Topic: Tips on the eastern Med please

We are sailing on Queen Elizabeth in November, our first cruise with Cunard after several with P&O and one with Celebrity. Apart from Gibraltar, all of the ports are new to us and I would really appreciate any advice on the best bits to see and any tours you could recommend. We generally do a mix of organised tours and our own thing. Our ports will be:
Malaga, Valette, Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi, Athens, Alicante.
Thanks for taking the time


Cheers, Mrs K

Malaga:we diy'd. There was loads to do - Roman stuff, an aerial view of the bull ring etc etc


Valette: we didn't make it into town- ship very late, then had to be tendered across the port - long, long story - going back next year. We intend to walk or bus into town and walk back - basically diy


Venice: be on the top deck for the sail in - it's like arriving into a Canaletto painting. Once there it's diyable


Dubrovnik: shuttle bus into town. then diyable


Kusadasi: get a trip to Ephesus


Athens: last time we did an overview tour. This time we might diy to the Acropolis museum


Alicante: not been yet, but going there next year too. The Castle looks diyable

Hello there!

Haven't been to all the ports of call but did Malaga, Dubrovnik and Venice this year and Athens and Kusadasi 2 years ago. Lots to see and do but here are some ideas based on what we did! ;)

Did the Hop On Hope Off bus in Malaga. Best bit was the castle on top of the hill that gave spectacular views over Malaga with the bullring etc.

Dubrovnik is beautiful............you must walk the walls. There's also a cable car that gives spectacular views over the town.

Venice...............a trip down the Grand Canal is wonderful and of course you need to visit St Mark's Square and Rialto Bridge.

Athens...........we did a private tour with another family and visited the Acropolis....... and if you've time, see if you can time it right to see the Changing of the Guards..........those funny slow marching steps they do are wonderful! :D

Kusadasi........we did another private tour and went to Ephesus........plus the House of Mary and the Terrace Houses. A great day!

Hope this may be of some help............certainly a wonderful itinerary! ;)

QUOTE:

Hello there!


Dubrovnik is beautiful............you must walk the walls. There's also a cable car that gives spectacular views over the town.



Hope this may be of some help............certainly a wonderful itinerary! ;)

Further down the coast is the resort of Cavtat. Lying at the tip of Croatia, Dubrovnik is close to Mostar in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Montenegro, which make great day tours. The Konavle region south of Dubrovnik is a storehouse of local traditions. And offshore, lie some of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic: Mljet , Lokrum and the three Elaphiti Islands, Lopud, Sipan and Kolocep.

Hi Twinster, just a couple of things. We visited Malaga earlier this year with P&O, they provided a shuttle bus to harbour gates, we had a great day, but when getting back on bus for short ride to ship, my friend had a young man pushing behind her to get on bus, then realised (when she was seated) that she had had her purse stolen from her bag,so keep bags zipped and on your front!!!!! Dubrovnik, definately do the city wall walk, beautiful, there are a quite a few steps, but my slightly disabled husband managed it no problem, Venice gondola ride is a must,as is St.Marks square, the further away from the square the cheaper the food and drinks!!!! Whatever you do, just enjoy.

QUOTE:

We are sailing on Queen Elizabeth in November, our first cruise with Cunard after several with P&O and one with Celebrity. Apart from Gibraltar, all of the ports are new to us and I would really appreciate any advice on the best bits to see and any tours you could recommend. We generally do a mix of organised tours and our own thing. Our ports will be:
Malaga, Valette, Venice, Dubrovnik, Kusadasi, Athens, Alicante.
Thanks for taking the time


Cheers, Mrs K

we caught local bus to old town at dubrovnik,just over 1euro return,nice to walkup stairs and around walls,what views,visit church in pile,the whole area is pedestrians only when you walk through gates everything free We went to athens to acropolis,all old stones and scaffolding ,give it a miss,at malaga watch gypsey flower sellers,they do persist,and will rob you,so go to b****,where the rich and famous rob the taxman,at venice,use water taxis,vey cheap,as good as gondolas,but they will cost 100euros plus,use hotels for loos as they want 1.50 for a pee,in st marks square buy an ice cream cornet for 1 euro for i scoop,sit in square enjoy icecream watch the world go buy,have a nice time,look after the pennies,and you can go again

I thought I would write in and tell you about our recent experience at Ephesus with a company called ‘Ephesus Shuttle’
We were on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise aboard Queen Victoria which was due to arrive in Kusadasi on Wednesday 13th October at 13.00pm and was only there until 18.30

I had read everything I could about Ephesus and tour companies mentioned in the forums and after three emails with immediate responses to each I agreed to take the Ephesus Tour & Terrace Houses with Ephesus Shuttle at a price for my wife and I of $88.

On the cruise we met up with and became friends with a Canadian couple, David & Heather and they asked if it would be possible to join us on our Ephesus Tour.

We were informed by email earlier that the Tour guide from ES would meet us at 13.15 once the ship had docked. We docked early and left the ship at 13.10 and the guide was already there and waiting for us. He introduced himself as Erme and after discussion it was agreed our private tour for two could now be for four. He escorted us to a modern air-conditioned minibus with very comfortable leather seats and introduced us to our driver.

Once we were on the way he gave us a complimentary white cap for the sun with Ephesus Travel logo on and also a box of Turkish Delight to share, I thought this was an extra nice touch and was not expected.

After chatting with Erme during the drive to Ephesus it became apparent that he was very knowledgeable, enjoyed his work immensely and had a great sense of humour.

On arrival at Ephesus he invited us to use the toilet as we would be inside for a couple of hours and there were no toilet facilities.

We found Ephesus awe inspiring and easily the best part of our cruise. Erme was extremely entertaining and also thoughtful in as much as giving us some private time to look at things ourselves as well as pointing out the best places for photographs and giving us ample time to take as many shots as we liked.

He also told us about himself and how he had his own company Kusadasi Tours which he had sold to spend more time with his wife and in fact that he had proposed to her in the ‘Grand Arena’ at Ephesus

He took us through Ephesus and the Terrace Houses and I cannot recommend him highly enough. This was by far the best tour my wife and I have ever had.

The standard visit to a carpet factory/Leather Store was never mentioned and we were taken back to Kusadasi port after about three and a half hours.

If you are ever in the area and wish to take an Ephesus Tour I guarantee that if you use Ephesus Shuttle you will not be disappointed and if you get Erme as your guide you have an added bonus

David & Helena Wilson
Durham UK

Hi Twinster
Was in Athens 2 weeks ago.
If you don't want the long walk to the train station.
If you turn left out of Terminal building (Piraeus) and walk 100yds there is a HoHo bus stop,they take tour around Piraeus then onto Athens,,,the driver tells you when to get off,cross the road then get on another HoHo bus for tour of Athens,getting off + on as you wish.Then it brings you back to ship.
The combined tour Piraeus + Athens is 22euro.
JC