All in one place: Please Post info from your DCL Med excursions HERE

[seema]

We took the free shuttle bus to the town. Walked around a bit, did windeo shopping. It is quite pricey, had ice cream, bought some souvenirs and back to the ship. This was one of the days that we took it easier since we were not interested on going to the beach.

In terms of the free shuttle, which stop are you talking about - Marseilles, or some other stop?

 

[Disneynut64]

Disney is providing shuttle busses into Florence? Is there a charge? (just curious). Exactly where does it drop you off? how would we have a private tour guide meet us here?

Sorry for all the questions - I am thinking of just booking the afternoon Pisa and check when we get on the ship if morning becomes/is available.

unfortunately no had to book the shore excursion florence on your own for transportation cindy

 

[Disneynut64]

In terms of the free shuttle, which stop are you talking about - Marseilles, or some other stop?

there is a free shuttle into town for marseille and olbia. You will tender in laspezia and villafranche cindy

 

[jokicha]

Wow...thank you jokicha for all of the info. I am really appreciative of all the people on this board....jokicha...padalyn...and many others for taking so much time to fill us in on what you've experienced so far. It will help us to not make costly mistakes and to really enjoy the ports.

I am really looking forward to doing a private tour in Naples and will look forward to getting your driver's info. Sounds like he did a fabulous job. Did you find the wooden jewelry boxes expensive? I was told they are really beautiful but was wondering how much money to bring to cover the cost? Also...any other great souvenier ideas from any of the ports. We will definitely buy limoncello!

Did you wear shorts for most of the excursions? I was planning on shorts and capris but thought I may as well ask.

Thanks again everyone!

The wooden boxes prices started around 50 euros. We saw similar ones for 80-100 euros at a store in Sorrento. At the shop, they showed us how they make them and we were able to pick the music for the one we bought.

I wore capris or long pants. The weather was not hot yet. You can't go into the churches with uncovered knees and shourlders. It seems like only tourists wear shorts...have fun!

 

[jokicha]

Disney had a free shuttle into town? Not part of an excursion? Do they offer that at any other ports? Did you know they would provide this?

Thank you

I didn't know that Disney would provide the bus; however, I had read about having to take some transportation into town. They also had a shuttle at Civitavecchia but it stops working early---I think around 6pm.

 

[kdepolo]

Jokicha, Please let me know your contact information for your tour guide in Naples. That tour sounded fabulous. Thanks for all the info for us subsequent travelers!!!

 

[susans]

My review of the excursions we took:

Selinunte & Marinella: Take your own toilet paper AND soap (or hand sanitizer)--they have none at the rest stop at the ruins!!!!!

The ruins were cool and the guide was knowledgeable and easy to understand--my husband and I really enjoyed this tour. Some of the ruins had been rebuilt what they looked like originally, while others were left on the ground as they had been discovered many years later.

Then we had a tasting of 3 different wines. I liked the first and the last but the second was too sweet for me. The non drinkers had a soft drink.

Lunch was antipasto and sausage and fish (I think fresh sardines)--which my husband and I liked. Except for the sardines which only one brave soul at our long table ate. Basically, there was NOTHING most American kids would eat. The restaurant was at the beach and so after lunch we spent a little time down by the water--but it was fairly cold so we did NOT go swimming.

Pompeii, Sorrento, & Capri for Families:

I believe we first "toured" a cameo factory which basically consisted a very short demonstration on camero carving and then *gasp* you guessed it shopping at the cameo factory. My husband bought me an expensive pair of earrings ($583) so don't think you are necessarily getting a bargain.

Ruins Again! Do you think I'm stuck in the past? We had another cool guide who was interesting and informative. These ruins were very different from the previous day and so it wasn't like a rerun. It was a good tour, and you could get an idea of day to day life of the people who lived and died so long ago. It was a little sad especially when you see the body of a person who suffocated in the ashes of an erupting Mt. Vesuvius. We had our "whispers" on and these were the GOOD ones where the earphone wrapped around your ear.

Next off to picturesque Sorrento where we lunched--I think it was lasagne and penne pasta as the main course, but I don't remember it too well. I did remember that I thought the lunches were pretty good on the tours we had been on.

Our Capri part of the tour had been cancelled so we spent more time shopping than we otherwise would. Also we were shown how the artists made wooden furniture, pictures, etc. with intricately layered and carved designs. Well of course I had to have one of the inlaid wooden music/jewelry boxes for my Mom for Christmas. Do you see a pattern here--I go for excursions of ruins and end up with shopping bags. How does this happen?

Also, at the same shop I managed to find some venetian glass heart necklaces for less than similar items in the Magic's on board shop.

Some of the people said most of Sorrento's shops were closed for the afternoon while we were there but I managed to find a few other shops open too (is it a gift or a curse?)

The following day our Day at Sea at Madalena Archipelago was cancelled just as Capri had been due to high waves. I tried to book an alternative excursion but all the good ones were taken. After all, who wants to go to the beach on a cold day? And I definitely do NOT want to cook ravioli on vacation! So that was a huge disappointment. If I had to book excursions again, I do not think I would book any water excursions that are so dependent on fair weather. I should have booked the jeep excursion which I heard was fabulous. Or have a plan B for excursions that may be cancelled due to inclement weather well in advance.

Exclusive VIP Visit of the Vatican and Rome: Well this tour was a mixed bag. For one thing, you have to be pretty fit to be able to get around the ruins we walked. If you are elderly or handicapped even slightly it is going to be tough there is lots of walking on cobblestones and some pretty steep stairs involved in this tour. I was OK but other folks had to really work to keep up the pace. I think this isn't a good tour for most kids either.

The guide on this tour was knowledgeable but impossible to hear unless you were right next to her while we were outside. When other tour groups would come behind our group we usually couldn't hear over them because they would have microphones and/or "whispers".

When we left the ruins and bussed to Vatican City. We were given "whispers" -- the kind you plug into your ears. These whispers were less comfortable and you couldn't hear as well as the ones where the earphone wrapped around the ear. So while it was better than earlier, I still couldn't hear our tour guide very well. Besides not being able to hear our tour guide, we moved at record speed through this St. Peters Basilica--I went to take one picture and lost the tour guide for a couple minutes. Another in our group was "lost" for awhile longer. It really was a beautiful even at record pace.

We moved through the vatican museum fairly quickly and then on to the Sistine Chapel when we were supposed to be able to take pictures without flash--I guess our tour guide wasn't aware of this however. She seemed to think we weren't supposed to. Many people on this tour did take the pics anyway. A few people in the Disney tours although not necessarily our group, even used flash--a no no. I predict if people continue to use flash, future Disney groups will not be allowed to take pictures at all--but I digress...

The Sistine Chapel is absolutely gorgeous! To me worth the cost of the tour by itself and less crowded because it was open only to the tours.

This tour did not cover what was described in the literature. It dropped some things and added others. This was a problem for some, but I have to say I did enjoy this tour.

We did have lunch on this tour--I remember thinking it was good, but not much about the details.

In the days to follow we would do these tours:

Florence and Michelangelo (liked this tour)

Calanques of Casis (My very favorite excursion--the most beautiful place I've ever been!)

Evening Casino (It's like gambling in a library. Yawn.) The drinks are very expensive and except for our fellow cruisers, the casino seemed rather empty. The casino itself was beautiful but not as "James Bond" as I imagined. I'm guessing that the high rollers and so called "beautiful people" (assuming there were any there) were in other rooms in the casino. Next time I would stay on the ship and enjoy the party and fireworks!!!!!

 

[3happytravelers]

Has anyone done this tour, or know anyone who has? Since this tour starts in the afternoon, can we meet the tour at the Vatican instead of at the port? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[overbooked]

Can anyone give me any feedback about getting off the ship in Barcelona and going directly to the airport. We have an earlier flight than recommended by Disney and I am wondering if we are going to make it or not. How early could you get off of the ship? Does Disney offer where you can take your luggage off yourself and then get off earlier? How far was it from where the pier docked to the airport?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Linda

 

[Disneynut64]

Jokicha, Please let me know your contact information for your tour guide in Naples. That tour sounded fabulous. Thanks for all the info for us subsequent travelers!!!

we used tourofitaly.com great tour

 

[lzj21428]

Not sure this is the place to ask, but what other or how many other ships were also docked in the ports? At the ports where you had to tender, were other ships also having to tender? How did all this effect getting on and off the ship in a timely manner? And were the ports swarming with tons of people?

 

[konslerg]

Not sure this is the place to ask, but what other or how many other ships were also docked in the ports? At the ports where you had to tender, were other ships also having to tender? How did all this effect getting on and off the ship in a timely manner? And were the ports swarming with tons of people?

I don't remember exactly how many other ships were docked at the "tender" ports, but at least a couple anyway. An Italian lines called Moby (with great graphics of Tom and Jerry, Tweety and Sylvester, etc.) were docked across from us in La Spezia and the Celebrity Millennium was behind us in Villafranche. (Let me tell you, the Magic dominated that harbor! She was anchored lengthwise ACROSS the port as if to say "This is OUR port, everyone else Keep Out." Of course, the Mellinnium didn't "Keep Out" but she only had a view of the side of the Magic, not the port/dock!)

...and, yes, all ships have to tender in those two ports. It didn't seem to cause any problems. It seemed that the tenders were assigned to specific ships. You didn't hop on the tender and then go to one of the other ships to pick up their passengers before you went into the port.

Truthfully, tendering wasn't near the problem I thought it would be. Of course, it's easier just to walk off the ship, but tendering wasn't much of a hold-up at all.

 

[calif disney 1]

Can anyone give me any feedback about getting off the ship in Barcelona and going directly to the airport. We have an earlier flight than recommended by Disney and I am wondering if we are going to make it or not. How early could you get off of the ship? Does Disney offer where you can take your luggage off yourself and then get off earlier? How far was it from where the pier docked to the airport?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Linda

Linda, I sent you a PM

 

[thefourhills]

Thanks for the excursion information. What would you have done in Palermo instead of the Ballaro market?

 

[jokicha]

Thank you so much for your great review! I had a question, do you know if the "Little Train" you took is the same "little train" that disney has for their Marseille and the Little Train excursion? We have that excursion booked but I am reconsidering after reading your review. I think we could take the free shuttle into town and catch the train and save a ton of money!

Was it easy to catch the free shuttle? Is it right off the ship? Thanks for your help.

Kathleen

Kathleen,

I would not waste your money on this tour from DCL. We took the same shuttle for free and paid for the little train ourselves (8E). I know it is the same one because I had seen the pic on the DCL website and we saw all the people that were on the excursion--with the mickey sticker on. The shuttle is right off the ship---you can't miss it. Just make sure you ask the time of the last shuttle and take note of the drop off and pick off. Have fun!

 

[UMTerp]

Not really excursion info but I found a really interesting web site about a project that is being done to virtually re-create most of ancient Rome. Check out the website, especially the gallery!

Enjoy!

http://www.romereborn.virginia.edu/

UMTerp

 

[Belle2002]

Hi, just wondering if anyone did an "on your own excursion" to Monreale while in Palermo. We would like to do this on our own, and have found lots of info on which bus to take and where to catch the bus in Palermo, but we're not sure how far the place we need to catch the bus is from the port. Apparently we need to catch the bus at Piazza Indipendenza, but I haven't been able to locate this place on a Palermo map. Does anyone know how to get there from the port?? Thanks!

 

[padalyn]

Thanks Padalyn - will wait for your confirmation. I would like to know what time we need to be back on board, as we are using a private guide at this port and want to allow MORE than enough time to return on time.

Welcome Home! and thanks again for all the info!

Sher

well - my luggage finally appeared and I have unpacked most of it. Here are the port times for all the ports:

Palermo: all ashore 8am
all aboard 530pm

Naples: all ashore 730am
all aboard 730pm

Olbia: all ashore 8am
all aboard 6pm

Civitavecchia (Rome) all ashore 730am
all aboard 10pm

La Spezia (Florence, Pisa) frist tender 730am
last tender 730pm

Marseilles all ashore 8am
all aboard 9pm

Villefranche (Nice, Eze, Monaco) first tender 8am
last tender 1130pm

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL THESE TIMES WERE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE LAST MINUTE - WE WERE TOLD AS WE LEFT THE SHIP ABOUT THE TIME TO BE BACK ON BOARD!!!

Usually it was later than announced - but one or two were earlier - I don't recall which ones were which since I used only DCL tours so it didn't matter.

 

[vegs1]

We will be in Marseille on a Sunday. Does anyone know if the stores will be open?

Thanks

 

[winotracy]

In Palermo we did the Palermo & Ballero Market. This was a good overview of the city, but in all too long of an excursion for what we saw. Our tour guide (who was very cheery) talked too much in fron tof the cathedral. Turns out it was because we couldn't get in yet. Make sure you find your correct bus after the cathedral though or your fellow bus riders could end up feeling like they are in a greenhouse while waiting for you We went to a little restaurant in a very narrow alley for some local treats. This was pretty good. Then we went to the Ballero Market. I thought this was interesting, but agreed with the previous poster (Gloria?) that it was kind of disgusting seeing the meats and fish in the open market with flies on them. The coffee shop was good though!

In Naples, we were going to take the hydrofoils to Sorrento but the sea conditions were bad so we took the train. We just strolled around Sorrento, tried to find a good place for lunch (the one the locals recommended was closed) and did a bit of shopping. It was a nice day and cost us under 7 Euros each (plus lunch).

In Olbia, we took a break and didn't book any excursions. This looked like a really pretty island and I regret not doing something here. We did take the free shuttle to town and walked around a bit.

In Civitavecchia, we took the shuttle to the port entrance and walked to the train station. The sign outside of the port says the station is 350 meters away. If you take the train, make certain that you validate your ticket in the yellow machine or you could be fined. We got off at St. Peters and walked to the Vatican. We decided that we would skip the Vatican because the line was so long. Instead we did the hop on/hop off bus and started our way around town. We were able to see the tomb of the unknown soldier, the forum, colesseum from a distance, the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps. We had trouble getting back on to the bus due to the taxi strike, but finally did get to one and went back to the Vatican. The line was a bit shorter so we got in line. We just did our own tour inside and got back on the train after we were finished.

In LaSpezia, our tour (Wine Tasting & Sarzana) was cancelled. We should have just stayed in LaSpezia or used the train on our own, but instead we decided to do Portofino and Santa Margarita. I will preface this by saying I don't like being cold and we didn't know what this excursion was about before we did it (the description by Shore Excursions is not very descriptive). After we got on the tender I found out that we would be on a boat for part of the excursion. I was already cold. The bus ride to the boat was nice, about 1 hour with some very scenic areas. The boat ride to Portofino was cold and the bathroom didn't have any toilet paper. Once in Portofino I bought an expensive sweatshirt (about $50) to get warm again. Then I felt better and we walked around the city. Soon after we started it started to rain. About 30 minutes later we were able to get the ferry back to Santa Margarita. Here is where the excursion fell apart. We walked about 2-3 blocks to the restaurant. We were seated in the back of the restaurant outside under a permanent tent. The pizza was waiting for us. The seating was very cramped and the pizza was cold. When asked about getting warm pizza, they reheated the pizza which made some of it worse. We were then given 2+ hours to "shop" before getting back on the bus. Only problem was the shops were closed (either due to the holiday or due to it being the afternoon). When we finally got back to the port, we had to wait on the bus for a while before we could see the ship and then a little longer until the tenders were ready for us.

In Marseille, we went on the best excursion by far!! We did the Chateauneuf du Pape and Avignon tour. We were on the same bus as konslerg (Gloria) so my description is the same with one exception. Some of us sitting in the sun truly enjoyed it!!! We were in the restaurant fairly early so we had a choice of the seats and the sun was so nice. I loved this tour because we didn't have a ton of time in each location (though not too little either) but had nice breaks in between.

In Villefrance we did the Nice and Eze with wine and cheese tour. This was my second favorite. In Eze we had only 35 minutes of free time. We found a great shop up on the hill that sold vinegars, oils and liquors. He let us sample everything and he wrapped our purchases up really good for packing in our luggage. I have had a couple great salads the last few days!! In Nice we walked past the antique market (for the 11 night cruises). For the 10 night it will be a floral market. Kind of neat. We went in the basement of a little restaurant and had three kinds of wine, bread and five cheeses. We then had about 30 minutes on our own, but it took about 20 minutes to casually walk back. Enough time for some ice cream though!!