Joyfantastic

I don't tend to make many big purchases of gifts, jewelry, etc while on cruises. On the rare occasion that I do, I use a credit card. However, I tend to snack a lot from vendors as I walk around. I also tend to buy little inexpensive trinkets. Hence the choice of having small amounts of local currency in my zippable pockets. Even in my home base in NYC, I tend to be a cash payer. My husband is the opposite. He's got his Fitbit pay setup and does almost everything with a bank card. Mock of you will, but from time to time, my way has gotten us out of a bind. 😉 I'm old enough and have traveled enough to know what works for me. I use cards judiciously, but also prefer to have cash ready to go. I am a planner who likes to be well prepared. 

Again, thank you for sharing your suggestions in an effort to help me decide how to handle this matter. And look at it this way, if I find that the cost of acquiring currency from those 3 countries in advance is ridiculously exorbitant, I'll simply have to wait to find an ATM upon disembarking. More stressful for me, but definitely doable. Either way, thanks for your time.

Thank you for taking the time to advise me! After reading your suggestions, I'll look into getting small amounts of the currencies I need for these countries, along with the euros I typically get in advance from the bank.

Hi! We're set to sail on the Brilliance of the Seas in August. Being that 3 ports of call: Denmark, Russia, and Sweden use a currency other than euros, how would you suggest we go about getting local currency? We will be with a shore excursion during each of these stops, so I don't foresee having easy access to an atm. How have you handled this situation? Thanks in advance.

Hello! We have visited Rome during our past 2 summer cruises, and are thinking of trying something different. Can you suggest other towns/places that we might visit instead of heading to Rome? Last year we took the train to Rome on our own, so we are comfortable with that form of travel. Looking forward to your suggestions! :D

Viator is very useful for booking transfers in Rome. We used it to go from the Rome Life hotel to the port of Civitavecchia.

Thanks for the input! I know I bought train tix that allow changes. Wonder if I'll be able to switch to different time. Will have to check.

Hi! So glad to see your post! We missed out on Naples last year, and this year the port is Salerno. We're considering taking the train to Naples. I was watching the Rick Steve's video yesterday. I like your description better! I'm not looking for an extreme amount of grit.

Naples is one of our favorite cities and Rick Steve's Mediterranean Cruise ports book offered an excellent walking tour of its highlights from the convenient downtown Naples port. Additionally, it was only an hour ferry ride to the delightful small island of Procida, the Lemon Isle and home to Limoncello.

 

Naples itself has a wonderful historic neighborhoods, pedestrian only streets and the glorious glass domed Galleria, old world crafts, elegant fashion shopping, enticing vistas, art-filled metro stations, world class museums, one of the best royal palaces with stunning tapestries, magnificent churches on almost every block, delicious street food and famed restaurants are all part of Naples, a city far too often overlooked and admittedly overwhelmed by too much grit and graffiti if you stray from its central historic core.

 

Losing Naples will be a loss to those who like to explore on their own and are now forced into the far more heavily tourist impacted Amalfi Drive cities or just a pass through the rough industrial districts of Naples to Pompeii.

Hi! I have a question related to this thread. My husband and I just booked seats on the Frecciabianca train to Rome. Has anyone tried that option? Thanks!