Port Adventures 7 nights Med cruise.

[CarolynU]

Our ports of call can visit Nice, Cannes, Rome, Pisa, Florence, Pompeii, Capri, Herculaneum, Sorrento, and a whole host of other options.
Have any of you taken trips there? Any reviews of the DCL trips? Ill be solo so will only do their organised port excursions.
For example in one trip I can do both Florence and Pisa but this is at least a 10 hour trip. Is that too ambitious for me as a pretty unfit senior, especially as it will be in the heat of August?
I know that everyone is different in their tolerance but I would appreciate any guidance.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Hi Carolyn,

We did the 7 night med cruise last summer. We did the renaissance and imperial Rome trip with DCL. It's a very long day out! We had to be a the meeting point on the ship around 7.15 am if I remember. We ordered room service breakfast, and the pastries we didn't eat, we took with us to have as a snack later. Once in Rome we went to the Vatican first. We then had free time in a shop (!) and we sat outside and ate our pastries and had a drink. We then had a quick stop at the Collsseum. We only stopped for photos, and didn't go inside. We then went into near the centre of Rome, and walked to the Piazza Novana where we had about 2 hours free to get lunch etc. We then had a walk to the Panthenon, and then the Trevi fountain. It was a lot of walking. Really, I would have preferred to go not go to the Vatican as we have been before, but do the other parts of the trip, and for it to be a couple of hours shorter! It really was so hot (as expected!), and I really had had enough by the time we got to the trevi. We then had a fairly long walk back to the meeting point for the coach. We got back to the ship around 6.30. The photographer was in the MDR that night, but I refused to let him take a photo of me as I figured I must have looked a right state!

We also did easy Pisa through DCL. It was a decent meet time on the ship, a nice little coach ride to Pisa. We then boarded the land train and were shown around the town a little. We then went to see the leaning tower and had about an hour and a half free time, before we boarded the land train back to the coach park. I really enjoyed this trip, and really was very easy!

HTH

Claire

 

[Dug720]

I went to Capri last summer and while it was pretty, I would not go again. WAY too crowded (and I live in NYC!) which is exacerbated by their total lack of lines for boat tours or the funicular.

 

[janiebubble]

We did the 7 day med in August 2011. It was hot. We didn't do any dcl excursions. We went to Rome on our own and it was very hot, so hot we decided we didn't want to do Pompeii the following day we went to Capri instead. I would second that the queues for the funicular were long to come back down!

 

[bbel]

I got to go on a PA of Capri, Pompeii and Sorrento. It was a long, hot day but worth it. There wasn't too much walking, apart from Pompeii, and even then that wasn't too much. We met at around 7.30 and got back around 6.15. We caught a ferry to Capri, which wasn't busy at all because it was still quite early, had a boat ride around Capri, got some gelato and then had about an hours free time in Capri. Then as it was getting busy we caught a ferry to Sorrento and got free time to explore and have lunch, then caught a coach to Pompeii and the tour guide showed us the main sights there, then had some free time for some souvenirs, or a snack then a coach back to the ship. The group size was just under 30 and the tour guide was constantly making sure everyone was there and together. The group was mixed with one family with young children, some families with older children and adults: young, older, couples, groups, singles.

For the Med, theres so many variations and mixes of tours available, so just go with what really appeals to you. They will be long days and the heat can be quite draining, but as long as you're prepared for that its ok. Although the days are long, it seems that a lot of the PA have quite a bit of time sitting (on coaches, boats, trains...)

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

We did that trip last August. Like Disneymadhouse we did the full day trip to Rome and although I'm pleased that I have seen all the main sights in Rome, we didn't really enjoy the day as the heat was too intense, it involved a lot of walking and we all got grumpy! The best trips for us were the half day morning ones, such as Pisa and Villefranche where we walked around a bit, looked in some shops and at a few market stalls, had a drink in a nice cafe, enjoyed the atmosphere and then back to the ship for a late lunch before the sun got too hot. Our table companions went on really long excursions each day because they had travelled a long way to come to Europe but looked absolutely frazzled each night at dinner and said they would have liked more time to relax on the ship.

 

[CarolynU]

Interesting reading thanks folks. I must admit that I love the idea of seeing some of these places, but the 10+ hours stuck in a coach or in the blazing heat wandering around really isn't my total idea of fun. It's such a difficult choice taking a more leisurely option versus seeing as much as possible. Think reading your reviews of re thinking doing Florence and Pisa together in just one PA and maybe just doing Pisa on its own.

Edited. After reading this info I'm ditching Florence and Pisa together in favor of Easy Pisa.
I don't want to end up hot, bothered and miserable, so I'll take one easier trip and enjoy it more.

Can anyone tell me what time second dining is on the Med cruise please?

 

[oufpat]

Does anyone know if any of the DCL tours actually go inside the Coliseum. This is something I really want to do as well as see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. For our first Disney Cruise and first time to Europe, we would prefer to stick with a DCL tour.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does anyone know if any of the DCL tours actually go inside the Coliseum. This is something I really want to do as well as see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. For our first Disney Cruise and first time to Europe, we would prefer to stick with a DCL tour.

The Best of Rome tour does. As well as Highlights of Rome. At least the descriptions seem to say they go inside.

 

[aflynn33]

We did the Med Cruise in Sept 2016. For Naples we went on the Pompeii and Vesuvius Hike ($139). Both worth it, but I was very slow on the hike. I would do Pompeii over the hike. For Rome we did Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica and Coliseum ($195). This was an excellent tour! We got in the Coliseum and St Peter's. Our guide was tops, too. I didn't find it strenuous, although we did leave early from the ship. The bus stopped at a rest stop half way to Rome for snacks, etc. There was lunch break, too. For Florence we did Discovering Florence ($132). This tour was ok, but we didn't get in to see Michelangelo's David. The lines are long to get in to see him and the lines to the Uffizi Gallery are long, too. Florence is awesome though. Our ship didn't make it into Villefranche, we ended up in Marsellie.

Late seating for dinner was after 8, 8:30 if I remember correctly.

 

[texasgingerbread]

I have recommendations for private tours in Rome, Capri but they are not thru DCL. If you want them just let me know.

 

[cheermom2four]

Can anyone tell me what time second dining is on the Med cruise please?

I'm going on the Med next sept and have seconded dining. I believe it is 8:45 (shows in previous navigators 1st is at 6:15pm and 2nd is at 8:45) We are going on the Renaissance DCL tour in rome even though it will be a very long day as we've heard it was absolutely awesome! Plus we chose 2nd dining so we could get a mini nap in before dinner.

 

[cheermom2four]

e ordered room service breakfast, and the pastries we didn't eat, we took with us to have as a snack later. Once in Rome we went to the Vatican first. We then had free time in a shop (!) and we sat outside and ate our pastries and had a drink.

So we can bring food off the ship in Europe? I know on our bahama and caribbean cruises they kept reminding us over and over we couldnt bring the ship food off. Was trying to figure out how to just bring snacks to avoid spending more money at the long port days. Maybe I could buy packaged granola bars from a grocery store in Barcelona beforehand.

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

I think late was at 8.45 like other posters have said. If I hadn't have been restricted by the children's meal times I would have definitely preferred later dining. On each of the port days we missed the ship setting off because we were dining or in our room getting ready for dinner. It would have been nice to stand on deck and see the ship set sail and view the coast going past which we could have done if our meals had of been later.

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

Ps I've just realised that my posts sound a bit negative! Despite some tiny things we would have done differently it was still the most awesome week we've ever had! You'll have a wonderful time!

 

[bbel]

So we can bring food off the ship in Europe? I know on our bahama and caribbean cruises they kept reminding us over and over we couldnt bring the ship food off. Was trying to figure out how to just bring snacks to avoid spending more money at the long port days. Maybe I could buy packaged granola bars from a grocery store in Barcelona beforehand.

I think technically no (from what I remember, the same signs are out). However, there's a lot less checks e.g. There's no dogs sniffing your bags like in Cozumel...
So if you were to ask someone would probably say no, but there's no constant reminding and no one checking. But getting back on might be more of an issue as DCL X-ray your bags (although from personal experience, they've missed things that I've forgotten and 'forgotten' were in my bag more than once...)

 

[cheermom2four]

I think technically no (from what I remember, the same signs are out). However, there's a lot less checks e.g. There's no dogs sniffing your bags like in Cozumel...
So if you were to ask someone would probably say no, but there's no constant reminding and no one checking. But getting back on might be more of an issue as DCL X-ray your bags (although from personal experience, they've missed things that I've forgotten and 'forgotten' were in my bag more than once...)

Im such a "rule" follower that I drive my family crazy LOL If I see signs or hear any mention of it, I will definitely leave food from the ship onboard. Would hate to get in trouble on such an awesome trip

 

[bbel]

Im such a "rule" follower that I drive my family crazy LOL If I see signs or hear any mention of it, I will definitely leave food from the ship onboard. Would hate to get in trouble on such an awesome trip

Haha. I think in Europe they'll just confiscate if it's not allowed, but some of the Caribbean/Bahamas ports will fine you. Which is why I don't think it's as bigger deal.
My mom always gets stopped. Last time I flew with her she didn't know she had scissors in her carry on and had them confiscated. Then had her apple confiscated when we landed in Italy! I'd rather have the crazy rule follower lol

 

[jrabbit]

one thing that might work for you is to look at your itinerary and plan a busier day followed by:
1) a sea day,
OR 2) stay on the ship
OR 3) a shorter "easier" excursion.
This way its not go, Go, GO!!! all of the time.

My mom tried this but the order of the ports got changed last minute so it didn't work out for her.

 

[CarolynU]

one thing that might work for you is to look at your itinerary and plan a busier day followed by:
1) a sea day,
OR 2) stay on the ship
OR 3) a shorter "easier" excursion.
This way its not go, Go, GO!!! all of the time.

My mom tried this but the order of the ports got changed last minute so it didn't work out for her.

Yes I think that this is an excellent idea. I'm now planning just a very long day in Rome, The Easy Pisa, not sure yet with the Naples port and I'm staying onboard in France as I've already been to all of the places before.