Recommend tours on Yacht Havens (17 June 2010)

[Grozzy]

Hi Everyone

 

We are from Australia (Down Under) and taking the Oceania 'Yacht Havens' tour (17 June 2010) and wondering if any of you experienced travellers can recommend a wonderful tour at each port. Love the countryside. We are in our 50s and fortunately fit and can do most things! Love to hear from someone or someones.

 

Grozzy:D

[LHT28]

You may want to go to the ROLL CALL for your cruise I am sure the folks there will have privates or other options already researched

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=975762

 

Enjoy the cruise

 

Lyn

[etlebut]

My husband and I, from Toronto, Canada also in our 50's have the same question. Most people seem to recommend doing the tours yourself as the ship excursions are over priced. The information we are seeking, is whether there are specific tour companies that are recommended. We are trying to ascertain in each port, if it is possible to see everything on your own, how far is it from where the ship docks to the sites of that port, and if there are certain ports where there is not much to see, and therefore best to make arrangements ahead of time to other excursions in the area? I tried contacting Oceania regarding shore excursions, but as I indicated we were not booking tours through Oceania, the operator was not helpful in providing any information.

[LHT28]

My husband and I, from Toronto, Canada also in our 50's have the same question. Most people seem to recommend doing the tours yourself as the ship excursions are over priced. The information we are seeking, is whether there are specific tour companies that are recommended.

Go to the ports of call forum then look for your specific port

There are lots of recommended tour guides listed by past passengers or information on how do DIY.

Also join your roll call .

Other passengers may have private tours ooked & still have room to share tours

Do a little research on each port to see what may be of interest to you there.

 

Enjoy

Lyn

[rheasue38]

Hi!

We will be on the Yacht Havens cruise with you. We have booked tours through Oceania but several people on our roll call have booked with private tour companies. Why not join our roll call? Several of the ports can be done on your own such as Sete and Sanary Sur Mer and Portovenere.

By the way, my husband, Michael was born in Toronto.

Rhea

[ClaudiaF]

if you post the ports I am sure we can help you.. not knowing every itinerary makes it kind of hard to answer your questions

[etlebut]

We are on the June 17th Yacht Havens

Rome (Citiavecchia) Italy

Bonaficio (Corsica) France

Porto Venere (Cinque Terre) Italy

Provence (Marseille) France

Cannes, France

Portofino, Italy

Sardinia, Italy

Saint-Tropez, France

Sanary-Sur Mer, France

Sete, France,

Barcelona, Spain

 

I am not sure which ports you can do on your own, and which ports it is best to arrange tours ahead of time. Should we book ship tours (which are expensive), or in the alternative, book tours at the dock, or if specific ports have tour operators or individuals who are recommened.

[amer_can]

Just back from May 14th Insignia from IST. to MRS. As to Cinque Terre do it on your own.. walk to the train station, buy a ticket (17E for both of you).signs are in English and the ticket agent all seem to speak it.Stick the ticket in the yellow box to validate. Get on the train and go where ever you want..All the way to Monterossa is about 20 minutes or so. Get off, walk around, get back on go south to Venerazza, get off repeat walking around, skip Corniglia unless you are up to about 450 steps up to the town, (or do it) get back on go to Manerola, get off, walk the "via a'more" to Riomaggiorre. Get back on and return to La Spezia, walk back to the ship and have a good happy hour!!! If you do the "via a'more" walk take a lock , key or pad, and attach it to the fence anywhere to lock in your love..Amazing touch. Olbia, not much to offer, we just walked around and returned to the ship.Restful. The O tours are overpriced, imho, and the only one we took was in Tunisia and it was reasonable and outstanding but you don't appear to be going there. Research each port and thread and if anyone contacts a board for pax to go on tours check them out. We were so lucky with the 2 couples that responded to me for Ephesus that not onl;y was the tour outstanding but so were the people. Have a wonderful time..

[cruisecountess]

Since we dock (or drop anchor) at Portovenere, it may be easier to take a boat to the Cinque Terre. It is 22 euros round trip and the excursion boat dock is near the dock where the tender drops off the passengers. The train from La Spezia sounds convenient and quicker, but I don't know what would be involved in getting from Portovenere to La Spezia to catch the train. By the way, the boat also makes the rounds, allowing you to get on and off so that four of the five villages can be accessed. Looking forward to meeting you on board.

Harriet

[amer_can]

Sorry about the train suggestion as we docked in La Spezia not Porto Venere. The boat trip is equally as attractive but check to see the times and if you can get on and off..This is the beauty of the area. Again have a great time as I am sure you will.