Ultimate Italy - Tuscany Pre/Post Extension

[MidnightSailingSam]

We are doing the Ultimate Italy - Tuscany Post extension this fall and are wondering what exactly do you get to see on this extension. Viking's description for the first day says you drive to Florence for a walking tour of the city center, a UNESCO Site. See the Duomo as well as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery, with its beautiful doors that Michelangelo called the “Gates of Paradise,” and more. After lunch, you will have free time to enjoy a gelato or espresso, shop, or explore the birthplace of the Renaissance. Then, proceed to a Tuscan winery before sitting down to a typical Tuscan dinner. Do you get to see the Accademia Gallery and the statue of David?

Any specific information would be appreciated.

[OneSixtyToOne]

We took the extension in January. Here is my thread of the cruise and extension 
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2906353-almost-live-viking-sky-journey-to-antiquities-jan-2023/?do=findComment&comment=64733283

 

Edited July 16, 2023 by OneSixtyToOne

[CHammond]

We just did this extension in April and it was simply delightful! Our tour guide was fabulous and so much fun to be around! The morning walking tour in Florence will take you to all the famous places but on the outside. If you want to go in a museum you will have about 2-3 hours after lunch, we had 130 to 4 free. You will need to book tickets in advance for the popular ones. Our tour was unusual because it kept saying sold out, but there were only us and one other couple on the extension so we had the guide almost all to ourselves! Anyway, the other couple really wanted to see the David but tickets were all sold out, but our guide knew a agency that sold tickets and they happened to have some available, so he took us there so we could get tickets, and then walked us to the museum after lunch. Hopefully you will enjoy this extension as much as we did!

 

[MidnightSailingSam]

Thanks for this information it helps a lot. My wife really wants to see the real David so will look at getting tickets in advance. 

Also, OneSixtyToOne great pictures. 

[duquephart]

2 hours ago, MidnightSailingSam said:

Thanks for this information it helps a lot. My wife really wants to see the real David so will look at getting tickets in advance. 

Also, OneSixtyToOne great pictures. 

 

Seen one David ------------

[Houligrl]

CHammond do you recall how much the tickets were to see the statue of David? Thank you

[Haqdeluxe]

50 minutes ago, Houligrl said:

CHammond do you recall how much the tickets were to see the statue of David? Thank you

Around $30.00 I believe. 

[Liz Masterson]

Loved this extension. My only gripe was not enough time at the villa to enjoy it. We actually stayed back one day to sleep in a bit and walk in the olive groves and soak in the beautiful deep tub.  
 

We were especially lucky to be able to make an unscheduled stop at the American Cemetery just in time to walk around and take it all in Effie watching them lower the flag and play taps. It was one of the most moving travel experiences I’ve had. 

[RLK33853]

     We just experienced this extention in May of this year, and to be honest it was kind of disappointing.

 

     When we booked the extention via our travel agent (and she has the recorded call with them as proof), Viking indicated to her that this would be an exclusive small semi-private tour of up 8 to 10 individuals. This was kind of verified when we looked on-line right after we booked (10 months in advance) and saw that it was sold out.  

 

     Imagine our surprise upon disembarkation when we found that this "small, semi-private" tour of 10 was actually made up of 54 people on two large buses.  Then we found out that some individuals had booked it as recently as 3 months prior to the cruise. 

 

     The first stop was a winery on the way to the Villa and while being split into 2 groups (buses), all 54 were on the same tour, waiting for the same bathroom.............intimate it was not.  We then found out that the 34 on our bus were staying at the Villa, while the overflow of 20 were staying elsewhere.  Just saying that if you are expecting a small group, check with Viking to ensure that is what you are getting.  To be fair, Viking refunded a good portion of the tour cost once our travel agent played the recording of her conversation with their agent.  Speaking with some of the others on our bus, they had been told various things - from it being almost a private tour where they had some control over their activities, to others like us who were told it would be 8 to 10 people, to some who knew it was going to be a large bus tour.

 

     The Villa was great but like Liz (post #8 above) indicated, we never had much time to really enjoy the Villa.  Actually on the last day when we were told that we had a couple of hours of free time in San Gemignano, the whole group protested and asked to go back to the Villa so we could enjoy it. 

 

     Also, since our group/bus was comprised of 34 people, our days/schedule was pretty regimented - thus if you are expecting to change things up to suit your preferences, you may be disappointed.

 

     The actual daily tours themselves were pretty good, but with such a large group it was hard for us to really enjoy them.

 

     Good luck if you are looking to book this extention - hopefully your tour will be like CHammond's (post #3 above), and will be a small group.