Dis / Dreams Viking Sea Cruise around Italy 3/24 - 3/31/2018

[DDuck4Life]

The only sold out ones I see are the wine tour on Crotone and Secrets of the Doge's Palace (and that was sold out before I booked).

The Doge's palace one had been sold out for a while - I am wondering if the fact it is Easter weekend impacts any of the tours

I'm fairly certain Doge's Palace was listed as Sold Out before anyone was even able to book. It was always listed as sold out whenever I started looking at the excursions. I'm thinking this one just was not available ever. Not sure why they have it listed as an option if it wasn't going to be available when we are there.

 

[met19]

Since I was a little nervous about the level of activity for The Pompeii excursion we went with the Herculaneum one instead. We then went with the included tours until Venice and signed up for the Venetian islands, Morano and Borano since we have already done the St Marks and Doges Palace tour on the ABD.

Chris

A few questions for the group:

1) For Venice I booked the included tour plus the extension to the Rezznico extension. Thoughts on skipping the extension and booking a tour not through Viking for the doges palace and st marks? That might give me a bit of time to also stop by @OKW Lover glass store recommendation.

2) What are people’s plans on Easter Sunday if still in town?

3) how to get from the Westin to the airport on the 2nd in a water based city?

 

[met19]

https://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/venice/travel-guide/

FYI: eatingitaly (of the tour many of us are going on in Rome) has but out a Venice travel guide for food and is starting a food tour, but with no start date yet

 

[khertz]

A few questions for the group:

1) For Venice I booked the included tour plus the extension to the Rezznico extension. Thoughts on skipping the extension and booking a tour not through Viking for the doges palace and st marks? That might give me a bit of time to also stop by @OKW Lover glass store recommendation.

2) What are people’s plans on Easter Sunday if still in town?

3) how to get from the Westin to the airport on the 2nd in a water based city?

We have booked a couple tours in Rome through Dark Rome and are planning to do the Murano/Burano tour they offer in Venice. They also have a Doge's Palace one available if that's something you really wanted to do. We are probably going to stick with the included tour for Venice only because none of the additional ones really appealed to us except Murano/Burano and Dark Rome is a lot cheaper than booking through Viking.

I'm kind of leaning towards maybe booking the Murano/Burano tour for Easter Sunday just because I don't know how much else is going to be open. But we may do it Saturday instead and just spend Sunday wandering around and exploring since it will be our last day.

Getting to the airport is also puzzling me. I found what I think is the same transportation service we used for ABD but it is pretty expensive. It's 110 EUR for up to 4 people, and with everyone going their separate ways after the cruise, I don't know how feasible it's going to be to share something like that. I'm sure there has to be some kind of public transport option but I haven't delved too deeply into other options just yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what we are going to do once we get off the ship but before we can check in to our apartment.

 

[met19]

We have booked a couple tours in Rome through Dark Rome and are planning to do the Murano/Burano tour they offer in Venice. They also have a Doge's Palace one available if that's something you really wanted to do. We are probably going to stick with the included tour for Venice only because none of the additional ones really appealed to us except Murano/Burano and Dark Rome is a lot cheaper than booking through Viking.

I'm kind of leaning towards maybe booking the Murano/Burano tour for Easter Sunday just because I don't know how much else is going to be open. But we may do it Saturday instead and just spend Sunday wandering around and exploring since it will be our last day.

Getting to the airport is also puzzling me. I found what I think is the same transportation service we used for ABD but it is pretty expensive. It's 110 EUR for up to 4 people, and with everyone going their separate ways after the cruise, I don't know how feasible it's going to be to share something like that. I'm sure there has to be some kind of public transport option but I haven't delved too deeply into other options just yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what we are going to do once we get off the ship but before we can check in to our apartment.

Thanks for the heads up of the DarkRome tours. Have you been to Doge's on your prior ABD? Was it worth it? Murano is 1/2 price of the Viking- wow. I still might do the 110 Euro on day of departure- there is something about someone else dragging your bags and getting you door to door. As someone who has lived in NYC, public transport is only useful if its right there- when I needed to get to work the 15 blocks to the subway was ok. When I was heading on a long trip with luggage- it was a pain.

 

[khertz]

Thanks for the heads up of the DarkRome tours. Have you been to Doge's on your prior ABD? Was it worth it? Murano is 1/2 price of the Viking- wow. I still might do the 110 Euro on day of departure- there is something about someone else dragging your bags and getting you door to door. As someone who has lived in NYC, public transport is only useful if its right there- when I needed to get to work the 15 blocks to the subway was ok. When I was heading on a long trip with luggage- it was a pain.

Yes, we did do Doge's Palace on the ABD. It was worth doing at least once, but not something I felt the need to do this time around. It was very interesting though, and had we not done it before, we'd likely be doing it this time around.

You have a point there with the transport! By the end of such a long trip, I might be willing to give them a lot more than 110 for the convenience.

 

[met19]

Yes, we did do Doge's Palace on the ABD. It was worth doing at least once, but not something I felt the need to do this time around. It was very interesting though, and had we not done it before, we'd likely be doing it this time around.

You have a point there with the transport! By the end of such a long trip, I might be willing to give them a lot more than 110 for the convenience.

And your probably going to have plenty of souvenir added weight I know I will. I think your in a unique situation renting an apartment. If others are at the Westin, I'd taxi share

 

[khertz]

Our apartment is really close to St. Mark’s square so we could fairly easily get to the Luna Baglioni for a pickup if anyone would be interested in sharing a ride to the airport. Our flight is at 10 am so leaving sometime around 7-ish on 4/2 from the Luna would work.

 

[met19]

I just looked The Westin is really close to the Luna also- .3 miles. My flight leaves at 110p

 

[apurplebrat]

I just looked The Westin is really close to the Luna also- .3 miles. My flight leaves at 110p

Are you on the Delta475 to JFK on 4/2? I am on the flight and staying at Luna. @christannj is too I think

 

[met19]

Are you on the Delta475 to JFK on 4/2? I am on the flight and staying at Luna. @christannj is too I think

I am. @christannj and I go all the way back to 2016 alpine magic. A large group of us were regulars at ending our night with a Sprtiz

 

[apurplebrat]

I am.



I am. @christannj and I go all the way back to 2016 alpine magic. A large group of us where regulars at ending our night with a Sprtiz

I would be interested in sharing ride to the airport

 

[met19]

I would be interested in sharing ride to the airport

done

 

[corky441]

Getting to the airport is also puzzling me. I found what I think is the same transportation service we used for ABD but it is pretty expensive. It's 110 EUR for up to 4 people, and with everyone going their separate ways after the cruise, I don't know how feasible it's going to be to share something like that. I'm sure there has to be some kind of public transport option but I haven't delved too deeply into other options just yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what we are going to do once we get off the ship but before we can check in to our apartment.

1. If you don't want to take a Water taxi to the Airport there is another option:

Alilunga Airport Water Bus - approx. 13 Euro per person - one way. These are large yellow boats - not Vaporettos

trip takes around 1.25 hrs depending on where you're picked up.

They have three different lines: Blue, Red and Orange - each one does different stops around Venice. Usually adjacent to a major vaporetto station

2. Which rental agency are you using for your apartment ? We're using Truly Venice and I have set up a check in time of 10:00 am for our apartment. You might want to contact them and see how early you can do your meet & greet for the rental.

 

[DDuck4Life]

1.25 hours seems like too long, at that point I'd just pay for the extra sleep.


Found another option for hotel to airport transfer that is less expensive than the 110€.

Depending on what time you need to leave it's 25-33€ per person.

http://www.venicelink.com/venice-shuttle-out-airport-link

 

[khertz]

1. If you don't want to take a Water taxi to the Airport there is another option:

Alilunga Airport Water Bus - approx. 13 Euro per person - one way. These are large yellow boats - not Vaporettos

trip takes around 1.25 hrs depending on where you're picked up.

They have three different lines: Blue, Red and Orange - each one does different stops around Venice. Usually adjacent to a major vaporetto station

2. Which rental agency are you using for your apartment ? We're using Truly Venice and I have set up a check in time of 10:00 am for our apartment. You might want to contact them and see how early you can do your meet & greet for the rental.

Thanks for the info!! That might be a good option for getting to the airport

We rented an apartment through VRBO. We have already contacted the owner about the possibility of checking in early. She said it could be possible if there is no one checking out that day but that she wouldn’t know until closer to our dates. So in the meantime I’m trying to have a backup plan in case that doesn’t work out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it does!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Alternative Winery visit option

I know some were disappointed to see that the excursion to the Ceraudo winery in Crotone was already sold out (myself included) so I was looking into some alternatives. @Cousin Orville already mentioned that he contacted that winery about doing a private tour there which is great as an alternative.

I did some other searching for winery tours from the ports we are stopping at and there were a few from the port of Messina in Sicily. I reached out to a few and heard back from one so far, and the below is the info on two tour options that seems the most interesting that would take us to a nice winery, provide lunch and let us see other parts of Sicily as well - one is more the landscape and one is more seeing different towns

For both, they would pick us up and drop us off at the port and would include the car service and an English speaking guide. They would be full day tours and thus take the bulk of the time at Sicily
Cost (same for both) for the car is below and then at the winery is 20 Euro per person for the wine tasting and lunch:
- up to 4 people 300 Euro
- up to 6 people 380 Euro
- up to 8 people 440 Euro

Etna Grant Tour:
- Pick up at port and drive to Mount Etna (one of the most active volcanoes in the world) passing several Sicilian towns and old lava flow
- at 2,000 meters will stop and walk to "Silvestri" craters to see latest new lava flows
- Stop at local family honey farm to taste honey, olive oils, pastries, etc.
- drive scenic route "Mare Neve" or "Sea Moutain" overlooking Ionian sea
- Get to Gambino Winery for the wine tasting and Sicilian typical lunch
- After lunch, visit the village of Castiglione d Sicilia and then stop at the Alcantara gorges
- Drive us back to port


Taormina and the Winery on the Slopes of Etna:
- Pick up at port and first visit sea port village of Giardina Naxos.
- Then reach Taormina with a stop at "Belvedere Square" which overlooks the MEssina Coast Line, etc.
- Thne drive to medieval village of Castelmolo, strolling through it's narrow streets and seeing wonderful sea views - can also visit there an antique 13th century Arab castle
- Then to center of Taormina and have approx 1 hour of free time to enjoy on our own
- Then drive to the Gambino Winery for the wine tasting and typical Sicilian lunch
- Drive us back to port


As mentioned, I am still waiting to hear about other options, but wanted to see if any interest in something like the above. Looking at trip advisor the tours get good reviews (and positive views on the wine specifically as well)

 

[katluva]

This will be our first cruise. I'm not entirely sure how transportation on port days works. If we want to explore a port on our own (say, Crotone), will the cruise provide transportation from the port to the closest major city? Is that something we have to arrange?

And if we decide to do a non-Viking tour, how does transportation work for that? Do companies generally meet you at the port, or would we have to get our own transportation to the tour pick-up location? How do we figure out how much time to budget for non-Viking cruises?

(I know these are really basic questions, but this is an entirely new kind of travel for us. We're used to picking one city and using a carefully-chosen hotel as home base to explore. The port-to-city thing is throwing us for a loop. Thanks in advance for any insight!)

 

[christannj]

Chuck and I definitely would be interested in sharing some form of transportation to the airport on Monday 4/2. As stated by my good friend, apurplebrat, we are on that 1:10 Delta flight as well.

Chris

 

[met19]

Chuck and I definitely would be interested in sharing some form of transportation to the airport on Monday 4/2. As stated by my good friend, apurplebrat, we are on that 1:10 Delta flight as well.

Chris

I’m in. We can have our last spritz in the Venice airport. And of course post the what is In your glass photo . Btw: thoughts on my venice plans? What do you think of the Doge’s palace? Worth it?