Can anyone please help me choose which are the best excursions when we stop at Florence/pisa, Naples (is it worth it or healthy since the problem of waste)and the French Riviera. We aregoing to be seven persons and leave within three months. We intend to go independently so please can anybody tell me which are the best excurions and how to reach them.

We leave from Valletta Malta.

The best excursion from Naples Port is the Amalfi Coast.We rented an English speaking driver (born and raised in Naples: Giuseppe De Toro) to have the most comfort.So we felt quiet safe and comfortable.

For Florence etc. The tours office will sell a combined Florence & Pisa trip, but it really is a lot to take in one day. but as you are travelling a long way for this cruise, you may feel it is worth the effort, just make sure you are ready for it. Livorno itelf is an interesting town to wander around, but you will probably be back on the ship within a couple of hours, so we would definitely recommend Pisa, Lucca, or Florence.
For Naples we booked a private tour of Pompeii Sorrento and Amalfi coast from sorrentosilverstar was very good
Hope you have a fantastic & memorable cruise,

HI Gozo...I will be sailing on the Gem Oct 26th...any chance this is your sail date?
As far as excursions, we'll also booked through NCL in all the ports but ARE BEING TOLD by peoplewe know who are seasoned European travelers that doing the ports on your own ESPECIALLY MALTA is very easy, cost saving and more eventful. We are currently trying to work this out and are keeping our bookings until we are sure it is do able for us. In Malta..supposably you walk 10 min. to the own and can take a hop on hop off and see the island very easily. Rome is the scary one for us. I also am told by those "experts" that CAPRI is beautiful.
If your on an earlier sailing PLEASE POST a review.

KarenM