Magnifica - Eastern Med Questions

It's getting close to our sailing date of 7/24 so I am starting to investigate more about the ports. This is my first time on MSC (sailed on the Love Boat before :-) so expectations are low). I did research about MSC and with the help of this forum, I've compiled a list of MSC features:

http://www.traveltripreport.com/about/cruising/msc

But from reading the recent posts about MSC Magnifica, it seems like things are still chaotic. I have a few questions for the cruisers who just got off the ship. Your replies would greatly help me plan out my trip so thanks in advance!

Question #1: How long does it take to get off the ship at Katakolon and Izmir?

The schedule says docking occurs at 8:00AM but how long does the process take? Is it orderly or every man for himself?

Question #2: Correspondingly, how long does it take to board the ship after the excursion? Should I allot extra time? For example, the Katakolon time on shore is from 8:00 to 1:00pm. Realistically, how much time is available if I want to go tour Olympia?

Question #3: Has anyone taken a taxi to Katakolon ?

Question #4: Smoking: how bad is it? I thought it's 90% smoke-free?

It's getting close to our sailing date of 7/24 so I am starting to investigate more about the ports. This is my first time on MSC (sailed on the Love Boat before :-) so expectations are low). I did research about MSC and with the help of this forum, I've compiled a list of MSC features:

http://www.traveltripreport.com/about/cruising/msc

 

But from reading the recent posts about MSC Magnifica, it seems like things are still chaotic. I have a few questions for the cruisers who just got off the ship. Your replies would greatly help me plan out my trip so thanks in advance!

 

Question #1: How long does it take to get off the ship at Katakolon and Izmir?

The schedule says docking occurs at 8:00AM but how long does the process take? Is it orderly or every man for himself?

 

Question #2: Correspondingly, how long does it take to board the ship after the excursion? Should I allot extra time? For example, the Katakolon time on shore is from 8:00 to 1:00pm. Realistically, how much time is available if I want to go tour Olympia?

 

Question #3: Has anyone taken a taxi to Katakolon ?

 

Question #4: Smoking: how bad is it? I thought it's 90% smoke-free?

Question #1: How long does it take to get off the ship at Katakolon and Izmir?

The schedule says docking occurs at 8:00AM but how long does the process take? Is it orderly or every man for himself?

Sailed Magnifica 3/27...

Southern Europeans can at times aggravate one's sense of 'decorum' during initial disembarkation; but that said, my tribe were typically waiting to go ashore at first opportunity and the process moved reasonably quickly. Once or twice the line began a few minutes early. We didn't find ourselves held up badly (not to any significant degree). One could probably make the 8:20 AM (?) train from Katakolon to Olympia without too much rush.

Question #2: Correspondingly, how long does it take to board the ship after the excursion? Should I allot extra time? For example, the Katakolon time on shore is from 8:00 to 1:00pm. Realistically, how much time is available if I want to go tour Olympia?

Question #3: Has anyone taken a taxi to Katakolon ?

We rented two Opel Corsicas from Katakalo Rent a Car located immediately off the pier (which dumps right onto main street of this pretty seaside village). You can contact diplasd@rentacarkatakolo.gr if you are interested. A vehicle carrying 4/5 will run about 45 EU (maybe 60 total with gas and insurance) which for a group is a bargain over cabs and ship excursions. The rental agency will process you quickly. The drive is easy on good roads (30-35 minutes) leaving sufficient time to peruse the ruins and museum and even leave 20-30 minutes to stroll 'main street' Katakolon. You will have 2-2.5 hours on site at Olympia regardless how you do it. BTW - the ruins and museum were an unexpected highlight of the trip, definately worth the effort or expense IMHO. All in all, the itinerary was great.

MSC does its all aboard for passengers an hour prior to pulling from the pier (fairly typical line operationally). Getting aboard is typical, usually just a walk aboard or maybe a line of a dozen or less. I would have liked an hour or two more in Katakolon and Dubrovnik, but as I posted elsewhere the line doesn't have these short days to avoid pier charges - the ship needs to move to make the itinerary. This is a lengthy route and the ship averages >20kts throughout the voyage. Rounding the Pelopenesus on the return sea day from Istanbul to Dubrovnik is very scenic.

Question #4: Smoking: how bad is it? I thought it's 90% smoke-free?

90% - sounds about right; in sum, not too bad. It merely reminds one of how it used to be (but less so). The port side of the pool deck was the most prominent 'smoking area' with ash trays etc. I believe a couple of places in the interior allowed smoking (casino I think) but it wasn't overrun with smoke and the line maintained limitations. Europe is just a couple years behind North America on this issue and 'a couple years' means they are closing on parity. Restaurants and bars are smoke free in most countries, etc. My wife did point out the decorative wall mounted ash trays in the bathroom so there's still a bit of culture difference, but unless one is highly sensitive it's not a problem (really just a not too loud echo of the not too distant past).

We had fantastic weather. Hope you have a great trip!:)

Thank so much for the info, Woodofpine! We have been to Olympia once, 10 years ago on our honeymoon. We took a tour of Greece then for $250, 7 days, including bed, breakfast, and dinner! That was when the US Dollar was way up there!

So now it's a trip back to introduce it our 7 year old son! We were there in July before and it was HOT. Hopefully it's better this year so we can enjoy it.

Did you make the Ephesus trip? Did you have enough time? We are going on a 1/2 day tour with Ekol Travel.

Hey Thanks - it sounds like you were a good tour shopper a decade ago even by Greek price standards of the day...

I'd done a ship tour (Golden Princess) of Ephesus and other sites out of Kusadaisi in '03 (that was a blazing hot summer across Europe - but Turkey was surprisingly, pleasantly temperate). As a result, this go I chose to do to the caravanserie/bazaar quarter in Izmir with DW and two older teen (shopaholic) daughters. I got some cool stuff (I'm a sucker for Turkish tiles); I bought a couple beautiful koranic caligraphies on (largely still furry) animal hydes stretched, mounted and framed (15TL each; non-touristic craft/art for the devout - I should've gotten a couple more [i always say that about the tiles@$3 each too). Kamiralti and the historic caravanserie was fun if one had been to Ephesus before. The 1600's era caravanserie has a neat courtyard for tea etc. and a lot of jewelry was being made on the second floor.

Our two younger kids, whose memories of Ephesus were pretty hazy did the ship tour 'Ephesus with House of Mary' with their cousins and aunt-uncle. They seemed to get a lot out of it although the guide got mixed reviews as being too quiet a speaker moving too quickly... (luck of the draw). From Izmir expect the trip to Ephesus to take about 75 mn. each way, but a private guide ought to be able to add some side attraction in route. The ships regularly include either the House of Mary or St. Johns Basilica - even on a 6 hour port day; you'll have a good day if the temperatures aren't too high (water).

Have a great trip.

Yep, $250 was a good price. I discovered that the best way was to travel to Athens. From there, there were tons of agents booking your tours around Greece at 1/10 of the prices that were quoted in the US.

Any dishes you'd recommend for dinner?