Next time you are in Napoli…VISIT IT! it is literally walking distance from the port. If you have already been in Capri and Pompei, you will find the visit very rewarding
Just got back from a holiday in Napoli. Awesome city. Don’t be put off by its appearance, chaos, noise, pollution. It’s full of life, excitement and experience.
Approach a bus ride as an opportunity to see the countryside or slices of urban life. Pay attention to any architecture you come across. Look for details such as style, is it rundown, is it painted and what are the colors? How are people dressed?
Appreciating some people travel a long way to see places and may not get the opportunity to visit again I wouldn't suggest Rome for a cruise day visit. The port is a long way from the city and the city is so full of amazing sights, which are spread out, you won't scratch the surface. Its like asking someone to go to New York for a day. It can be done, but you wouldn't do it.
I just disembarked my cruise today. We sailed from Ravenna and visited 4 places, 3 of which you mentioned. Split, katakolon, Santorini and Mykonos. It was amazing.
We flew to Bologna. The train journey is quite easy. There is a monorail to bologna main station and then we took the train to Ravenna. No need to book anything in advance.
Excellent video and very helpful tips. We have been to most of the Med ports, but, still booked a 20 day Oceania cruise in 2024 to catch the ones we have not been to. Starting in the East with Athens, Mykonos and Istanbul and catching all the ports going west to Palma de Mallorca, Seville, and Lisbon. It will be great to go back to the ports we have seen and do something different and visit the five new ports we have not been to.
@@chriswilliams6568 I come from where 45C is a hot day. Problem for Europe is their buildings are not designed for heat, only the cold. I couldnt believe how hot Greece and Spain were, relentless, no cooling Sea Breeze there. The Med just seems to bake in winds from the desert in Africa. Its no wonder they have the Siesta.
I am glad they have stopped ships docking in Venice. The city just wasn't coping with the strain. I wish they would close Mestre down as well, but that will never happen. It is good to be reminded of the distance between some of the ports and the attractions. Thank you for the video! Have a fabulous Sunday!
@@jamesvokral4934 Preserving the city for those who live there and for future generations should trump the wants of cruise ship tourists who think their inconvenience is paramount. A day trip to Venice won't give you much of a sense of the city or its history; far better to make a dedicated trip.
@@jamesvokral4934The problem with even the smaller ships, is that they still have to run their engines while in port and the emissions are damaging the buildings.
One of the best thing to do is go in the off season. I love doing transatlantic cruises that visit these places in October and November whilst not as warm (Im from Australia I don’t need it be warm) great to visit when the crowds have gone! Hope Winnie had a great time
In the off season, you can take a picture of the attraction. During the season, you can only take a picture of the tourists in front of the attraction.
I just want to warn you that the weather in the Adriatic in October (and later) can be very iffy. See my longer post for details Also, in the late fall to early spring, you get shorter days, with curtailed opening hours, and it really can be quite chilly in the Mediterranean area, and you are likely to encounter storms that can prevent planned shore excursions and make for a frustrating experience. I have (not always by my own choice) been on package tours to Istanbul in February (cold) and Malta in iJanuary (storms, high seas, rain), and on a cruise up the Adriatic in October (storm for several days, with heavy rain in Split, high seas impeding docking in Dubrovnik, and floods in Venice). If anyone goes off-season, be prepared for lack of blue skies and sun.
I had a day once off the ship in the south of France & I spent all but an hour on the buses. The traffic was appalling & most of the day was wasted. Always be prepared for this. It happens often
Yes, true enough. It’s a dirty and rather dangerous sailor’s port but there’s great things there, such as the museum where the artifacts from Pompei are housed.
Cruisers aren’t travellers. They are terrified to get off in ports where English isn’t spoken so they sure as hell wouldn’t get off in Naples from what they hear. I’ve been to Italy many times and Naples is an absolutely special place that is a MUST do to get the full feeling for the magic of the Italian people and culture. But cruisers don’t see the world like this. They are terrified people and don’t actually want to see the world and have real cultural experiences.
@@allytrudie864 this is so true. We've visited Naples 🇮🇹 3 times in the last year and every time it's been fascinating. And I made a few videos about it. But from what I heard, cruisers are all scared of its reputation. Which is a bit sad, as there are many fascinating places like this cruisers are missing out.
In Barcelona, I got some excellent views and photos of the city and particularly the unfinished cathedral, by taking the lift to the roof of the other cathedral and a good long telephoto lens.
Some gateway ports are fine destinations in themselves. Villefranche is usually seen as a transit to Monaco or Nice, but it can be a very worthwhile stop in its own right.
Went there on my last big trip pre-Covid. Had three days there. The city is beautiful and the mosaics stunning. It's a lot less crowded than many Italian tourist cities and the people are pretty helpful and friendly. The center of the city is pedestrian only and wonderful for strolling around. It was on my bucket list, finally got there, and am so very glad I did.
@@elainechubb971 If you are into Byzantine art and architecture you should definitely visit Thessaloniki, Greece . It used to be the second most important city of the Eastern Roman Empire , after Constantinople of course . Architecturally speaking you would not be surprised by Thessaloniki, as it does not look like Florence or Bologna and is pretty much a city built between 60-80s but has some architectural gems . It has many Roman ruins and Byzantine churches , it is a very lively student city with great night life , with many cafes and restaurants and great local food . All these add up to the point that Thessaloniki is definitely worth the visit .
So glad we cruised to most of these places in 1975 and jut after, plus Istanbul a definite must see. Have done several cruises to many of these places recently and generally disappointed with the huge ships offloading thousands of people causing overcrowding even though we went in October.
Thanks for another great video Gary. We did a back to back med cruise on Celebrity Apex in August 2021 - as still restrictions in place only had 320 then 700 passengers each week on a 3k passenger ship! Santorini was bliss with only our 3 coaches of passengers going around, perfect pics with no-one blocking those amazing views. Dubrovnik was beautiful, & would advise in summer if walking the wall go EARLY about 8, as already too hot to really enjoy by 10. Rhodes was fabulous, able to walk straight from the ship to the old city, no rushing back!
Great video, Gary I feel very fortunate that I have done the major Mediterranean ports years ago before these crazy crowds. Using Barcelona as an example where they can have up to eight or nine cruise ships, I was there with only one other ship. This is a while ago in 2007. Same with going to Dubrovnik, Croatia and Venice, using the original port and cruising down the grand Canal again this was in 2012. When I look at my ship tracker and filter for just passenger ships, you can see how crazy the Mediterranean, Baltics, and all of Europe are cluttered and littered with cruise ships.
Were going on western med cruise on allure of the seas july next year visiting Barcelona, palma, marseille, Rome, Florence, Naples, but I'm worried about inteniry now should I be worried I think I can walk from port to palma, and Marseille but think rest I need to travel quite far do u think I've anything to worry about 👍
The Mediterranean is beautiful and stunning. You just have to find the right time to do it. We have been doing a cruise starting from Venice to Croatia and the Greek islands in spring (April-May) and it was not crowded. Even Mikonos was lovely because it was off season.
I walked through Naples when we stopped it was interesting but i would see Pompeii if going there. I had already been to Pompeii so just checked out Naples
I’m heartbroken that most cruises can’t sail out of Venice anymore. I was fortunate enough to sail out of Venice on a MSC cruise in 2015 and it was one of the most spectacular departures from any city. I understand this was done to protect the city, but I wish there would have been a better solution than rerouting cruises to ports that are two hours away. I also agree that Split is awesome and Santorini does get crowded with cruises. Barcelona is such a big city that it doesn’t matter. Great info!
We were once sat in Guidecca having lunch as a monster cruise ship came up Guidecca canal. The waves it made were so large we all had to move away from our tables to avoid having wet feet and wet bags. The ship was far too large for Guidecca canal and should never have been allowed up it. They should dock outside the lagoon just off the Lido and then use water busses to bring people into the lagoon and Venice.
Venice just killed itself as it has introduced a daily Tourist Tax. Venice is not worth the effort if you only have a day, you need a week to see it and its not easy to get around. Venice is pretty much a con job. 15 bucks for a bottle of water should be a clue.
@@1mmickk Venice is very easy to get around, just use the water busses. You can get a tourist ticket that lasts several days and is valid for almost all routes. As for the tourist tax, they need some means of reducing the numbers of people coming. What else do you suggest they do?
@@owensmith7530 Show the Turds floating down their Grand Canal should do it. Its a joke, unsewered cess pit really the whole place. It lives on a Myth from pre 1800s. Americans go there because of Hemmingway, everyone else gets taken there with no say in the matter. The locals despise Tourists you know. My wife was born in Venice, you would not believe the hatred they have for outsiders.
@@1mmickk Most major cities in Europe have a tourist tax for overnight stays, for Venice it's 6€/day (3€ in the off season). I went not long ago and judging by the crowds it's still as popular as ever. I stayed 2 days/1 night and did a guided tour of St Mark's Square, the Correr Museum and the clock tower (highly recommended), and walked around on day 1; did a boat tour of the isles Burano and Murano on day 2. I was actually surprised at how affordable the food was, aside from the big tourist traps (which you can spot because they are on the main thoroughfares and have menus in 5+ languages) it was easy to search on Tripadvisor or just walk into side alleys to find hidden gems. Even in Murano we were able to find a sit down restaurant serving fresh seafood in the 25€-35€ range. It does require a bit of planning though!
Some of these views are just divine. When I did my Caribbean cruise, I woke up in San Juan and was greeted by a concrete wall. The docks in San Juan are freight docks so after days of waking up, seeing beautiful sea or island views, I was pretty jarred by the wall. I ended up loving San Juan, Puerto Rico so much that we decided the next cruise we'll start in San Juan but that was a bit of a wake up call. That was my only "ugly port."
Interesting video, helps a lot with planning my upcoming Mediterranean cruise. 😃 2 ports I don't completely agree on though 1. Palma de Mallorca has one if the most beautiful harbors and besides the Cathedral a very pretty ancient city, you can walk up true its narrow streets and eat fantastic Tapas, you can even enjoy beaches nearby, I used to live there for 2 years and had the time of my life, you walk up from the port in to town where you can also easily take public transportation and explore more. 2.Kusadassi: ok, you are right if one wants to visit Ephesus BUT, if you just cross the street you have the Karevanseray and the old Bazaar, plenty of small delicious restaurants and to the right of the Port; around the Hill is a beautiful beach. Small busses called Dolmus bring you to other beaches as well! It is a great experience for those who have never had a taste of Turkey and don't want to go on an excursion. 😉
Comment re Kusadasi - whether you're going on an excursion which takes you to the home of the Virgin Mary or to Ephesus (or both . . . and Ephesus is the "must see" if you have to decide between the two), most excursions will end in Kusadasi with a "demonstration of the art of Turkish rug making" with snacks & drinks. This finale ultimately becomes a sales pitch to get you to buy a rug. I say this not to be necessarily pejorative but as a word of counsel - we've been in and out of Kusadasi twice and, on one occasion, bought a very nice rug which arrived at our home roughly a month after we returned from our sailing; i.e., if you do choose to attend such a demonstration and are taken by one (or more) of the rugs, the price you pay will include shipping, customs, etc. to get it to your doorstep.
I do Mediterranean cruises and took the day tour to Rome. It was incredible, bus trip no issue at all and the bus would appear and disappear as needed to get to all the main sites around Rome. Then also stopped at beautiful small islands and towns as well as being right at Canne. I highly recommend it. You’re bringing your incredibly comfortable hotel with you, with restaurants, entertainment and relaxing areas.
Excellent video as always, Gary. I could not agree with you more! Between cruises in 2019 and 2022, we have docked in many of the ports you mentioned. Thankfully with research, we were able to explore the sights outside of the immediate port area. We also have to admit that Valletta, Malta is one of our favorite places ever, and the sailout is just stunning!
Enjoy your trip to Ephesus. The House of the Virgin Mary is not far away and is worth a visit. Kusadasi is a worthwhile town to visit but the local stores cater to the cruise lines so expect higher prices. A trip to stores away from port will result in much lower prices. I was stationed in a small town about a 5 hour drive north from Kusadasi called Balikesir. While a remote site, I was able to get a Turkish drivers license and travel to towns and villages not seen by tourists. My assignment to Turkey was the best in my 24 year career while in the US AirForce. I’m looking forward to visiting again. Oh be advised…Ephesus is a very large site….lots of walking with little shade. Summers can be extremely hot. FYI Cleopatra’s sister, Arsinoe IV has her tomb there. Safe travels…
I'm going back to Ephesus via cruise ship in October. I've been there before on a regional trip I did via bus/plane. Dubrovnik is still one of the nicest cities I visited during a regular land DYI tour.
I want to go back to Sicily. Going to Messina and Palermo in November. I been to Messina. I been to Venice 4 times. I’m disappointed the Port of Venice is closed. I just walked off the ship and everything was just there.
I would suggest that the Pompeii, Capri, Herculaneum, and area is better visited by land, staying at Sorrento as a base and utilizing the local trains and island ferries.
We did this for my 40th birthday and Sorrento is indeed the place to stay. There is more than enough to keep you busy for a week or two, all accessible by train or ferry. I found the island of Ischia to be nicer than Capri.
Good idea. Sorrento is fairly pricy and crowded, so if this doesn't appeal to you, try somewhere on the Amalfi coast. Went on a package vacation to Maiori, and from there we went by local bus or on tours to Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and (in the other direction) Paestum. Absolutely one of my best vacations ever!
@@elainechubb971 I took my daughter and we were in Sorrento in January. Not so crowded then! It was just so convenient for taking the train for excursions to Pompei (twice), to Herculaneum, an excursion to top of Mt. Vesuvius, and to Capri where the highlight was the walk and visit to Villa Jove.
@@thomasmoffatt So glad you were able to see so much. I've been in Sorrento (rather briefly) in the summer years ago (very crowded) and October nearly ten years ago (crowded). The last time was on a cruise, with two nights, if I remember correctly. I did Herculaneum (second visit), and the traffic jams were horrendous, even in the off-season! Capri in the summer was jammed in the center; my father and I walked up a side street to the edges of town and found it beautiful, quiet, lots of flowering shrubs (bougainvillea mostly). Couldn't get to the Villa of Jove and other outlying parts, so I am sorry I missed them. If I were visiting again (alas, now too old), I think I'd stay in Amalfi, which is such a beautiful city with a lot of history. Not so sure how it would work out logistically with the traffic regulation. Back in my first visit (late 1960s) it was easy to walk along the coastal road and hop on a local bus when if one was tired.
I'm booked for Oct 23/ MSC Yacht Club out of Civitavecchia. We have 4 days in Rome first, then a 7-day cruise which I plan to stay on board the ship except for one excursion in Barcelona. QM2 transatlantic was wonderful last year. Stalking Gary to Egypt in 2024. I'm going SS Sudan. 🐟🏴☠
ONe of the new ports we went to last month was Taranto. It was an interesting stop. Lots of little alleyways to wander around, lots of little places to eat. Part of town the old, part the new. The new had a great little strip of shopping with some high end stores.
You've certainly covered the best/worst ports Gary, but left out two worthy of mention that we love! Chania and Corfu, both unforgettable whether it's your first Med cruise or 10th! My partner was born in Blato, so I should also mention the old city of Korcula.
Went on a cruise (smallish ship) that stopped at various smaller ports. Corfu was beautiful Also I recommend Nauplion (for Mycenae). A beautiful and overlooked city, rather Venetian in style (as is Corfu). Stayed a wee kon Korcula--it's beautiful. Took a Jadrolinija ferry (is the line still called that now Yugoslavia has split up?) from Split to Dubrovnik, stopping at Hvar and Korcula. So beautiful--like a day cruise! The "sleeper" on our trip was Monemvasia, on the east coast of the Peloponnese. An old, half-deserted city, like traveling back in time. I think the port can accommodate only small ships, not the big floating hotels.
@@elainechubb971 still Jadrolinija Elaine and we'll be on the Adriana heading from Split to Vela Luka in August before heading to Southampton for the 30 day Baltic & Iceland cruise on Island Princess. 3 years in Australian isolation and getting very, very excited about leaving next week for Europe.
@@calumshaw Have a wonderful, wonderful time! I had a brief stopover in Reyjavik many years ago when flying by Icelandic Airlines (I think that was the name then). Full day excursion to Thingvellir was spectacular.Was there in August--quite chilly but sunny, with the cleanest air I've ever breathed, straight off the Arctic!
One of your best videos, Gary. You give an excellent overview of how to strategically planned for and enjoy a Mediterranean cruise, knowing the pitfalls and ups and downs within it. I will save this video and transcribe it as I plan for a future Mediterranean cruise. Thank you! 🌹
People. a lot of them, think s Port is within 200 metres of the Ship. They are too frightened for a number of reasons to leave sight of the Ship. Theres Ship lovers and then theres people who sail on Ships. If you want to sail the Med, just go there and catch the regular local Ferries. You will have a ball and you will spend SFA compared to a Cruise Ship.
Very much the same with the Caribbean, ships don't dock by white empty sandy beaches covered in coconuts, swaying palm trees or locals in grass skirts, usually hustle busting towns with erratic traffic where diesel fumes linger and buildings that could do with a lick of paint, many towns with a McDonalds or similar, love it though once out of town but still not quite as brochures project.
Marseille has 3 amazing cathedrals, part of the old fort guarding the harbor is a museum, and near the Old Port is a shopping mall with a big museum in it that overlooks 2 original Greek docks from some 2600 to 2800 years ago. Pireus has a tram line that runs right into and semi-close to Athens and the Acropolis. Monaco has a nice aquarium, and at noon each day (if memory serves) there is a changing of the guard at the palace (which you can also tour.
I just returned from a Mediterranean cruise - respectfully, some of the time intervals from some of the ports to the city are exaggerated - Kusadasi is not ONE HOUR from Ephesus. It was more like 30 minutes. Citivecchia was over an hour from Rome. The port in Athens was maybe 30 minutes, not far at all.
This may depend on the traffic. Piraeus to Athens center can mean sitting in traffic jams that double the time. I found the bus trip from Civitavecchia scenic and interesting, so although it was fairly long, the ride was part of the tour experience!
Good information as usual! The cruise that I am interested in leaves from Civitavecchia, but we plan to stay in Rome for a few days before and then go to the port only the day before the cruise. Even in the Caribbean, we don’t usually stay in the port cities anyway.
I'm on the Edge Rome to Ft. Lauderdale. We stop at Corsica, Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Spain, Gibraltar, and King's Wharf, Bermuda. Even though I have $400 in onboard credit, I can't walk far, I don't shop, I don't hang about under the sun, I don't do museums, ruins are too hard to get to, and I can't find a worthwhile excursion anywhere. I know I _should_ get off the ship and look around, but I am struggling to find something, _anything_ to do it _for_ other than to be able to say I was there.
I hate going to the Roman port, it's a pain in an ass to get to and far from Rome and the airport. Livorno port is terrible, as well. I love leaving from Barcelona, it's easy to navigate
Hi Gary. Actually, Ephesus is not far from Kusadasi, and unlike many of the other "bad" ports you named, Kusadasi is a delightful city, very clean with lovely boulevards, great shopping, and good restaurants. Also, you literally walk off the ship into the town. As another tip, I recommend a local guide (such as tours by locals) to see Ephesus when you visit. They are incredibly cheap in Kusadasi, you will have personal attention rather than listening through an earpiece, and luxury transportation rather than a huge bus. By the way, we were just there in May.
I too agree! Loved this port. We were there just one day but managed a tour of Ephesus, shopping in the town, lunch in a cafe along the beach. Loved it.
Great video as always! However, as in other videos you seem to try to get over the word Civitavecchia as quickly as possible and end up stumbling over it. It's Ci-vi-ta-VEK-kya, not Ci-vi-cha-VE-cha (ta, not cha; kya, not cha). (I spend several months a year in Italy and speak Italian fluently.) Just a little note for the future. Love all your videos!
I would recommend to see Rome, Florence and Venice and other major cities just consider land based vacations. I always recommend cruises in med on smaller ships that go into beautiful ports that are more difficult to reach by land and you can see many ports and countries Seeing those major cities with large cruise excursion groups is really not that fun.
Hi, Gary. This is my first time commenting on any UA-cam video. I love your videos and they are very informative. But I feel the need to voice my disagreement with your inclusion of Trieste on this list. It's one thing to point out that it requires a lengthy transfer to get to Venice. But Trieste itself is a lovely city, with a unique history of its own, as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Let me add that Jan Morris (a well-regarded travel writer) wrote an outstanding book entitled Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere (Faber, 2001) that gives the flavour of this wonderful city.
I 100% disagree with you about the city of Livorno. The promenade (a 2-minute walk from the port) is a beautiful area of shops and restaurants that showcases the historical and modern beauty that the city offers. There is a Livorno food and market tour that is offered at the city center. Near the end of the promenade, you'll find the Terrazza Mascagni, which is a phenomenal place to view the spectacular sunrises and sunsets of Livorno. If you're looking for more of a historical tour of Livorno, the Fortezza Vecchia is an expansive array of 20'+ walls, canals, and towers that lead you to small, ancient churches, and monuments. On the walk, you'll find local fishermen bringing in their catch of the day or mending their nets. The best part of this quaint city is the lack of tourists. The cruise ships immediately bus their passengers to Pisa and Florence, allowing Livorno to remain traditional and remarkably enjoyable as a relaxing alternative to the larger Italian port cities.
As an Italian I wanted to help with your pronunciation of Civitavecchia. In Italian ‘ci’ is pronounced ‘chee’, and ‘ch’ is pronounced ‘k’ So Civitavecchia is pronounced chee.vitah.vekkia (which means old town, by the way )
When i stay in these areas, I avoid the days when cruise ships are in port. Large cruise ships are destroying many of these ports, and this from a person who has done over 30 cruises.
Thank you for another great and useful video. Have been to some of these ports and your advice is very sound. May I just mention Sicily. On a cruise we stopped at Syracuse and Palermo, in the latter case for two nights, and had several terrific excursions. Palermo in particular had a very well-situated port. The excursions to various sites in the city and to Monreale (right spelling?) outside it were well worth while, and driving through the city was fascinating. I wish I could have managed (and afforded) a cruise just around Sicily and seen more. I believe most of the main sites (including Greek temples, medieval cathedrals with some of the best Byzantine-style mosaics in the whole Mediterranean, baroque architecture ), and of course beautiful scenery, can be reached from various cruise ports. This might make a whole new video!
It reminds me of why the Med is not a place I want to cruise. Much easier to approach all of it via land on one's own. The idea of spending hours in a bus getting from A to B is not interesting to me!
Yes, I think having an Interrail ticket and see the countries by train can be better: Train stations are most often right in the middle of city centers as well, no need to spend two hours going back and forth. (You would need to replace the cruise ship accommodations with hotels and restaurants, though.)
Barcelona port is close to the centre, so is Nice, Villefranche, Kota in Montenegro and Valletta that I know of, there must be more where the docking area is not too far from the city.
I've done both. I echo Tor Iver Wilhelmsen's post. Went on my own (booking hotels via Internet) on a route Milan, Bologna, Ravenna, Rome, Milan, all travel by train. Very doable (read up on train travel in your chosen country on the Net and UA-cam ahead of your booking to avoid problems). But you will not be able to avoid bus or train travel entirely if you want to see more than just one city center! For example, from Athens you can visit Mycenae and Delphi and Corinth, all very worthwhile, but you will have to travel by bus to get there. Fortunately, the scenery on nearly every route is so beautiful that you will probably find the excursion or trip as beautiful and memorable for the route as is the destination!
@@chriswilliams6568 The trick, I think, is finding an itinerary that concentrates on the smaller ports. I think that is more likely for the higher-priced smaller cruise ships.
When we cruise the Med we choose a cruise with a couple of trips such as Livorno for Florence, Narples for Pompei, Citivecchia for Rome then other ports such as Mykonos, Kotor with easy access.
We did a Mediterranean /Israeli cruise in 2019 starring in Rome to Athens. We had to navigate Civitavecchia, Ashdod and Piraeus. Fortunately we flew in to Rome 2 days early and then took the train to the port.
Next time you are in Napoli…VISIT IT! it is literally walking distance from the port. If you have already been in Capri and Pompei, you will find the visit very rewarding
Just got back from a holiday in Napoli. Awesome city. Don’t be put off by its appearance, chaos, noise, pollution. It’s full of life, excitement and experience.
Just gotta be careful there. There are some seedy parts with crime
Approach a bus ride as an opportunity to see the countryside or slices of urban life. Pay attention to any architecture you come across. Look for details such as style, is it rundown, is it painted and what are the colors? How are people dressed?
I agree, what is folks’ problems with not wanting coach rides which are in fact, ways of seeing some of the country.
This guidance makes me appreciate İstanbul’s cruise port-separate from the cargo port-that much more. It also helps that it’s centrally located.
Today I’d never go to turkey given the terrorist issues
I love both Split and Kotor. Also Dubrovnik and Santorini. Worth the inconvenience and crowds.
I agree ... I experienced the crowds when I cruised in 2019 and it's still my most memorable cruise .... Loved Kotor
Appreciating some people travel a long way to see places and may not get the opportunity to visit again I wouldn't suggest Rome for a cruise day visit. The port is a long way from the city and the city is so full of amazing sights, which are spread out, you won't scratch the surface.
Its like asking someone to go to New York for a day. It can be done, but you wouldn't do it.
Do you recommend departing from Rome or Venice?
I just disembarked my cruise today. We sailed from Ravenna and visited 4 places, 3 of which you mentioned. Split, katakolon, Santorini and Mykonos. It was amazing.
Hi, can I ask how you got to ravenna? Not sure to fly to Venice or bolgna
We flew to Bologna. The train journey is quite easy. There is a monorail to bologna main station and then we took the train to Ravenna. No need to book anything in advance.
Thanks so much, we just came back off a Greek cruise but desp to book another one 🤣🤣
Gary, your videos have become so great and add so much value! Thank you so much for putting the work and effort into this content!
Excellent video and very helpful tips. We have been to most of the Med ports, but, still booked a 20 day Oceania cruise in 2024 to catch the ones we have not been to. Starting in the East with Athens, Mykonos and Istanbul and catching all the ports going west to Palma de Mallorca, Seville, and Lisbon. It will be great to go back to the ports we have seen and do something different and visit the five new ports we have not been to.
Planning a Med cruise next year but will only travel in Oct. Seems one way to avoid the burning sun and huge crowds.
I agree, my son lives in Barcelona and I cannot possibly go there from May to end Sept, far too hot.
October is the best month to go anywhere, in my opinion.
@@chriswilliams6568 I come from where 45C is a hot day. Problem for Europe is their buildings are not designed for heat, only the cold. I couldnt believe how hot Greece and Spain were, relentless, no cooling Sea Breeze there.
The Med just seems to bake in winds from the desert in Africa. Its no wonder they have the Siesta.
@@chriswilliams6568 interesting everytime ive been in May its been pleasant low 70s.
@@midgygal7811 I am ok up to about 21C (about 71-72F) then after that I suffer, often get Prickly heat rash.
I am glad they have stopped ships docking in Venice. The city just wasn't coping with the strain. I wish they would close Mestre down as well, but that will never happen. It is good to be reminded of the distance between some of the ports and the attractions. Thank you for the video! Have a fabulous Sunday!
the old cruise port was so convenient and close.. Small ships should be allowed.
@@jamesvokral4934 Preserving the city for those who live there and for future generations should trump the wants of cruise ship tourists who think their inconvenience is paramount. A day trip to Venice won't give you much of a sense of the city or its history; far better to make a dedicated trip.
@@jamesvokral4934The problem with even the smaller ships, is that they still have to run their engines while in port and the emissions are damaging the buildings.
One of the best thing to do is go in the off season. I love doing transatlantic cruises that visit these places in October and November whilst not as warm (Im from Australia I don’t need it be warm) great to visit when the crowds have gone! Hope Winnie had a great time
In the off season, you can take a picture of the attraction. During the season, you can only take a picture of the tourists in front of the attraction.
Aussies are lucky, because no where else on the Planet is like here, so everything, everywhere is just so unusual to us.
I just want to warn you that the weather in the Adriatic in October (and later) can be very iffy. See my longer post for details Also, in the late fall to early spring, you get shorter days, with curtailed opening hours, and it really can be quite chilly in the Mediterranean area, and you are likely to encounter storms that can prevent planned shore excursions and make for a frustrating experience. I have (not always by my own choice) been on package tours to Istanbul in February (cold) and Malta in iJanuary (storms, high seas, rain), and on a cruise up the Adriatic in October (storm for several days, with heavy rain in Split, high seas impeding docking in Dubrovnik, and floods in Venice). If anyone goes off-season, be prepared for lack of blue skies and sun.
milano(genova), paris(lehavre), london(harwich), brussels(zeebrugge), hague(rotterdam), hamburg( kiel bremerhavn), berlin( travemunde warnemuende) , malbork ( gdynia),
I had a day once off the ship in the south of France & I spent all but an hour on the buses. The traffic was appalling & most of the day was wasted. Always be prepared for this. It happens often
No one better than Gary. He’s amazing
Great video, but Naples doesn’t deserved to be lumped in with Livorno, etc. It’s both a gateway city and a fantastic city itself.
Yes, true enough. It’s a dirty and rather dangerous sailor’s port but there’s great things there, such as the museum where the artifacts from Pompei are housed.
Cruisers aren’t travellers. They are terrified to get off in ports where English isn’t spoken so they sure as hell wouldn’t get off in Naples from what they hear. I’ve been to Italy many times and Naples is an absolutely special place that is a MUST do to get the full feeling for the magic of the Italian people and culture. But cruisers don’t see the world like this. They are terrified people and don’t actually want to see the world and have real cultural experiences.
@@allytrudie864 this is so true. We've visited Naples 🇮🇹 3 times in the last year and every time it's been fascinating. And I made a few videos about it. But from what I heard, cruisers are all scared of its reputation. Which is a bit sad, as there are many fascinating places like this cruisers are missing out.
In Barcelona, I got some excellent views and photos of the city and particularly the unfinished cathedral, by taking the lift to the roof of the other cathedral and a good long telephoto lens.
Skip Venice and stay in Ravenna! (Kidding, a little). Ravenna is THE place for the incredible mosaics of the Western Roman Empire. A must see!
Some gateway ports are fine destinations in themselves. Villefranche is usually seen as a transit to Monaco or Nice, but it can be a very worthwhile stop in its own right.
Beatrice Rothschild's estate is close by and well worth the visit.
yep I would stay in/near Villefranche rather than Monte Carlo....just my opinion having seen both.
Ravenna is packed with amazing Byzantine mosaics. Definitely worth seeing.
Went there on my last big trip pre-Covid. Had three days there. The city is beautiful and the mosaics stunning. It's a lot less crowded than many Italian tourist cities and the people are pretty helpful and friendly. The center of the city is pedestrian only and wonderful for strolling around. It was on my bucket list, finally got there, and am so very glad I did.
@@elainechubb971 If you are into Byzantine art and architecture you should definitely visit Thessaloniki, Greece . It used to be the second most important city of the Eastern Roman Empire , after Constantinople of course . Architecturally speaking you would not be surprised by Thessaloniki, as it does not look like Florence or Bologna and is pretty much a city built between 60-80s but has some architectural gems . It has many Roman ruins and Byzantine churches , it is a very lively student city with great night life , with many cafes and restaurants and great local food . All these add up to the point that Thessaloniki is definitely worth the visit .
2012 We did an Oceania Riviera cruise and, tied up in the Castello section.
In Kusadasi one of the vendors had a sign reading "Genuine Fake Watches."
LOL we saw the same sign there. I have a photo of it.
So glad we cruised to most of these places in 1975 and jut after, plus Istanbul a definite must see. Have done several cruises to many of these places recently and generally disappointed with the huge ships offloading thousands of people causing overcrowding even though we went in October.
Thanks for another great video Gary.
We did a back to back med cruise on Celebrity Apex in August 2021 - as still restrictions in place only had 320 then 700 passengers each week on a 3k passenger ship! Santorini was bliss with only our 3 coaches of passengers going around, perfect pics with no-one blocking those amazing views.
Dubrovnik was beautiful, & would advise in summer if walking the wall go EARLY about 8, as already too hot to really enjoy by 10.
Rhodes was fabulous, able to walk straight from the ship to the old city, no rushing back!
We thought Split and Kotor were stunning ports with beautiful streets to explore and restaurants to try
Great video, Gary I feel very fortunate that I have done the major Mediterranean ports years ago before these crazy crowds. Using Barcelona as an example where they can have up to eight or nine cruise ships, I was there with only one other ship. This is a while ago in 2007. Same with going to Dubrovnik, Croatia and Venice, using the original port and cruising down the grand Canal again this was in 2012. When I look at my ship tracker and filter for just passenger ships, you can see how crazy the Mediterranean, Baltics, and all of Europe are cluttered and littered with cruise ships.
Naples or Napoli has beautiful areas to shop, eat & stroll not far from the ship. Just put Gucci in Maps & begin your walking tour.
Were going on western med cruise on allure of the seas july next year visiting Barcelona, palma, marseille, Rome, Florence, Naples, but I'm worried about inteniry now should I be worried I think I can walk from port to palma, and Marseille but think rest I need to travel quite far do u think I've anything to worry about 👍
The Mediterranean is beautiful and stunning. You just have to find the right time to do it. We have been doing a cruise starting from Venice to Croatia and the Greek islands in spring (April-May) and it was not crowded. Even Mikonos was lovely because it was off season.
I walked through Naples when we stopped it was interesting but i would see Pompeii if going there. I had already been to Pompeii so just checked out Naples
I’m heartbroken that most cruises can’t sail out of Venice anymore. I was fortunate enough to sail out of Venice on a MSC cruise in 2015 and it was one of the most spectacular departures from any city. I understand this was done to protect the city, but I wish there would have been a better solution than rerouting cruises to ports that are two hours away. I also agree that Split is awesome and Santorini does get crowded with cruises. Barcelona is such a big city that it doesn’t matter. Great info!
We were once sat in Guidecca having lunch as a monster cruise ship came up Guidecca canal. The waves it made were so large we all had to move away from our tables to avoid having wet feet and wet bags. The ship was far too large for Guidecca canal and should never have been allowed up it. They should dock outside the lagoon just off the Lido and then use water busses to bring people into the lagoon and Venice.
Venice just killed itself as it has introduced a daily Tourist Tax. Venice is not worth the effort if you only have a day, you need a week to see it and its not easy to get around. Venice is pretty much a con job. 15 bucks for a bottle of water should be a clue.
@@1mmickk Venice is very easy to get around, just use the water busses. You can get a tourist ticket that lasts several days and is valid for almost all routes. As for the tourist tax, they need some means of reducing the numbers of people coming. What else do you suggest they do?
@@owensmith7530 Show the Turds floating down their Grand Canal should do it. Its a joke, unsewered cess pit really the whole place. It lives on a Myth from pre 1800s.
Americans go there because of Hemmingway, everyone else gets taken there with no say in the matter. The locals despise Tourists you know. My wife was born in Venice, you would not believe the hatred they have for outsiders.
@@1mmickk Most major cities in Europe have a tourist tax for overnight stays, for Venice it's 6€/day (3€ in the off season). I went not long ago and judging by the crowds it's still as popular as ever. I stayed 2 days/1 night and did a guided tour of St Mark's Square, the Correr Museum and the clock tower (highly recommended), and walked around on day 1; did a boat tour of the isles Burano and Murano on day 2. I was actually surprised at how affordable the food was, aside from the big tourist traps (which you can spot because they are on the main thoroughfares and have menus in 5+ languages) it was easy to search on Tripadvisor or just walk into side alleys to find hidden gems. Even in Murano we were able to find a sit down restaurant serving fresh seafood in the 25€-35€ range. It does require a bit of planning though!
Some of these views are just divine.
When I did my Caribbean cruise, I woke up in San Juan and was greeted by a concrete wall. The docks in San Juan are freight docks so after days of waking up, seeing beautiful sea or island views, I was pretty jarred by the wall. I ended up loving San Juan, Puerto Rico so much that we decided the next cruise we'll start in San Juan but that was a bit of a wake up call. That was my only "ugly port."
corsica mallorca sardegna are only available by cruise ship
What a beautiful shot of Whinnie. What a beautiful lady with a beautiful smile.
Ajaccio Corsica is a beautiful port and not too many tourists. Virgin Valiant lady goes to some interesting ports
Interesting video, helps a lot with planning my upcoming Mediterranean cruise. 😃
2 ports I don't completely agree on though
1. Palma de Mallorca has one if the most beautiful harbors and besides the Cathedral a very pretty ancient city, you can walk up true its narrow streets and eat fantastic Tapas, you can even enjoy beaches nearby, I used to live there for 2 years and had the time of my life, you walk up from the port in to town where you can also easily take public transportation and explore more.
2.Kusadassi: ok, you are right if one wants to visit Ephesus BUT, if you just cross the street you have the Karevanseray and the old Bazaar, plenty of small delicious restaurants and to the right of the Port; around the Hill is a beautiful beach. Small busses called Dolmus bring you to other beaches as well! It is a great experience for those who have never had a taste of Turkey and don't want to go on an excursion. 😉
Oh and Ibiza with Valiant lady was great fun. We stayed in Ibiza overnight
Comment re Kusadasi - whether you're going on an excursion which takes you to the home of the Virgin Mary or to Ephesus (or both . . . and Ephesus is the "must see" if you have to decide between the two), most excursions will end in Kusadasi with a "demonstration of the art of Turkish rug making" with snacks & drinks. This finale ultimately becomes a sales pitch to get you to buy a rug. I say this not to be necessarily pejorative but as a word of counsel - we've been in and out of Kusadasi twice and, on one occasion, bought a very nice rug which arrived at our home roughly a month after we returned from our sailing; i.e., if you do choose to attend such a demonstration and are taken by one (or more) of the rugs, the price you pay will include shipping, customs, etc. to get it to your doorstep.
I do Mediterranean cruises and took the day tour to Rome. It was incredible, bus trip no issue at all and the bus would appear and disappear as needed to get to all the main sites around Rome. Then also stopped at beautiful small islands and towns as well as being right at Canne. I highly recommend it. You’re bringing your incredibly comfortable hotel with you, with restaurants, entertainment and relaxing areas.
I found Portofino, Italy an amazing port. The road from there to Genoa was fascinating with over 20 tunnels and bridges.
Excellent video as always, Gary. I could not agree with you more! Between cruises in 2019 and 2022, we have docked in many of the ports you mentioned. Thankfully with research, we were able to explore the sights outside of the immediate port area. We also have to admit that Valletta, Malta is one of our favorite places ever, and the sailout is just stunning!
Very helpful and particularly nice to have forewarning of what to expect.
We love cruising and travel often but haven’t been to Europe yet this was very informative thank you Gary
grenock for glasgow, rosyth leith south queensberry edinburgh; also dublin cork belfast are available by cruise ship
La Spezia isn't a bad town to spend time in.
Certainly not uninspiring,fantastic restaurants and shopping.Great panoramas
Enjoy your trip to Ephesus. The House of the Virgin Mary is not far away and is worth a visit. Kusadasi is a worthwhile town to visit but the local stores cater to the cruise lines so expect higher prices. A trip to stores away from port will result in much lower prices. I was stationed in a small town about a 5 hour drive north from Kusadasi called Balikesir. While a remote site, I was able to get a Turkish drivers license and travel to towns and villages not seen by tourists. My assignment to Turkey was the best in my 24 year career while in the US AirForce. I’m looking forward to visiting again. Oh be advised…Ephesus is a very large site….lots of walking with little shade. Summers can be extremely hot. FYI Cleopatra’s sister, Arsinoe IV has her tomb there. Safe travels…
I'm going back to Ephesus via cruise ship in October. I've been there before on a regional trip I did via bus/plane. Dubrovnik is still one of the nicest cities I visited during a regular land DYI tour.
I agree Valletta is a remarkable port and provides a gateway to a very interesting city.
Have you got any videos about cruising Japan
I want to go back to Sicily. Going to Messina and Palermo in November. I been to Messina. I been to Venice 4 times. I’m disappointed the Port of Venice is closed. I just walked off the ship and everything was just there.
Ravenna and Trieste are both interesting little cities on their own. Especially Ravenna. It is the capital of Byzantine art outside of Istanbul!
I would suggest that the Pompeii, Capri, Herculaneum, and area is better visited by land, staying at Sorrento as a base and utilizing the local trains and island ferries.
We did this for my 40th birthday and Sorrento is indeed the place to stay. There is more than enough to keep you busy for a week or two, all accessible by train or ferry. I found the island of Ischia to be nicer than Capri.
Good idea. Sorrento is fairly pricy and crowded, so if this doesn't appeal to you, try somewhere on the Amalfi coast. Went on a package vacation to Maiori, and from there we went by local bus or on tours to Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and (in the other direction) Paestum. Absolutely one of my best vacations ever!
@@elainechubb971 I took my daughter and we were in Sorrento in January. Not so crowded then! It was just so convenient for taking the train for excursions to Pompei (twice), to Herculaneum, an excursion to top of Mt. Vesuvius, and to Capri where the highlight was the walk and visit to Villa Jove.
@@thomasmoffatt So glad you were able to see so much. I've been in Sorrento (rather briefly) in the summer years ago (very crowded) and October nearly ten years ago (crowded). The last time was on a cruise, with two nights, if I remember correctly. I did Herculaneum (second visit), and the traffic jams were horrendous, even in the off-season! Capri in the summer was jammed in the center; my father and I walked up a side street to the edges of town and found it beautiful, quiet, lots of flowering shrubs (bougainvillea mostly). Couldn't get to the Villa of Jove and other outlying parts, so I am sorry I missed them. If I were visiting again (alas, now too old), I think I'd stay in Amalfi, which is such a beautiful city with a lot of history. Not so sure how it would work out logistically with the traffic regulation. Back in my first visit (late 1960s) it was easy to walk along the coastal road and hop on a local bus when if one was tired.
I loved Genoa port
I'm booked for Oct 23/ MSC Yacht Club out of Civitavecchia. We have 4 days in Rome first, then a 7-day cruise which I plan to stay on board the ship except for one excursion in Barcelona. QM2 transatlantic was wonderful last year. Stalking Gary to Egypt in 2024. I'm going SS Sudan. 🐟🏴☠
ONe of the new ports we went to last month was Taranto. It was an interesting stop. Lots of little alleyways to wander around, lots of little places to eat. Part of town the old, part the new. The new had a great little strip of shopping with some high end stores.
I don’t think I want to do a Mediterranean cruise anymore. Thank you for your informative video.
Dubrovnik looks so beautify. Thank you.
You've certainly covered the best/worst ports Gary, but left out two worthy of mention that we love! Chania and Corfu, both unforgettable whether it's your first Med cruise or 10th! My partner was born in Blato, so I should also mention the old city of Korcula.
Corfu is amazing, its the Grouse. I could live there no worries.
Went on a cruise (smallish ship) that stopped at various smaller ports. Corfu was beautiful Also I recommend Nauplion (for Mycenae). A beautiful and overlooked city, rather Venetian in style (as is Corfu). Stayed a wee kon Korcula--it's beautiful. Took a Jadrolinija ferry (is the line still called that now Yugoslavia has split up?) from Split to Dubrovnik, stopping at Hvar and Korcula. So beautiful--like a day cruise! The "sleeper" on our trip was Monemvasia, on the east coast of the Peloponnese. An old, half-deserted city, like traveling back in time. I think the port can accommodate only small ships, not the big floating hotels.
@@elainechubb971 still Jadrolinija Elaine and we'll be on the Adriana heading from Split to Vela Luka in August before heading to Southampton for the 30 day Baltic & Iceland cruise on Island Princess. 3 years in Australian isolation and getting very, very excited about leaving next week for Europe.
@@calumshaw Have a wonderful, wonderful time! I had a brief stopover in Reyjavik many years ago when flying by Icelandic Airlines (I think that was the name then). Full day excursion to Thingvellir was spectacular.Was there in August--quite chilly but sunny, with the cleanest air I've ever breathed, straight off the Arctic!
One of your best videos, Gary. You give an excellent overview of how to strategically planned for and enjoy a Mediterranean cruise, knowing the pitfalls and ups and downs within it. I will save this video and transcribe it as I plan for a future Mediterranean cruise. Thank you! 🌹
Thanks for watching and great to hear your feedback 😀😀😀
The Med is our favourite cruise destination now for the variety. This was a very interesting video and so true.
Just got back from a Princess cruise around the Med. We left from Fla and hit the ports you talk about. Then spent a week in Barcelona.
I lucked out and was the ONLY ship in port in Santorini. But you missed Salerno as a terrible port with Naples. Both serve Pompeii.
People. a lot of them, think s Port is within 200 metres of the Ship. They are too frightened for a number of reasons to leave sight of the Ship. Theres Ship lovers and then theres people who sail on Ships.
If you want to sail the Med, just go there and catch the regular local Ferries. You will have a ball and you will spend SFA compared to a Cruise Ship.
Thank you so very much for sharing your incredibly helpful insights.
You are so welcome!
Very much the same with the Caribbean, ships don't dock by white empty sandy beaches covered in coconuts, swaying palm trees or locals in grass skirts, usually hustle busting towns with erratic traffic where diesel fumes linger and buildings that could do with a lick of paint, many towns with a McDonalds or similar, love it though once out of town but still not quite as brochures project.
Marseille has 3 amazing cathedrals, part of the old fort guarding the harbor is a museum, and near the Old Port is a shopping mall with a big museum in it that overlooks 2 original Greek docks from some 2600 to 2800 years ago. Pireus has a tram line that runs right into and semi-close to Athens and the Acropolis. Monaco has a nice aquarium, and at noon each day (if memory serves) there is a changing of the guard at the palace (which you can also tour.
I just returned from a Mediterranean cruise - respectfully, some of the time intervals from some of the ports to the city are exaggerated - Kusadasi is not ONE HOUR from Ephesus. It was more like 30 minutes. Citivecchia was over an hour from Rome. The port in Athens was maybe 30 minutes, not far at all.
This may depend on the traffic. Piraeus to Athens center can mean sitting in traffic jams that double the time. I found the bus trip from Civitavecchia scenic and interesting, so although it was fairly long, the ride was part of the tour experience!
Once you are in Naples, then visit Naples!
Good information as usual! The cruise that I am interested in leaves from Civitavecchia, but we plan to stay in Rome for a few days before and then go to the port only the day before the cruise. Even in the Caribbean, we don’t usually stay in the port cities anyway.
Kusadasi is a must see.
I'm on the Edge Rome to Ft. Lauderdale. We stop at Corsica, Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Spain, Gibraltar, and King's Wharf, Bermuda. Even though I have $400 in onboard credit, I can't walk far, I don't shop, I don't hang about under the sun, I don't do museums, ruins are too hard to get to, and I can't find a worthwhile excursion anywhere. I know I _should_ get off the ship and look around, but I am struggling to find something, _anything_ to do it _for_ other than to be able to say I was there.
Consider a massage, facial or a mani/pedi at the spa to use your onboard credits!
@@cherifurr3935 *_Way_* too late. I would have bought a 21 year old Johnny walker and a box of cigars first.
I hate going to the Roman port, it's a pain in an ass to get to and far from Rome and the airport. Livorno port is terrible, as well.
I love leaving from Barcelona, it's easy to navigate
Price is low hence, food is limited compared to other cruise liners so it’s not really not a negative factor I think.
sorrento positano? salerno? cadiz for seville , malaga for cordoba or granada;
Kusadasi was stunning and beautiful as a port - very safe - and Ephesus was simply amazing! Better than Pompeii!
Great info for me as I am interested in the historic and beautiful parts of the eastern med. Thx
Hi Gary. Actually, Ephesus is not far from Kusadasi, and unlike many of the other "bad" ports you named, Kusadasi is a delightful city, very clean with lovely boulevards, great shopping, and good restaurants. Also, you literally walk off the ship into the town. As another tip, I recommend a local guide (such as tours by locals) to see Ephesus when you visit. They are incredibly cheap in Kusadasi, you will have personal attention rather than listening through an earpiece, and luxury transportation rather than a huge bus. By the way, we were just there in May.
I agree. I loved Kusadasi
I too agree! Loved this port. We were there just one day but managed a tour of Ephesus, shopping in the town, lunch in a cafe along the beach. Loved it.
We’re there several years ago and you could just catch a local bus to Ephesus then. And yes, the town was nifty.
Great video as always! However, as in other videos you seem to try to get over the word Civitavecchia as quickly as possible and end up stumbling over it. It's Ci-vi-ta-VEK-kya, not Ci-vi-cha-VE-cha (ta, not cha; kya, not cha). (I spend several months a year in Italy and speak Italian fluently.) Just a little note for the future. Love all your videos!
Thank you Gary!
I've been to most of the ports you speak about and totally agree with your comments!
Must watch film if your cruising the Mediterranean 🏆⚓️🛳
Naples is an iconic city itself in my opinion.
I would recommend to see Rome, Florence and Venice and other major cities just consider land based vacations. I always recommend cruises in med on smaller ships that go into beautiful ports that are more difficult to reach by land and you can see many ports and countries Seeing those major cities with large cruise excursion groups is really not that fun.
One of your best videos Gary, thank you.
Hi, Gary. This is my first time commenting on any UA-cam video. I love your videos and they are very informative. But I feel the need to voice my disagreement with your inclusion of Trieste on this list. It's one thing to point out that it requires a lengthy transfer to get to Venice. But Trieste itself is a lovely city, with a unique history of its own, as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Let me add that Jan Morris (a well-regarded travel writer) wrote an outstanding book entitled Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere (Faber, 2001) that gives the flavour of this wonderful city.
I 100% disagree with you about the city of Livorno. The promenade (a 2-minute walk from the port) is a beautiful area of shops and restaurants that showcases the historical and modern beauty that the city offers. There is a Livorno food and market tour that is offered at the city center. Near the end of the promenade, you'll find the Terrazza Mascagni, which is a phenomenal place to view the spectacular sunrises and sunsets of Livorno. If you're looking for more of a historical tour of Livorno, the Fortezza Vecchia is an expansive array of 20'+ walls, canals, and towers that lead you to small, ancient churches, and monuments. On the walk, you'll find local fishermen bringing in their catch of the day or mending their nets. The best part of this quaint city is the lack of tourists. The cruise ships immediately bus their passengers to Pisa and Florence, allowing Livorno to remain traditional and remarkably enjoyable as a relaxing alternative to the larger Italian port cities.
As an Italian I wanted to help with your pronunciation of Civitavecchia. In Italian ‘ci’ is pronounced ‘chee’, and ‘ch’ is pronounced ‘k’
So Civitavecchia is pronounced chee.vitah.vekkia (which means old town, by the way )
Thank you ... I was struggling with the pronunciation of Civitavecchia
Malta is amazing.
Hi Garry Brilliant video very explanatory thank you.
Please tell us about Villefranche!
Cute town - but go to Villa Ephrussi. It was the large home and huge garden of Beatrice Rothschild.
I second that. So beautiful.
When i stay in these areas, I avoid the days when cruise ships are in port. Large cruise ships are destroying many of these ports, and this from a person who has done over 30 cruises.
Love your videos
Thank you for another great and useful video. Have been to some of these ports and your advice is very sound. May I just mention Sicily. On a cruise we stopped at Syracuse and Palermo, in the latter case for two nights, and had several terrific excursions. Palermo in particular had a very well-situated port. The excursions to various sites in the city and to Monreale (right spelling?) outside it were well worth while, and driving through the city was fascinating. I wish I could have managed (and afforded) a cruise just around Sicily and seen more. I believe most of the main sites (including Greek temples, medieval cathedrals with some of the best Byzantine-style mosaics in the whole Mediterranean, baroque architecture ), and of course beautiful scenery, can be reached from various cruise ports. This might make a whole new video!
Syracuse has phenomenal Greek and Roman ruins. Skip Trapani - it looks like they never rebuilt after WW2.
It reminds me of why the Med is not a place I want to cruise. Much easier to approach all of it via land on one's own. The idea of spending hours in a bus getting from A to B is not interesting to me!
Yes, I think having an Interrail ticket and see the countries by train can be better: Train stations are most often right in the middle of city centers as well, no need to spend two hours going back and forth. (You would need to replace the cruise ship accommodations with hotels and restaurants, though.)
Barcelona port is close to the centre, so is Nice, Villefranche, Kota in Montenegro and Valletta that I know of, there must be more where the docking area is not too far from the city.
I've done both. I echo Tor Iver Wilhelmsen's post. Went on my own (booking hotels via Internet) on a route Milan, Bologna, Ravenna, Rome, Milan, all travel by train. Very doable (read up on train travel in your chosen country on the Net and UA-cam ahead of your booking to avoid problems). But you will not be able to avoid bus or train travel entirely if you want to see more than just one city center! For example, from Athens you can visit Mycenae and Delphi and Corinth, all very worthwhile, but you will have to travel by bus to get there. Fortunately, the scenery on nearly every route is so beautiful that you will probably find the excursion or trip as beautiful and memorable for the route as is the destination!
@@chriswilliams6568 The trick, I think, is finding an itinerary that concentrates on the smaller ports. I think that is more likely for the higher-priced smaller cruise ships.
When we cruise the Med we choose a cruise with a couple of trips such as Livorno for Florence, Narples for Pompei, Citivecchia for Rome then other ports such as Mykonos, Kotor with easy access.
As usual. The BEST Tips. Going to Greenland in August do you have a video?
Some excellent lateral thinking as always thanks Gary.
Thank you for your nice streams and tips🛳️🕌
Wet helpful thank you!!
We did a Mediterranean /Israeli cruise in 2019 starring in Rome to Athens. We had to navigate Civitavecchia, Ashdod and Piraeus. Fortunately we flew in to Rome 2 days early and then took the train to the port.
very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Very good video. Not all the places to see and do things at are near the port.
I so agree with this the ports are a gateway to where you want to actually go, another port is Gibralta