Oceania Cruises

cruisingfun · January 18, 2007

Good Afternoon:

My husband & I are planning an Oceania Cruise this Summer from Barcelona to Athens. The ship will offer ports of call in Provence, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Rome, Amalfi, Messina, Valletta and Santorini. Though we have traveled to Rome and Florence (on land trips), I am not that familiar as to "have to see" sights in the other ports. We plan on spending 2 nights prior to the cruise in Barcelona and 2 nights after the cruise in Athens.

Any ideas on what to see & do would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Terry

cruisingfun · January 18, 2007

Good Afternoon:

My husband & I are planning an Oceania Cruise this Summer from Barcelona to Athens. The ship will offer ports of call in Provence, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Rome, Amalfi, Messina, Valletta and Santorini. Though we have traveled to Rome and Florence (on land trips), I am not that familiar as to "have to see" sights in the other ports. We plan on spending 2 nights prior to the cruise in Barcelona and 2 nights after the cruise in Athens.

Any ideas on what to see & do would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Terry

SMB · January 19, 2007

Terry,

There was a cruisecrazies thread about this topic sometime in early November. I tried looking back, but the archive does not seem to go back far enough unless there is something I'm not doing right. Joeyand David recently got back from the same trip or close to it I think. They will have better tips. I lived in Rome for a bit and have traveled Italy a great deal. I can give you tips on Italy items including some "less seen" places around Rome and Florence. Let me know your interets, and I'll come up with some ideas. As for the south of France, you can't go wrong. Outside of Monte Carlo is a small hilltop town called Eze... a must see. In Athens, you should do the normal tourist stuff (Acropolis, Agora, shopping in the Plaka). You have to. Do not miss the national archaeology museum... one of the best in the world! If time and still interested, the Benaki Museum is also good and the military/war museum down the street is very interesting if you like weapons from the ancient period to WWII. Right outside Athens is the Monastery of Dafni.. another must see if time permits.

SMB

SMB · January 19, 2007

Terry,

There was a cruisecrazies thread about this topic sometime in early November. I tried looking back, but the archive does not seem to go back far enough unless there is something I'm not doing right. Joeyand David recently got back from the same trip or close to it I think. They will have better tips. I lived in Rome for a bit and have traveled Italy a great deal. I can give you tips on Italy items including some "less seen" places around Rome and Florence. Let me know your interets, and I'll come up with some ideas. As for the south of France, you can't go wrong. Outside of Monte Carlo is a small hilltop town called Eze... a must see. In Athens, you should do the normal tourist stuff (Acropolis, Agora, shopping in the Plaka). You have to. Do not miss the national archaeology museum... one of the best in the world! If time and still interested, the Benaki Museum is also good and the military/war museum down the street is very interesting if you like weapons from the ancient period to WWII. Right outside Athens is the Monastery of Dafni.. another must see if time permits.

SMB

JohnG · January 19, 2007

You may want to read my review here on the site of the Oceania Nautica cruise we did last August.

Ours included Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Taormina, Amalfi, Valleta, and Athens.

We spent two days in Barcelona, staying at the Hotel Royal on the Ramblas. In Marseilles. we rode city buses and shopped. In Monte Carlo we caught the train to Nice and the beach there, but next time I'd suggest Villefrance instead. Florence and Rome you know. I could have spent more time in Florence. Beautiful city. And the Tuscan countryside. Amalfi is a quaint town built on the side of the mountain. Lots of shops, an old church, an sidewalk cafes. Some people take an excursion to Positano from there. Valleta is hilly, but you can walk much of it. We saw the churches, about 1 every block, and viewed a film of the history of Malta in a museum overlooking the harbor.

Our cruise was in August, and while Spain, France and Monte Carlo were moderate temperatures, it got very hot for the days in Rome, Florence, Amalfi, Taormina, Valletta and Athens. The locals had all gone to the countryside and the cities were not crowded. Taorminia is reachable from Messina. A resort town built up on the mountainside, with an old Roman theatre, lots of shops and restaurants, and the view of Mt Etna.

JohnG · January 19, 2007

You may want to read my review here on the site of the Oceania Nautica cruise we did last August.

Ours included Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Taormina, Amalfi, Valleta, and Athens.

We spent two days in Barcelona, staying at the Hotel Royal on the Ramblas. In Marseilles. we rode city buses and shopped. In Monte Carlo we caught the train to Nice and the beach there, but next time I'd suggest Villefrance instead. Florence and Rome you know. I could have spent more time in Florence. Beautiful city. And the Tuscan countryside. Amalfi is a quaint town built on the side of the mountain. Lots of shops, an old church, an sidewalk cafes. Some people take an excursion to Positano from there. Valleta is hilly, but you can walk much of it. We saw the churches, about 1 every block, and viewed a film of the history of Malta in a museum overlooking the harbor.

Our cruise was in August, and while Spain, France and Monte Carlo were moderate temperatures, it got very hot for the days in Rome, Florence, Amalfi, Taormina, Valletta and Athens. The locals had all gone to the countryside and the cities were not crowded. Taorminia is reachable from Messina. A resort town built up on the mountainside, with an old Roman theatre, lots of shops and restaurants, and the view of Mt Etna.