we just returned 5 days ago from the Ruby Princess eastern Mediterranean and had initially booked all cruise shore excursions. About a week before we left, at the urging of a friend, we cancelled these and booked our own using driverinrome for Pisa, Florence, Rome and Naples area, greektaxi for Athens and Byzas tours turkey for Istanbul who also will do Ephesus. This was the best decision that we could ever have made. Not only did we go places that the large tour buses could not but our drivers were locals who knew the traffic problems, when to go where first in order to avoid large crowds and also we ate at some of the best local places that we would never have experiences on a cruise shore excursion. These companies know cruise schedules and are totally aware of getting you back in time and it was never an issue. When we were at the airport in Venice returning home, we spoke to a family that was also on our cruise who said that they "didn't enjoy anything about the cruise" because of the shore excursions. They were at Pompeii for over 3 hrs listening to someone go on and on about the ruins. That is fine if you are interested in that - but we were not and spent about an hour going through Pompeii and then went wine tasting with our driver as that was our primary interest after shopping in Sorrento and Positano. Our driver was from Sorrento so he was able to park at his fathers home and avoid the tourist traffic. We were worried at first about doing independent tours but now wouldn't consider doing anything but - take a chance and give it a try - you won't regret it.
Don't be afraid to try things on your own!
in Other Mediterranean and Black Sea Ports
Posted
we just returned 5 days ago from the Ruby Princess eastern Mediterranean and had initially booked all cruise shore excursions. About a week before we left, at the urging of a friend, we cancelled these and booked our own using driverinrome for Pisa, Florence, Rome and Naples area, greektaxi for Athens and Byzas tours turkey for Istanbul who also will do Ephesus. This was the best decision that we could ever have made. Not only did we go places that the large tour buses could not but our drivers were locals who knew the traffic problems, when to go where first in order to avoid large crowds and also we ate at some of the best local places that we would never have experiences on a cruise shore excursion. These companies know cruise schedules and are totally aware of getting you back in time and it was never an issue. When we were at the airport in Venice returning home, we spoke to a family that was also on our cruise who said that they "didn't enjoy anything about the cruise" because of the shore excursions. They were at Pompeii for over 3 hrs listening to someone go on and on about the ruins. That is fine if you are interested in that - but we were not and spent about an hour going through Pompeii and then went wine tasting with our driver as that was our primary interest after shopping in Sorrento and Positano. Our driver was from Sorrento so he was able to park at his fathers home and avoid the tourist traffic. We were worried at first about doing independent tours but now wouldn't consider doing anything but - take a chance and give it a try - you won't regret it.