Which ports will Insignia be docked far from town

[De La Cruise]

I am a newbie who have been following this Board for some time and am aware that the shuttle bus issue is still "under discussion".

 

We are sailing on November 10th from Venice to Barcelona on the "Footsteps of History" cruise with Insignia.

 

It would be helpful if we could find out which are the ports in which the ship will be docked far from town and which are the "must see" places as well as suggested "private taxi/van" operators, to help us plan our private shore excursions.

 

We'd appreciate feedback from those who have been on Oceania ships to these ports before:

 

1. Hvar, Croatia

2. Dubrovnik

3. Corfu

4. Messina, Sicily

5. Naples

6. Civitavecchia

7. Cinque Terre, La Spezia

8. Livorno

9. Monte Carlo

10. Provence

11. Palma de Mallorca

12. Valencia

13. Barcelona

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[JimandStan]

There are seperate boards for the ports:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19

[Imagineer]

...haven't been to all the spots your cruise goes to, but for the ones I have been to: in Dubrovnik sometimes the ship docks if there is room, if not you tender, the old walled city is a taxi ride away. At Corfu you can walk into the city but it is about a 20 minute walk, we had a taxi take us on a tour and then drop us off in the main part of the old town. Civitavecchia is the port city for Rome and there is no other way to get to Rome other than bus, taxi or train. Cinque Terre, La Spezia is a tender port, you're taken to a small dock just off the shore of La Spezia where you can get a taxi to the train station or embark on a boat that serves the Cinque Terre towns and view all of them from the sea - we did this and quite enjoyed it. At Livorno you have to have a taxi or bus take you to whatever area you've chosen to visit...

...hope that helps you out a bit...

 

cheers,

 

the Imagineer

[A Knitter]

Livorno, you need a taxi as you either tour Pisa or Florence. Monte Carlo is a 15 minute walk into town where the Luxury Stores and Grand Casino are located. Both Dock. Take me with you as your guide :)

[YoHoHo]

As JimandStan suggested do check out the Ports of Call section for lots of good details on each of these places.

A quick comment on these just to clarify:

6. Civitavecchia

Long way from port to Rome (> 90 minutes) many take train, private tour or ship excusion. Great train info etc in CC Ports section.

8. Livorno

Long way from port to Florence. Many take train, private tour or ship excusion. Great train info etc in Ports section

13. Barcelona

There are a couple of terminals in Barcelona. One where most ships dock is nearby and there is a port shuttle bus that takes you to one end of La Ramblas (main tourist area).

The other, where smaller ships and Oceania fortunately oftens docks is at the World Trade Centre dock and it is just a short walk past the end of La Ramblas.

 

Also check out the Roll Call section to see if there is agroup formed who will be on your sailing. There may be others who have done this research and are arranging private tours though may be booked now.

 

Enjoy your trip!

[De La Cruise]

As JimandStan suggested do check out the Ports of Call section for lots of good details on each of these places.

A quick comment on these just to clarify:

6. Civitavecchia

Long way from port to Rome (> 90 minutes) many take train, private tour or ship excusion. Great train info etc in CC Ports section.

8. Livorno

Long way from port to Florence. Many take train, private tour or ship excusion. Great train info etc in Ports section

13. Barcelona

There are a couple of terminals in Barcelona. One where most ships dock is nearby and there is a port shuttle bus that takes you to one end of La Ramblas (main tourist area).

The other, where smaller ships and Oceania fortunately oftens docks is at the World Trade Centre dock and it is just a short walk past the end of La Ramblas.

 

Also check out the Roll Call section to see if there is agroup formed who will be on your sailing. There may be others who have done this research and are arranging private tours though may be booked now.

 

Enjoy your trip!

Hi All!

 

Thanks for all the feedback. It's very kind of all of you. There's a wealth of info on this board, especially the Ports of Call section. I was not even aware that it existed. Thanks JimandStan!

 

Our local TA is supposed to come up with some private tours, but so far the itineraries are still not out.

 

The Imagineer, we'll probably try the boat tour of the Cinque Terre towns. Looks like we'd have to take taxi at Livorno and Civitavecchia. Is the cost prohibitive?

 

A Knitter, is it just either Pisa OR Florence? My brother Andrew and his DW have not been to both, so if push comes to shove, I guess we'd have to choose one. As for Monte Carlo, Andrew would likely want to visit the Casino. Is there a dress code? It'd be wonderful to have a private guide, but I note that you're sailing on the Marina on 24th Nov. That's the day we disembark in Barcelona!

 

YoHoHo, we've joined a roll call and this info should also be useful for Rhona, the convenor of the Roll Call.

 

Thanks once again all.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[A Knitter]

Hi All!

 

 

A Knitter, is it just either Pisa OR Florence? My brother Andrew and his DW have not been to both, so if push comes to shove, I guess we'd have to choose one. As for Monte Carlo, Andrew would likely want to visit the Casino. Is there a dress code? It'd be wonderful to have a private guide, but I note that you're sailing on the Marina on 24th Nov. That's the day we disembark in Barcelona!

 

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

I know:D:D . Wish I could do both. If you did a drive by at Pisa and then headed to Florence, it could be done. We had planned to visit Pisa on the way back but preferred to spend more time in Florence. Only one in our small group had not been to the Tower before. Here is a link for the Casino.. Sensible dress, No shorts or flip flops. Jacket for men required after 8 P.M. Take your passport with you and visit the Embassy/Consulate which is in the vicinity to have it stamped to show you were there. :)

http://en.montecarloresort.com/

[TERRIER1]

Hello.

 

Cinque Terra - you can walk to the train station and then take the train to the farthest of the five towns and then come back by hopping on and off the train or by walking along the paths between the towns. They sell a special ttrain ticket for this option. Some of the paths are strenuous and some are very easy (ie. Via del Amore). You can also take a boat which is also very nice as long as the seas are calm. The area gets crowded in the summer months but it was very nice in April and May.

 

Livorno - we came in twice at Livorno. Once in the commercial section and once where the smaller ships dock. If you come in where the smaller ships dock, you can take a taxi or bus to the train station and then take the train t0 Florence or to Pisa and Lucca.

 

Civitavecchia - a long way from Rome. We embarked here twice. The taxi is expensive and the ride is over an hour. You can take the train which is not far from the port and the port runs a shuttle bus from the ships to the end of the port. The walk is a couple of blocks to the train station.

 

Enjoy.

[De La Cruise]

I know:D:D . Wish I could do both. If you did a drive by at Pisa and then headed to Florence, it could be done. We had planned to visit Pisa on the way back but preferred to spend more time in Florence. Only one in our small group had not been to the Tower before. Here is a link for the Casino.. Sensible dress, No shorts or flip flops. Jacket for men required after 8 P.M. Take your passport with you and visit the Embassy/Consulate which is in the vicinity to have it stamped to show you were there. :)

http://en.montecarloresort.com/

Thanks for the link, A Knitter! It's really informative. Guess we'd bring a jacket each, to ward off the Nov. cold, if nothing else. Don't forget that we're from the tropics!

 

Andrew is older and like most Asians, like to have a small wager. As for me and my DW, we've learnt from the Ports of Call link from JimandStan that a 15 minute bus trip to Eze village would be worth the effort.

 

I remember driving into Monte Carlo/Monaco in 81 from Barcelona via Marseilles, Nice and Cannes with my DW and our then 1 year old daughter and spending the night. We've never sailed into the principality's port though.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[A Knitter]

Thanks for the link, A Knitter! It's really informative. Guess we'd bring a jacket each, to ward off the Nov. cold, if nothing else. Don't forget that we're from the tropics!

 

Andrew is older and like most Asians, like to have a small wager. As for me and my DW, we've learnt from the Ports of Call link from JimandStan that a 15 minute bus trip to Eze village would be worth the effort.

 

I remember driving into Monte Carlo/Monaco in 81 from Barcelona via Marseilles, Nice and Cannes with my DW and our then 1 year old daughter and spending the night. We've never sailed into the principality's port though.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

It didn't take me long to lose my small wager. I should have just handed them the money when I walked through the door but enjoyed the 10 seconds for the experience. :) We had a very knowledgeable guide. I am a Grace Kelley fan as well so we spent some time getting the history of the Princess. Eze was fabulous and of course Cannes and Nice.

[De La Cruise]

Hello.

 

Cinque Terra - you can walk to the train station and then take the train to the farthest of the five towns and then come back by hopping on and off the train or by walking along the paths between the towns. They sell a special ttrain ticket for this option. Some of the paths are strenuous and some are very easy (ie. Via del Amore). You can also take a boat which is also very nice as long as the seas are calm. The area gets crowded in the summer months but it was very nice in April and May.

 

Livorno - we came in twice at Livorno. Once in the commercial section and once where the smaller ships dock. If you come in where the smaller ships dock, you can take a taxi or bus to the train station and then take the train t0 Florence or to Pisa and Lucca.

 

Civitavecchia - a long way from Rome. We embarked here twice. The taxi is expensive and the ride is over an hour. You can take the train which is not far from the port and the port runs a shuttle bus from the ships to the end of the port. The walk is a couple of blocks to the train station.

 

Enjoy.

Wow TERRIER1! Cinque Terre sounds interesting. Would the sea be rough in mid-Nov? We'd like to try the boat tour if its calm. Should be kinder on our feet...OTOH, if the sea is rough....

 

As for Naples, does anyone know whether it's possible to take in the Isle of Capri together with Pompeii or do we have to stick to one? We should be disembaking circa 8am and sailing off circa 8pm. The last time I was there with DW in 84, we joined QE2's shore excursion only to have Capri and Pompeii cancelled as Capri had rough sea conditions and Pompeii was closed for a public holiday. We only saw the ruins of Pompeii from the outside and the entire SE was spent in Sorrento. I've always wanted to experience the Blue Grotto in Capri and the ruins of Pompeii, so that was a bummer!

[De La Cruise]

It didn't take me long to lose my small wager. I should have just handed them the money when I walked through the door but enjoyed the 10 seconds for the experience. :) We had a very knowledgeable guide. I am a Grace Kelley fan as well so we spent some time getting the history of the Princess. Eze was fabulous and of course Cannes and Nice.

Another endorsement for Eze! We'll definitely make it a point to go there now.

[TERRIER1]

Monte Carlo - it was French holiday when we arrived and the buses were running on an abbreviated schedule. We had to go to Nice to pick up the bus to EZE and same for the return. On a regular day, the bus ( I thhink it is the 110) goes direct from Monte Carlo to Eze. It's a lovely place with great views.

[HawkeyeCruisr]

Naples - I think it will be very difficult to go to both Pompeii AND Capri, even with your longer port day. You might check the Ports of Call threads about this; I remember reading something specifically about people who where trying to do both out of Sorrento. My suggestion would be to take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii and spend a couple of hours seeing the ruins. Then take the train back to Naples and visit the Archeological Museum which contains many of the artifacts retrieved from Pompeii.

 

Messina - You should be docked very close to the center of town. But . . . there isn't a whole lot to see there. I would suggest taking a taxi to Taromina in the morning. There will be a lot of taxis available when you get off the ship, all vying for your business. The typical scenario is to charge you a set amount for a 4-hr time period which will include the trip to Taromino, giving you 2 hrs here, the trip back, and a whirlwind overview of Messina. Then you will have time in the afternoon if you want to walk back into Messina to see more of the city. Find another couple to share the taxi; 4 of us paid 150 euros for the half-day trip . . . but that was 3 years ago.

[A Knitter]

Another endorsement for Eze! We'll definitely make it a point to go there now.

 

 

We used Sylvi Di Cristo if you are searching for a tour guide. You can see her reviews and I also did a review on the cruise when I returned.

http://www.beoglobe.com/p/guide-en-169-france-Nice-Riviera-English-French-Spanish.html#tour0

 

http://www.beoglobe.com/p/detail.php?lang=en&id_guide=169

[De La Cruise]

Monte Carlo - it was French holiday when we arrived and the buses were running on an abbreviated schedule. We had to go to Nice to pick up the bus to EZE and same for the return. On a regular day, the bus ( I thhink it is the 110) goes direct from Monte Carlo to Eze. It's a lovely place with great views.

Hi TERRIER1! Is it really true that you can see Nice and St. Tropez from Eze?

[De La Cruise]

Naples - I think it will be very difficult to go to both Pompeii AND Capri, even with your longer port day. You might check the Ports of Call threads about this; I remember reading something specifically about people who where trying to do both out of Sorrento. My suggestion would be to take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii and spend a couple of hours seeing the ruins. Then take the train back to Naples and visit the Archeological Museum which contains many of the artifacts retrieved from Pompeii.

 

Messina - You should be docked very close to the center of town. But . . . there isn't a whole lot to see there. I would suggest taking a taxi to Taromina in the morning. There will be a lot of taxis available when you get off the ship, all vying for your business. The typical scenario is to charge you a set amount for a 4-hr time period which will include the trip to Taromino, giving you 2 hrs here, the trip back, and a whirlwind overview of Messina. Then you will have time in the afternoon if you want to walk back into Messina to see more of the city. Find another couple to share the taxi; 4 of us paid 150 euros for the half-day trip . . . but that was 3 years ago.

Thanks Hawkeye Cruisr! Looks like we'd have to pick one, Pompeii or Capri. Comforting to know that the ship'll be docked near town center in Messina and the taxi tour sounds reasonable.

 

Meanwhile, we've got Cabin No.7022. Our previous cruise experience have always been on one of those mega ships and we were always lucky enouigh to be assigned cabins midship or thereabouts. This is our first time on a 700 passenger ship and we noticed that our cabin is slightly forward. DW is afraid that it'd be rockin and rollin, considering that we'd be sailing the Adriatic and the Med in mid to late Nov? Is that a valid concern?

 

Also, would the position of the cabin on the portside mean that we get better views of the coastline and the ports as we approach them? Can't quite figure that out.

[De La Cruise]

We used Sylvi Di Cristo if you are searching for a tour guide. You can see her reviews and I also did a review on the cruise when I returned.

http://www.beoglobe.com/p/guide-en-169-france-Nice-Riviera-English-French-Spanish.html#tour0

 

http://www.beoglobe.com/p/detail.php?lang=en&id_guide=169

Thanx A Knitter. I think we're gonna have a great time! I note that she has a team and they're all based in Nice. Does she personally conduct the tours out of Monaco?

[A Knitter]

Thanx A Knitter. I think we're gonna have a great time! I note that she has a team and they're all based in Nice. Does she personally conduct the tours out of Monaco?

 

 

Yes, ask for her. She was terrific. Other Cruise Critic members gave raving reviews as well. Short walk to her vehicle from the ship. Brings you back. I asked to be let off at the Casino/Shops. I believe, don't quote me, I think she said she was an an Attorney and has this business as a hobby. Don't forget your passport. She will get it stamped for you. You will have a great time there. I was fascinated by the City. :)

[TERRIER1]

Hi TERRIER1! Is it really true that you can see Nice and St. Tropez from Eze?

 

You can see Nice but I am clueless if we saw St Tropez. The bus ride from Monte Carlo to Nice had great vistas. Eze is very high up in the corniches so you get great views but I couldn't tell you what towns we were actually looking at. Some folks took private tours and also went to see St Paul de Vence (sp?). They said that town was lovely also.

 

Have a great time.

[Toranut97]

De La Cruise -- since you hadn't known of the Ports of Call section, please do be aware of the Roll Call forum also. There might be someone plotting the *exact* tour you want to take who is looking for folks to load the van! Have a wonderful trip!!!

[JimandStan]

You can see Nice but I am clueless if we saw St Tropez. The bus ride from Monte Carlo to Nice had great vistas. Eze is very high up in the corniches so you get great views but I couldn't tell you what towns we were actually looking at. Some folks took private tours and also went to see St Paul de Vence (sp?). They said that town was lovely also.

 

Have a great time.

 

Both Eze and St. Paul Vence are so charming that they might have been purpose built by Disney.

 

The difference is that Eze has vistas of the sea, while Vence is more historically important (their church is 13th century, Chagall is buried there etc).

[De La Cruise]

De La Cruise -- since you hadn't known of the Ports of Call section, please do be aware of the Roll Call forum also. There might be someone plotting the *exact* tour you want to take who is looking for folks to load the van! Have a wonderful trip!!!

Thanx Toranut97. I'm aware of the Roll Call for our tour which has been initiated by Rhona. However, for some reason the Roll Call is still relatively quiet. I'm sure that it'd pick up as we get closer to the sailing date.

 

This thread was originally started just to find out which of the ports we could "walk into town" for and we now have a fair idea. In any event, the info here should benefit our fellow Nov 10th cruisers as well as the active partcipants of the Roll Call.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

[De La Cruise]

Both Eze and St. Paul Vence are so charming that they might have been purpose built by Disney.

 

The difference is that Eze has vistas of the sea, while Vence is more historically important (their church is 13th century, Chagall is buried there etc).

Wow, JimandStan! What an eye opener. Did you say Chagall, as in Marc Chagall, the modernist painter?

 

Over here in Kuala Lumpur, we have an upscale condo "Marc's Residence" located next to the Petronas Twin Towers named in his honor. We should know as our then 1 year old daughter who'd been traipsing around Monaco with us in 81, grew up to become Operations Manager of that project! That makes Vence another "must see". Would there be a Chagall museum in the vicinity?

[orchestrapal]

Wow, JimandStan! What an eye opener. Did you say Chagall, as in Marc Chagall, the modernist painter?

 

Over here in Kuala Lumpur, we have an upscale condo "Marc's Residence" located next to the Petronas Twin Towers named in his honor. We should know as our then 1 year old daughter who'd been traipsing around Monaco with us in 81, grew up to become Operations Manager of that project! That makes Vence another "must see". Would there be a Chagall museum in the vicinity?

 

There is a wonderful Chagall Museum in Nice as well as a fabulous Modern Art Muse:)um.