marazul

@AKJonesy - Adding to cruisemom's recommendations. If you are going to Delphi you can add an overnight to Meteora. Also, look at the George's Taxi website for their out-of-Athens private tours (plus transfers and local tours). Since time is not an issue and you want to go all in, this would be a great option for you. We have traveled with George's Taxi a number of times and can highly recommend them. They only do private tours, not shared tours. They will customize the tours to your liking. https://www.georgestaxi.com/ https://www.georgestaxi.com/tour_category/multi-day-private-tours/

I bet you that most people swimming in 60 degree water were Scandinavian tourists enjoying the "balmy" Med and getting away from the frigid Baltic. I don't know where @bkjewett lives, but many people from warmer climates would think that the water in Mallorca right now is the "Polar plunge." Very many first time visitors to the Mediterranean think it is like the Caribbean with 80-84 degree seas year round. They should be aware of what to expect at the time they go and decide whether they whether they would want to try it or not. By August the sea temps in Palma should be 80 or higher. Today, it is 58 degrees. https://www.seatemperature.org/ gives current as well as average sea temperatures for locations all over the world for every day of the year.

Make sure you have plans to fill your day after the swim. It will probably be a very short one. Average sea temperatures in Mallorca in April is 60º F. https://www.seatemperature.org/europe/spain/palma-april.htm

If you book through a transfer company like Stefano's Rome Cabs, you can add a tour on the way to the ship. You have lots of time and would not have to worry about luggage or arriving on time. Go to their website and checkout the options. www.romecabs.com

The drivers are well informed and tell you about the places before you go in. They are not licensed to guide within the venues.

Look in the Plaka or Koukaki neighborhoods. Koukaki is just by the Acropolis Museum.

Here is a view of the donkey path down to the tender port:

You can easily combine Lucca amd Pisa. They are very interesting. Search this forum for lots of info. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Here is the ferry company's website: https://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/en/cinque-terre The ferries do not run from Livorno. The nearest port would be La Spezia. You would need transportation either there or to Porto Venere to use the ferries. Check out train transportation to either of those towns (Porto Venere would be best). The alternative would be a private tour.

Sign up for the tour. You will really enjoy it. I haven't done that tour, but I have been to all those places. That is one of the best ones I have heard about. It avoids the traffic driving the Amalfi coast. The boat ride should take you to the end of the peninsula at least as far as Positano. Maybe have a distant view of Capri.

I guess it is just a sail by. Where do you board the boat? Amalfi? What do you do in the remaining 9.5 hours? Pompeii is probably 2 hours for the visit. Add another hour or a little more to get there and then to the boat. Just one hour along the coast. Curious.

It is a grat combination and it avoids a lot of traffic. I assume you are getting off in the Amalfi coast towns. Who offers the tour?

True. The most popular hotels only get 10%. That is the same discount offered during the Christmas holidays.

@edinburgher and @Hlitner- I agree with Hank on this one. We lived outside of Nice for a while and have traveled extensively in that area. We now return often on land trips and the occasional cruise. Marseille has been improved in the past few years, however, it does remain a gateway to the rest of Provence. Many (most?) readers of this forum are on a first time visit to this area and probably have an idealized image of "Provence." That image is real and it exists inland away from Marseille. Making do with the few attractions of Marseille does not compensate for the fantastic villages, cities and landscapes of the interior of Provence that they would miss if they stay in Marseille. Yes, it does require additional expense and planning to visit elsewhere in the area, but readers have a wide range of budgets. It is up to each person to decide what they can afford. Many cruisers are very budget conscious and seek to sightsee without adding excursions away from the port. But this is a place where budgeting and planning for excursions pays off. Granted, a few do want to stay in Marseille for various reasons and it is good to point out the local highlights to them. But for the average cruiser who wants to know what to do in Marseille, the best answer is to encourage them to get out and visit elsewhere in Provence. (Just as encouraging others to go to Rome from Civitavecchia or to Florence from Livorno.)

Yes. Look at the hotel in google maps and look "Nearby" for restaurants.

AC hotels are very nice. However this one is not centrally located for any of the main tourist areas.

Street food in Florence For the tourist on the go. There is a great upmarket panini and schiacciatte shop in the middle of Florence. It is half way between the Duomo and the Uffizi. The sandwiches are takeout or eat in. Of course, there is wine and beer too. It is called Retrobottega. Here is the website. It is in Italian, but it is very small with mostly pictures and a map at the bottom. www.retrobottegafirenze.com

I rarely disagree with you, but it is not up to the OP to pick the best spot. She has never been there. The driver was probably born there. The driver knows where they can park, where the best spot is. They have done this many times. They should exchange phone numbers so the driver can notify her of unexpected changes. @LBShell doesn't need the extra stress of figuring out a spot in a strange port.

@LBShell Why don't you ask the driver where you should meet? He knows the place much better than anyone here.

@Ron & Kristy There will be parades in the morning and laying of wreaths at the soldiers' memorials. Sreets will be closed for the parade. Everything will return to normal after that or follow a Sunday schedule. Some towns may have special events in the afternoon, especislly on big anniversary years of important events. Google "[name of town] tourism" to find the tourist office. They will have a calendar of events foe the year.

@mskaufman The Goya fountain was a lifesaver for our grandkids on an equally scorching day.

You are right, I did read it wrong. Enjoy Barcelona.

The luck of the Irish! 😁

I don't get it. I am saying not to take the tour and to visit the places on your own. I was giving you suggestions on how "to piece it together" as you wanted. You do not need a tour. Buy the entry tickets directly from the websites. A taxi would cost you under 10 euros between those sites. From Batllo to Mila is a five minute walk. But, whatever.

@mlmdaisy With your schedule you could book a Sagrada Familia tour or regular admission for 12:30. After that you can take a taxi to Casa Batllo and buy your tickets there. Admire the Passeig the Gracia and if you are not too tired, visit to La Pedrera. At least, look at it from outside. You can visit La Pedrera or the Palau Guell next morning. You don't need to pay 200 euros. It is very easy to do on your own. Just add the audioguides to the entry fees. The audiogides are very good. The SF's own tour is the best and it costs 30 euros including admission. Regular admission with no tour is 26 euros. sagradafamilia.org/en casabatllo.es/en lapedrera.com/en inici.palauguell.cat/en