Cruise from Rome to Ravenna

[Madamx1]

I’m planning to take a cruise on celebrity from Rome to Ravenna We are concerned that many of the shore excursions would be difficult for us. I’d like to know how I can hire a private driver at some of the ports on this trip

[GeezerCouple]

12 minutes ago, Madamx1 said:

I’m planning to take a cruise on celebrity from Rome to Ravenna We are concerned that many of the shore excursions would be difficult for us. I’d like to know how I can hire a private driver at some of the ports on this trip

 

When is your cruise?

We have had very good luck arranging private tours, but we do it in advance and to get it "right" means good back and forth communication about what we want, what they suggest, etc.

 

And part of our need is because I can't always keep up with a group... need to rest occasionally, so we make that clear as well.  That helps the guide know how to arrange things... walking? taxi? some of each? etc.

 

GC

[TheOldBear]

I see this is your post #1 - welcome to the forums [and likely there will be a welcome from the moderators as well]

 

There are a few places to look for port and tour information

 

The Mediterranean section of the 'ports of call' sub forum has some port by port discussions about previous questions and answers about shore excursions.

 

The cruise line forum will have discussions about the ship, and cruise line sponsored excursions in ports of interest.

 

Check the reviews section for some past experiences with ship and port.

 

The 'roll call' section will have a discussion desiccated to a ship on a particular sailing - this is the place [once you have selected a sailing date] to discuss excursions and possible tour shares with other CC forum members who will be on that sailing. 

[Host Kat]

On 7/10/2024 at 11:47 AM, Madamx1 said:

I’m planning to take a cruise on celebrity from Rome to Ravenna We are concerned that many of the shore excursions would be difficult for us. I’d like to know how I can hire a private driver at some of the ports on this trip

 

Hello @Madamx1 and welcome to Cruise Critic and the message boards!

 

Thank you for your new thread, however it was off topic where posted. To help you out, your new thread has been moved to the Ports of Call - Italy forum where it will be on topic. This is where your fellow Cruise Critic members discuss the ports such as what there is to do there and the various private tours, excursions or transportation available. Browse through the thread titles in this forum looking for threads of interest. You may find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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The specific Cruise Critic Roll Call thread for your ship, line, and sail date is the ONLY place on the Cruise Critic message boards where you and your fellow Roll Call thread members are allowed to post personal ads about sharing private tours, excursions or transportation with each other to save money. There is a "captive audience" there since you are all sailing together! Your fellow Roll Call thread members may have important information posted in your Roll Call thread. Especially those that may have sailed your line, ship or itinerary before. Also, they may have already posted share requests that may interest you. Roll Calls are for Cruise Critic members on the same cruise. They get to know one another online before their cruise so there will be all kinds of discussion in the Roll Call thread for their cruise!

 

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Happy sails,

 

Host Kat

 

[Madamx1]

On 7/10/2024 at 12:02 PM, GeezerCouple said:

 

When is your cruise?

We have had very good luck arranging private tours, but we do it in advance and to get it "right" means good back and forth communication about what we want, what they suggest, etc.

 

And part of our need is because I can't always keep up with a group... need to rest occasionally, so we make that clear as well.  That helps the guide know how to arrange things... walking? taxi? some of each? etc.

 

GC

 

My cruise is next April going from Rome to Ravenna. I want private tours for the same reason as you…not sure we can keep up. However don’t know where to start in regards to booking private tours. Do you have any suggestions.  

 

[Madamx1]

I would like to book private excursions not thru Celebrity. Does anyone have info or suggestions about how to do this or who I should contact

[FourNines]

1 hour ago, Madamx1 said:

I would like to book private excursions not thru Celebrity. Does anyone have info or suggestions about how to do this or who I should contact

When in Italy, we've always used Rome In Limo for our tours and have had great experiences with them.

[mauimary]

2 hours ago, Madamx1 said:

I would like to book private excursions not thru Celebrity. Does anyone have info or suggestions about how to do this or who I should contact

When I’m Italy we always use Rome in Limo. They are easy and fun to work with and have a stellar reputation. They have tours all over Italy and are used to dealing with cruisers. You can set up your own tour as well as offer you suggestions or you can go with one if their standard tours. 
 

Take a look at the Port Boards/Italy and you will find many selections and reviews. 

[edinburgher]

On 7/10/2024 at 5:47 PM, Madamx1 said:

I’d like to know how I can hire a private driver at some of the ports on this trip

It is more common in the Caribbean to find "tours at the port" than it is in Europe.

 

Private tours are better arranged in advance because you and the company providing the tour can decide between you what the route will be, the sights along the way, what is going to be the best fit for your port timings, the type of vehicle, any special needs, the cost, and if you cannot speak whichever language it is, whether your driver can speak some english.

 

There are many recommendations on the boards for each country and as the best/most popular could  be fully booked ahead of time for your dates, it is best to  plan and communicate early. And as private tours in Europe can be costly, especially if you are only two persons, booking early gives you time to find others to share the small group tour, usually from your Roll Call. If your sailing has an active Roll Call, you could join.  And you may find that others have already booked private tours and are looking for fellow passengers like yourselves to join them.

 

Leaving it until you arrive dockside,  chances are that at most you would find taxis offering tours,  the driver may not speak english, and you would not necessarily know where you are going or what you will see.

 

And depending on your ports, note that  it isn't always necessary to book an actual tour, as in some locations it can be easy to explore independently taking as much time as you need along the way.

 

Maybe name your ports? But do so on the relevant board.  EG for  Italian ports, the Italy Board, any Greek ports, the Greek Board.

Edited August 17 by edinburgher

[George C]

We made a deal with a taxi driver in Naples he took us to Pompeii then around Naples. Loved our tour by Papillon going to Pisa and Naples . I agree on joining roll call , we did many tours with other members of the roll call , if you can have 4 or 6 others join a tour it will be much cheaper. Definitely research all companies offering tours . Rick Steves videos might give you some ideas .

[FreestyleNovice]

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (28 Apr d1700);

Naples, Italy (29 Apr 0700-1800);

Catania, Sicily (30 Apr 0930-2200);

Kotor, Montenegro (02 May 0800-1800);

Dubrovnik, Croatia (03 May 0700-1900);

Split, Croatia (04 May 0700-1600);

Ravenna, Italy (05 May a0500)

 

Probably, to be helpful.

 

OP take a look at https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/results/?line=9&shipId=1960&arrival=2025-04-28&nights=7 to get a feeling for what tour companies are offering. You might want to Google the names of those tours plus private or small group added to get in touch with such tour organisers.