Those are my kids at Ephesus, the ancient Greco-Roman city in Turkey, during a Mediterranean cruise in December 2008. Through Sea Song Tours we hired a car and driver to pick us up at the pier in Izmir and help us beat the crowds to Ephesus so we could explore it independently.
If you've read my January column in Condé Nast Traveler about "How to Have a Perfect Time in Port," you know that if your primary goal on a cruise is to sightsee in the ports of call, it's crucial to research and plan your shore time in advance. Typically the ship is in port for only seven or eight hours, so you need to use your time efficiently and wisely. It's sometimes smartest to avoid the cruise line's pre-fab group shore tours and hire a private driver and/or English-speaking local guide to pick you up at the pier, take you to the sights you want to see (helping you bypass all lines), and then return you to the ship shortly before it sails. The right driver/guide can both expedite and enhance your sightseeing, providing a flavorful and custom-tailored shoreside experience that's more rewarding—and, depending on the country and the number of people in your party, sometimes a lot cheaper—than the cruise line's tours. Which is probably why Louise Nunnink has written in with this question:
"Four people will be cruising out of Barcelona in February. Could you please give me the contacts for port excursions in Rome, Athens, and Izmir, Turkey?"
Louise, if you booked your cruise through the right cruise travel agent, that person should have tight relationships with precisely the contacts you need and should be arranging all of this on your behalf. I can only assume that you did not use a travel agent--or did not use the right one--and therefore now must organize your shoreside itineraries on your own. If what you want in these ports is a customized day of sightseeing and cool insider experiences, along with efficient and reliable car transportation, my suggestion is to contact the following:
For Rome: Filippo Curinga of I.D.I. Travel at filippo@iditravel.com
For Athens: Leftheris Papageorgiou of Hellenic Adventures at leftheris@hellenicadventures.com
For Izmir: Karen Fedorko Sefer of Sea Song Tours at fedorko@seasong.com
If what Filippo, Leftheris, and Karen offer is too expensive—I'm sending you to the finest, after all—try ShoreTrips.com and Viator.com. Bon voyage! And if you want to see some pics from my last Mediterranean cruise, you'll find them here.
Does anyone else have a tour-company recommendation for one-day shore excursions in Mediterranean ports? If so, I'd love to hear, so please share it in Comments below.
It's great to plan your shore excursions, but too much planning can make a vacation seem like a business trip! Of the three ports Rome, Athens, and Izmir, Turkey, all three are very amenable to DIY tours, as the city centers are easily accessible by public transport, and really there's no need for an organised shore excursion. Unless you like being marched around!