Family Friendly Excursions for 10-Day Eastern Mediterranean from Rome (Civitavecchia)

[peanut9142]

Hi,

 

We are heading for 10-Day Eastern Mediterranean from Rome (Civitavecchia) in December 2014 with our 10 and 5 yr olds. There are so many excursions on NCL Jade that my head is spinning. Do you have any must see places and excursions we should see? Also, should we book the excursions through NCL or is there another option?

Thank you so much!

[puppycanducruise]

I don't have children, so maybe I shouldn't be posting a response.

I think the kids will probably enjoy visiting the Coloseum in Rome. Most of the excursions we went on involved ancient sites, and I'm not sure a 5 year old would enjoy it (especially if there was a bus ride to get there). If you stop in Santorini, the kids will probably enjoy seeing the donkeys, and the cable car ride.

Travel is a wonderful experience, and I hope you and your children have a great time.

[Essiesmom]

Get a copy of Rick Steves' Mediterranean Cruise Ports. He will tell you what there is to do in your ports, how much of that you can do in the time you have in port, how to do it on your own. I suspect from Izmir you are offered tours to Ephesus. This is one place he may be recommending a ship tour...It is a lot of walking and the 5y/o will get bored pretty quickly. In fact, with the ruins in Rome, Pompeii from Naples, the Parthenon in Athens, and Ephesus, your younger family members will be glassy eyed...It all looks alike to them. EM

Edited January 16, 2014 by Essiesmom

[boulders]

For a family of 4 (or more), it's probably more cost effective to do a private excursion. I've used Rome in Limo several times. You can find other recommendations on the ports of call boards. You can also check out the family cruising board to see what other parents recommend.

[dolittle]

What are your ports.