Recommend your favorite sites for my European cruise ports

aerospace · #1 (**permalink**) October 27th, 2012, 12:33 PM

There are a few must do's such as the Pyramids but many of the other ports I'm not sure what's worth seeing. Any help would be great, what did you like or even think I should skip.

Alanya, Turkey
Limassol, Cyprus
Haifa, Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Cairo(Port Said), Egypt
Cairo(Alexandria), Egypt
Olympia, Greece
Athens, Greece
Izmir, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey(overnight stop)
Naples, Italy
Florence, Italy
Genoa, Italy
Toulon, France
Barcelona, Spain
Tenerife, Canary Islands

I should also say that I tend to do ship excursions simply because their easier with no planning even if a bit more expensive and say most ports are limited to about 8 hours total although a few are 12 hours and even 1 overnight. Maybe someone knows a nice B&B in Istanbul?

Many thanks
Michael

Mallorcaprivatetourguides · #2 (**permalink**) February 18th, 2013, 04:14 PM

Of course I am going to recommend palma de Mallorca

kandajones · #3 (**permalink**) February 18th, 2013, 05:00 PM

Hi there, suggestions for a few of your stops ....

Istanbul - a visit to the Grand Bazaar is a must with over 60 covered streets and 3000 stalls. Not for those who don't like crowds though.

Naples - although the obvious tour is to Pompeii, take a look at Ercolano (aka Herculaneum). It is smaller, but for more complete, and was so quickly covered that much of it looks brand new - but it is all original

Florence (Livorno?) - it is a very long day, but if you are only visiting the once, you really need to take an organised trip to Florence & Pisa.

Barcelona - There are good hop-on hop-off buses in the city, but plan ahead as some routes take up to 3 hours.
Alternatively take a trip to Gaudi's Guell park, for a close-up of some of his bizarre buildings. If you search the photos here, we have previously posted a selection there.

Tenerife - for something really different, take a look at the Loro Park site, the Park has shows, Sealife, Birds, Wild animals, aquariums, arctic animals & so on. It is a full day's entertainment.

Hope those give you some ideas,

Have a great cruise,

Alan.

aerospace · #4 (**permalink**) February 19th, 2013, 01:32 AM

Appretiate the post, but I've already gone and sailed home transatlatic from this trip.

It was awesome!

kandajones · #5 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2013, 03:38 PM

Glad you had a great time, I didn't even think that you may have already sailed and was thinking you were planning for 2013.

Silly me, oh well maybe bext time

Alan.