Welcome to any new cruisers that have recently joined.
Having done 3 Med cruises with DCL now, I would recommend a few things .....
For Naples: Try Herculaneum instead of Pompeii .. It's smaller, less busy but much better preserved. Beautiful place and so much better than Pompeii.
If you just want 'pretty', try Sorrento instead of Capri. Much cheaper and the old part is fantastic with free Limoncello samples!!
For Pisa: the half day Easy Pisa with DCL is fine. Either do this, or travel independently, it's really ok to do either. If you want to climb the Tower, you should pre book your time for sure. Personally, I would save my money .. Great views, but an awful lot of steps and very crowded.
For Rome: take a private tour but don't make it 10 hours. We always use
www.mytourinitaly.com as they were recommend by the DVC staff years ago to us. Fantastic company, very good prices and will fit in with what YOU want. Speak to Andreina, the sister of the owner for DIY tours. If you use a different company, ensure they have a licence to enter the docks (you don't want to meet them anywhere else), that they use mini vans/cars and not big buses (buses are not allowed inside the City walls so you will have long walks for each stop). Also ensure that they pre purchase any ticket you need as otherwise you will be made to queue for what could be hours. A private guide for the Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel is a bonus. The Spanish Steps are just that .. Steps. Nothing special at all .. Do a drive by, but don't bother stopping. You won't get any decent photos as the steps are covered by people sitting on them .. You see bits of concrete and that's all. Waste of time!!
Villefranche: Monaco is good for two things only ... Looking enviously at the yachts (ships!!) and the Grand Prix circuit if you like motor racing. This year, my mum dragged us to the Cafe de Paris and what a jumped up cafe it is. A pint of beer was 15 euros, so about $20! We got on the bus, but I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like bodily contact ... I commute into London for work fairly often so am well used to crowded tube trains, but this was something else as the driver drove at breakneck speed then slammed the brakes on at the last minute .. Awful. Get the train, much nicer!
This year, for Naples, we wanted a short time in both Herc and Sorrento, plus we only wanted to be off the boat for around 6 hours. Andreina sorted it so that we had a lovely visit to Sorrento for a couple of hours, then a quick drive over to Herc for a wander. Fantastic day and after 3 Med cruises of watching people get up at death o'clock and not return until after late dinner has started, the all day tours day after day are definitely not for us. I realise that for some of you, it's a one chance to visit these places, but please, think carefully about how you and your family will fare with the go, go, go mentality.
Hope that helps people
Joa
