Water on shore excursions

[Afloat]

We will be visiting Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro on our upcoming cruise.

 

What do people do for water on shore excursions, some of which will be up to ten hours long? Can you drink the local water? Do you buy bottled mineral water? Can you bring bottles of water off the ship?

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[cruisemom42]

I've never been on a cruise line that won't allow you to bring bottled water off the ship, so I assume they all must. Some even sell bottles of water right at the gangway (very overpriced, of course :cool:).

 

On some bus tours, the bus driver will have a cooler aboard his bus and will sell bottles of water, usually at a price that's not too bad. If you have a private tour/private driver, they sometimes provide water at no additional cost.

 

In most places near tourist sites you can also buy bottled water. Prices will vary but generally the farther you get away from the big tourist sites the better prices will be. As an example, a bottle of water sold from a cart right in front of the Colosseum in Rome might cost 3 or 4 euros. If you walk a block away and go into a local market, it might be 1 euro or less for the same size.

 

As for drinking local water, I would say it is fine in most developed countries to do this unless advised otherwise. (E.g., when I was on a cruise that stopped in Egypt, the ship information given us was very clear that we should avoid drinking any local tap water.) In Rome, there are small public fountains located all around the city where you can fill up a water bottle -- the water is safe to drink and very good.

 

 

Edited to add: For someone with a sensitive stomach or digestive tract, it may be prudent to stick with bottled water. Not that the water isn't safe, it may just be slightly different from the water your system is used to.

Edited August 17, 2016 by cruisemom42

[mskaufman]

I have a water bottle that I fill with ice before I get off the ship. When that is done I buy water, if necessary.

[Afloat]

Thanks cruisemom42 and mskaufman!

[Host Bonjour]

We will be visiting Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro on our upcoming cruise.

 

What do people do for water on shore excursions, some of which will be up to ten hours long? Can you drink the local water? Do you buy bottled mineral water? Can you bring bottles of water off the ship?

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Can't think of a time when bottled water (with/without bubbles or "gas" as the locals might often refer to it) wasn't readily available in/around popular sites, attractions, roadsides, etc. There are always shops, stands and markets with bottles for sale. Also, guides will often point out fountains that are supplied by natural springs *but* for anyone with sensitive stomachs, might be best to avoid, however these have been used for hundreds of years.

 

If you are not sure, email your tour/excursion operators in advance; is water provided, are stops made to allow time for refreshments on long tours (aside from meal stops) etc. For tours that might be more remote, it pays to check things out, plan ahead....hold on to the water from your ship if you're not sure if water is available while climbing among ruins etc.

 

Everything will be OK - there will be water :)