Trying to pick shore excursion in Nice (Villefranche)

[UNCMo96]

We're going on a RCI cruise that docks in Villefranche. We are a family with 2 adults and 3 kids (7, 13, 15). There is an excursion that goes to Nice, Eze, and Monaco. it looks appealing since it's a taste of everything. My questions are how is a tour like this for a 7 yo who can get cranky? Also, we do not plan to into the casino. Apparently you need to dress up as per the rules. I'm assuming this is just if you want to enter the casino? I called RCI and they were not much help.

 

This is the excursion in question:

 

[marazul]

10 hours ago, UNCMo96 said:

We're going on a RCI cruise that docks in Villefranche. We are a family with 2 adults and 3 kids (7, 13, 15). There is an excursion that goes to Nice, Eze, and Monaco. it looks appealing since it's a taste of everything. My questions are how is a tour like this for a 7 yo who can get cranky? Also, we do not plan to into the casino. Apparently you need to dress up as per the rules. I'm assuming this is just if you want to enter the casino? I called RCI and they were not much help.

 

This is the excursion in question:

 

There is enough variety to keep the kiddo entertained.  But, hey, it is your vacation too and you will definitely enjoy all of it.

And, yes, the dress code is only if you go inside the casino. With any luck you can stay in the old city of Monaco and see the palace and/or the aquarium.

[ollienbertsmum]

Another suggestion is to stay in Villefranche.  I have to admit that I have never been, but I have seen enough photos from other people that make me disappointed that I have not yet been.  There clearly is lots to do - and assuming that you are going in the summer, there will be the opportunity for the children to swim.  It is on my wishlist.  

[edinburgher]

On 6/23/2023 at 3:36 AM, UNCMo96 said:

My questions are how is a tour like this for a 7 yo who can get cranky?

 

How long is this tour?   With your description of NIce, Eze and Monaco, it could be a full day tour in which case how will your 7 year old cope?  And the others too!

 

There should be an indication of the amount of free time in each location somewhere in the tour description and I suggest you read it very carefully before committing to the tour, as you may find that you will be in the coach for the majority of the time with only brief stops along the way. Would you all enjoy that?  And would it be worth the expense? And if the stops with free time are too brief with not enough time in an any of the locations to do very much,(eg less than an hour or even less than 2 hours in Nice and/or Monaco)  is it actually worth doing the tour?  (Please refer to final paragraph)

 

I say that as Villefranche is in a good location to visit Nice and/or Monaco independently by train at much less cost than a shorex for 5 persons would be and you can decide as a family which sights/sites would interest you most. And you can go at your own pace and stop wherever you choose for as long as you choose, and also decide where you would like to have lunch.

 

And back to my note above about potentially short stops of an hour or less, you would  need to take account of five of you needing to use some of that free time for toilet/bathroom stops, (and maybe more than once). and lose a little more time by being back at the coach a good 5 or perhaps 10 minutes before the departure time at each stop, so subtracting those times from the free time at each stop would give you a more realistic estimate of the amount of actual "free time".

Edited July 1, 2023 by edinburgher