Short info about ports visited – Beyond from Rome, June 13-23

[dani negreanu]

We’ve chosen this cruise for the very interesting itinerary, with Malta being the main draw.

 

Flew to Rome two days before the cruise [we’ve been several times], after testing negative at home. This is our “standard procedure” for cruises out of Europe. For US, etc. – at least 4 days before.

 

Stayed at Argentina Residenza hotel, excellent location, walking distance (5-10 minutes) to every “major” site like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, Fontana da Trevi [460 Euro for 3 nights, including b’fast, local tax and free cancellation up to 5 days before arrival].

 

Used the transfer offered by the hotel from the airport, which was the same rate as the official one (50 Euro). The driver waited for us.

 

Along with 2 other couples from our roll call, we booked a transfer to port through the hotel. 170 Euro for 3 couples, “door-to-door”. Very satisfied with the rate and the service.

 

We’ve already sailed from Civitavecchia [Rome] and knew that the embarkation will be a breeze, and indeed – it was.

 

Katakolon [Olympia] – our 2^nd time in this port. First time we took a winery tour with a tourist train, visited the very interesting museum in Katakolon and just enjoyed a coffee in this quaint small town. This time we had no “choice” but to visit Olympia. Why no choice? Since DH had a very close encounter with melanoma, we prefer not to visit sites in plain sunshine, like Olympia, or archeological ruins. We decided to limit our visit on the Olympia site to less than an hour, and found a bus from port to Olympia and back, for a 3 hours visit. The company is called Vlachopoulous, and they offer this transfer. Their site is quite rudimentary, and we struggled to find them when we got to port. Turns out they’re not allowed INSIDE the port… The cost was minimal – 10 Euro pp return. Cash. It included the transfer to Olympia and back, and free time at Olympia site.

 

Rhodes – Have visited in 1976…. The hours in this port were not ideal. Arrival at 2PM, a very hot hour. We wandered the small streets, and enjoyed sitting at a café and people watching.

 

Santorini – Again, our 2^nd time in this port. First time we took a speed boat to Oia with a private company. The tour included the transfer by speed boat to Oia, a bus up to Oia, free time there, and a bus back to Thira. 25 Euro pp in 2014. The problem then was that we waited and waited in the boat until they had enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile for them.

 

It was a “situation” which I decided this time to avoid [Covid…], and splurged for a ship transfer, at 55$ pp. The ship’s tour included the same as the previous tour + vouchers for the cable car back to ship.

 

It was the right decision. The private company would have cost 30 Euro pp, NOT including the cable car tickets, which are 6 Euro each. So, 72 Euro v. 110$ with the ship, not so bad. The ship’s tour was well organized and, luckily, everyone was on time.

 

We wandered again in Oia, but this time also sat at a nice café with a view, and enjoyed looking at the crowds.

 

The last time, the line to the cable car was so long, that we decided not to take any chances, and skipped visiting Thira.

 

This time, though, our time in port was longer, and, since many of us had vouchers for the cable car, the line moved quicker.

 

We enjoyed a gyro meal in Thira too, at a café with a view. Tourist trap, but the view was worth it.

 

Mykonos – just wandered the small streets and this time enjoyed an excellent gyro meal from a take away kiosk. Nice place.

 

Athens – Have visited in 1976….  as backpackers... We booked online a “skip the line” ticket for Acropolis. They ask for the hour, but only the date is important. We looked to share a taxi from port to Acropolis, but found no one. It was 25 Euro. Fixed rate agreed before “boarding”.

 

It was a Sunday. Acropolis was very crowded, and it was very hot, as was in all the ports. I was hoping that the first half of June will not be so hot… no luck. At least the days were very long.

 

After Acropolis we walked to Monastiraki, enjoyed, again, a nice souvlaki meal at a café, and people watching. Taxi back to port, same rate.

 

Malta – the highlight of our cruise, and it didn’t disappoint. We paid for a 2 hours “tour” with a taxi at the cost of 55 Euro. When we exited the port, they have a sales person who takes the money and give you a receipt for the tour. There are also 3 hours tours.

First we visited M’dina for one hour, and on our way back, stopped at Mosta to take a pic of the Rotunda. M’dina was amazing. The taxi left us on the Valetta main street. After wandering a bit, we enjoyed a pie in the shade at the renowned café Cordina. Visited the Upper Barrakka gardens, took the lift down and went back to the ship.

 

Barcelona – the disembarkation was also a breeze. We travel with carry ons only, and were among the last the leave the ship. There was a long line for taxis, some of it in plain sunshine.

 

We paid 15 Euro to our hotel, Jazz, and spent there 3 nights (usually, we prefer to fly back the same day or the day after, but, in a sign of the times, our flight was cancelled, and had to spend 2 additional nights there. I know, there are worse places to be stuck than Barcelona, but we’ve been there several times, and just wanted to see our grandkids and be at home…).

 

Jazz’s location was excellent. A few mins from the main attractions, excellent price (518 Euro for 3 nights, a superior room, copious b’fast and free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival).

 

I highly recommend both hotels.

 

The taxi to the airport was 38 Euros.

 

I’d be more than happy to provide additional information.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Thanks for the wonderful review.    We did the same cruise a couple years ago and loved all the ports.   You brought back such fond memories. 

[Virginia100]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

We’ve chosen this cruise for the very interesting itinerary, with Malta being the main draw.

 

Flew to Rome two days before the cruise [we’ve been several times], after testing negative at home. This is our “standard procedure” for cruises out of Europe. For US, etc. – at least 4 days before.

 

Stayed at Argentina Residenza hotel, excellent location, walking distance (5-10 minutes) to every “major” site like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori, Fontana da Trevi [460 Euro for 3 nights, including b’fast, local tax and free cancellation up to 5 days before arrival].

 

Used the transfer offered by the hotel from the airport, which was the same rate as the official one (50 Euro). The driver waited for us.

 

Along with 2 other couples from our roll call, we booked a transfer to port through the hotel. 170 Euro for 3 couples, “door-to-door”. Very satisfied with the rate and the service.

 

We’ve already sailed from Civitavecchia [Rome] and knew that the embarkation will be a breeze, and indeed – it was.

 

Katakolon [Olympia] – our 2^nd time in this port. First time we took a winery tour with a tourist train, visited the very interesting museum in Katakolon and just enjoyed a coffee in this quaint small town. This time we had no “choice” but to visit Olympia. Why no choice? Since DH had a very close encounter with melanoma, we prefer not to visit sites in plain sunshine, like Olympia, or archeological ruins. We decided to limit our visit on the Olympia site to less than an hour, and found a bus from port to Olympia and back, for a 3 hours visit. The company is called Vlachopoulous, and they offer this transfer. Their site is quite rudimentary, and we struggled to find them when we got to port. Turns out they’re not allowed INSIDE the port… The cost was minimal – 10 Euro pp return. Cash. It included the transfer to Olympia and back, and free time at Olympia site.

 

Rhodes – Have visited in 1976…. The hours in this port were not ideal. Arrival at 2PM, a very hot hour. We wandered the small streets, and enjoyed sitting at a café and people watching.

 

Santorini – Again, our 2^nd time in this port. First time we took a speed boat to Oia with a private company. The tour included the transfer by speed boat to Oia, a bus up to Oia, free time there, and a bus back to Thira. 25 Euro pp in 2014. The problem then was that we waited and waited in the boat until they had enough passengers to make the trip worthwhile for them.

 

It was a “situation” which I decided this time to avoid [Covid…], and splurged for a ship transfer, at 55$ pp. The ship’s tour included the same as the previous tour + vouchers for the cable car back to ship.

 

It was the right decision. The private company would have cost 30 Euro pp, NOT including the cable car tickets, which are 6 Euro each. So, 72 Euro v. 110$ with the ship, not so bad. The ship’s tour was well organized and, luckily, everyone was on time.

 

We wandered again in Oia, but this time also sat at a nice café with a view, and enjoyed looking at the crowds.

 

The last time, the line to the cable car was so long, that we decided not to take any chances, and skipped visiting Thira.

 

This time, though, our time in port was longer, and, since many of us had vouchers for the cable car, the line moved quicker.

 

We enjoyed a gyro meal in Thira too, at a café with a view. Tourist trap, but the view was worth it.

 

Mykonos – just wandered the small streets and this time enjoyed an excellent gyro meal from a take away kiosk. Nice place.

 

Athens – Have visited in 1976….  as backpackers... We booked online a “skip the line” ticket for Acropolis. They ask for the hour, but only the date is important. We looked to share a taxi from port to Acropolis, but found no one. It was 25 Euro. Fixed rate agreed before “boarding”.

 

It was a Sunday. Acropolis was very crowded, and it was very hot, as was in all the ports. I was hoping that the first half of June will not be so hot… no luck. At least the days were very long.

 

After Acropolis we walked to Monastiraki, enjoyed, again, a nice souvlaki meal at a café, and people watching. Taxi back to port, same rate.

 

Malta – the highlight of our cruise, and it didn’t disappoint. We paid for a 2 hours “tour” with a taxi at the cost of 55 Euro. When we exited the port, they have a sales person who takes the money and give you a receipt for the tour. There are also 3 hours tours.

First we visited M’dina for one hour, and on our way back, stopped at Mosta to take a pic of the Rotunda. M’dina was amazing. The taxi left us on the Valetta main street. After wandering a bit, we enjoyed a pie in the shade at the renowned café Cordina. Visited the Upper Barrakka gardens, took the lift down and went back to the ship.

 

Barcelona – the disembarkation was also a breeze. We travel with carry ons only, and were among the last the leave the ship. There was a long line for taxis, some of it in plain sunshine.

 

We paid 15 Euro to our hotel, Jazz, and spent there 3 nights (usually, we prefer to fly back the same day or the day after, but, in a sign of the times, our flight was cancelled, and had to spend 2 additional nights there. I know, there are worse places to be stuck than Barcelona, but we’ve been there several times, and just wanted to see our grandkids and be at home…).

 

Jazz’s location was excellent. A few mins from the main attractions, excellent price (518 Euro for 3 nights, a superior room, copious b’fast and free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival).

 

I highly recommend both hotels.

 

The taxi to the airport was 38 Euros.

 

I’d be more than happy to provide additional information.

 

Thanks!! My wife and I go on this same cruise 9/11/23. I think I’ll use your hotels in both Rome & Barcelona. Been to Rome several times but first time to Barcelona. Will want to spend several days there at the end. As we have been to the Greek Islands before too, Malta and Barcelona are the draws for us.

[chemmo]

You brought back great memories for us too…

 

Santorini and Valletta must be two of the most striking ports in the world.

 

There is something so refreshing about visiting a port two or more times. First time you almost feel ‘obliged’ to ‘do’ the highlights, second time you feel more free to simply walk the streets, sit and people watch, enjoy the local cuisine or visit one or two of those sites with brief mentions in tour guides.