First Time Med Cruise 23rd AUG - Advice Please

[trollking]

Hello Everyone,

I need a bit and advice, guidance and recommendations on a few issues as this is our first cruise.

I have booked a Med Cruise on Island Escape 23rd August - 30th August from Palma

We are 2 Adults and 2 Children (aged 3 and 14).

I have heard good and bad reports about the ship but as long as it floats I’m not too fussed J

We will be visiting Palma – Ajaccio – Civitavecchia (Rome) – La Spezia (Pisa) – Nice – Palamos – Palma.

We have made a rough plan on what to do at each location but the main idea is for relaxation and family time.

Ajaccio – Beach (turn left out of docks and a 10 minute walk to beach).

Civitaveccia (Rome) – Visit Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and Vatican.

La Spezia (Pisa) – Visit Pisa and leaning tower of course.

Nice – Walk down the Promenade De Anglais and Beach

Palamos - Beach

The “official” excursions seem really expensive for the 4 of us so I have looked into DIY excursions (mainly for Rome and Pisa)

This would involve walking or taxi from ship to train station and then travelling via train to Rome / Pisa.

Has anyone done this and was it easy? Did you encounter any problems or worries? Did you pre-book train tickets or buy them on the day?

Island Escape Questions

a) We arrive in Palma at midday, the ship sails at 11pm. What time are we allowed to board?

b) Our 3 year old will probably enjoy the kids club for a few hours here and there, has anyone used the kids club and was it any good?

c) What is the best restaurant for a family.?

d) Do you have to prebook for the evening shows, especially the “West End Show”

e) Is there much to do for a 14 year old boy besides the internet café and arcade?

Thanks in advance for all responses and sorry for the long post.

Rob.

[Rebel Rouser]

Trollking welcome.

 

I am work and time is at a premium at the moment ..promise I will post tonight.

 

 

RR

[Rebel Rouser]

Hello Everyone,

 

I need a bit and advice, guidance and recommendations on a few issues as this is our first cruise.

I have booked a Med Cruise on Island Escape 23rd August - 30th August from Palma

We are 2 Adults and 2 Children (aged 3 and 14).

I have heard good and bad reports about the ship but as long as it floats I’m not too fussed J

We will be visiting Palma – Ajaccio – Civitavecchia (Rome) – La Spezia (Pisa) – Nice – Palamos – Palma.

 

You won't be disappointed :D going in the right frame of mind.

 

We have made a rough plan on what to do at each location but the main idea is for relaxation and family time.

Ajaccio – Beach (turn left out of docks and a 10 minute walk to beach).

Civitaveccia (Rome) – Visit Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and Vatican.

La Spezia (Pisa) – Visit Pisa and leaning tower of course.

Nice – Walk down the Promenade De Anglais and Beach

Palamos - Beach

 

The “official” excursions seem really expensive for the 4 of us so I have looked into DIY excursions (mainly for Rome and Pisa)

This would involve walking or taxi from ship to train station and then travelling via train to Rome / Pisa.

Has anyone done this and was it easy? Did you encounter any problems or worries? Did you pre-book train tickets or buy them on the day?

 

Jan (Ekco) is the Rome & Pis a specialist

 

Island Escape Questions

a)We arrive in Palma at midday, the ship sails at 11pm. What time are we allowed to board?

 

As soon as you get there, you can get straight back off again, big shopping mall 5 Min's away

 

b)Our 3 year old will probably enjoy the kids club for a few hours here and there, has anyone used the kids club and was it any good?

 

My Granddaughter loved it and she is only 17 months old and all the other kids we saw were having a great time

 

c)What is the best restaurant for a family.?

 

Probably the Island Restaurant if the kids are not fussy eaters

 

 

d)Do you have to prebook for the evening shows, especially the “West End Show”

 

No Pre booking but get there early :eek: you will be suprised how quick some of the elder generation can walk at certain times of the day ;)

 

e)Is there much to do for a 14 year old boy besides the internet café and arcade?

 

Swimming pool is a tad small but at this time of year there should be several lads of the same age

 

Thanks in advance for all responses and sorry for the long post.

 

Rob.

 

 

Hope that helps a little my friend.

 

 

RR

[trollking]

Thanks for the help !!!

 

and the humour ;-)

[trollking]

How do i contact Ekco?

[Rebel Rouser]

How do i contact Ekco?

 

 

Trust me she will be here soon...not a full moon yet :D

[ekco]

Trust me she will be here soon...not a full moon yet :D

 

I heard that.:D:D

 

We were all set to go to La Spezia and had a lot of info from Kruzseeka on how to do the Cinque Terre diy. These are beautiful villages set into the hillside along the coast and involves a short train ride, a designated walkway and a short ferry ride to see all 5. Put all the info on my tablet pc only to get on the ship and find that they were not going there after all. They went into Livorno which is actually easier for Pisa but we didn't want to do that as not interested in photos pretending to hold the tower up and heard that there's not much else there. So we booked the coach into Florence with a guide who gives you a map and a few instructions on where to go then leaves you to it for around 6 hours. About £35 each if I remember rightly but worth it as it's not possible to diy in the time given. We had a great day and the map was very accurate, we managed to see everything we wanted and even went into the Palace museum just by the statue of David which was just a few euros but really worth it, great place and great views over Florence with the added bonus of toilets as well, lol.

 

If you are thinking of diy-ing Rome for the Vatican and Sistine Chapel I would advise you to book tickets in advance from the Vatican website as the queues are enormous, even at 9.30am (up to 2 hours). Remember it will be extremely hot, up to 35 degrees so don't try and do too much as there can be a lot of walking. I would do a search on Thomson forum for more info as that's where most of the relevant posts are. I did a post last week on the Rome Express thread about the trip we did which although expensive at £82 wasn't that much more that going on the train, paying for tickets and a guided tour, lunch with wine and a coach tour around a lot of the historic sites. Remember, a Ho-Ho bus is about 20 euros each, entrance fees around 15 euros, etc., etc. Also, a lot of people that go on the train do tend to start back a bit too early so as not to miss the ship departure and these trains will be extremely busy if there is more than one cruise ship in port. I believe that there is a good 10 minute walk to the platform at St Peters station which you will have to factor in if you leave from there. If you are just doing the historic sites then the train would be good but, again, I think you can book tickets for the paid ones online. I doubt if you will be able to do the Vatican and the historic sites as we spent two and a half hours in the Vatican, museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peters and could have spent all day there.

 

Ajaccio tender in, turn left and walk around to the beach (about 10 minutes). We did that then went into the art gallery to see the Rennaisance paintings, they are a bit strict in there. Quite expensive there so back onto ship for lunch where we met someone who had done the bus tour and enjoyed it so back off and just had enough time to do the 50 minute one for 8 euros. Really enjoyed that and went further up the coast after doing the town.

 

Nice, train from Villefranche for 3.20 euros each return. Long walk from the station and not impressed really. Wished we'd gone the other way to Cap Ferrat or Monaco.

 

Palamos. Nice and close for the beach in the morning. After lunch walked through the town to the right and came to another marina, very quiet, walked back around the headland which was nice and not too far.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jan

[trollking]

Thanks for your help, both of you

[ekco]

Palma, long walkway to get off the port. Bus stop just opposite the port doors, I think the No.1 bus goes into the centre and back to the airport if you want to go straight home, lol.:D:D

 

Turn left keeping the port on your left hand side and follow the road round and slightly uphill and you will come to a shopping mall with a Carrefour sign outside. Lots of shops and a McDonalds, not especially cheap but Carrefour had some good offers on wine so remember to pack your corkscrew.:):)

 

Jan

[ekco]

Thanks for your help, both of you

 

You're welcome. Just check my big post as I've been back in and added more since the first draft.:):)

 

Jan

[Rebel Rouser]

Nearest I could get to a full moon

 

 

Glad she turned up :D

[ekco]

Nearest I could get to a full moon

 

 

Glad she turned up :D

 

Ha, ha, love it but I have to confess I've been on the champers tonight. Hick!:eek:

 

Still hot! Won't sleep.:eek:

 

Jan

[momtoboyz]

We've only cruised on Disney so we only have experience with their kids clubs (one son loves them, one hates them). We've found that you need to put them in the club early on your cruise. Our youngest always meets a new best friend on the first night and they hang out the rest of the cruise. We know families who whose children had a tough time when they tried to put them in several days into the cruise & the kids were already matched up with new friends.

 

Have fun!!

[ekco]

Sounds like good advice.:)

 

The rain has arrived.

[jenny wren]

Just to add a bit to Ekco's very informative reply above.............

 

If you want to diy to Rome I would suggest either do the Collosseum, Trevi fountain, Spanish steps OR the Vatican I think it would be too much to do all in one day ...unless you just want a quick look from outside....we did the Vatican area on our last trip (a month ago) and had a good look around ....we got our tickets on the day and queued for half an hour ...although it looked a huge queue it did move quickly....it would be better to get tickets in advance online.

 

I'm not sure kids would be that interested in the Vatican so probably the other option would be better... although it is quite a way to walk unless you do the HOHO bus option.

 

Got shuttle to port gate and it is 5-10 minute walk along sea front to station....We caught the train (bought tickets on day) which is 9 euros return per person (remember to validate each ticket in yellow machine on wall in ticket hall) and covers the Metro and ordinary Buses (not the HOHO)

The long walk to the platform for Civitavecchia is actually Terminii station...St Peters is Platform 5 and not too far to walk. the Metro is really easy to understand as there are only two lines (if you can understand London Underground its a doddle !!)

 

As Ekco says if you diy you do tend to leave early to make sure you're back in time...when we did the Colosseum/Trevi/Spanish steps we left around 3 pm and were back in plenty of time....when we did the Vatican we left at 1330 and had a little wander in Civitavecchia when we got back there. Both times we caught the 0841 train which took 50 mins to s.Pietro and a bit longer to Terminii.

 

From Livorno I would definitely do an organised excursion if you want to go to Florence ....we have done a trip where you just had coach to Florence then did your own thing meeting at the coach for the return journey. It is not so straightforward to catch the train from here and not really enough time to do it in a day.

 

You can find out train times at Trenitalia website and I also found an underground map online....the excursion people on board gave us a fabulous street map of Rome when asked.

 

Hope all this helps !!:)