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I understand this is a little older video, but do you mind sharing the Ephesus excursion you booked? I'll be there in May and am researching options there...
My tip is to take your swimming costume in your hand bag on embarkation day - that way you can be in the pool on day one while most others are waiting for their cases to be delivered to their cabin
If visiting Rome and you want to go to the Vatican Museums then ALWAYS book in advance. The queue for a turn-up ticket can be 2+ hours long and then there are 4 miles of museum to get through after that! Booking on line is easy and so worth it - just make sure you book with the Musei Vaticani's own site not one of the many tout sites selling at inflated prices.
I'm going on the Regal Princess in Sept. It is the Cruise tour. We will fly to Venice , tour for 2 days , Florence for 2 days, then meet the ship in Rome .
Doing our first Med cruise on Regal Princess next year. 14-day sailing from Athens to Rome, we can't wait! Very happy to see this guide, and even happier to see that I had made the right call in both booking our flight to arrive 2 days before sail date and in getting open dining rather than early/late. And between my family members, we'll have at least one person who speaks either Italian, French, and/or Spanish at a basic level. Do please make more videos with Mediterranean tips! Will definitely appreciate whatever you can advise!
In Rome and most Italian cities, the Italians leave for their summer holiday at the beach to escape the heat. The best restaurants are often closed during this time. If you are traveling to Italy during the summer, you will be amongst mostly tourists.
For those who asked for tips, here are mine. If you are docking close to a city you want to explore, there is usually a cheap or free public shuttle that can take you in to town, so it's worth confirming through an on-line source. European trains are generally excellent and affordable, and can be a great alternative to an excursion, such as visiting Pisa and Lucca when docked in Livorno. If the destination is only accessible by car/bus, or it's far away, or both, go with the ship's excursion. There are too many things that can go wrong! Alhambra, for instance...our bus broke down on the way back, and it's true, the ship will wait for you if you're on a ship excursion. (We were something like an hour late) Watch for pickpockets in crowds, of course. (I have a pacsafe purse that I wear cross-body.) I used the Collins easy learning series to pick up enough Italian to get directions, and even a few words in Greek...the locals really seemed to appreciate my attempts. Italians are super friendly and helpful...the only issue is, so much so that they will give you directions and answer questions...even if they don't really know the answer! LOL! So keep double checking that you are on the right path For Northern African and Turkish destinations, don't be friendly and polite with strangers who approach you (no matter how Canadian you are). I have stories...one of which concludes with us 100 euros poorer for the "tour." Also, an offer of apple tea is the prelude for a pretty intense sales pitch. :) Oh, and cobblestones can be hard walking if you aren't used to them...I recommend footwear with thick soles and enough straps to make sure your foot won't slide around.
Really EXCELLENT review. #1 Tip is definitely to arrive 1-2 days ahead of the cruise. When we did our Med cruise several years ago, we flew into Rome the day of the cruise. We arrived around 7:30 a.m. Rome time, and SAT in the the airport waiting for the Cruise bus for 8 hours. They never told us that the 1st bus broke down and that the replacement would be hours. Not only did we NOT see Rome, but we sat for hours in the freaking airport and totally wasted the day. The other tip would be to hire local guides on your own and get out and off early....don't wait for the cruise busses and cruise crowds to slow down your day. Also, often with private tour guides, the cost can actually be less...the cruises really do mark UP their arranged tours and it's a huge profit $$ center for them. And you're 100% correct as well,....never book early dining and DO eat local. Embrace and enjoy the people, food and culture. We enjoyed pizza and COKE from a little hole in the wall kitchen in Florence which only served carry out through a small window....and Gelato from another shop while walking the street....SIMPLY incredible day and memory.. Planning 3 more Mediterranean area cruises over the next 5 years, and Italy will be included again in 2 of the. Spain and Portugal is the 3rd. GREAT JOB on the review. Really enjoyed you. B
We live in Europe & still arrive 2 days before & stay 2-3 days after. Don’t even think that you can visit cities like Barcelona , Rome etc in just a few hours. Plan your trip. I would visit top 2-3 pluses ( remember these cities are full with tourist all around the year & there is a queue almost everywhere) . Enjoy the cafeterias & just walking around instead of making yourself crazy & running around & gud forbid miss ur cruise!:( Be careful with hop on hop off … Hop off in good time. Some cities like Barcelona they take you all the way around the city & you end up in mountains. Very beautiful but think twice!!!! Hop off in good time!
I would love it if you would do some more Mediterranean cruise videos! My tip would be to do your research on each port, and book a reputable tour agency that guarantees return to the ship on time or has an excellent review on the cruise critic forums board. You can honestly have a private tour of things you want to do, for the same price as two people on a cruise ship excursion. Time is precious on your port days in the Mediterranean.
I think we all have to remember if you're flying for 6 to 10 hours to get anywhere to board a cruise ship you should go two to three days ahead of time. So this would even include East Coast North America heading to any place on the west coast of North America, or Hawaii etc. Us East Coast North Americans travel so much from ports along the east coast that we forget sometimes how difficult it is when we have to fly somewhere different to join a cruise ship. I know people in Seattle, Washington that flew to Miami only one day ahead of time, and they were exhausted that first day on the ship. This was a great video. Thank you ever so much
On our last trip, my wife was able to use her Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. a great trip for her. and for me since I didn’t need to talk at all, ( although I did speak some Spanish )
My 2 sisters, niece, Mom and I did a similar cruise as yours. We did some of those same mistakes but still had a great trip. We got lost in Florence and like you said we couldn't find anyone to understand us. We finally found a utility guy that helped us.
Hi Ilana, I think Med/ Euro cruise tips should include the fact that many of the cities listed in the itinerary are not really close to the actual port/ dock. This advice could factor in whether or not to book excursions if the destination is a 3 hour round trip commute for example.. Thanks for the video!
The best thing we did was book a private tour of Rome. It was fabulous the guide was so knowledgeable and on cost around $75.00 more then a group. She got round the city at the right and where to sit to see the best view of the Sistine chapel ceiling. Also went to more place then bus tour because os smaller vehicle. The on and off buses are great, highly recommend.
Thanks for the vid! Informative! We are heading for our 1st Med cruise next June (2023) out of Barcelona. I enjoy the many other comments and recommendations posted to this video. Thanks to all!
Would you consider doing a "What to Wear" video for the Mediterranean cruises, especially ones where you go on excursions? That's always the hardest part for me when traveling overseas.
@@DanielDickin - Thank you! My travel wardrobe definitely tends to be comfy and conservative. I guess my biggest questions would be about appropriate colors and styles of clothing. I love patterned and vibrant (but not obnoxious) clothing with colors like burgundy, mustard and turquoise. I just don't want to be "that American tourist".
@@kissofshadows21 I learned shorts were for little girls and not as popular with women, wearing sneakers are sometimes seen as an American tourist giveaway as well as fanny packs. Try to carry a smaller bag versus a larger tote especially in Rome. Many sites don't allow them or require a more in depth security process.
Ilana, what was the excursion you took in Kusadasi. We’re going on a Mediterranean cruise in the fall and want to see Ephesus. I’m looking for a smaller one than the cruise line offers. Thanks
We just got back from a Med tour and cannot agree more with your tips. One other tip I would like to share that goes along with your "learning a few key phrases." Whether on the ship or on the tour, ask the person serving you how to say "Thank you" in their language. Then practice, practice, practice. Write it down. They light up when you ask, then light up again each time you say it.
Great video! I’m on a Med cruise now and I’ve already made a couple of these mistakes. I could’ve used an extra day in Rome, and I did get caught up in a factory tour (though I did get some nice soaps out of it). An additional mistake for me was not fully appreciating the weather. Didn’t quite pack enough cooler weather gear.
We leave in just over 2 weeks on a 12 day Barcelona to Rome cruise. Ok, I know pass-able Spanish, which will help, a bit, with Italian. But French? Almost zero, and we have a day in Niece and one in Marseilles. I've watched SO many of your awesome videos, I wish I had come across this one earlier! I will take the time to sit and enjoy meals in every port. Florence is the one bringing me the most excitement!
We did a Mediterranean cruise in 2019 and absolutely loved it but we really went hard on the excursion’s. Happy to go back in the future at a more leisurely pace.
My daughter & I did a meditteranean cruise back in June 2018 & LOVED it!! Lol i laughed when u mentioned the food in florence & the gelato:) I think we had 4 gelato in one afternoon while walking around Rome lol! Omg I would go back in a heartbeat!!!
Hi would it be possible for you to share the tour that you did in Ephesus, Turkey please if you can and if they are still available we will be traveling next year 2024. Thank you
TIP: RESTROOMS- I use them a lot. 🤣 In Europe, you usually have to pay 1 to 2 Euros, have money. Some have coin slot, some have attendant. Stores also charge or free w purchase but they usually ask for minimum of 5 Euro purchase. They are usually very clean.
Thanks for the great advice. The Med is high on our bucket list and was one of the cruises cancelled by the pandemic. We've rebooked a longer version for 23. Can't wait.
We too decided to book our Med cruise for 2023 instead of 2022 anticipating a new state of normalcy post-covid. Departing from Barcelona, Arriving in Rome. One full week in Spain, our 7 night Celebrity Edge cruise, followed by 10 days in Italy. Ilana's videos are so extremely informative that I've subscribed to her You Tube channel !!
my husband and I were stationed in Europe for 2.6 years, before we were stationed there the Army had us go to classes to learn their language to get around easier. Yes Italians are like Hispanics in Mexico ( where I live 15 miles from Mexico) they close their shops for a siesta and lunch
As part of our planning process, we look at the ship excursions. We rarely take them, but it gives us a place to start our research. And I agree to learn at least a few words in the local language, it really helps!
Going next year. It was interesting to hear your perspective on cruising in Mediterranean ports. It’s easy to forget that for some non Europeans local customs may not be so easily understood or known about.
Would love to hear about different ports in the Med. We’ll be in Italy, Greece, Montenegro, Turkey, and disembarking in Barcelona next May. It’s a port-heavy itinerary and we’re already planning on just staying on the ship in a couple of places. We’ve made the mistake of trying to do it all and it’s just not worth getting that tired.
California Linda shares make your reservations NOW, yes NOW if you want to visit the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I would recommend the inside tower tour...the views magnificent as you progress down into the sanctuary. My favorite port was Mykonos, plan to spend time walking to the windmills, dipping your feet in the water, enjoy wandering about the white streets, shops and enjoy the food. In Montenegro the Blue Hole may not be accessible depending upon the tides and waves. It's a walking town, skip the excursion and enjoy walking across the bridge into the Old Fort. Have a great cruise....I could go on and on and ....
We are going on the same cruise on 5/7! We cant wait but we are getting nervous about all of the covid biz. How do we find out what the ports are requiring?
Be sure to pack a light rainproof jacket you can stuff in your bag or a small umbrella, its not always hot weather and there can be rain. Also, be sure to visit Las Ramblas in Barcelona, which is a great long shopping street with many bars, restaurants and little unusual shops ... BUT watch out for pick-pockets. The area is notorious for them. Don't keep your money in a back pack - a money belt is a good idea. I speak from experience. Don't let it stop you going though, its a wonderful city.
We went one day early in Barcelona and was able to go see La Segrada Familia and the gothic quarter and walked up and down Las Ramblas and stayed 3 extra days in Venice. If you’re going to spend the money and time to go across the pond, please do your research and know what to wear and how to act. Doing research on hotels to stay and pinning it on the map as well as all the places you want to visit is part of the fun.
One extra thing about food, for anyone with specific food allergies or dietary needs. Do some research online before visiting the ports to find allergy or special need friendly locations. As a vegetarian with Celiac I did lots of research before our cruise to Italy and discovered they are very accommodating for gluten free needs. I never had a problem eating in Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Venice or most parts of Sicily.
First time cruisers from Australia here… doing it in style in May 2023 in the Mediterranean from Rome through the Greek Islands with NCL. We’re a 40-ish aged couple travelling with our 10yo son (he’s excited about the basketball court on board… we’re excited about our drinks package 😂)… cannot wait! Any tips/hints/tricks welcomed (we are both well travelled but it’s a first for my boys to go to Europe… they’re gonna love it! Bring on the gelato/gelati & cannoli ❤)
Thank you, Ilana. I am a true Parisienne who has lived in the US for 4 decades and the 1st thing I tell ALL traveller's, know a few phrases in the language you are going to visit. It is respectful and it really does motivate most to convert to the English language. Don't be that tourist. As for the food and coffees overseas, oh my. Delish!! Merci pour tous, Gross bis!
Merci Virginie!! I have to tell you, living in Quebec, I thought I knew what a croissant tasted like. But no, the croissants in France were so rich and decadent & delicious. I could not have imagined how good and fresh the food is in Europe. Thanks for watching & sharing:)
Amazing this popped up for Mediterranean cruises. I am waiting for my travel agent to call me back for a Mediterranean cruise that we want to take. Please keep any tips coming
Thank you for the great info. My wife and I are cruising the Mediterranean out of Rome to the Greek Isles for our 30th anniversary. We want it to be a great experience and your content seems so helpful. We are in Rome a day before embarkment, but we are lucky that the first day is at sea heading toward Santorini. A day to relax and get acclimated to the time change. Thanks again!
We are taking a Greek Isles cruise in September. I was surprised to learn even though Royal Caribbean says the port is Venice, it's actually at least an hour away. We are flying in five days early to Rome and then making our way to the port. I'm nervous, but excited for our adventure.
We're going on a Mediterranean cruise in 2022! We were forced to rebook due to the pandemic, so it feels as if we've been planning this for decades. I can't wait to travel again! I'd love to hear any travel tips you might have for the area.
Agree with finding a place to eat at your destination. We purchased a private tour in Malta, and even enjoyed lunch with our tour guide at one of her favorite restaurants right on the Marina in Valletta.
Perfect timing. We leave soon for a TransAtlantic crossing from Rome to Miami. Heading in three days pre-cruise. Been studying up on my Italian and I have a translator app on my phone. We booked most excursions thru the ship because we were not sure if we would be allowed to explore on our own in today’s climate. Soooo excited. Thanks for all your tips to help us prep.
A Mediterranean cruise is in our future (2023). Yes, please expand on your first-hand experiences with another video. We speak French and Spanish but would like to know more about local social customs, etiquette dos and don'ts, dress codes, etc. Great informational video as always.
If you haven't already gone on your european/mediterranean cruise, I can give you a few pointers on dress codes etc. If you're from north america, then don't bring clunky running shoes, tshirts with sports teams splatter all over it, and definitely don't wear baseball hats. Everybody will know where you're from. Also, don't wear workout clothes in the streets, people dress up when they're out or at least acceptable types of clothing. I travel lots of places around the world, and I can spot somebody from the USA/CANADA easily. They all look the same. Sports jersey, socks with sandals, safari hats, baseball hats, knee high shorts, etc. Most people that live there will be wearing dresses, long pants with slim line tennis shoes and other casual walking shoes. You won't see people in hair rollers and pajamas outside of their house😁 If you see anyone there dressed as I described above, they are tourists from the UK, USA, CANADA and AUSTRIALIA generally, and a few other countries too.
Also when visiting Italy and Spain, famous churches will not allow visitors in with shoulders bare or too skimpy of clothing. At least this is how it was when I visited 15 years ago. Bring a light sweater and wear pants if it’s comfortable
We like to be semi-independent if we can when we travel. There are a lot of websites that give step-by-step info for walking tours in Europe. Rick Steves book helped me get a feel for some of the larger cities, ahead of time, that we visited a few years ago. Thanks for the great video!
Hi Ilana, thank you again for another fabulous video. My girlfriend and I will be taking our first Mediterranean cruise next month on the New Sun Princess and are really excited. These tops will surely prove to be very helpful, as always.
This was great. We are going on a 14 day Mediterranean cruise in June-July although we have done some med before. I totally agree on the HOHO busses for many cities. In Barcelona there are the City Passes which include unlimited transit and discounts on attractions. The couple of days before and after suggestion applies to every start and end port in a new city. We spent 3 days pre-cruise in Barcelona and it wasn't enough. Same goes for Orlando/Port Canaveral (Disney, Universal, Kennedy Space Center), Miami, LA, Southampton, Honolulu, Sydney, etc. If you are going there make the most of it!
Don, we are planning a Med cruise with Royal. I'm wondering about the HOHO buses. Do you get the tickets at the hotel, do they need to be purchased with local currency etc? Thankyou
@@boysrus61 I usually get tickets from Viator but in Villefrance we were winging it and we bought tickets from a kiosk at the port. In Naples, and other places we used our vouchers directly on the first bus. Not sure about Las Palmas the vouchers to ticket exchange was at the port. Terms vary with each company and city, for example, in Honolulu we bought "tickets" online but they require us to take an Uber etc. to Waikiki to exchange our vouchers for tickets.
Great vlogg. Re excursions - we never book a cruise excursion in a port. They are overcrowded and about double the cost. The only reasons to book a cruise excursion would be if you have sea days afterwards and are nervous about getting back to the ship on time or you are in a "very" foreign country and you are nervouse about being ripped off. If the next day is a port in the same country then at worst, you can get a train to the next port if you miss the boat. I must say though, if you book a reputable tour company, they have a goal to ensure you are back on time. One negative review about missing the boat could destroy that company. We will be going on a 21 day med cruise in Sept 2023 and am interested in any tips
Thanks for this! We are planning a Mediterranean cruise at the end of June, 2023 for our 30th anniversary! We have never done this type of cruise before, and are really excited! I told my husband beforehand I did not want to fly all the way to,Barcelona, then take the cruise the next day. Sounds totally exhausting. So, we plan on staying at least 3 nights beforehand and 2 or 3 nights after the cruise We plane on a 10 night cruise. What I like about it, is there are NO days out to sea, and the ports will be throughout Spain, South of France , and Italy. But, sounds exhausting as well, lol. That’s why I want to stay a few days after the cruise. My husband is Hispanic, & also knows some French. so I guess this is good, for getting around at some places. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. I don’t know what to expect, lol. The cruise line we are looking at is Norwegian Epic. Have never been on that ship either
My wife and I are celebration 45 years with a Spain, France, Italy cruise on Celebrity in '24. Similar comments. I'll keep looking for more videos to learn from. I hope Illana has some. Good advice on the 2 days prior for sure.
Hi Illana i am glad you mentioned the travel to your cruise. A friend and i went on a South American/Cape Horn cruise early in 2020 We did travel to Chile 2 days ahead of the the cruise, it was the best thing to do. I was so exhausted from the 11 hour flight. The other nice thing is we did eat the local food and wow you cannot go wrong, yummy, especially Argentinian beef. Yes also knowing the specific details of your cruise excursion is a must. One excursion was 5 hours but travel time was 3 hours, by bus, so i elected to take the speed boat tour, it was more expensive but it got you to the same place but faster. Your tips for the new cruiser/ new destination is great
make sure you budget for excursions whether with ship or third party. please book trains museum palace tickets Well in advance like three months or more for uffizi vatican cordoba alcazar sevilla rijksmuseum etc. first two days you are tired third day explore that departure city , explore final city in depth leave two three days after.
Going on a Mediterranean Cruise in May and would love your recommendations. We are visiting Santorini, Athens, Florence, Corfu, Mykonos, Salerno, Catania, and Argastoli. Trying to pick the right excursion vs walking around and exploring on our own.
We are going on the same cruise! In May 2023. I’ve been looking as much information as I can about the ship and what each port looking like and the best excursions! If you have recommendations! I’d love to hear them.
California Linda shares that speaking Spanish and German helped to enhance our Mediterranean cruise as we felt more independent to venture outside of the ship's excursions. Before embarkation we spent six weeks in Germany and Austria, using the Deutsch Bahn after enjoying Barcelona. Be sure to thoroughly check out all private vendors as Ilana shared, we took a private tour in Sicily and the tour guide wanted to show us the sunset, we barely made it back to the ship, so thankful that two Princess tour buses were delayed. Never again on foreign soil will we consider an independent all day tour, half-day maybe if it was in the morning. I do not like being a pier runner 😥 🏃♀️🏃♂️
I could not agree more regarding the European coffee and gelato, DIVINE!! The other mistake I’d add to your list is taking a European cruise in the hot summer months. If you can, go in the spring or fall. We went in August and the heat was relentless 🔥🔥
I actually though Croatia had the BEST gelato, even better than Italy. Those countries were sort of one of the same back in the day, so that's probably why their ice cream is so good. But, Croatia was the best of all the countries I visited. And I at that ice cream for 2 months! 😋🍧🍧🍨🍨🍦🍦
I've watched a lot of videos on TH-cam regarding tips and tricks of cruising, and I'm usually very critical of them. But I have to say your tips and suggestions are spot on. And also, one thing that sets your video apart is the fact you straight up stated to future cruisers to learn the local language at least the greetings. Many other cruise channels don't mention this and lead their viewers to think that the world circles around anyone who is an english speaker. It shows ignorance and superiority. I always learn the basic phrases when traveling regardless if I'm on a cruise or not. The only time I have ever taken advantage of cruise excursion, or any other paid land tour is for safety of because of the distance. Otherwise, I do all my city self-tours alone. I've been to the Mediterranean but not on a cruise there, as I have several cruises booked for this year there and that's why I was checking out your video. Thank you👍👍
If you're visiting Italy, remember that the shops are closed on Sundays and on Monday mornings (on Monday supermarkets may be open, but that's about it). Re. the hop on hop off buses - I've never seen any with a sun roof like in the video: the ones I've seen were completely uncovered (and Barcelona last August was no joke - I've never felt that hot, and I live in the Mediterranean). Before booking I'd ask to see a picture of the buses, or even find youtube vids of some of these tours. Also, never think you're savvy and can't get ripped off - I lost that illusion in Ibiza, when we booked a simple shuttle bus to what we were promised was the centre of town, and were dropped off at a bus stop half a mile away (at 1pm! on a day when it was 100F!). If I'd taken a taxi it would have been cheaper and we would have been actually in the town centre. And that goes to my next point: when booking, look at the times. In the Mediterranean, in summer, you want to be starting excursions early in the morning, not later than ten. In Barcelona, for example, there's already an endless walk from the ship to the actual terminal - I remember meeting a couple who were turning back, because they couldn't handle the heat. Of course, the best time to go on a Med cruise is autumn and winter - but being a teacher I can't choose my vacation times!
loved the new video.. same thing happened to us in Barcelona, saw nothing of the city.. Italy was packed usually 6 to 8 ships in each port, lots of people at the tourist stops... we had the second best lunch off the ship in Rome, wife loves seafood and had the best lunch. loved the cruise, would do again.
Have done both Monaco to Rome and Athens to Venice. 3 couples on Athens cruise were delayed 2 days in travel. Then their luggage didn't arrive! The farther you go, the more time you need to plan for delays.
To add to your excursion watchouts, if it says see, it is a drive by. If it says visit then you are stopping . My wife and I have been on a lot of motor coach tours and have learned to read what is being offered very closely. Going on a trans Atlantic next Nov from Spain and then back for a eastern Med cruise for Christmas and New Years out of Greese on a small ship Greek line
I loved the tips, thank you for sharing! I would love any tips and advise! My friends and I are going to Italy, Greece & Turkey on a 10 day cruise in September 2024. This will be the 1st time for all of us in the region. We are Americans and would love to hear about your perspective. We don’t want to be the typical pushy, loud, entitled Americans! We want to experience these cultures and at the same time be respectful of it.
Thanks for these tips! I live in Ottawa and my husband and I will be doing a Mediterranean cruise this May. You mentioned a translation app. I can’t find the link. Thanks!
How about phone service while not on the ship? Is it necessary to get an international access thru Verizon ($100 per person) or not? How do you get the information you have for airline /hotels/ tours etc. while you are not on the ship?
I decided to do land tours instead in the Mediterranean. The culture is so rich there, a one day stop won’t be enough. I said to my wife, let’s spend a week on Santorini or two weeks touring Italy or Spain. Attempting to speak the local language goes over very well.
Sorry but we have had too many ports ruined by using the “Hop on Hop off” tours. They sound much better than they actually are. Someone may have enjoyed them but we were burned more than once so they are no longer what we consider a good option. Have actually had better results looking into local transit options.
When flying to Mediterranean cities prio to embarking on a cruise, note any holidays. For example flying in to Rome. I would normally go a few days earlier, however I'm going on a cruise in 2024 that departs the weekend of Easter. NO!!! Waaaaaay to many people. Hotels are more expensive also. So in this case I will be seeing Rome a couple days after the cruise.
Oct 2023 11 night Med Cruise from Marsielle France on Norwegian Epic. Flying from LAX. Any thoughts other than the bathroom location issues I've seen on TH-cam.
We are taking a Mediterranean cruise this coming April. We took your advice and booked a hotel in Barcelona for two nights prior to get acclimated. We are trying (not successfully so far) to learn some basic language skills for each area we will be visiting. Thanks for the tips!
We will be doing the same next April. Did you decide to stay in Barcelona or get your hotel out by the cruise port? Seems like the port area is also a very good area to site see. Let me know. What hotel did you choose?
Great comments! Thank you. We are going on a 28 day Mediterranean cruise with 22 ports. We have been to several of the ports and are gladly returning. However, your points will help with the ports we have not been too!
Thank you for this video. We are going on 2 Europe cruises in May 2022. First round trip from Rome going down to Greece and Turkey. Stay 4 days in Rome
Meals takes longer in Europe. Plan for at least 2 hours per meal. Juices and coffee are amazing and incomparable to the US! We personally like to get off the ship as early as possible. Often, shops are not open yet but the streets are empty and a perfect way to soak everything in before the crowds show up. Taxis are always stressful and they often try to get you to agree to use them as a personal tour guide for the day for one flat fee 🤬.
We're taking a transatlantic Cruise in the spring of 2023. Several stops in portugal, several stops in Spain, there is a stop in France and multiple stops in Italy. Would certainly like more of your perspective on a Mediterranean cruise.
What I would say as a fairly well travelled person in the UK, is the Med is a different culture altogether from the USA and also the UK! Yes, English is not spoken as much; you will find in most of Scandinavia and the Nordic countries (where I have been many times due to having Scandi inlaws) that by comparison, most people speak English as a second language, and speak it flawlessly too! In the Canary Islands, it helps to have a little Spanish, but you can usually get by. In respect of cruising in the Canary Islands, you don't even need to get a bus from the port to the nearest town in 95% of places, you can simply walk into the town, which is usually only a few minutes away, and you would miss a lot by going by bus. We have done a few cruises and only ever done one excursion, as we enjoy finding things ourselves and just exploring, not necessary seeing all the appointed "sights" but rather soaking in the atmosphere. Sitting in a square with a drink, watching the world go by, is far more preferable to us.
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I understand this is a little older video, but do you mind sharing the Ephesus excursion you booked? I'll be there in May and am researching options there...
My tip is to take your swimming costume in your hand bag on embarkation day - that way you can be in the pool on day one while most others are waiting for their cases to be delivered to their cabin
Or just put it on under your PANTS!
If visiting Rome and you want to go to the Vatican Museums then ALWAYS book in advance. The queue for a turn-up ticket can be 2+ hours long and then there are 4 miles of museum to get through after that! Booking on line is easy and so worth it - just make sure you book with the Musei Vaticani's own site not one of the many tout sites selling at inflated prices.
Thanks for sharing this tip!! Yes so important
Can you do a segment on hotels to stay at the night before cruising and how to get to port the morning of cruise day please.
Do you have a video with excursion suggestions for the western Mediterranean particularly Genoa Italy and Provence/Toulon France?
Have you been on a Mediterranean cruise or are you planning to?
We are planning a 17 day trip out of Barcelona the end of May 2022. This will be my first trip to Europe, so I'm getting pretty excited!
I'm going on the Regal Princess in Sept. It is the Cruise tour. We will fly to Venice , tour for 2 days , Florence for 2 days, then meet the ship in Rome .
To Italy in April!
Planning on Med cruise September 2022
Doing our first Med cruise on Regal Princess next year. 14-day sailing from Athens to Rome, we can't wait! Very happy to see this guide, and even happier to see that I had made the right call in both booking our flight to arrive 2 days before sail date and in getting open dining rather than early/late. And between my family members, we'll have at least one person who speaks either Italian, French, and/or Spanish at a basic level.
Do please make more videos with Mediterranean tips! Will definitely appreciate whatever you can advise!
In Rome and most Italian cities, the Italians leave for their summer holiday at the beach to escape the heat. The best restaurants are often closed during this time. If you are traveling to Italy during the summer, you will be amongst mostly tourists.
For those who asked for tips, here are mine. If you are docking close to a city you want to explore, there is usually a cheap or free public shuttle that can take you in to town, so it's worth confirming through an on-line source. European trains are generally excellent and affordable, and can be a great alternative to an excursion, such as visiting Pisa and Lucca when docked in Livorno. If the destination is only accessible by car/bus, or it's far away, or both, go with the ship's excursion. There are too many things that can go wrong! Alhambra, for instance...our bus broke down on the way back, and it's true, the ship will wait for you if you're on a ship excursion. (We were something like an hour late) Watch for pickpockets in crowds, of course. (I have a pacsafe purse that I wear cross-body.) I used the Collins easy learning series to pick up enough Italian to get directions, and even a few words in Greek...the locals really seemed to appreciate my attempts. Italians are super friendly and helpful...the only issue is, so much so that they will give you directions and answer questions...even if they don't really know the answer! LOL! So keep double checking that you are on the right path For Northern African and Turkish destinations, don't be friendly and polite with strangers who approach you (no matter how Canadian you are). I have stories...one of which concludes with us 100 euros poorer for the "tour." Also, an offer of apple tea is the prelude for a pretty intense sales pitch. :) Oh, and cobblestones can be hard walking if you aren't used to them...I recommend footwear with thick soles and enough straps to make sure your foot won't slide around.
Really EXCELLENT review. #1 Tip is definitely to arrive 1-2 days ahead of the cruise. When we did our Med cruise several years ago, we flew into Rome the day of the cruise. We arrived around 7:30 a.m. Rome time, and SAT in the the airport waiting for the Cruise bus for 8 hours. They never told us that the 1st bus broke down and that the replacement would be hours. Not only did we NOT see Rome, but we sat for hours in the freaking airport and totally wasted the day. The other tip would be to hire local guides on your own and get out and off early....don't wait for the cruise busses and cruise crowds to slow down your day. Also, often with private tour guides, the cost can actually be less...the cruises really do mark UP their arranged tours and it's a huge profit $$ center for them. And you're 100% correct as well,....never book early dining and DO eat local. Embrace and enjoy the people, food and culture. We enjoyed pizza and COKE from a little hole in the wall kitchen in Florence which only served carry out through a small window....and Gelato from another shop while walking the street....SIMPLY incredible day and memory.. Planning 3 more Mediterranean area cruises over the next 5 years, and Italy will be included again in 2 of the. Spain and Portugal is the 3rd. GREAT JOB on the review. Really enjoyed you. B
We live in Europe & still arrive 2 days before & stay 2-3 days after.
Don’t even think that you can visit cities like Barcelona , Rome etc in just a few hours. Plan your trip. I would visit top 2-3 pluses ( remember these cities are full with tourist all around the year & there is a queue almost everywhere) . Enjoy the cafeterias & just walking around instead of making yourself crazy & running around & gud forbid miss ur cruise!:(
Be careful with hop on hop off … Hop off in good time. Some cities like Barcelona they take you all the way around the city & you end up in mountains. Very beautiful but think twice!!!! Hop off in good time!
Great advice Leyla
We went on a Med cruise years ago. Spent 3 days in Barcelona sightseeing and would definitely recommend it. Wonderful city.
Great idea! Well worth it 👌
I’d love more tips for Mediterranean cruising
May want to factor bus times to get from certain ports to actual cities and also tender times.
Very true! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your advice. We followed it on our recent Greek cruise and the extra day was a LIFE SAVER when our luggage got lost.
I would love it if you would do some more Mediterranean cruise videos!
My tip would be to do your research on each port, and book a reputable tour agency that guarantees return to the ship on time or has an excellent review on the cruise critic forums board. You can honestly have a private tour of things you want to do, for the same price as two people on a cruise ship excursion. Time is precious on your port days in the Mediterranean.
Great tips Alison! I’ll make sure I do a Med video soon :)
I think we all have to remember if you're flying for 6 to 10 hours to get anywhere to board a cruise ship you should go two to three days ahead of time. So this would even include East Coast North America heading to any place on the west coast of North America, or Hawaii etc. Us East Coast North Americans travel so much from ports along the east coast that we forget sometimes how difficult it is when we have to fly somewhere different to join a cruise ship. I know people in Seattle, Washington that flew to Miami only one day ahead of time, and they were exhausted that first day on the ship.
This was a great video. Thank you ever so much
On our last trip, my wife was able to use her Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. a great trip for her. and for me since I didn’t need to talk at all, ( although I did speak some Spanish )
This is great!!
My 2 sisters, niece, Mom and I did a similar cruise as yours. We did some of those same mistakes but still had a great trip. We got lost in Florence and like you said we couldn't find anyone to understand us. We finally found a utility guy that helped us.
Oh gosh - I hear you!! Definitely still the best cruise ever 😉😂
Hi Ilana, I think Med/ Euro cruise tips should include the fact that many of the cities listed in the itinerary are not really close to the actual port/ dock. This advice could factor in whether or not to book excursions if the destination is a 3 hour round trip commute for example.. Thanks for the video!
Yes you’re right - great point
I agree! Great point!
My husband who has been to Italy twice actually informed me a lot of the cities are far from the port.
Wow is that the truth! When you take a cruise from Rome or have a shore excursion to Piza - those aren’t anywhere close :)
Oh wow really. Thx for sharing
We did three similar to this and you are right. Go in several days earlier and see Barcelona or your first day port and enjoy seeing the community.
Thanks Jacqueline :)
Thank you. This was very helpful. We are going in our first Mediterranean cruise in October of 2024.
We are going on our 1st Mediterranean cruise on Norwegian escape in October. What ship are you on?
@@jeanscialabba9025we are on the Vista with Oceania
Yay! I’m going on my 1st Mediterranean cruise in September. So exciting 🎉
The best thing we did was book a private tour of Rome. It was fabulous the guide was so knowledgeable and on cost around $75.00 more then a group. She got round the city at the right and where to sit to see the best view of the Sistine chapel ceiling. Also went to more place then bus tour because os smaller vehicle. The on and off buses are great, highly recommend.
Would you be able to share the private tour please.
@@robabramazani8019 This might be too late, but we also did a private tour with RomeLimoTours. It was great.
Thanks for the vid! Informative! We are heading for our 1st Med cruise next June (2023) out of Barcelona. I enjoy the many other comments and recommendations posted to this video. Thanks to all!
Would you consider doing a "What to Wear" video for the Mediterranean cruises, especially ones where you go on excursions? That's always the hardest part for me when traveling overseas.
Sure! Great idea!!
Cool, comfortable clothes; conservative (no knees or shoulders showing) for churches and formal settings
@@DanielDickin - Thank you! My travel wardrobe definitely tends to be comfy and conservative. I guess my biggest questions would be about appropriate colors and styles of clothing. I love patterned and vibrant (but not obnoxious) clothing with colors like burgundy, mustard and turquoise. I just don't want to be "that American tourist".
@@kissofshadows21 I learned shorts were for little girls and not as popular with women, wearing sneakers are sometimes seen as an American tourist giveaway as well as fanny packs. Try to carry a smaller bag versus a larger tote especially in Rome. Many sites don't allow them or require a more in depth security process.
Ilana, what was the excursion you took in Kusadasi. We’re going on a Mediterranean cruise in the fall and want to see Ephesus. I’m looking for a smaller one than the cruise line offers. Thanks
We just got back from a Med tour and cannot agree more with your tips. One other tip I would like to share that goes along with your "learning a few key phrases." Whether on the ship or on the tour, ask the person serving you how to say "Thank you" in their language. Then practice, practice, practice. Write it down. They light up when you ask, then light up again each time you say it.
Great video! I’m on a Med cruise now and I’ve already made a couple of these mistakes. I could’ve used an extra day in Rome, and I did get caught up in a factory tour (though I did get some nice soaps out of it). An additional mistake for me was not fully appreciating the weather. Didn’t quite pack enough cooler weather gear.
Lucky you!! Thanks for sharing your “mistakes” too, lol. Not all is obvious. Ooooh weather - hope you got an extra sweater or jacket during the trip
@@LifeWellCruised I bought a hoodie and vest in Santorini. The merchant was VERY happy, as the season was slow and is coming to an end.
@@zeek72358 Can I ask do I need to book excursions for Santorini or I can get taxi at the port?
We leave in just over 2 weeks on a 12 day Barcelona to Rome cruise. Ok, I know pass-able Spanish, which will help, a bit, with Italian. But French? Almost zero, and we have a day in Niece and one in Marseilles. I've watched SO many of your awesome videos, I wish I had come across this one earlier! I will take the time to sit and enjoy meals in every port. Florence is the one bringing me the most excitement!
Thank you ! For talking nice about my hometown city Barcelona Spain’s glad you liked
We did a Mediterranean cruise in 2019 and absolutely loved it but we really went hard on the excursion’s. Happy to go back in the future at a more leisurely pace.
I can totally understand. The excursions can be intense lol
My daughter & I did a meditteranean cruise back in June 2018 & LOVED it!! Lol i laughed when u mentioned the food in florence & the gelato:) I think we had 4 gelato in one afternoon while walking around Rome lol! Omg I would go back in a heartbeat!!!
Hi would it be possible for you to share the tour that you did in Ephesus, Turkey please if you can and if they are still available we will be traveling next year 2024. Thank you
Booked and ready to go to the Mediterranean this May 2023! Love your videos and I will keep reading comments to look for more great suggestions!
I am going on May 30th from Rome with my husband and my 17 year old. What day are you sailing?
Because of your video, we are flying in to Barcelona multiple days ahead of our cruise. Thank you.
TIP: RESTROOMS- I use them a lot. 🤣 In Europe, you usually have to pay 1 to 2 Euros, have money. Some have coin slot, some have attendant. Stores also charge or free w purchase but they usually ask for minimum of 5 Euro purchase. They are usually very clean.
Fantastic tip. Would never have thought of that! Thanks
@@kathyhiggins290 you are welcome.
Can you use credit card or american dollars or do you have to change over your money to use the restroom?
Just urinate in public
We are flying into Athens 3 days prior to our 28 day Med cruise so we can explore and not be totally exhausted.🚢
Thanks for the great advice. The Med is high on our bucket list and was one of the cruises cancelled by the pandemic. We've rebooked a longer version for 23. Can't wait.
That’s awesome!! Great cruise - worth the wait
We too decided to book our Med cruise for 2023 instead of 2022 anticipating a new state of normalcy post-covid. Departing from Barcelona, Arriving in Rome. One full week in Spain, our 7 night Celebrity Edge cruise, followed by 10 days in Italy. Ilana's videos are so extremely informative that I've subscribed to her You Tube channel !!
@@alandmarthaballon1747 which TH-cam channel is that?
my husband and I were stationed in Europe for 2.6 years, before we were stationed there the Army had us go to classes to learn their language to get around easier. Yes Italians are like Hispanics in Mexico ( where I live 15 miles from Mexico) they close their shops for a siesta and lunch
Thanks Priscilla. Lol I heard this but Ryder expect it 😂
As part of our planning process, we look at the ship excursions. We rarely take them, but it gives us a place to start our research. And I agree to learn at least a few words in the local language, it really helps!
Great idea! I often do this with excursions in the Caribbean too
We’re going tomorrow. Friken record heat wave. My advice don’t go in the summer.
Going next year. It was interesting to hear your perspective on cruising in Mediterranean ports. It’s easy to forget that for some non Europeans local customs may not be so easily understood or known about.
Thanks Hillary :)
Would love to hear about different ports in the Med. We’ll be in Italy, Greece, Montenegro, Turkey, and disembarking in Barcelona next May. It’s a port-heavy itinerary and we’re already planning on just staying on the ship in a couple of places. We’ve made the mistake of trying to do it all and it’s just not worth getting that tired.
California Linda shares make your reservations NOW, yes NOW if you want to visit the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I would recommend the inside tower tour...the views magnificent as you progress down into the sanctuary. My favorite port was Mykonos, plan to spend time walking to the windmills, dipping your feet in the water, enjoy wandering about the white streets, shops and enjoy the food. In Montenegro the Blue Hole may not be accessible depending upon the tides and waves. It's a walking town, skip the excursion and enjoy walking across the bridge into the Old Fort. Have a great cruise....I could go on and on and ....
That’s a good idea. Those long days touring can be really tiring
We are going on the same cruise on 5/7! We cant wait but we are getting nervous about all of the covid biz. How do we find out what the ports are requiring?
Be sure to pack a light rainproof jacket you can stuff in your bag or a small umbrella, its not always hot weather and there can be rain. Also, be sure to visit Las Ramblas in Barcelona, which is a great long shopping street with many bars, restaurants and little unusual shops ... BUT watch out for pick-pockets. The area is notorious for them. Don't keep your money in a back pack - a money belt is a good idea. I speak from experience. Don't let it stop you going though, its a wonderful city.
@@Warriorbox And it's very expensive in the bars. Better to get away from the tourist trap if you want to go to a restaurant.
We went one day early in Barcelona and was able to go see La Segrada Familia and the gothic quarter and walked up and down Las Ramblas and stayed 3 extra days in Venice. If you’re going to spend the money and time to go across the pond, please do your research and know what to wear and how to act. Doing research on hotels to stay and pinning it on the map as well as all the places you want to visit is part of the fun.
Please share the tour info on your trip to Ephesus, Turkey
One extra thing about food, for anyone with specific food allergies or dietary needs. Do some research online before visiting the ports to find allergy or special need friendly locations. As a vegetarian with Celiac I did lots of research before our cruise to Italy and discovered they are very accommodating for gluten free needs. I never had a problem eating in Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Venice or most parts of Sicily.
Great tip! Very important
This will be our 1st Mediterranean cruise. We also will fly in to Time 1 day in advance. Wish I'd seen your video sooner! Thanks for the tips!
First time cruisers from Australia here… doing it in style in May 2023 in the Mediterranean from Rome through the Greek Islands with NCL. We’re a 40-ish aged couple travelling with our 10yo son (he’s excited about the basketball court on board… we’re excited about our drinks package 😂)… cannot wait! Any tips/hints/tricks welcomed (we are both well travelled but it’s a first for my boys to go to Europe… they’re gonna love it! Bring on the gelato/gelati & cannoli ❤)
Ilana, I love your videos & emails!
Thank you, Ilana. I am a true Parisienne who has lived in the US for 4 decades and the 1st thing I tell ALL traveller's, know a few phrases in the language you are going to visit. It is respectful and it really does motivate most to convert to the English language. Don't be that tourist. As for the food and coffees overseas, oh my. Delish!! Merci pour tous, Gross bis!
Merci Virginie!! I have to tell you, living in Quebec, I thought I knew what a croissant tasted like. But no, the croissants in France were so rich and decadent & delicious. I could not have imagined how good and fresh the food is in Europe. Thanks for watching & sharing:)
Amazing this popped up for Mediterranean cruises. I am waiting for my travel agent to call me back for a Mediterranean cruise that we want to take. Please keep any tips coming
Thank you for the great info. My wife and I are cruising the Mediterranean out of Rome to the Greek Isles for our 30th anniversary. We want it to be a great experience and your content seems so helpful. We are in Rome a day before embarkment, but we are lucky that the first day is at sea heading toward Santorini. A day to relax and get acclimated to the time change. Thanks again!
We are taking a Greek Isles cruise in September. I was surprised to learn even though Royal Caribbean says the port is Venice, it's actually at least an hour away. We are flying in five days early to Rome and then making our way to the port. I'm nervous, but excited for our adventure.
We're going on a Mediterranean cruise in 2022! We were forced to rebook due to the pandemic, so it feels as if we've been planning this for decades. I can't wait to travel again! I'd love to hear any travel tips you might have for the area.
You’ll have such a wonderful time!! I’ll definitely share more tips in an upcoming video
Samzies!! High five!
The restaurants and shops close daily for a siesta
Agree with finding a place to eat at your destination. We purchased a private tour in Malta, and even enjoyed lunch with our tour guide at one of her favorite restaurants right on the Marina in Valletta.
Perfect timing. We leave soon for a TransAtlantic crossing from Rome to Miami. Heading in three days pre-cruise. Been studying up on my Italian and I have a translator app on my phone. We booked most excursions thru the ship because we were not sure if we would be allowed to explore on our own in today’s climate. Soooo excited. Thanks for all your tips to help us prep.
That’s awesome! I do agree right now booking cruise excursions is probably best to ensure you can actually get off and visit. Exciting cruise
A Mediterranean cruise is in our future (2023). Yes, please expand on your first-hand experiences with another video. We speak French and Spanish but would like to know more about local social customs, etiquette dos and don'ts, dress codes, etc. Great informational video as always.
Thanks for sharing your feedback!!
If you haven't already gone on your european/mediterranean cruise, I can give you a few pointers on dress codes etc. If you're from north america, then don't bring clunky running shoes, tshirts with sports teams splatter all over it, and definitely don't wear baseball hats. Everybody will know where you're from. Also, don't wear workout clothes in the streets, people dress up when they're out or at least acceptable types of clothing. I travel lots of places around the world, and I can spot somebody from the USA/CANADA easily. They all look the same. Sports jersey, socks with sandals, safari hats, baseball hats, knee high shorts, etc. Most people that live there will be wearing dresses, long pants with slim line tennis shoes and other casual walking shoes. You won't see people in hair rollers and pajamas outside of their house😁 If you see anyone there dressed as I described above, they are tourists from the UK, USA, CANADA and AUSTRIALIA generally, and a few other countries too.
@@GlobalAdventurer Thank you for the information on dressing for Europe.
Also when visiting Italy and Spain, famous churches will not allow visitors in with shoulders bare or too skimpy of clothing. At least this is how it was when I visited 15 years ago. Bring a light sweater and wear pants if it’s comfortable
We like to be semi-independent if we can when we travel. There are a lot of websites that give step-by-step info for walking tours in Europe. Rick Steves book helped me get a feel for some of the larger cities, ahead of time, that we visited a few years ago. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for sharing! You’re right, in particular I love Rick Steves. Great books, guides & videos
Hi Ilana, thank you again for another fabulous video.
My girlfriend and I will be taking our first Mediterranean cruise next month on the New Sun Princess and are really excited.
These tops will surely prove to be very helpful, as always.
This was great. We are going on a 14 day Mediterranean cruise in June-July although we have done some med before. I totally agree on the HOHO busses for many cities. In Barcelona there are the City Passes which include unlimited transit and discounts on attractions. The couple of days before and after suggestion applies to every start and end port in a new city. We spent 3 days pre-cruise in Barcelona and it wasn't enough. Same goes for Orlando/Port Canaveral (Disney, Universal, Kennedy Space Center), Miami, LA, Southampton, Honolulu, Sydney, etc. If you are going there make the most of it!
Great idea & you’re right, the embarkation city is worth visiting a bit more than we often do
Don, we are planning a Med cruise with Royal. I'm wondering about the HOHO buses. Do you get the tickets at the hotel, do they need to be purchased with local currency etc? Thankyou
@@boysrus61 I usually get tickets from Viator but in Villefrance we were winging it and we bought tickets from a kiosk at the port. In Naples, and other places we used our vouchers directly on the first bus. Not sure about Las Palmas the vouchers to ticket exchange was at the port. Terms vary with each company and city, for example, in Honolulu we bought "tickets" online but they require us to take an Uber etc. to Waikiki to exchange our vouchers for tickets.
Great vlogg. Re excursions - we never book a cruise excursion in a port. They are overcrowded and about double the cost. The only reasons to book a cruise excursion would be if you have sea days afterwards and are nervous about getting back to the ship on time or you are in a "very" foreign country and you are nervouse about being ripped off. If the next day is a port in the same country then at worst, you can get a train to the next port if you miss the boat. I must say though, if you book a reputable tour company, they have a goal to ensure you are back on time. One negative review about missing the boat could destroy that company.
We will be going on a 21 day med cruise in Sept 2023 and am interested in any tips
You’re so right, and it’s a great point about reputable tour companies
Thanks for this! We are planning a Mediterranean cruise at the end of June, 2023 for our 30th anniversary! We have never done this type of cruise before, and are really excited! I told my husband beforehand I did not want to fly all the way to,Barcelona, then take the cruise the next day. Sounds totally exhausting. So, we plan on staying at least 3 nights beforehand and 2 or 3 nights after the cruise We plane on a 10 night cruise. What I like about it, is there are NO days out to sea, and the ports will be throughout Spain, South of France , and Italy. But, sounds exhausting as well, lol. That’s why I want to stay a few days after the cruise. My husband is Hispanic, & also knows some French. so I guess this is good, for getting around at some places. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated. I don’t know what to expect, lol. The cruise line we are looking at is Norwegian Epic. Have never been on that ship either
sounds like the same cruise we booked for Sept 2023
My wife and I are celebration 45 years with a Spain, France, Italy cruise on Celebrity in '24. Similar comments. I'll keep looking for more videos to learn from. I hope Illana has some. Good advice on the 2 days prior for sure.
Hi Illana i am glad you mentioned the travel to your cruise. A friend and i went on a South American/Cape Horn cruise early in 2020 We did travel to Chile 2 days ahead of the the cruise, it was the best thing to do. I was so exhausted from the 11 hour flight. The other nice thing is we did eat the local food and wow you cannot go wrong, yummy, especially Argentinian beef. Yes also knowing the specific details of your cruise excursion is a must. One excursion was 5 hours but travel time was 3 hours, by bus, so i elected to take the speed boat tour, it was more expensive but it got you to the same place but faster. Your tips for the new cruiser/ new destination is great
Thanks so much for the feedback and for sharing your experience. How I want to go to Argentina 😉
@@LifeWellCruised Do so, great time there, we went to different cities and tasted different preparations of their beef dishes…You cannot go wrong
make sure you budget for excursions whether with ship or third party. please book trains museum palace tickets Well in advance like three months or more for uffizi vatican cordoba alcazar sevilla rijksmuseum etc. first two days you are tired third day explore that departure city , explore final city in depth leave two three days after.
Going on a Mediterranean Cruise in May and would love your recommendations. We are visiting Santorini, Athens, Florence, Corfu, Mykonos, Salerno, Catania, and Argastoli. Trying to pick the right excursion vs walking around and exploring on our own.
We are going on the same cruise! In May 2023. I’ve been looking as much information as I can about the ship and what each port looking like and the best excursions! If you have recommendations! I’d love to hear them.
California Linda shares that speaking Spanish and German helped to enhance our Mediterranean cruise as we felt more independent to venture outside of the ship's excursions. Before embarkation we spent six weeks in Germany and Austria, using the Deutsch Bahn after enjoying Barcelona. Be sure to thoroughly check out all private vendors as Ilana shared, we took a private tour in Sicily and the tour guide wanted to show us the sunset, we barely made it back to the ship, so thankful that two Princess tour buses were delayed. Never again on foreign soil will we consider an independent all day tour, half-day maybe if it was in the morning. I do not like being a pier runner 😥 🏃♀️🏃♂️
Oh my!! I definitely don’t like to cut it close either 😂
which tour company did you use to use in Kusadasi?
I could not agree more regarding the European coffee and gelato, DIVINE!! The other mistake I’d add to your list is taking a European cruise in the hot summer months. If you can, go in the spring or fall. We went in August and the heat was relentless 🔥🔥
I actually though Croatia had the BEST gelato, even better than Italy. Those countries were sort of one of the same back in the day, so that's probably why their ice cream is so good. But, Croatia was the best of all the countries I visited. And I at that ice cream for 2 months! 😋🍧🍧🍨🍨🍦🍦
I've watched a lot of videos on TH-cam regarding tips and tricks of cruising, and I'm usually very critical of them. But I have to say your tips and suggestions are spot on. And also, one thing that sets your video apart is the fact you straight up stated to future cruisers to learn the local language at least the greetings. Many other cruise channels don't mention this and lead their viewers to think that the world circles around anyone who is an english speaker. It shows ignorance and superiority. I always learn the basic phrases when traveling regardless if I'm on a cruise or not.
The only time I have ever taken advantage of cruise excursion, or any other paid land tour is for safety of because of the distance. Otherwise, I do all my city self-tours alone. I've been to the Mediterranean but not on a cruise there, as I have several cruises booked for this year there and that's why I was checking out your video.
Thank you👍👍
Would love to hear any more tips/thoughts on Mediterranean cruises. We were scheduled to to pre-pandemic, and will rebook in the future.
Thanks for the feedback Nancy. Definitely a great cruise to plan again
California Linda read my response to the other Nancy Reeves.
If you're visiting Italy, remember that the shops are closed on Sundays and on Monday mornings (on Monday supermarkets may be open, but that's about it).
Re. the hop on hop off buses - I've never seen any with a sun roof like in the video: the ones I've seen were completely uncovered (and Barcelona last August was no joke - I've never felt that hot, and I live in the Mediterranean). Before booking I'd ask to see a picture of the buses, or even find youtube vids of some of these tours.
Also, never think you're savvy and can't get ripped off - I lost that illusion in Ibiza, when we booked a simple shuttle bus to what we were promised was the centre of town, and were dropped off at a bus stop half a mile away (at 1pm! on a day when it was 100F!). If I'd taken a taxi it would have been cheaper and we would have been actually in the town centre.
And that goes to my next point: when booking, look at the times. In the Mediterranean, in summer, you want to be starting excursions early in the morning, not later than ten. In Barcelona, for example, there's already an endless walk from the ship to the actual terminal - I remember meeting a couple who were turning back, because they couldn't handle the heat.
Of course, the best time to go on a Med cruise is autumn and winter - but being a teacher I can't choose my vacation times!
loved the new video.. same thing happened to us in Barcelona, saw nothing of the city.. Italy was packed usually 6 to 8 ships in each port, lots of people at the tourist stops... we had the second best lunch off the ship in Rome, wife loves seafood and had the best lunch. loved the cruise, would do again.
Thanks Morey! That Rome lunch sounds fabulous
Have done both Monaco to Rome and Athens to Venice. 3 couples on Athens cruise were delayed 2 days in travel. Then their luggage didn't arrive! The farther you go, the more time you need to plan for delays.
Very true! Thanks for mentioning
To add to your excursion watchouts, if it says see, it is a drive by. If it says visit then you are stopping . My wife and I have been on a lot of motor coach tours and have learned to read what is being offered very closely. Going on a trans Atlantic next Nov from Spain and then back for a eastern Med cruise for Christmas and New Years out of Greese on a small ship Greek line
Such a great point. Definitely a watch out! Nice cruise you have coming up! 🎉
Which small ship
@@warrenwolf4690 Celestyal Crystal
I loved the tips, thank you for sharing! I would love any tips and advise! My friends and I are going to Italy, Greece & Turkey on a 10 day cruise in September 2024. This will be the 1st time for all of us in the region. We are Americans and would love to hear about your perspective. We don’t want to be the typical pushy, loud, entitled Americans! We want to experience these cultures and at the same time be respectful of it.
Planning on going for the first Mediterranean trip December next year. What Cruise would be the best to see Spain and Italy?
We are doing 7 day on Royal Caribbean that is round trip from Rome with Italy, France and Spain
@@katerichardson9274 That itinerary sounds awesome
Contemplating doing Mediterranean cruise or just flying next year .
Thanks for these tips! I live in Ottawa and my husband and I will be doing a Mediterranean cruise this May. You mentioned a translation app. I can’t find the link. Thanks!
Heading on the Oceania Sirena in April 2022 to visit the Mediterranean, can’t wait!
Beautiful cruise!!
How about phone service while not on the ship?
Is it necessary to get an international access thru Verizon ($100 per person) or not?
How do you get the information you have for airline /hotels/ tours etc. while you are not on the ship?
WOW GREAT VIDEO VERY EDUCATIONAL 👍👍
I decided to do land tours instead in the Mediterranean. The culture is so rich there, a one day stop won’t be enough. I said to my wife, let’s spend a week on Santorini or two weeks touring Italy or Spain. Attempting to speak the local language goes over very well.
Thank you! My wife and I are doing a week long Venice to Barcelona cruise this year so your tips will be really helpful!
Good tips! I’m planning a cruise next April for my daughters high school graduation.
We are doing a med and trans atlantic back-to-back in the future. Would love any related video.
Very exciting!! I’ll definitely share more :)
Sorry but we have had too many ports ruined by using the “Hop on Hop off” tours.
They sound much better than they actually are.
Someone may have enjoyed them but we were burned more than once so they are no longer what we consider a good option. Have actually had better results looking into local transit options.
When flying to Mediterranean cities prio to embarking on a cruise, note any holidays. For example flying in to Rome. I would normally go a few days earlier, however I'm going on a cruise in 2024 that departs the weekend of Easter. NO!!! Waaaaaay to many people. Hotels are more expensive also. So in this case I will be seeing Rome a couple days after the cruise.
Oct 2023 11 night Med Cruise from Marsielle France on Norwegian Epic. Flying from LAX. Any thoughts other than the bathroom location issues I've seen on TH-cam.
We are scheduled to go on a Mediterranean Cruise this coming July. Super excited...and can't wait. Great info.
That’s amazing! Really such a great cruise
We are taking a Mediterranean cruise this coming April. We took your advice and booked a hotel in Barcelona for two nights prior to get acclimated. We are trying (not successfully so far) to learn some basic language skills for each area we will be visiting. Thanks for the tips!
Very exciting cruise coming up!! I love Barcelona- it’s really a vibrant city. Do watch for pickpockets as they are really real
Hey we will go on meditterannean cruise too on april...at ncl booked in grand hyatt hotel in barcelona
@@tanya0429 sadly we cancelled ours. I was too concerned with having a false positive test for COVID and being stuck somewhere. So sad!
We will be doing the same next April. Did you decide to stay in Barcelona or get your hotel out by the cruise port? Seems like the port area is also a very good area to site see. Let me know. What hotel did you choose?
This was so helpful! Hubby and I may sail through Europe for our anniversary in 2024.
Thank you!
Great comments! Thank you. We are going on a 28 day Mediterranean cruise with 22 ports. We have been to several of the ports and are gladly returning. However, your points will help with the ports we have not been too!
Thank you for this video. We are going on 2 Europe cruises in May 2022. First round trip from Rome going down to Greece and Turkey. Stay 4 days in Rome
Amazing!!
Meals takes longer in Europe. Plan for at least 2 hours per meal. Juices and coffee are amazing and incomparable to the US! We personally like to get off the ship as early as possible. Often, shops are not open yet but the streets are empty and a perfect way to soak everything in before the crowds show up. Taxis are always stressful and they often try to get you to agree to use them as a personal tour guide for the day for one flat fee 🤬.
Oh good to know
We're taking a transatlantic Cruise in the spring of 2023. Several stops in portugal, several stops in Spain, there is a stop in France and multiple stops in Italy. Would certainly like more of your perspective on a Mediterranean cruise.
Love this video, very helpful in planning my next dream cruise. Thanks for sharing.
We have been on 4 Mediterranean cruises. Going back in 2023.
Fabulous!!
What would you recommend for 1st cruise 12 days
@@HeatherBlythFoss A Celebrity Edge class ship.
What I would say as a fairly well travelled person in the UK, is the Med is a different culture altogether from the USA and also the UK! Yes, English is not spoken as much; you will find in most of Scandinavia and the Nordic countries (where I have been many times due to having Scandi inlaws) that by comparison, most people speak English as a second language, and speak it flawlessly too! In the Canary Islands, it helps to have a little Spanish, but you can usually get by. In respect of cruising in the Canary Islands, you don't even need to get a bus from the port to the nearest town in 95% of places, you can simply walk into the town, which is usually only a few minutes away, and you would miss a lot by going by bus. We have done a few cruises and only ever done one excursion, as we enjoy finding things ourselves and just exploring, not necessary seeing all the appointed "sights" but rather soaking in the atmosphere. Sitting in a square with a drink, watching the world go by, is far more preferable to us.
Rick Steves travel guide is an amazing resource for Europe. We picked up some tips and tricks to make our trip even more successful.
We have booked a Mediterranean cruise on the Regan Princes in April. Thank you for the tips!
That’s great!! Awesome cruise
these were great tips, thank you very much, subscribed! My fiancé and I will be going on a Mediterranean cruise in the Fall, super excited!
More Mediterranean info please. My cruise is set for Sept 2022
Exciting!! Thanks for the feedback:)
would love comments and insights into what excursions to experience/select when on Celebrity Edge from Rome to Barcelona please.
I would love to know what Ephesus excursion you took. I am planning a cruise for next October.