere. The largest are probably the ones at Dragon Bridge. but they can be seen all around the centre, and dragon souvenirs come in a wide variety. Perhaps both yourself and VineyardView could give updates on this thread once you return, both of Piran (including transport experience) and also of Llublijana, as there isn't currently much info, and I think others searching would appreciate the views of folks other than myself!

I will look into them and will pass on the Alhambra. In that case, an easy substitute would be the Malaga Alcazaba. No need to climb up, as there is an elevator to take you up,found in the street which backs the Town Hall. Having visited the Alhambra twice and the Alcazar of Seville once, we found it less interesting than the others, but it is still worth visiting and would be a good introduction for you. There are gardens beside the Town hall, and only a five or fewer minutes walk away, the gardens which run parallel to the main road outside the port gates are also pretty and flat for walking.

Mea culpa. No worries. Perhaps others will come in with recommended options for your transfer to the ship. We had booked the 3 day hotel add on through the cruiseline, so there were many fellow pax staying there, and although we didn't go on their excursions, we did use their coach transfer from the hotel to the port. Maybe reading some of the previous threads about Rio (in particular transport related threads) might be helpful to you. Simply use the SEARCH option under your username to bring them up ready for reading as that is usually easier than back paging. Rio is amazing to visit, although we definitely missed the freedom to walk around that we have enjoyed in other cities around the world.

long winding bus rides don’t work well for my stomach The drive was quite long, but I don't remember "winding" roads as were mostly on main roads, not little country roads, and it wasn't a mountainous or hilly route either.

Just looked at Ljubljana.Looks like a very cool place It is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, and I think also one of the prettiest. The central area is very compact with most of the main sights in close proximity to each other and there are attractive riverside walks.It is also flat for easd walking, unless you choose to walk up to the castle which is also central. (There is also a funicular) And many restaurants, cafes etc to choose from. On arrival in the city, we arranged with the shorex guide that we would do our own walking tour and meet with the group at the meeting point when it was time to leave for the short drive to Lake Bled as we really prefer to follow our own agenda and we had taken city info with us. It is a really delightful city to visit. And Lake Bled is close to Llublijana so less than an hour driving between the two. As we had opted for the city and lake combo rather than more time in one or the other, (three shorex had been offered) we had only a short time at Lake Bled so our time there was mostly a scenic drive alongside the lake and free time at the Bled Castle complex from which there were stunning views. It was a lovely shorex.

appreciate your further information. I do believe this is what we will plan for Koper. You could certainly get off the bus wherever you choose to get off, and there were a couple of seaside towns along the route, but how quickly you could "hop back on" would be dependent on the frequency of the buses, unless you did a bus/taxi combo of course.. And you mentioned you will be packing that day too. Perhaps spending time in Piran and an additional hour or a bit more in Koper itself on return, might be enough to fill your time and still leave you enough time to get organised and relax a little onboard. If nothing has changed since the last of our two visits, to reach Koper Old Town, you need only exit the ship, go up to street level using the ramp or the elevator, cross the road and you are there. Could also go there once you exit the bus. Enter any of the streets leading into it and wander in the general direction of left to reach the port. (you would have walked in the right direction from the dock to the bus stop earlier), Think of it a a circle. Old Town inside, road outside. Small so difficult to get lost.

I think what would be worse would be the high water levels which occur every now and then in Venice as these create quite a bit of chaos.

carlmm As you yourself give many helpful responses to questions, it seems a shame that you may get few or no responses to your own question, so wanted to point out that most cruise pax on a one day port call will have sailed from Genoa before they could enjoy a full evening meal and almost certainly before midnight. And I don't think many cruiselines overnight in Genoa (but others will correct if wrong) unless they are embarking new passengers, which may be the case with a couple of the Italian cruiselines, in which case you could try asking on their respective CC forums. If no success with that idea, you would probably get more replies if you search websites elsewhere or try a different forum, perhaps even a Tripadvisor forum?

We feel safe enough most places we’ve traveled but everyone tells us to be careful in Rio. Should we plan on doing dinner EARLY to avoid walking at night? Unfortunately there is still a risk of DAYTIME robbery/pickpocketing in Rio and when you first asked about this several months ago, you were advised of that. It was also suggested that you dine in your hotel. Here is your previous thread with replies: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2846897-rio-april-2023/#comment-63064142 Not every tourist in Rio will be targeted of course, but that doesn't mean you can walk about expecting not to be targeted, and the less walking you do outside of your hotel, the more you reduce the risk to yourselves. Ask hotel staff to recommend a nearby eatery Noting your US location, what does current US Govt travel advice state? The UK travel advisory says this in part: . If threatened, hand over your valuables without resistance. Attackers may be armed and under the influence of drugs. Do not attempt to resist attackers – this increases the risk of injury or worse. You should: avoid wearing expensive jewellery and watches avoid carrying large sums of money - consider wearing a money belt avoid using a mobile phone in the street keep cameras out of sight when not in use leave your passport and other valuables in a safe place, but carry a copy and another form of photo ID, if you have one, with you at all times. And you are wise to have booked a private tour. Expect the driver/guide to keep all vehicle windows closed and doors locked when you are inside it as this is what locals do in their own vehicles. And remember that if it is cloudy or misty on your day 1 private tour to the top sights, try switching to day 2 plans instead and try for your main sights the following day in the hope that it would have better views. As in your previous thread, could still recommend Petroplois for your free day, plus the modern cathedral in the city as it is very different, plus/or whatever your guide suggests or what you yourselves would like to visit. Despite the concerns about possible theft, it is a wonderful city to visit.

2 adults and 2 "kids" You didn't give the ages of your kids, so they could be anywhere between 2 and 20,but just to say that la Rochelle is a holiday resort in addition to a working town, so if this a first visit you may find plenty to do in town without heading off miles away. There are beaches and parks, an aquarium, towers, museums and the little shuttle boat which criss crosses the harbour on one side and the giant marina on the other. It is one of the biggest marinas in Europe and the short crossing is a nice thing to do. Amongst the museums is the "automatons" museum next to the miniatures museum. The automatons museum is where you can see working models and they are entertaining for adults and kids alike. There is also a large market, many shops to browse, an older historic centre to explore and a large selection of restaurants, cafes, bars etc. Should your plans to visit a chateau fall through, you could check the la Rochelle Tourist Info website for ideas, also sites such as Tripadvisor la Rochelle, or simply search with something along the lines of "la Rochelle for kids". You could actually have a very enjoyable day in town, unless of course this particular chateau has something of special interest to you all. Ships dock at la Pallice some distance from town, and your ship may run shuttles to a central square, or take a taxi, or the public bus.

Do you recall how long it took via bus, and whether there were a good number of stops along the way? Did you enjoy Piran? It was under an hour but more than 30 minutes. That is all we remember. Piran is teeny tiny but very picturesque. We took many photos. Unless having a long lunch, you will be done in 2 or 3 hours. There should be many images and descriptions online if you search. As for the number of stops, why does that matter? You will start and end each journey at the first and last stops in both Koper and Piran, so the number of stops between them surely isn't important unless you plan on getting off somewhere along the route? We looked out the windows as part of the route is alongside the sea and passes through a couple of seaside towns. A website such as moovit or looking at a timetable might answer your question, or contact the bus company or the Tourist Info Office. It would be perfect for a last day as you would enjoy a pretty town and be able to pack and relax without any need to hurry.