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When we did our Mediterranean cruise we booked personal tour guides at each of our ports of call. It was incredible and well worth the cost. They told personal family stories and took us to their favorite restaurants, shops, markets, coffee shops, etc. It truly made our trip an unforgettable experience!
It’s been several years. I know we used Eyes of Rome (in Rome obviously) Not sure if they still work there but Emiliano for the Vatican and we Francesco for the Forum and Colosseum were fantastic. Can’t remember the companies we used in Sicily and Turkey…
I'm sure someone wrote this but if you are going in certain churches and some musuem, you need to bring a shirt or wrap so your arms are covered. And some places won't let you in if your shorts are higher than knee length. Men too. No tank tops.
While getting there 2+ days early is great, its not something everyone can do. My wife and I on our cruise in 2022 trained ourselves a little the entire we before we left by waking up at 2-3 am every morning and going to bed very early every morning to get closer to Barcelona time. We still got there 2 days early but i think the pre-trip sleep schedule adjustment really made a big difference.
As a european, it's always funny o see how americans seem to see their trip here as some exotic adventure with so much difference. I know it's the same for us when we go across the sea, but the change of point of view always amazes me 🙂 I'm french, I travel or cruise to Italy a lot, so if someone as a question, don't hesitate 🙂
As I started/left several cruises from Rome I recommend a hotel near /next the main station in Rome. From there you have direct connection by train to the airport (outside the city) and to the harbour. Its perfect to spend some days before or after your cruise. Some hotels are just across the street, so no taxi needed normally. From this point you can use the metro to visit all the great places in Rome and you also can walk by feet. @@user-bc3lz7zc3o
As an American living in the United States, I can say that it seems like a huge adventure to leave the U.S. because many people here never get the chance to travel abroad. I’m 37, and just went on my first cruise ever in March, out out of Miami, and just going from Las Vegas to Miami was an adventure, then going to a couple different Caribbean countries was a journey. I’ve now booked a cruise out of Athens in June, 2025, and yes, it feels like it’s going to be the adventure of a lifetime. I’m excited to get to see places that I’ve only read about in books or seen in movies, and it feels crazy that my son will go to world history class when he gets into high school and be able to say that he’s been to some of the places in his history book; something I could only dream of as a kid.
Thanks for your tips :) I would like to add this one: carry a "potty pack", a snack-size plastic zipper bag with toilet paper. I usually tear mine into 2-square sections and fold them before putting them in the bag. These have been a lifesaver! Also, we did find one restroom where we needed 50 cent pieces rather than a Euro, so be prepared for variations. Finally, not all public restrooms have locks on the door, so pay attention as you approach. It can definitely save some embarrassment from walking in on someone. Eating off the beaten path is definitely the way to go. When we took an excursion to Rome, we asked the guide where she and her friends like to eat. We enjoyed the most amazing carbonara!
I totally agree! We did a Mediterranean cruise July 25 - August 5. It was a trip of a lifetime but it was exhausting! We flew in 1 day before and stayed 2 days after and we're so glad we did! I did a lot of research before we left and it was all so helpful!
We’re leaving on Oct. 1 for a B2B (2 14-day cruises for a total of 28 days!) and will not only be our 1st Mediterranean cruise, but also our 1st cruise longer than 10 days! Eek, we need tips & suggestions ASAP! We’ve traveled overseas (OFTEN) B4 for 4-week trips for hubby’s work, but never for a cruise. Already booked our flights & now wishing an extra day or so (especially for starting in Athens, since it’s a country/location we have never been… 😟 Help please…
Our recent Mediterranean cruise started in Athens. We arrived early and booked a Viator all day city tour and the second day a half day food tour. Great intro to the city! We stayed at hotel within walking distance and with a rooftop patio with view of the Acropolis.
Go EARLY! We started ours in Civitavecchia. We flew to Rome four days early. Got a lot of Italy time before we even left. You could never see Rome on an excursion day. Stayed in an old hotel right there on the back side of the forums. Next time we won't go in July again. 100+ degrees every day.
If you do leave your Passport in the safe on the ship, it is a very good idea to take a copy of it with you in case you miss the ship Sailing time, you will need your Passport in order to go to the authorities.
My husband and I are seasoned travelers, but have never been on a cruise. So, in 3 weeks we're going on the Mediterranean cruise with Oceania. Our strategy is to treat it as a tester, so no Rome, Barcelona, or Venice for us (been there), but smaller places like Corfu, Dubrovnik, Trieste to see if we would like to come back and stay awhile there.
I got a new Travelon bag for our 12 night cruise and I tried it out in London for size, comfortbility, and overall use. It is great, and I can’t wait to use it on our cruise.
For Europe, it’s better to avoid the month of August as everyone are on vacation and destination like Spain and Italia are full of tourists. For the Sagrada Familia, it’s best to visit it on the morning as it’s less crowded. Avoid any restaurants on the Rambla as they are bad. Don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at the hotel for restaurant suggestions.
That’s not always true. My Mediterranean cruise was from July 29- Aug 7. We got to Barcelona 3 days before our cruise and didn’t find it too busy at all. We also stayed an extra week in Rome and Venice. Rome wasn’t busy at all either and the only time Venice was busy was when people from the cruise ships were there, and then it was only busy at St Marks square. The weather wasn’t bad either. I think it got into the mid 90’s just one day.
Thanks for sharing! We were told by some restaurants that it was less busy in mid-late august as many local people were on holiday. Just either way, but it truthfully wasn’t as bad as I expected
We like to just walk and take side streets to find a restaurant. We found some amazing ones, almost like a hole in the wall it was so small and we had the best meals!
There are some cities that are a hour plus drive from the port like Rome, Florence, Venice or Athens. Sure, there are excursions but I you don’t really get enough time. So if those cities are on your bucket list, I suggest picking a cruise with them as your embarkation/disembarkation port so you can spend more time there.
I once made the mistake of taking a day trip to Rome and Athens. This is pure stress! 2 hour bus ride or more if there is a traffic jam, you have very little time in the city and I overestimated the public transport system there: the bus just didn't come and we couldn't visit many of the sights or not for long enough because we had too much time on our hands spent on arrival.On our next trip there will be stops in Rome and Athens, but I will stay on board or do small activities in the surrounding area. Instead, I have Rome and Athens as the start and end of the trip and can plan my days there according to my own taste without stress.Florence is also a case in point; here it is better to only go to Pisa if you only have one day.@@LifeWellCruised
@@coachab100 we start in Athens & we mostly sail through Greece & Italy & also includes Turkey, Crete, Tel Aviv, & Cypress. It’s two 14-day B2B’s. 1st half is RT to/from Athens & 2nd half is Athens to Rome. (Rome & Tel Aviv are the only 2 places we’ve been during previous work travels-any places that are ‘not to be missed’ in your opinion?
I can’t believe you recommended leaving passports on the ship. I would NEVER walk around another country without our passports. I’ve just booked our first ever non Caribbean cruise, to the Med out of Barcelona. Very excited for Sept 2025 😎
In 2022 and 2023 I went on a Mediterranean cruise leaving out of Rome. The city is civitavecchia. The port is 1 hour away from Rome by train. The pizza is a bargain very simple and very good. Florence has 2 different port. There is 2 major things to do. In Florence the statue of David which is very far from the port and you need to book the tour in advance. The leaning tower of Pisa is very close to the port laspezia. If it is at the other port. It is very far away and more expensive. Thank you for your video. It bring back great memories.
For the Americans and Canadians who probably only come to Florence once in their life: I recommend the oldest pharmacy in Europe Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Via della Scala 16), here you can find great perfumes and cosmetic products in a very nice atmosphere. It is located above the Hotel Croce in Malta, relatively centrally.
I see they changed our stop on upcoming from Lespezia to Liverno. Any tips for Liverno? Florence and Pisa require some travel time but currious what you did.
In Europe when booking a hotel room, most hotels it is normal for only 3 people max and they ask for the age of the 3rd person. So, if you have a family of say 5 and 3 of them are your children, you may have to book 2 rooms. So, choose your hotel wisely.
We did a Med cruise in 2017 starting in Barcelona thru Italy, France Majorca Spain and back to Barcelona. We did 3 excursions in Italy recommended by several people on Cruise Critic and had a great time! We stayed 3 nights in Barcelona prior to the cruise at a VRBO apt with lots of fun restaurants and attractions nearby. Since we were ending our trip in Barcelona, there was no need to stay again, we flew home the day we disembarked. I took 5 days off after we got home to recoup. 😊
I missed the VAT refund unfortunately when we cruised this past May. Thanks for that tip. Wish I’d known before. We did 3 nights in Rome at the beginning and 3 nights in Barcelona at the end and I’m so glad we did. We were able to see almost all the major sights. We booked our tours in Rome and Barcelona ahead through Viator to skip the line at the busy attractions. You don’t have to pay ahead and can cancel the day before if you change your mind or find a better deal. Worth it!
We have our Mediterranean cruise booked for October 2024…. We have planned into our itinerary to arrive three days before and to leave 3 days from debarkation. Thank you for the video.
In Europe you must have petty cash- euro, many places do not take credit card, - gelato for example, also the risk of your credit card number stolen are a lot less when paying cash. Keep in mind - not much cash- you could be robbed, and do not ware any expensive watches and jewelry. Also, keep aware of the surroundings at all times, yes its nice to sight see, but global awareness is the key, especially in port cities. Make sure to learn a bit of location before going out so you can be aware as to the particular part of town you are at.
We had the Mediterranean cruise on celebrity a few years ago and a best friend is a TA who came with us - she suggested a personal tour guide at each port and what a wonderful idea. Saves time and we saw sights we preferred, as well as restaurants, beaches - it was honestly magical!!
I use Travelon locking bags for all of my travel. They are pickpocket resistant and many even have straps that can lock onto your chair while you are eating in a restaurant.
In Paris I noticed every so often people would get up and sit on the grass. Well you guessed it the park meter person came around and collected a fee to enjoy the bench for an hour. Locals knew their timing to sit on grass😂
Good advice, especially about prebooking tours. Also, some cruise ports are actually an hour or more drive away from your destination, Florence and Rome in particular. So if you're planning on exploring on your own, do some research so you're not "exploring" a shipping port.
you're videos are so fantastic ! beyond being always so helpful and informative, it's just such a joy to see your smiling face, especially with a mimosa on the balcony! this cruise is a bucket list cruise for us..... I cannot wait to see Rome!
We stayed 5 nights in Rome before our cruise. We had been to several other European cities on other trips, so we really did Rome as a “walkabout”. Only thing we scheduled was The Vatican and the Coliseum. Everything else was “look what we came across”.
@@leslilounsbury1604 it is now called the Anantaro Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel. It’s about 10 minute walk from the main train station, and the subway is right out the front door. It is a beautiful hotel.
We did a Mediterranean cruise in October of 2019. We left out of Venice. We flew in the day before and we had an overnight on the cruise ship in Venice. It worked out well because it gave us 2 full days to tour around Venice. The cruise ended in Rome and we stayed 3 extra nights. I'm so glad we did. There is so much to see. I wish we would have stayed 4 or 5 nights extra. Next time!
@@vmarney We had great weather. Absolutely beautiful. We left on the 8th of October. I definitely didn’t pack enough warm weather clothes. Layering would be a good idea as it could be a little chillier in the morning.
Great stuff as usual! Rome is tough...if you're not ready, it's mess in the summer. Switching gears...VAT refunds that's funny; most people won't take time but if you spend a lot it's worth it!
Thanks for this Ilana! I appreciate the level of details you share. I was told not to wear running shoes to London, UK as Brits don't wear them....my feet were killing me from all the walking. So from then on, I wear whatever I am comfortable in which is usually a nice blazer, jeans and sneakers! I also think we overlook the 1st and last days on cruise itineraries unless we are experienced. Imperative to arrive and depart w enough time to enjoy those two ports which often get overlooked. Might as well spend time in them as we do "pay" for them in the cruise fare.
@sharonrout8165 some is how things have changed, but I'll say in general who wears runners, and what type compared to what one may wear in Canada or the USA varies. I was working with Girl Guides and lived in my hikers or black walking shoes rather the. runners.
Don’t know who told you about the shoes I can guarantee no one is going care or even notice what you are wearing on your feet . I’m British and always wear trainers when I am walking a lot comfort is more important to your feet than what a stranger you are never going to see again thinks . I never really notice what anyone is wearing unless it’s something that takes my eye and I may think to myself I wonder where they got that from .
I agree with you on arriving a couple of days before and leaving a couple days after. We toured Barcelona for a day and a half before we left and and the same for Venice before returning home. We used Viator to get tickets for excursions in Barcelona and Venice and that worked great. We toured La Sagrada Familia and it was awesome.
A good advice to travel europe would be to learn bits of the language there. I was invited to a lot of locals homes for lunch when i asked in italian about where to get good food. The hospitality is next level in the south parts of italy 😊.😊😊
@@michaels3003 i brought some good wine and sweets for the kids which they didnt want to accept at first. And we stayed in contact and when they came to my country they would stay at my place
I booked a Med cruise just yesterday but was cancelled today due to a mistake fare according to NCL, so now I am trying to find another one with a similar itinerary that I can afford. Thank you as always for the tips! Once I get over my disappointment I will continue my search.
Very informative, just got off Wonder of the Seas yesterday and booked Allure for a Mediterranean cruise next summer. Looking for more info always during this year prep.
At Barcelona, in early May, we had booked tickets for Sagrada Familia with Nativity Tower and Park Güell almost two months in advance. Glad we did as both were sold out the day our cruise visited. Royal Caribbean docked late, we got the shuttle to Christopher Columbus and were very lucky to get a cab to Sagrada, the tickets are timed entry both for Sagrada and the Towers. Allow extra time as we barely made it. We walked up to Park Güell, not realizing how uphill it was. Again, we made our tour on time, but it was tight. We wandered a bit afterwards and got a cab back. Return cab overcharged me a port surcharge, not due on fares to port, just from the port! We actually could have walked/metro but doing both sites made for a busy day. Returning to Barcelona in Nov and booking my tickets today. Thanks for a great video! 🙂
I'm going on the Virgjn 7 day Medi cruise, but I never hear anyone talk about people with back issues and how walking affects the trip. I'm personally bringing a waist trainer only for my back as I'm sure my waist will expand with all the eating!
On my cruise roll call, there are a few that do not fly into the country until the day of and supposed to land at 5 pm. Then there is a 2 hour train ride or bus ride to the port. Crazy. Im flying in 2 days before. Next Med cruise, Ill go 3 days before.
Just wanted to say I love your channel! I've watched other channels but I'm really drawn to yours..I feel you are very personable..very informative. I am going on my 4th cruise in November..I've been on carnival 3 times but this will be my 1st time on princess. I just love all your tips and stories!
Holland provided us with a free canvas bag in our cabin at my recent Canada New England cruise. When I went to the med last summer we flew into Athens the day before the cruise but our flight was delayed 6 hours which eliminated time for sightseeing except our nice taxi driver did give us a quick city tour on the way to our hotel. On our last day in Rome I scheduled a debark tour, which was very good.
We are sailing on the Viking Saturn cruise ship in early December 2023 - Rome to Athens. We have cruised the Mediterranean before during September and October. Hope that visiting Rome, Athens, the Greek isles and Israel in December will be less crowded. Expecting the temperatures to be in the 50’s and 60’s - fine for sightseeing.
1- YES! Mediterranean cruises are port intensive! Lots of walking around old world sites & buildings with not many elevators and no air conditioning. 2- Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of the world so mind your valuables while you're out and about the city enjoying everything the city has to offer. 3 - Med cruises are not like beach-heavy "Margaritaville" style Caribbean cruises. So don't go thinking completely about relaxing days on white sandy beaches. There are beaches, sure; but the atmosphere of Med cruise overall is different enough to warrant keeping in mind if anyone is thinking about booking a Med cruise.
In italy a lot of the time you can stand and have your coffee at the bar rather than at the table. Tables cost. Will be sure to take my linen clothing for that sun!
One of the best tips I can say is...go during the quiet season (winter) in the Mediterranean. Less crowds, cooler weather, and better opportunities to see the sights.
The Med is fairly easy. Best advice is to avoid cruise ship sponsored excursions and find itineraries which begin and end in cities you really want to spend more time in like Venice (even with the overcrowding). Finding alternatives to the those main cities and going to Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Malta, Sicily ports is a good follow up. Also throw in Istanbul and Greek Islands. Give a shot to Southeast Asia and Japan too.
In case someone is looking for a not too expensive spot to stay before cruising from or to Barcelona. We stayed at Hostel Portugal. They are walking distance from the cruiseport and has some nice places to have breakfast or drinks nearby. The rooms weren't too big but we were only there to sleep anyway. The reception is manned day and night, and they are very helpful when you ask them anything. We also got off in Barcelona and had a flight in the evening. We contacted the hostel if it was possible for us to store our suitcases there as we were a guest a week earlier and it was no problem at all, saving us the cost of storing our luggage for a day.
Would love for you to do an in depth video of the VAT refund process, including pics of forms and airport locations. (I do realize each location is different, but showing one would give us the idea.) When you can get a VAT refund for and when you cannot. How to find out what the VAT amount is when included in the price and how and if it can be refunded. The going through customs process. (items cannot be bought and then used before leaving country, so buying an expensive outfit and wearing it for dinner that night actually disqualifies it for the refund). I really need a refresher course and I'm sure others as a first time course. I love watching your videos, even when we don't have a cruise planned. Thank you for always being a big help.
While in Barcelona we saw a pick-pocket occur. Luckily the man was caught. The next day I found a backpack designed (and made in Barcelona)especially to discourage pick-pockets. It has zero zippers, pockets or flaps on the outside. The inside zipper is against your back. It really calms the mind when you don't waste energy worrying about pick-pockets. Fantastic hotels and restaurants are on the NW corner of Catalunya square.
I never been to Barcelona but some of the best Restaurant's in Madrid is down the side streets. I imagine Barcelona is the same. Spain's food is amazing
I agree about Viator, they are better value that ship tours and the guides are in my opinion better . In Barcelona , we had a minibus tour of Park Guell and Sagrada Familia with much less walking because the driver dropped us outside both and picked us up on the other side. The guide was a history student who had really done her homework and not one question was unanswered.
Love those Hop-on, Hop-Hop off buses !! Unfortunately, post-pandemic, many/most of the bus services have scaled back their coverage areas. In most cities, there are less lines and/or less number of stops than previously, with the prices the same or higher........ :(
Love love your videos! Was on Med cruise this May out of Barcelona! Got there day of cruise from California USA. 15 hrs! So tired missed day of embarkation activities! So now I’m wiser going on Med cruise out of Barcelona with great itinerary that included Portugal! And now I’m so much smarter! Going 2 days before! Thank u for your tips! You are so precise and cheerful! I Like your outfits too! Do you show where you buy some of them? Love seeing your family! You’re so cute! Thank you!!!!! ❤❤❤
We just came back from a Mediterranean cruise, but opposite of yours. Your suggestions are spot on! We spent 3 days in Rome and glad we did to see the sites. A lot of walking and crowded where you really needed the extra time due to long lines. Fortunately for us, we did all the excursions before we left which included viator local tour companies and some with Celebrity. I applaud you for doing the Rome after the cruise. Our was Barcelona, but our main focus was La Sagrada Familia which we enjoyed. It was super crowded and taxi service was not available due to a bicycle competition that Saturday that was country wide and most of the main avenues were closed. We were also prepared with having Euros, which we purchased at our local bank here in the states before we departed. The exchange rate was probably better if you just went to an ATM at the airport, but since we wanted to focus on how to get around the airport and our ride to the B&B, it really helped greatly not to worry about that. Again, great post cruise review!!!
Thank you for this very informative video!! My whole family is going on a Mediterranean cruise in a few weeks and we didn’t consider even half of what you covered in this video!!
Make sure you pin your original location on the phone before you start your walking tour in some of these cities. If you get separated from your group, it could be pretty bad, if you need a way to walk yourself back to the bus pickup point.
4:39 thank you for this tip!! I’m so focused on doing all the excursions I need to remember to relax. My itinerary has a lot of port days..but I love sleep and relaxing! 😂
Great suggestions. We've taken two Med cruises this year. We booked Sagrada Familia tickets in advance based on the recommendations in the Rick Steves guide book. However we did book long excursions (8+ hrs) 3 days in a row in Italy and it wore us out. We definitely needed euros for public restrooms. We should've taken a portable hotspot with an e-sim card built in (Solis), to avoid sim card purchases and buying international data on our phones. Public wifi isn't always dependable or secure. We have one now for future international travel.
@@michaels3003I'm not familiar with Google Fi but we needed WiFi access for our phones and our laptop and tablet. The Solis hotspot works in 130 countries and supports 10 devices at a time. You can buy data that doesn't expire or get a pack of unlimited day passes.
Norwegian cruise ship. Since coming to ship we can not use shore excursion that ship offer we had to book a third party tour company in order to do a shore excursion before came onto. Bordering and leave the ship tour are not included in those city .
Just got back from a British Isles Cruise. Your recommendations were spot on for that as well. My add on is to bring medications from home. We ended up with Covid as did most of our ship. Having the test and medications was really great. Also know what money your ship is on. Ours was on dollars and we had a lot of room service once we were sick so we were able to tip. I wish someone had told me not to hook a tour in every port. We were exhausted.
Hi, Ilana! Yes, a Mediterranean cruise can be exhausting and all your tips and recommendations are very valid. I flew one day before my last Mediterranean cruise and I got a little disappointed. My cruise was leaving from Barcelona and, as I was sailing on the Norwegian cruise, they booked my flights. I thought I was going to get to Barcelona on Saturday morning and enjoy the entire day in the city plus the next morning before sailing. Well, the flights they booked for me arrived in Barcelona at 4:30 pm so I had cancelled the excursions that I had planned and I only had time to enjoy the surroundings of the hotel (it was in a great location as you mentioned) and the next day I did a Hop On Hop Off with a stop at Park Güell before taking a taxi to my cruise. From now on, I will fly 2 days before no matter what.
I have to say I don't think I would ever take a cruise to Europe because for me if I go to Europe I would prefer to do it as a land-based vacation so that I can get lost in the culture and explore all of the historical sites, museums, castles and palaces that they have that are nowhere to be found in the US and I just personally think that you would not have enough time to do all that if you're on a cruise. I am no expert in Europe but I have been three times and I loved being able to plan various tours and free self-exploration days. But that's just my personal preference nothing wrong with taking a cruise there either I think it also sounds like an amazing trip, just not my preference for that type of trip.
I could understand. I think of it like a land tour without packing & unpacking at each stop. For most, we could not visit so many places in 1-2 weeks any other way :)
@susiechang3263 Just to express that I believe Europe destinations have too much to explore and a cruise, in my humble opinion and preference isn't the optimal way to visit those destinations. I have been to Europe 3 times, and I couldn't imagine how much I would have missed if I only had a day or even just a few hours in each port.
Agree we drove around Europe for 4 months, great experience. Cruising just gives you a taste of a destination. Cruising is great though, you just hop off ship, explore close by have a lovely lunch somewhere, enjoy a tipple or two, get back on ship relax some more.
Another reason to get skip the line ahead of time is apps and pages can be slow, and phone reception for data can be dead slow. The old buildings and sites are often creating canyons as far as cellular data is concerned. This applies to maps as well. Print out of screen shot your directions.
We're on The Pride of America Norwegian cruise and something we didn't know was that they charge every time you use a towel. We didn't know this so we would get a towel every time we would go to the pool. 😮
Oh another thing: cruising is a great way to start or end an longer vacation. From Athens we planned ten days in Greece/islands. You have already paid the airfare. Stay and enjoy if you have time . We are retired so no problem.
We also did a Barcelona to Rome cruise last month, and booked our skip the line tour tickets in advance with The Tour Guy/The Roman Guy. Fantastic tour guides, highly recommended!
I haven’t been on a Mediterranean cruise. A few years ago, my family and I went to England and France (not cruising). At a little ATM in a small town in France, I was able to get money out with my ATM card and there was only a $4.00 USA charge when I got back home. I would say if you have an ATM card do not exchange money at airport wait until you see an ATM.
At least four days before four days after to get full experience. Exactly book room where you want tone. Athens stayed in Plaka beautiful walking distance to most amazing sites. Pace yourself. Greeks are sweet and kind, get to know their stories.
Yep, one thing I’ve learnt, especially in Europe, is you don’t have to get off in each port. Sometimes staying onboard is the smarter choice. For example when 4+ ships dock in Santorini on the same morning, going ashore will be a nightmare
@@ladydi8376 watch reviews of the ports before you get there. That’s how I know Santorini is a no go with more than 3 ships in the bay. Not that 3 will be a breeze, but more than that will definitely not be fun.
Just visited Santorini 2 days ago and there were only 2 ships and it was still crowded. My daughter complained about how early our excursions were but we were always the first ones there and it’s easier to take pictures with less people. The crowd doubled an hour later. Get your excursions early and get back on the ship early and take a nap before dinner. We did this everyday and loved it. Another tip, pack only linen or pack less and buy clothes there. Also, always pack a foldable duffel for all the things you buy. We always do carryon and a backpack with foldable duffel and on the way home, we pack our clothes in the duffel and check those in and carry what we buy in our carryon. Linen dry really fast and I’d rather be stylishly wrinkled that hot in a polyester. Oh, linen is cheaper in Europe than buying in the states. Always book your museum or church tickets in advance. Research research research. It’ll make you prepared and have better time. Bring only one walking shoe( wear on the plane) and one sandal. You can buy good Italian made leather shoes or sandals in Spain, Italy or Greece. And France have amazing outerwear( coats and scarves ) I’ve only cruised the Caribbean once and always cruise to Europe. Doing my 3rd now with my daughter. Both ocean and river. Love Europe.
@@orthodiva7487 thanks, good advice. The only snag is you're not in control of which ship(s) arrive/disembark first, so you might have the best early plans, but if you're the 2nd or 3rd ship to start disembarking, you're still stuffed. I would still like to see and enjoy Santorini, so will be planning a specific holiday there instead.
Just got back from Greece and Italy 14 day. Santorini was a bust because there were three cruise ships there. We had to sign up for tender boats and by the time we got to the port it was almost 5:00. The line for the cable car was so long, we were afraid we couldn’t get up and back before 7:30 return time. Lesson learned. Sign up for tenders quickly!
We were on a Lisbon to Rome cruise in the Mediterranean at the very same time as you on NCL! Just back last night. A large number of people got a chest cold and were coughing in every ship venue. I took a Covid test last night and it was positive! So beware-cruising/Covid is still a thing with new variants. Also-you need a copy or picture of your passport at the shop to get the VAT refund. Lastly-the heat was quite brutal plus the tourist areas very packed so I wouldn’t do it again this time of year.
I must agree with you about the chores! We did a 25 day around the Mediterranean cruise a few years ago, and during it we had seven days on the trot when we had tours that required us leaving the ship at some ungodly time in the morning! We could have cancelled one or two of the tours, but we weren’t sure we will ever return to those places and wanted to see the sights, but boy it was exhausting! Many of us were thrilled when we had a sea day after that seventh, on the trot, touring day! If I had it to do again, I would definitely choose an afternoon tour or do something privately on one or two days. It was a fantastic cruise, all the same. Apologies for not warning you about the cost of water and toilets. In the UK, you may find you have to have some small coinage (20 or 50p) for public toilets, although some are free. Love the video!❤️
OMG taking a Virgin flight from Atlanta to Heathrow for our British Isle Cruise. They are treating us like totality and we haven’t even taken off. They partner with delta. ❤
I came back from cruise yesterday and was trying to do tax refund in Barcelona Airport. Cruise reps prepared all papers on the cruise and it supposed to be easy process but they asked in Barcelona to show all items that I am claiming a refund for. If I knew that, I would have packed all in one suitcase but since my new stuff was all over different suitcases I decided not to waste time for opening all suitcases and search for my purchases.
I’m going my first Mediterranean cruise next month from and to Genoa, Italy with MSC. I hope I won’t have problem with my check in luggage. Leave on the 8th from SFO and arriving Genoa on the 9th and embark on the 10th. I’m crossing my fingers and praying that it won’t have a hiccup.
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When we did our Mediterranean cruise we booked personal tour guides at each of our ports of call. It was incredible and well worth the cost. They told personal family stories and took us to their favorite restaurants, shops, markets, coffee shops, etc. It truly made our trip an unforgettable experience!
Could you please share the site where you got the tours?
It’s been several years. I know we used Eyes of Rome (in Rome obviously) Not sure if they still work there but Emiliano for the Vatican and we Francesco for the Forum and Colosseum were fantastic. Can’t remember the companies we used in Sicily and Turkey…
We did the Godfather Tour in Sicily and Ephesus in Turkey. Both excellent.
That’s amazing!
what was the one you used
I'm sure someone wrote this but if you are going in certain churches and some musuem, you need to bring a shirt or wrap so your arms are covered. And some places won't let you in if your shorts are higher than knee length. Men too. No tank tops.
Great information
Yes , especially in Catholic countries and Muslim ones. Shoulders need to be covered and in Muslim ones-knees/legs also.
Yes indeed. Many times I've seen people refused entry to churches in Italy.
Yes!! I think I need a part 2 😂
All should be well known
Get to know the countries you will be visiting
While getting there 2+ days early is great, its not something everyone can do. My wife and I on our cruise in 2022 trained ourselves a little the entire we before we left by waking up at 2-3 am every morning and going to bed very early every morning to get closer to Barcelona time. We still got there 2 days early but i think the pre-trip sleep schedule adjustment really made a big difference.
Wow,perfect
As a european, it's always funny o see how americans seem to see their trip here as some exotic adventure with so much difference. I know it's the same for us when we go across the sea, but the change of point of view always amazes me 🙂 I'm french, I travel or cruise to Italy a lot, so if someone as a question, don't hesitate 🙂
Thank you for your offer. I might come back into this chat and ask you if something comes up.
Could you recommend a hotel in Rome travelling with family require 4 rooms. Thank you
As I started/left several cruises from Rome I recommend a hotel near /next the main station in Rome. From there you have direct connection by train to the airport (outside the city) and to the harbour. Its perfect to spend some days before or after your cruise. Some hotels are just across the street, so no taxi needed normally. From this point you can use the metro to visit all the great places in Rome and you also can walk by feet. @@user-bc3lz7zc3o
As an American living in the United States, I can say that it seems like a huge adventure to leave the U.S. because many people here never get the chance to travel abroad. I’m 37, and just went on my first cruise ever in March, out out of Miami, and just going from Las Vegas to Miami was an adventure, then going to a couple different Caribbean countries was a journey. I’ve now booked a cruise out of Athens in June, 2025, and yes, it feels like it’s going to be the adventure of a lifetime. I’m excited to get to see places that I’ve only read about in books or seen in movies, and it feels crazy that my son will go to world history class when he gets into high school and be able to say that he’s been to some of the places in his history book; something I could only dream of as a kid.
How was the cruising in Italy? My husband and I are planning a trip on Royal Voyager of the Seas- Italy, Turkey, Greece for 7 nights.
Thanks for your tips :) I would like to add this one: carry a "potty pack", a snack-size plastic zipper bag with toilet paper. I usually tear mine into 2-square sections and fold them before putting them in the bag. These have been a lifesaver! Also, we did find one restroom where we needed 50 cent pieces rather than a Euro, so be prepared for variations.
Finally, not all public restrooms have locks on the door, so pay attention as you approach. It can definitely save some embarrassment from walking in on someone.
Eating off the beaten path is definitely the way to go. When we took an excursion to Rome, we asked the guide where she and her friends like to eat. We enjoyed the most amazing carbonara!
If you don't have cash for the bathroom....just pee on the floor.
I totally agree! We did a Mediterranean cruise July 25 - August 5. It was a trip of a lifetime but it was exhausting! We flew in 1 day before and stayed 2 days after and we're so glad we did! I did a lot of research before we left and it was all so helpful!
Thanks for sharing!
We’re leaving on Oct. 1 for a B2B (2 14-day cruises for a total of 28 days!) and will not only be our 1st Mediterranean cruise, but also our 1st cruise longer than 10 days! Eek, we need tips & suggestions ASAP! We’ve traveled overseas (OFTEN) B4 for 4-week trips for hubby’s work, but never for a cruise. Already booked our flights & now wishing an extra day or so (especially for starting in Athens, since it’s a country/location we have never been… 😟
Help please…
Our recent Mediterranean cruise started in Athens. We arrived early and booked a Viator all day city tour and the second day a half day food tour. Great intro to the city! We stayed at hotel within walking distance and with a rooftop patio with view of the Acropolis.
Sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing
Go EARLY! We started ours in Civitavecchia. We flew to Rome four days early. Got a lot of Italy time before we even left. You could never see Rome on an excursion day. Stayed in an old hotel right there on the back side of the forums. Next time we won't go in July again. 100+ degrees every day.
We are doing a 28 day Med/Holy Land cruise next year. So excited 🎉🚢 Athens to Ft Lauderdale!
Lucky you! That sounds amazing 👏
If you do leave your Passport in the safe on the ship, it is a very good idea to take a copy of it with you in case you miss the ship Sailing time, you will need your Passport in order to go to the authorities.
My husband and I are seasoned travelers, but have never been on a cruise. So, in 3 weeks we're going on the Mediterranean cruise with Oceania. Our strategy is to treat it as a tester, so no Rome, Barcelona, or Venice for us (been there), but smaller places like Corfu, Dubrovnik, Trieste to see if we would like to come back and stay awhile there.
You’ll love it!! Enjoy
Dubrovnik is great. We had an overnight so got to enjoy dinner there and the second day on Lokrum Island.
Which one is better 5 or 7 day cruise?
The wife and I LOVE hop on hop off buses…. Such a great way to see the city you’re visiting!
Thanks for sharing
I got a new Travelon bag for our 12 night cruise and I tried it out in London for size, comfortbility, and overall use. It is great, and I can’t wait to use it on our cruise.
For Europe, it’s better to avoid the month of August as everyone are on vacation and destination like Spain and Italia are full of tourists. For the Sagrada Familia, it’s best to visit it on the morning as it’s less crowded.
Avoid any restaurants on the Rambla as they are bad. Don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at the hotel for restaurant suggestions.
That’s not always true. My Mediterranean cruise was from July 29- Aug 7. We got to Barcelona 3 days before our cruise and didn’t find it too busy at all. We also stayed an extra week in Rome and Venice. Rome wasn’t busy at all either and the only time Venice was busy was when people from the cruise ships were there, and then it was only busy at St Marks square. The weather wasn’t bad either. I think it got into the mid 90’s just one day.
Thanks for sharing! We were told by some restaurants that it was less busy in mid-late august as many local people were on holiday. Just either way, but it truthfully wasn’t as bad as I expected
We like to just walk and take side streets to find a restaurant. We found some amazing ones, almost like a hole in the wall it was so small and we had the best meals!
@@LifeWellCruisedSometimes it’s more difficult to find availability for tours & such, because most of the locals go on ‘holiday’…
Yes,exactly!Heatwaves
There are some cities that are a hour plus drive from the port like Rome, Florence, Venice or Athens. Sure, there are excursions but I you don’t really get enough time. So if those cities are on your bucket list, I suggest picking a cruise with them as your embarkation/disembarkation port so you can spend more time there.
Good advice
I once made the mistake of taking a day trip to Rome and Athens. This is pure stress! 2 hour bus ride or more if there is a traffic jam, you have very little time in the city and I overestimated the public transport system there: the bus just didn't come and we couldn't visit many of the sights or not for long enough because we had too much time on our hands spent on arrival.On our next trip there will be stops in Rome and Athens, but I will stay on board or do small activities in the surrounding area. Instead, I have Rome and Athens as the start and end of the trip and can plan my days there according to my own taste without stress.Florence is also a case in point; here it is better to only go to Pisa if you only have one day.@@LifeWellCruised
Recommend going to Europe in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), not June, July, August. It will be less crowded, not as hot, and cheaper!
I’m sure that’s true. That said, people have different reasons for travelling in summer, vacation time ect. We also love summer vibes
That’s good to hear. First ever cruise booked for Mediterranean, April ‘24
We leave Oct. 1 & curious what to expect as far as weather/temp.
@@vmarney it should be nice depending on where in Europe….Southern Europe could be still warm or maybe a sweater or jacket.
@@coachab100 we start in Athens & we mostly sail through Greece & Italy & also includes Turkey, Crete, Tel Aviv, & Cypress. It’s two 14-day B2B’s. 1st half is RT to/from Athens & 2nd half is Athens to Rome. (Rome & Tel Aviv are the only 2 places we’ve been during previous work travels-any places that are ‘not to be missed’ in your opinion?
I can’t believe you recommended leaving passports on the ship. I would NEVER walk around another country without our passports. I’ve just booked our first ever non Caribbean cruise, to the Med out of Barcelona. Very excited for Sept 2025 😎
Best to have a photocopy of passports
Just started planning our ‘25 med cruise!
In 2022 and 2023 I went on a Mediterranean cruise leaving out of Rome. The city is civitavecchia. The port is 1 hour away from Rome by train. The pizza is a bargain very simple and very good. Florence has 2 different port. There is 2 major things to do. In Florence the statue of David which is very far from the port and you need to book the tour in advance. The leaning tower of Pisa is very close to the port laspezia. If it is at the other port. It is very far away and more expensive. Thank you for your video. It bring back great memories.
For the Americans and Canadians who probably only come to Florence once in their life: I recommend the oldest pharmacy in Europe Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (Via della Scala 16), here you can find great perfumes and cosmetic products in a very nice atmosphere. It is located above the Hotel Croce in Malta, relatively centrally.
I saw you in Livorno getting on the bus but I was in the wrong line…I was on NCL. You really helped us get ready for our first cruise so, thank you!
Lol, too bad I didn’t see you too! Hope you had a great cruise
I see they changed our stop on upcoming from Lespezia to Liverno. Any tips for Liverno? Florence and Pisa require some travel time but currious what you did.
@@oldgoldtopgoldtop6039 there’s a nice lunch in Tuscany
Great ideas. We are going on Sun Princess for 19 days to the Med in March. Very excited about that one.
That’s going to be such an amazing cruise!
In Europe when booking a hotel room, most hotels it is normal for only 3 people max and they ask for the age of the 3rd person. So, if you have a family of say 5 and 3 of them are your children, you may have to book 2 rooms. So, choose your hotel wisely.
We did a Med cruise in 2017 starting in Barcelona thru Italy, France Majorca Spain and back to Barcelona. We did 3 excursions in Italy recommended by several people on Cruise Critic and had a great time! We stayed 3 nights in Barcelona prior to the cruise at a VRBO apt with lots of fun restaurants and attractions nearby. Since we were ending our trip in Barcelona, there was no need to stay again, we flew home the day we disembarked. I took 5 days off after we got home to recoup. 😊
Love that! True time after a cruise can be helpful
I missed the VAT refund unfortunately when we cruised this past May. Thanks for that tip. Wish I’d known before. We did 3 nights in Rome at the beginning and 3 nights in Barcelona at the end and I’m so glad we did. We were able to see almost all the major sights. We booked our tours in Rome and Barcelona ahead through Viator to skip the line at the busy attractions. You don’t have to pay ahead and can cancel the day before if you change your mind or find a better deal. Worth it!
Thank you for the info.
Thanks for sharing your experiences
I love Viator, I've always been satisfied. I had to cancel once and got my money back the next day!
GetYourGuide is also a recommendation concerning tours and skip the line tickets
We have our Mediterranean cruise booked for October 2024…. We have planned into our itinerary to arrive three days before and to leave 3 days from debarkation. Thank you for the video.
In Europe you must have petty cash- euro, many places do not take credit card, - gelato for example, also the risk of your credit card number stolen are a lot less when paying cash. Keep in mind - not much cash- you could be robbed, and do not ware any expensive watches and jewelry. Also, keep aware of the surroundings
at all times, yes its nice to sight see, but global awareness is the key, especially in port cities. Make sure to learn a bit of location before going out so you can be aware as to the particular part of town you are at.
Good point
That applies to anywhere in the World . Beware !!!
Yes,same worldwide.
@@debbiec6216yes,even in own country,best to do some marketing
Love these tips! Especially the one about staggering those excursions. I try to schedule down time too not just excursions!
Smart! Thanks for your feedback 😊
We had the Mediterranean cruise on celebrity a few years ago and a best friend is a TA who came with us - she suggested a personal tour guide at each port and what a wonderful idea. Saves time and we saw sights we preferred, as well as restaurants, beaches - it was honestly magical!!
I saw some offers of private tours in Gibraltar (on a travel website) and they were extremely expensive; one was well over a thousand dollars.
Fabulous!
Exactly,perfect
We are going on our first ever cruise next year to the Mediterranean. Enjoyed this video.
I use Travelon locking bags for all of my travel. They are pickpocket resistant and many even have straps that can lock onto your chair while you are eating in a restaurant.
In Paris I noticed every so often people would get up and sit on the grass. Well you guessed it the park meter person came around and collected a fee to enjoy the bench for an hour. Locals knew their timing to sit on grass😂
Good advice, especially about prebooking tours. Also, some cruise ports are actually an hour or more drive away from your destination, Florence and Rome in particular. So if you're planning on exploring on your own, do some research so you're not "exploring" a shipping port.
Absolutely!
you're videos are so fantastic ! beyond being always so helpful and informative, it's just such a joy to see your smiling face, especially with a mimosa on the balcony! this cruise is a bucket list cruise for us..... I cannot wait to see Rome!
Awe you’re so sweet!! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it
I loved this but would love one of these for Asian destinations especially Japan.
Me too we have Japan booked April 2024 🎉
@@loriwelln7321 June 2024 for us
I’d love to do that cruise
We stayed 5 nights in Rome before our cruise. We had been to several other European cities on other trips, so we really did Rome as a “walkabout”. Only thing we scheduled was The Vatican and the Coliseum. Everything else was “look what we came across”.
Where did you stay in Rome? My husband and I are going on cruise in September and want to stay for a couple of days before hand. Thanks, 🙏
@@leslilounsbury1604 it is now called the Anantaro Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel. It’s about 10 minute walk from the main train station, and the subway is right out the front door. It is a beautiful hotel.
Good timing! We are in the process of planning our first Mediterranean cruise in the fall of 2025!
Excellent!! Great cruise 👏
My wife and I are planning our first med cruise June 2024! Theres so much to plan 😅
We leave Oct. 30, 2023 on the Beyond. It’s a transatlantic!
We leave on Oct. 1 2023 for 28 days-so excited, yet nervous about the length…. We will be sailing with Holland America.😊
@@vmarney I can’t leave my pets that long. I have feral cats that depend on me. Enjoy your trip!
We did a Mediterranean cruise in October of 2019. We left out of Venice. We flew in the day before and we had an overnight on the cruise ship in Venice. It worked out well because it gave us 2 full days to tour around Venice. The cruise ended in Rome and we stayed 3 extra nights. I'm so glad we did. There is so much to see. I wish we would have stayed 4 or 5 nights extra. Next time!
What was the weather like during Oct? We sail out on Oct. 1…
@@vmarney We had great weather. Absolutely beautiful. We left on the 8th of October. I definitely didn’t pack enough warm weather clothes. Layering would be a good idea as it could be a little chillier in the morning.
Great stuff as usual! Rome is tough...if you're not ready, it's mess in the summer. Switching gears...VAT refunds that's funny; most people won't take time but if you spend a lot it's worth it!
I made 2 trips to Rome in the summertime (not cruises) and never made that mistake again. Summer is a bad time to visit Europe in general.
You’re right. It’s quite hot too, but so worth visiting! Lol, the VAT refund only took a few minutes to process
For theft I recommend Pacsafe bags. I love them. They are cut proof and will actually lock to your chair.
Great! Thanks for sharing
I know the company, but I wonder if they would stand up to a determined professional thief.
FYI never use the taxis at the port in Lisbon. Several members of my Facebook group cruise (myself included) were ripped off by the taxis there.
Also, if you’re going into any mosques, remember to wear longer sleeves and long pants. It is a sign of respect and is really appreciated.
Thanks for this Ilana! I appreciate the level of details you share. I was told not to wear running shoes to London, UK as Brits don't wear them....my feet were killing me from all the walking. So from then on, I wear whatever I am comfortable in which is usually a nice blazer, jeans and sneakers! I also think we overlook the 1st and last days on cruise itineraries unless we are experienced. Imperative to arrive and depart w enough time to enjoy those two ports which often get overlooked. Might as well spend time in them as we do "pay" for them in the cruise fare.
You’re so right! These days “comfort” is in style, but even if it wasn’t, it’s still best 😂
I'm a Brit and I have never heard about us not wearing trainers (running shoes), I would always wear trainers when travelling around London.
@sharonrout8165 some is how things have changed, but I'll say in general who wears runners, and what type compared to what one may wear in Canada or the USA varies. I was working with Girl Guides and lived in my hikers or black walking shoes rather the. runners.
Don’t know who told you about the shoes I can guarantee no one is going care or even notice what you are wearing on your feet . I’m British and always wear trainers when I am walking a lot comfort is more important to your feet than what a stranger you are never going to see again thinks . I never really notice what anyone is wearing unless it’s something that takes my eye and I may think to myself I wonder where they got that from .
Great tips thanks!! 33 days to go for our mediterranean Cruise woohoo!!
Lucky you!!!
I agree with you on arriving a couple of days before and leaving a couple days after. We toured Barcelona for a day and a half before we left and and the same for Venice before returning home. We used Viator to get tickets for excursions in Barcelona and Venice and that worked great. We toured La Sagrada Familia and it was awesome.
The cruise port at Barcelona is very close to the city centre but Rome is about 50 miles away and Florence is more like 60 miles from the cruise port.
We have a Viking Athens to Istanbul cruise booked for 2025. We're also doing the four day pre-cruise extension in Greece. Looking forward to it!
Amazing 👏
A good advice to travel europe would be to learn bits of the language there. I was invited to a lot of locals homes for lunch when i asked in italian about where to get good food. The hospitality is next level in the south parts of italy 😊.😊😊
How did you recompensate?
@@michaels3003 i brought some good wine and sweets for the kids which they didnt want to accept at first. And we stayed in contact and when they came to my country they would stay at my place
@@raphischuster2060 , nice.
I booked a Med cruise just yesterday but was cancelled today due to a mistake fare according to NCL, so now I am trying to find another one with a similar itinerary that I can afford. Thank you as always for the tips! Once I get over my disappointment I will continue my search.
Very informative, just got off Wonder of the Seas yesterday and booked Allure for a Mediterranean cruise next summer.
Looking for more info always during this year prep.
At Barcelona, in early May, we had booked tickets for Sagrada Familia with Nativity Tower and Park Güell almost two months in advance. Glad we did as both were sold out the day our cruise visited. Royal Caribbean docked late, we got the shuttle to Christopher Columbus and were very lucky to get a cab to Sagrada, the tickets are timed entry both for Sagrada and the Towers. Allow extra time as we barely made it. We walked up to Park Güell, not realizing how uphill it was. Again, we made our tour on time, but it was tight. We wandered a bit afterwards and got a cab back. Return cab overcharged me a port surcharge, not due on fares to port, just from the port! We actually could have walked/metro but doing both sites made for a busy day. Returning to Barcelona in Nov and booking my tickets today. Thanks for a great video! 🙂
I'm going on the Virgjn 7 day Medi cruise, but I never hear anyone talk about people with back issues and how walking affects the trip. I'm personally bringing a waist trainer only for my back as I'm sure my waist will expand with all the eating!
On my cruise roll call, there are a few that do not fly into the country until the day of and supposed to land at 5 pm. Then there is a 2 hour train ride or bus ride to the port. Crazy. Im flying in 2 days before. Next Med cruise, Ill go 3 days before.
You’ll be the one who sees it all & arrives rested for your cruise 👏🛳️
Some of the best restaurants are off the beaten path down in alleys you would never expect.
Just wanted to say I love your channel! I've watched other channels but I'm really drawn to yours..I feel you are very personable..very informative. I am going on my 4th cruise in November..I've been on carnival 3 times but this will be my 1st time on princess. I just love all your tips and stories!
You’re so sweet! I’m so glad my videos resonate with you. I appreciate you watching
@@LifeWellCruised always! Have great day
Holland provided us with a free canvas bag in our cabin at my recent Canada New England cruise. When I went to the med last summer we flew into Athens the day before the cruise but our flight was delayed 6 hours which eliminated time for sightseeing except our nice taxi driver did give us a quick city tour on the way to our hotel. On our last day in Rome I scheduled a debark tour, which was very good.
We are sailing on the Viking Saturn cruise ship in early December 2023 - Rome to Athens. We have cruised the Mediterranean before during September and October. Hope that visiting Rome, Athens, the Greek isles and Israel in December will be less crowded. Expecting the temperatures to be in the 50’s and 60’s - fine for sightseeing.
1- YES! Mediterranean cruises are port intensive! Lots of walking around old world sites & buildings with not many elevators and no air conditioning.
2- Barcelona is the pickpocketing capital of the world so mind your valuables while you're out and about the city enjoying everything the city has to offer.
3 - Med cruises are not like beach-heavy "Margaritaville" style Caribbean cruises. So don't go thinking completely about relaxing days on white sandy beaches. There are beaches, sure; but the atmosphere of Med cruise overall is different enough to warrant keeping in mind if anyone is thinking about booking a Med cruise.
Europe is history and cultur, not for laying at the beach :-)
Thanks for all the great cruise tips ... I recently got back from an Alaskan cruise, and this channel was very helpful during my planning.
So glad to hear! Glad you enjoyed Alaska
Definitely comfortable and supportive shoes or sandals. The cobblestone streets in many European cities are killer on the ankles!
True
In italy a lot of the time you can stand and have your coffee at the bar rather than at the table. Tables cost. Will be sure to take my linen clothing for that sun!
One of the best tips I can say is...go during the quiet season (winter) in the Mediterranean. Less crowds, cooler weather, and better opportunities to see the sights.
The Med is fairly easy. Best advice is to avoid cruise ship sponsored excursions and find itineraries which begin and end in cities you really want to spend more time in like Venice (even with the overcrowding). Finding alternatives to the those main cities and going to Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Malta, Sicily ports is a good follow up. Also throw in Istanbul and Greek Islands. Give a shot to Southeast Asia and Japan too.
In case someone is looking for a not too expensive spot to stay before cruising from or to Barcelona.
We stayed at Hostel Portugal.
They are walking distance from the cruiseport and has some nice places to have breakfast or drinks nearby.
The rooms weren't too big but we were only there to sleep anyway. The reception is manned day and night, and they are very helpful when you ask them anything.
We also got off in Barcelona and had a flight in the evening. We contacted the hostel if it was possible for us to store our suitcases there as we were a guest a week earlier and it was no problem at all, saving us the cost of storing our luggage for a day.
Welcome home Ilana 🇨🇦. Very informative video again. Any chance of a part 2?
Sure!! Lol i think about the ports. Any suggestions welcome
Would love for you to do an in depth video of the VAT refund process, including pics of forms and airport locations. (I do realize each location is different, but showing one would give us the idea.) When you can get a VAT refund for and when you cannot. How to find out what the VAT amount is when included in the price and how and if it can be refunded. The going through customs process. (items cannot be bought and then used before leaving country, so buying an expensive outfit and wearing it for dinner that night actually disqualifies it for the refund). I really need a refresher course and I'm sure others as a first time course. I love watching your videos, even when we don't have a cruise planned. Thank you for always being a big help.
While in Barcelona we saw a pick-pocket occur. Luckily the man was caught. The next day I found a backpack designed (and made in Barcelona)especially to discourage pick-pockets. It has zero zippers, pockets or flaps on the outside. The inside zipper is against your back. It really calms the mind when you don't waste energy worrying about pick-pockets. Fantastic hotels and restaurants are on the NW corner of Catalunya square.
I never been to Barcelona but some of the best Restaurant's in Madrid is down the side streets. I imagine Barcelona is the same. Spain's food is amazing
I agree about Viator, they are better value that ship tours and the guides are in my opinion better . In Barcelona , we had a minibus tour of Park Guell and Sagrada Familia with much less walking because the driver dropped us outside both and picked us up on the other side. The guide was a history student who had really done her homework and not one question was unanswered.
Love those Hop-on, Hop-Hop off buses !! Unfortunately, post-pandemic, many/most of the bus services have scaled back their coverage areas. In most cities, there are less lines and/or less number of stops than previously, with the prices the same or higher........ :(
Love love your videos! Was on Med cruise this May out of Barcelona! Got there day of cruise from California USA. 15 hrs! So tired missed day of embarkation activities! So now I’m wiser going on Med cruise out of Barcelona with great itinerary that included Portugal! And now I’m so much smarter! Going 2 days before! Thank u for your tips! You are so precise and cheerful! I
Like your outfits too! Do
you show where you buy some of them? Love seeing your family! You’re so cute! Thank you!!!!! ❤❤❤
Oh no! Thanks for sharing your experience. I left some links to my clothing in the video description:)
We just came back from a Mediterranean cruise, but opposite of yours. Your suggestions are spot on! We spent 3 days in Rome and glad we did to see the sites. A lot of walking and crowded where you really needed the extra time due to long lines. Fortunately for us, we did all the excursions before we left which included viator local tour companies and some with Celebrity. I applaud you for doing the Rome after the cruise. Our was Barcelona, but our main focus was La Sagrada Familia which we enjoyed. It was super crowded and taxi service was not available due to a bicycle competition that Saturday that was country wide and most of the main avenues were closed. We were also prepared with having Euros, which we purchased at our local bank here in the states before we departed. The exchange rate was probably better if you just went to an ATM at the airport, but since we wanted to focus on how to get around the airport and our ride to the B&B, it really helped greatly not to worry about that. Again, great post cruise review!!!
Thanks for sharing this
Appreciate the Euros tip. Still wondering how we want to manage that.
Thank you for this very informative video!! My whole family is going on a Mediterranean cruise in a few weeks and we didn’t consider even half of what you covered in this video!!
Make sure you pin your original location on the phone before you start your walking tour in some of these cities.
If you get separated from your group, it could be pretty bad, if you need a way to walk yourself back to the bus pickup point.
4:39 thank you for this tip!! I’m so focused on doing all the excursions I need to remember to relax. My itinerary has a lot of port days..but I love sleep and relaxing! 😂
Great suggestions. We've taken two Med cruises this year. We booked Sagrada Familia tickets in advance based on the recommendations in the Rick Steves guide book. However we did book long excursions (8+ hrs) 3 days in a row in Italy and it wore us out. We definitely needed euros for public restrooms. We should've taken a portable hotspot with an e-sim card built in (Solis), to avoid sim card purchases and buying international data on our phones. Public wifi isn't always dependable or secure. We have one now for future international travel.
I have Google Fi that works in many, many countries w/o roaming charges.
@@michaels3003I'm not familiar with Google Fi but we needed WiFi access for our phones and our laptop and tablet. The Solis hotspot works in 130 countries and supports 10 devices at a time. You can buy data that doesn't expire or get a pack of unlimited day passes.
Thanks for sharing this
Great video. Thank you for the information, we're going on our first Mediterranean cruise (Sun Princess) next year. 😊
Norwegian cruise ship. Since coming to ship we can not use shore excursion that ship offer we had to book a third party tour company in order to do a shore excursion before came onto. Bordering and leave the ship tour are not included in those city .
Just got back from a British Isles Cruise. Your recommendations were spot on for that as well. My add on is to bring medications from home. We ended up with Covid as did most of our ship. Having the test and medications was really great. Also know what money your ship is on. Ours was on dollars and we had a lot of room service once we were sick so we were able to tip. I wish someone had told me not to hook a tour in every port. We were exhausted.
Hi, Ilana! Yes, a Mediterranean cruise can be exhausting and all your tips and recommendations are very valid. I flew one day before my last Mediterranean cruise and I got a little disappointed. My cruise was leaving from Barcelona and, as I was sailing on the Norwegian cruise, they booked my flights. I thought I was going to get to Barcelona on Saturday morning and enjoy the entire day in the city plus the next morning before sailing. Well, the flights they booked for me arrived in Barcelona at 4:30 pm so I had cancelled the excursions that I had planned and I only had time to enjoy the surroundings of the hotel (it was in a great location as you mentioned) and the next day I did a Hop On Hop Off with a stop at Park Güell before taking a taxi to my cruise. From now on, I will fly 2 days before no matter what.
Thanks for sharing. It’s truth flight delays can happen & we can really use an extra day
I have a Mediterranean cruise in my near future, your tips are invaluable
So glad this was helpful
Flying to Barcelona tomorrow for a Mediterranean cruise. Thanks again for the tips.
Enjoy!
Thank you. Going next June 2025😊
I have to say I don't think I would ever take a cruise to Europe because for me if I go to Europe I would prefer to do it as a land-based vacation so that I can get lost in the culture and explore all of the historical sites, museums, castles and palaces that they have that are nowhere to be found in the US and I just personally think that you would not have enough time to do all that if you're on a cruise. I am no expert in Europe but I have been three times and I loved being able to plan various tours and free self-exploration days. But that's just my personal preference nothing wrong with taking a cruise there either I think it also sounds like an amazing trip, just not my preference for that type of trip.
I could understand. I think of it like a land tour without packing & unpacking at each stop. For most, we could not visit so many places in 1-2 weeks any other way :)
So what is the purpose of your comment? 😂
@susiechang3263 Just to express that I believe Europe destinations have too much to explore and a cruise, in my humble opinion and preference isn't the optimal way to visit those destinations. I have been to Europe 3 times, and I couldn't imagine how much I would have missed if I only had a day or even just a few hours in each port.
Agree we drove around Europe for 4 months, great experience. Cruising just gives you a taste of a destination. Cruising is great though, you just hop off ship, explore close by have a lovely lunch somewhere, enjoy a tipple or two, get back on ship relax some more.
Another reason to get skip the line ahead of time is apps and pages can be slow, and phone reception for data can be dead slow. The old buildings and sites are often creating canyons as far as cellular data is concerned.
This applies to maps as well. Print out of screen shot your directions.
We're on The Pride of America Norwegian cruise and something we didn't know was that they charge every time you use a towel. We didn't know this so we would get a towel every time we would go to the pool. 😮
Oh another thing: cruising is a great way to start or end an longer vacation. From Athens we planned ten days in Greece/islands. You have already paid the airfare. Stay and enjoy if you have time . We are retired so no problem.
We also did a Barcelona to Rome cruise last month, and booked our skip the line tour tickets in advance with The Tour Guy/The Roman Guy. Fantastic tour guides, highly recommended!
Sounds great!
I haven’t been on a Mediterranean cruise. A few years ago, my family and I went to England and France (not cruising). At a little ATM in a small town in France, I was able to get money out with my ATM card and there was only a $4.00 USA charge when I got back home. I would say if you have an ATM card do not exchange money at airport wait until you see an ATM.
At least four days before four days after to get full experience. Exactly book room where you want tone. Athens stayed in Plaka beautiful walking distance to most amazing sites. Pace yourself. Greeks are sweet and kind, get to know their stories.
Yep, one thing I’ve learnt, especially in Europe, is you don’t have to get off in each port. Sometimes staying onboard is the smarter choice. For example when 4+ ships dock in Santorini on the same morning, going ashore will be a nightmare
How do you know in advance ?
@@ladydi8376 watch reviews of the ports before you get there. That’s how I know Santorini is a no go with more than 3 ships in the bay. Not that 3 will be a breeze, but more than that will definitely not be fun.
I agree completely. Not sure why they port there with the limited cable cars and tender boats.
Just visited Santorini 2 days ago and there were only 2 ships and it was still crowded. My daughter complained about how early our excursions were but we were always the first ones there and it’s easier to take pictures with less people. The crowd doubled an hour later. Get your excursions early and get back on the ship early and take a nap before dinner. We did this everyday and loved it. Another tip, pack only linen or pack less and buy clothes there. Also, always pack a foldable duffel for all the things you buy. We always do carryon and a backpack with foldable duffel and on the way home, we pack our clothes in the duffel and check those in and carry what we buy in our carryon. Linen dry really fast and I’d rather be stylishly wrinkled that hot in a polyester. Oh, linen is cheaper in Europe than buying in the states. Always book your museum or church tickets in advance. Research research research. It’ll make you prepared and have better time. Bring only one walking shoe( wear on the plane) and one sandal. You can buy good Italian made leather shoes or sandals in Spain, Italy or Greece. And France have amazing outerwear( coats and scarves ) I’ve only cruised the Caribbean once and always cruise to Europe. Doing my 3rd now with my daughter. Both ocean and river. Love Europe.
@@orthodiva7487 thanks, good advice. The only snag is you're not in control of which ship(s) arrive/disembark first, so you might have the best early plans, but if you're the 2nd or 3rd ship to start disembarking, you're still stuffed. I would still like to see and enjoy Santorini, so will be planning a specific holiday there instead.
Just got back from Greece and Italy 14 day. Santorini was a bust because there were three cruise ships there. We had to sign up for tender boats and by the time we got to the port it was almost 5:00. The line for the cable car was so long, we were afraid we couldn’t get up and back before 7:30 return time. Lesson learned. Sign up for tenders quickly!
Wow, too bad for Santorini
Great! Going in October. Getting excited. Arriving on the 11th cruising on the 13th
cruising
We were on a Lisbon to Rome cruise in the Mediterranean at the very same time as you on NCL! Just back last night. A large number of people got a chest cold and were coughing in every ship venue. I took a Covid test last night and it was positive! So beware-cruising/Covid is still a thing with new variants.
Also-you need a copy or picture of your passport at the shop to get the VAT refund. Lastly-the heat was quite brutal plus the tourist areas very packed so I wouldn’t do it again this time of year.
I would never go in the summer. Just saying. YOu are right: it's horrible!
Covid is indeed alive and kicking. People in my office are "coughing" and have fevers...here we go again!
You all are talking about this like it’s news.
C19 is still around and [never left] just like the flu and the common cold.🙄
My friend got off the NCL Getaway this past weekend in Rome..she had to be quarantined for 7 days on the ship with Covid and pneumonia!!
@@ladydi8376 oh no! The Norwegian Getaway was our ship, too!
I must agree with you about the chores! We did a 25 day around the Mediterranean cruise a few years ago, and during it we had seven days on the trot when we had tours that required us leaving the ship at some ungodly time in the morning! We could have cancelled one or two of the tours, but we weren’t sure we will ever return to those places and wanted to see the sights, but boy it was exhausting! Many of us were thrilled when we had a sea day after that seventh, on the trot, touring day! If I had it to do again, I would definitely choose an afternoon tour or do something privately on one or two days. It was a fantastic cruise, all the same. Apologies for not warning you about the cost of water and toilets. In the UK, you may find you have to have some small coinage (20 or 50p) for public toilets, although some are free. Love the video!❤️
Lol thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for the info! We are doing a 10 day Mediterranean cruise in October!
Me too.
OMG taking a Virgin flight from Atlanta to Heathrow for our British Isle Cruise. They are treating us like totality and we haven’t even taken off. They partner with delta. ❤
I came back from cruise yesterday and was trying to do tax refund in Barcelona Airport. Cruise reps prepared all papers on the cruise and it supposed to be easy process but they asked in Barcelona to show all items that I am claiming a refund for. If I knew that, I would have packed all in one suitcase but since my new stuff was all over different suitcases I decided not to waste time for opening all suitcases and search for my purchases.
I should have mentioned we were told to have our items accessible in case we were asked to show
Thank you! I do intend to take a Med cruise and so really appreciate the tips, most of which I'd not have thought of!
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to taking a Mediterranean Cruise next year. 😊
I’m going my first Mediterranean cruise next month from and to Genoa, Italy with MSC. I hope I won’t have problem with my check in luggage. Leave on the 8th from SFO and arriving Genoa on the 9th and embark on the 10th. I’m crossing my fingers and praying that it won’t have a hiccup.