About the island of Murano out of Venice. My husband and I were told by the young man at our hotel that it was safe to take one of the "free" trips to Murano, so we did. The boat driver was friendly with a little English. He dropped us on Murano and the back door to a "glass factory". We were shown a great demonstration and toured their "showroom" with beautiful, expensive glass. When we didn't make a purchase they very nicely showed us the front door. We laughed and started walking the island looking in many glass shops. I did make a few purchases at a very upscale shop where the proprietor was very friendly and not pushy at all. He told us about a museum on the island that we walked to and were so glad to see it. We saw some glass there that was not like what we had seen in the shops, some with very old techniques and quite interesting. The museum seemed like a bonus that we were glad to have seen. All in all a nice day. We took the public vaporetto back to Venice island, easy.
Wow, thanks for all the nice coments. I just got back from an extended trip to Europe and the Baltic and have a bunch of info I have to post to PortReviews.com. Knowing that people are benefitting from it makes it very satisfying.
Tom
Posts: 2305 | Location: Valley Center, CA 92082 | Registered: May 30, 2002
Tom!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. My friend and I are taking our first Med cruise in Sept and were trying to figure out how to cut the cost of excursions (so we could shop more) and you've convinced me that we can do it on our own. Your links look so helpful, and easy to follow instructions are great (the pictures, especially of the signs, will be most helpful).
Thanks for this valuable information. It's just us two girls traveling, any safety tips you want to pass down. Your truely a blessing to the clueless Europe Traveler. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Posts: 14 | Location: sacramento | Registered: August 25, 2006
Tom, is there a way to just do Sorrento for the day? The ferry schedules I've seen do Naples to Capri, Capri to Sorrento and then back via the same routing. Is there any direct routing? Thanks for the help.
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.
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
My husband and I visited Dubrovnik in October, 2005. We had a charming and informative local gentleman take us around the city. His name is Igor Cvrlje. You can contact him at info@taxicvrlje.com. We had just planned to take a cab into the walled city. We went to his cab and he offered to show us around. He was great! His phone number is 00 385/098/980-2833.
Originally posted by M Baier: Tom We are sailing on Windstar from Lisbon to Barcelone. Any suggestions on hotels. We will be in LIsbon one night and Barcelona two. Is it best to stay near port in Lisobon and just cab to old town since we only have one night? Thanks M Baier
Hi M. Baier, have you already experience in transatlantik-crossings? I will be on the Windstar from Lissabon to Barbados (11.-25.11.06) too and this will be my first crossing. Up to now I have been on Star Clipper's for several times in the Karibik and Asia. Would be nice to hear from you. Regards, Isa
Originally posted by M Baier: Does anyone have any feedback on Hotel Turin in Barcelona. We are thinking about staying there but can't find any reviews on it. Thanks M Baier
Hi again, don't know the Hotel Turin in Barcelona, but there is a lovely hotel in the center of Barcelona named Pulitzer. Was there this year. Perhaps you have a look at it? Regards, Isa
Tom, Thanks for taking the time to post your reviews. I find them interesting and easy to follow. My family is taking an 11 night Med cruise on the disney ship in May. I have found quite a bit of information of most of the ports except La Spezia. Because the ship's shore excursions are so pricey, we are doing it on our own. We would love to do a quick stop at the Leaning Tower and then head to Florence. What do you think? Should we just stick to Florence? I read that there is not much to do in Pisa but I would love for my children to see the leaning tower. We will be in La Spezia from 7:30am to 7:30 pm. I believe we will be taking a tender to the port.
Any information by anyone will be greatly appreciated.
In Livorno I would take the train to Florence, just do your own thing and then take the train back to Pisa and negotiate for a taxi to take you to the leaning tower and back to the port.
Tom, I've been reading your advice on various ports and am anxious to try my luck using it at several ports we will be visiting in Italy and France. I am a first time cruiser and will be on the RCCL Voyager of the Seas seven day cruise from Barcelona to Ville-France, Livorno, Cittiavecchia, Naples and Palermo and back to Barcelona. There will be eight of us traveling together (all adults) and we are going to try to do our own tour by train etc. whenever we can utilizing your posts which by far seem the easiest to follow. I have read a little on the various ports that we are to visit and the only two that I am concerned about is Naples and taking the train to Pompeii and Palermo in Sicily. Is Naples train area as bad as I have been reading about when it comes to theft or will common sense and a little extra caution suffice? Also do you have any suggestions for traveling by train from Palermo to Cefalu in Sicily or is a ship or private tour a better choice here. Also I've been told a private tour from Ville-France to Nice and Monaco is the way to do that in one day. I would like your thoughts and advice on any and all if ou have the time. Thanks in advance for your help....Andrew aka jetlag
I would like some suggestions on what to do in Port at Palermo Sicily This will be our last staop so I was wanting something a little different from just shopping or museums
Originally posted by Lisha: I would like some suggestions on what to do in Port at Palermo Sicily This will be our last staop so I was wanting something a little different from just shopping or museums
Lisha, I too will be in Palermo and would like any information on things to do. Also any info on Cefalu will be appreciated. I will be there on June 22,2007 and have not found many posts on it. If you get anything interesting could you please pass it along to me as well.Thank you...jetlag aka Andrewjetlag44@sbcglobal.net
