Med Cruisers...Let's Discuss Planning!(Updated Tour Info, Links & BCN Info on Page 1)

[lilpooh108]

We are thinking we'll take the train to the furthest point which is Monterosso and then explore our way back to Riomaggiore. Actually, we will watch the time and make sure we allow enough to take the walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore even if it means we miss Vernazza or Corniglia. Corniglia is the one that doesn't have a ferry stop.

How long is the walk between each village? I read that you have to buy a pass to walk the path...do you know where to buy this?

Thanks!

 

[nzdisneymom]

How long is the walk between each village? I read that you have to buy a pass to walk the path...do you know where to buy this?

Thanks!

Yes, you do need a pass for the path - it's called the Cinque Terre card and it's about 5 Euro. The walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore is 1 KM or about 20 minutes. I found a lot of good information here about what there is at each village, how to get around, and what to expect.

 

[lilpooh108]

Yes, you do need a pass for the path - it's called the Cinque Terre card and it's about 5 Euro. The walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore is 1 KM or about 20 minutes. I found a lot of good information here about what there is at each village, how to get around, and what to expect.

Very helpful, thanks! 1K is nothing' I hoof that running my DD from ride to ride during the last hour before DLR closes

 

[gatorfreud]

We aren't until 2014 - but I am torn between Pisa and Cinque Terre. We went to Pisa pre-kids and I thought it was pretty amazing. Not sure if the kids (9 and 11) will have that same impact... Not sure if we can get to Pisa in the AM (basically only to see the Tower), and a bit of CT in the afternoon? At the worst, I may try to go myself in the afternoon (I have always wanted to go there) and let DH and the boys stay on board. Not sure... decisions, decisions!

Kim

 

[lilpooh108]

We are going to use the train too. Actually, I think we will walk between the first 2 - supposed to be a nice easy flat walk. Then train to some others.

Kim

Thanks! Looking this up now.

 

[heatherbelle]

We did Cinque Terre last time. You get the card when you buy your train ticket for the paths.

We took the train to the first village, walked the lovers path to the second village it was boiling hot, then took the train to the last village and caught the train home. We set off around 9.00 from the ship and was back on board for 3.00 ish.

We were going to take the boat, but I decided the train would be better for my DS! He loves trains.

Take some swim wear with you as there are some lovely beaches at the villages, albeit small ones and crowded. You may need to cool down. The villages were beautiful but very crowded, as there was also a Princess ship in port on the same day.

You pay a one set train fare and can ride the train all day.

I agree with a previous poster if I was to do it again I would start at the village the furthest away and work backwards, you may avoid the crowds doing that.

 

[ldo]

kids 9-11 yrs old will want to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa--trust me! My 9 yr olds saw it 3 years ago and now at 12 want to climb it. Make sure to buy Tower tickets ahead of time.
Cinque Terre is fantastic--one of the most picturesque spots I have ever seen. But, I think it appeals more to adults. We walked from Manarola? to the next town--easy, then ferried/boated to the other town. Corneiglia? is up in the hills--very tough climb--most skip that one.
Choose Pisa or CT, but both are too much for 1 day, unless you are on a tour, I might be concerned about missing the ship.

 

[lilpooh108]

We did Cinque Terre last time. You get the card when you buy your train ticket for the paths.

We took the train to the first village, walked the lovers path to the second village it was boiling hot, then took the train to the last village and caught the train home. We set off around 9.00 from the ship and was back on board for 3.00 ish.

We were going to take the boat, but I decided the train would be better for my DS! He loves trains.

Take some swim wear with you as there are some lovely beaches at the villages, albeit small ones and crowded. You may need to cool down. The villages were beautiful but very crowded, as there was also a Princess ship in port on the same day.

You pay a one set train fare and can ride the train all day.

I agree with a previous poster if I was to do it again I would start at the village the furthest away and work backwards, you may avoid the crowds doing that.

I'm planning on doing 2 villages w/DH AFTER our day out at Pisa/Lucca (or Florence). Do you think this is possible in terms of timing? Or maybe at least 1 village?

Seems such a shame to just skip the whole thing. I don't really wanna do Pisa/Lucca (or Florence), but all my family members do. They're compromising w/me on other excursions so I thought I'd give in and try to make it to at least 1 village on my own.

 

[gatorfreud]

Oh man, I guess we might have to go and let the kids climb it. Oh jeez, looks a bit scary to me! But.... I think we may have to do that. Dangit, I may miss Cinque Terre again... Maybe I can at least see it from the ship?

Kim

 

[nzdisneymom]

Our kids were 9 and 11 in 2007 and we did a half-day excursion through DCL to Pisa that included tickets to climb the tower. We picked Pisa as we had plans to be in Rome for a full-day (they went the opposite way around in 2007) and I knew the children would not be up for a full-day in Florence. So we did Pisa, and it was an afternoon excursion (left from the port at 1 p.m. and back at 5:30 - only we were late so they held the tender for us). Plus the boys really wanted to climb the tower - it was really fun to do it and so cool to be able to say we did! It had only been recently reopened for climbing back then.

Because we are B2B'ing, we are going into Florence one time and then will do Cinque Terre the other. Some DIS friends in 2007 had been to Cinque Terre and told us how fabulous it was, so I'd kept that in mind these last 6 years. If we hadn't had the kids with us in 2007, we would have gone to Florence then, but as it turned out, Pisa was one of our most fun days - relaxing in the a.m. because we didn't have an early report time for excursions.

We are doing Cinque Terre on our own rather than through DCL this time because the cost is much less for us to do it on our own and because we have a pretty long time in port. It's also why we're going to go to the furthest point first and work our way back - then if we had to make other transportation arrangements than the train, we wouldn't have as far to come back. Plus our children (teenagers now) are a little nervous about us exploring on our own without the assurances a DCL excursion gives about not leaving you behind in port (or at least helping you get to the next stop).

 

[abayaflowers]

I don't remember any shuttles at all. I think we walked from the ship all the way to the train station, which took about 15 minutes, tops. I'm cheap.

Here is the visual on how to get from the Port of Civitavecchia to the train station and how to get there.

It's very simple. Just remember to stamp your ticket (whichever you decide to purchase).

https://sites.google.com/site/sctap...tenuto-della-app/rome-by-train/things-to-know

I forgot to mention that you can purchase tickets in advance online, but it was not necessary. We purchased our at the newsstand inside the train station.

We also purchased the BIRG tickets so that we can use the METRO and buses.

We caught the express train into S. Pietro and walked over to the Vatican.

We hired Rome In Limo, Claudio the owner set us up with Emanuela who was our art historian guide. She was an amazing guide and got us through the entrance even forgot out tickets at the Cruise Ship. She walked up to a counter and asked them to look us up with our ID/Passports. They got our replacements and we were in.

We spent 2.5 hours in the Vatican then went over to St. Peter's Basilica. Afterwards, we took a cab over to the Colosseum and toured there as well.

Our guide walked us over three blocks and had lunch in a restaurant that was so inexpensive. Ate at the restaurant and had left-overs for 60Euros. Fed 5 of us (3 adults & 2 children) and it had drinks.

Before we left, we took the bus over to the Three Coins in the Fountain. Then, we took the hop-on-hop-off bus to tour the city really quickly before we had to get off at the Vatican and walk back to the train. We could have easily taken the bus, but it was too long.

We didn't want to miss the train. It does get crowded going back because of commuters, but it was great!. Highly recommend it.

 

[gatorfreud]

We're going to just do everything on our own. I'm confident that we can navigate the trains, etc... and I'm only planning to go out like 1/2 days or so, don't want to miss risking the ship! That would surely suck!

The only one I would be nervous about making it back would be Rome since it's so far and hectic there! We are doing Rome in our pre-cruise trip, but if not I may consider doing DCL for that one...

Kim

 

[tufbuf]

When will the excursions to Dubrovnik and Vence be posted? I would think soon?

 

[meajuly5]

Dubrovnik is gorgeous! Highly recommend taking the time to do a walk on the wall around the city. Breathtaking

 

[nzdisneymom]

When will the excursions to Dubrovnik and Vence be posted? I would think soon?

I think the first platinum cruisers can book next week (the ship sails June 27th) so I would hope they have them up soon.

 

[Melcatfish]

I have been checking the port adventures daily since the ones for Greece were posted but still no luck with Venice or Dubrovnik. I am trying to plan and it is driving me nuts not knowing what is on offer!

Mel
x

 

[MichelleVW]

We aren't until 2014 - but I am torn between Pisa and Cinque Terre. We went to Pisa pre-kids and I thought it was pretty amazing. Not sure if the kids (9 and 11) will have that same impact... Not sure if we can get to Pisa in the AM (basically only to see the Tower), and a bit of CT in the afternoon? At the worst, I may try to go myself in the afternoon (I have always wanted to go there) and let DH and the boys stay on board. Not sure... decisions, decisions!

Kim

2014 here too! It's just me and DH and I think we're just going to do Cinque Terre on our own.

 

[gatorfreud]

Yes, thanks 2013ers for letting us in on your thread! We don't have much action yet!

And you guys are soooo much closer to your trip than we are! Lucky!!!

Kim

 

[Sir William]

2014 here too! It's just me and DH and I think we're just going to do Cinque Terre on our own.

If I read your ticker correctly, we are on the same cruise.

I'm also following the thread to get some ideas (and jealous of those going this year instead of next).

 

[MichelleVW]

If I read your ticker correctly, we are on the same cruise.

I'm also following the thread to get some ideas (and jealous of those going this year instead of next).

I'm on the May 31st cruise. I'm kind of glad I'm going next year because it's going to take forever for me to plan what I want to do!