Well I am finally back from a month in Europe and have posted a number of reviews that you might find interesting if you are crusing the Western Mediterranean next year. Here is a list of them.

Athens by Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Athens3.htm

Livorno, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Florence3.htm

Florence by Train, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Florence4.htm

Capri and Sorrento, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Naples4.htm

Pompei On Your Own By Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Naples5.htm

Rome, On Your Own By Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome2.htm

Marseille, France Port Review
http://www.europeportreviews.com/MarsailleFrance.htm

Nice, France By Train, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Nice2.htm

Monaco by Train, On Yor Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/MonteCarlo3.htm

Venice Italy, Murano Island, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Venice2.htm

More coming

Tom

Wow Tom,

you have been very busy. Very interesting port reviews and really excellent pictures.

But be sure, I´m prepared for my first review when I come back from my Transatlantic Cruise with the Splendour. I´ve bought a big diary to write down my impressions of the ship, the ports and, and, and.

I hope, that I can read your review of the Splendour within the next weeks.

Best regards
Marita

Tom,

thanks for the excellent reviews. My brother will be visiting some of these ports on his honeymoon cruise next year and I am sure your reviews will help him even more enjoying these ports.

Welcome Back Tom.
I am anxoius to check out your reviews.
Am certain they are excellent.

Cathy

Tom, I appreciate your reviews. I am cruising with my two daughters in July 2005 and plan to use your advice. We will go into some of the ports without paid guides (like Dubrovnik and Pompei), but would like your advice as to where a paid tour would be recommended. This is my oldest child's sweet 16 gift and am both thrilled and proud of her choice...so now I'm in the process of making it as memorable as possible. I don't want to be a pest but I hope to be in contact with you once or twice before we embark on our journey.

What itinerary are you on? Virtually all of the Western Med can be done on your own. You can see more and pay LOTS less and have a great time.

Tom

Tom;

Your reviews are excellent, the pictures worth a thousand words. I will be cruising the Mediterranean in May on Millenium. My cousin will accompany me - she is partially handicapped. She can walk, but very slowly, and not where there are inclines. I have read your "ON Your Own" segments and would like your advice. What ports should we not attempt on our own. What ports would train travel prove to be a problem for the handicapped.

Topping.

Welcome back Tom,
Is it feasible to do Nice, Eze, St Paul De Vence, and then end in Monte Carlo for dinner maybe a short time in casino to be back on ship at 10 or 11pm for sail at midnight
I have been told not to miss Fondation Maeght This museum is world-renowned, and deserves the reputation. The collection of 20th-century paintings, sculptures and ceramics is extensive and excellent. Very small museum that can easily be done in a short time and worth visiting even for non-museum types.
Should we wing this itinerary on our own taking taxi’s to get to each of the towns, and how long will it take to get back to Villefranche and cost of taxi.

Just read your review of Civitavecchia. We hope to take the train FROM downtown Rome TO the ship (we're staying in Rome for several days before our cruise). You mention a shuttle from the Civitavecchia port to the ship itself. Is this something that's easy to find? Are they waiting by the port entrance? Or did I read it incorrectly? Thanks -

M

bonhal, you could do all of that in one day if you got an early start. The only challenge is getting to Eze from the train station. The transfers up to Eze and the train schedules do not mesh well. In fact, I am going to be in Villefranch in Juen and hope to run down the issue of Eze and do a review on it. Taxis are difficult to get in Monte Carlo. If you can take a train back it would be preferable, but I don't know how late they run.

Tom

Marvelous M, When you get off the train, turn right when you depart the terminal, walk about three blocks and you will see what looks like an old fort. This is the entrance to the port. Right at the gate at the entrance, the port employee can direct you to the right place to pick up the transfer. It is usually right across the street from the entrance. The port is a heavy commercial port and the cruise ships are a good distance away.

Have a great cruise!

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for the great detailed information. We are traveling with my parents and 4 sons( ages 10 thru 17)and are trying to save some money on the excursions.
Planning on doing Pisa and Florence by train. The kids want to see Pisa not really interested in art in Florence but they do enjoy the churches.Since we wil be seeing Rome I don't want to over do it. Sounds like Livorno might be a better afternoon destination. What is your opinion since you have been to both?
Diane

this looks like fantastic info....

Tom,
I love your "own your own" pictures and descriptions-great job. Do you happen to have any port to Venice info you could post? Photos would be wonderful! We are staying in Venice the night before our ship departs and I'm wondering what the jouney will be like to get to the port. Any info would be helpful.

Hi Tom,

My husband and I are going on RCCL Voyager of the Seas in October. (21st)
We are hitting: Marseille, Villefranche, Livorno, Rome, Naples.
We plan on doing most of the excursion on our own and trying to be realistic - seeing only 1 or 2 things at each port.
Can you provide feedback on our choices:
Marseille - we are going to Avignon (Palace of Popes) by Train on our own
Villefranch - Nice, Eze, Monte Carlo - again by train on our own
Livorno - we want to do the Cinque Terre - do you have any info for me on this?? the ship offers a tour but I'm not sure if I have time to swing this in 1 day. We get arrive at 7AM and depart Livorno at 7PM - we've been to Florence before and wanted to see something different.
Rome - we will do Rome on our own - easy - been there before

Naples - another one where I don't know what to do - - I would like to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. How can I do both of these in 1 day and on my own? We're there from 7-7 also. Any ideas on websites I could check out? I just don't want to break down and book thru the ship - too much $$.

Please provide advice on Cinque Terre and my desire to do Pompeii and Amalfi.

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Ogg:
What itinerary are you on? Virtually all of the Western Med can be done on your own. You can see more and pay LOTS less and have a great time.

Tom

We are doing the 11 night Tyrrhenian Sea on Century. I do not see any reviews for Ajaccio, Corsica Valleta, Malta or Sicily. Do you have any referrals for info?
We are thinking of taking the train from Naples to Sorrento then hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri and ferry from Capri to Naples. Should and would we be able to purchase all tickets before hand?

@ cruisin`kayakers
@chemical x
a warm welcome to you in the cruise chat. I hope you feel well here and will get a whole lot of good informations. And we hope, you will give us informations back some time in the future.
Have nice cruises
Uwe

quote:

Originally posted by Tom Ogg:
Well I am finally back from a month in Europe and have posted a number of reviews that you might find interesting if you are crusing the Western Mediterranean next year. Here is a list of them.

Athens by Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Athens3.htm

Livorno, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Florence3.htm

Florence by Train, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Florence4.htm

Capri and Sorrento, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Naples4.htm

Pompei On Your Own By Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Naples5.htm

Rome, On Your Own By Train
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome2.htm

Marseille, France Port Review
http://www.europeportreviews.com/MarsailleFrance.htm

Nice, France By Train, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Nice2.htm

Monaco by Train, On Yor Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/MonteCarlo3.htm

Venice Italy, Murano Island, On Your Own
http://www.europeportreviews.com/Venice2.htm

More coming

Tom

Tom,

It was interesting and informative reading your review.

My wife and I have been on five previous cruises, but this will be our first one in Europe.

We are pm tje 12 day Liberty Cruise Leaving on Sept. 28th.

You appear to be a firm advocate of doing things on your own, and we plan on doing this in Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice and Cannes.

Is it possible to find tour operators or cabs for hire at each port or is it best to do so prior to leaving for the cruise.ie. Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Barcelona, Messina??

Thanks for your suggestion.

I see you are from Valley Center. We are from Carlsbad.

Phil & Nancy

I'm planning a Russian/Baltic cruise aboard the newly refurbished Century on june 2007, it looks like all the other ports can be toured on your own however we're thinking of booking a tour either w/ Denrus or Red october for St. Petersburg, the price seems reasonable compared to the ships's organized tour, about 100-200 dollars less. Any input?