DIY Cruise Excursions

crowlands

We are cruising the med later in the summer and are finding the cruise companies own excursions a tad expensive. So I am thinking of doing our own when we are in Rome. Has anyone done this, would they recommend it and also any recommendations for companies to use. I am aware of the safety of going with the cruise’s own tours and if delayed the ship will wait for you. Any suggestions would be most helpful. TIA.

travellerboy

Try these, they are quiet good http://www.smartcruisetours.com/index.php/destinations/rome

Caz3121

if you look on cruise critic forums you will find threads for each stop that will have ideas and recommendations for independent tours

crowlands

Caz3121 wrote: »

if you look on cruise critic forums you will find threads for each stop that will have ideas and recommendations for independent tours

I am on CruiseCritic. Where would I find that forum thread please? I have had a look on there but I can’t find the Ports thread. Cheers.

travellerboy

Try - https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/forum/2-ports-of-call/

tacpot12

One thing to bear in mind is that if an independently-arranged tour is delayed and the boat sails without you, you will have to rejoin the cruise at your own expense. If a cruise line-arranged tour is delayed and the boat sails, the cruise line will get you back on board at no expense.

Backbiter

tacpot12 wrote: »

One thing to bear in mind is that if an independently-arranged tour is delayed and the boat sails without you, you will have to rejoin the cruise at your own expense. If a cruise line-arranged tour is delayed and the boat sails, the cruise line will get you back on board at no expense.

That is a big consideration.
I've done Rome on several cruises and it's not difficult to DIY. The train station at the port of Rome in Civitavecchia is about a 10 minute walk from the entry to the port, where the free port bus drops you off. Trains are very regular and pretty cheap, and take about an hour. You can get off at Ostiense station which shortens the journey a bit (compared to staying on till Termini, the main station) and leaves you nearer some of the main sites like the Vatican.
You'll save a packet going DIY, but weigh that up against the peace of mind you get from going with the ship's tours. Also the ship's tours can allow you to skip the queues at sites like the Sistine Chapel, but you pay a lot for the privilege.

desdemona01

When we went to Romei from Civitavecchia we walked out of the port and there were a load of stalls offering their services for trips to Rome. We joined up with another couple from Canada and shared an air conditioned people carrier with them and our son.It was lovely. We saw all the sights and few off the beaten track ruins all in the comfort of an air conditioned car. And no hanging round for stragglers as we were basically 2 groups. I think it cost us approx 50€ each. On the same cruise we teamed up with a 2 more couples via cruise critic to visit Piza and Florence. Again a success, travelled in air conditioned comfort and our son was able to climb the ‘tower’ ,which we booked in advance, with other adults in the group and I didn’t fancy it in the heat! I would never have known about it otherwise. The cruise critic folk also organised a free meet-up on board at the start of the voyage as well as a free tour of the bridge on a sea day. Hope that helps.

gettingtheresometime

We've done a diy tour where the company guaranteed to look after you and get you, at their expense, to the next port if you missed the boat....needless to say we were returned to the boat in time.

When we went to Rome on a cruise we went on an official tour and were an hour late getting back due to traffic.....only to wait a further hour for an another tour to return - result was one unhappy captain.

I think this is one case where you pay your money & takes your chances.

happyandcontented

We have never had any issues doing tours independently. We often join up with other cruisers via the Roll Call thread on Cruise Critic.

We were once paired up with someone we knew well, but whom we didn't know was going on the same cruise!!

Unless you have a lot of onboard credit then I would DIY.

getmore4less

As said find the roll call for your cruise depending on ship it will either be busy or dead.

Most ports are DIYable with planning.