The Med trips to take

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miken

Guest
Anyone got reccomendations for companies to use or trips to take when we do the Med cruise this summer on the Galaxy.
Good tour guides, taxi companies etc would be appreciated.
Anyone suggest a nice hotel in Rome to stay at prior to departure?
 
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PattyJ

Guest
I'm booked on the Milli. this summer going to the Med. I'd be interested in any suggestions too. We are leaving from Barcelona and had Celebrity book our pre-cruise hotel. Guess Everything there is expensive, so we just used Celebrity to book, That way we are pretty sure we will have good accomadations. Also think that we will need to get some Euros somewhere?? On the ship? Before we go?? Want to pick up some souveniors and want to use local currency.
 
K

kcpark

Guest
Although unsure of your itinerary, a quick review of ports visited on the Galaxy includes several I've visited and written reviews of.

You may be interested in the October 2003 Millennium cruise where I booked independent driver/guides for tours. (http://www.seacruisereviews.com/bycruisereview.asp?cruiseid=1056) In 2000 a friend and I sailed on the Olympia Voyager and visited some of the same ports as well as Istanbul, Rhodes and Egypt (Cairo) as well. (That review is no longer available on line, having been eliminated when the cruise line went out of business.)

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have, but offer this thought up front: if this is your first cruise, I suggest you book shore excursions through the cruise line rather than do it yourself. This and other forums may also tell of individuals who have already booked independent driver/guides and are looking for people to fill the seats in those vehicles.

Experienced travelers will get Euros in the airport terminal when they land. I'm experienced, but prefer to have my Euros before leaving for the cruise.

As far as Celebrity is concerned, I was very pleased with hotel accommodations in '03 and am confident that you will be as well if you book through the cruise line.
 
K

kcpark

Guest
Although unsure of your itinerary, a quick review of ports visited on the Galaxy includes several I've visited and written reviews of.

You may be interested in the October 2003 Millennium cruise where I booked independent driver/guides for tours. (http://www.seacruisereviews.com/bycruisereview.asp?cruiseid=1056) In 2000 a friend and I sailed on the Olympia Voyager and visited some of the same ports as well as Istanbul, Rhodes and Egypt (Cairo) as well. (That review is no longer available on line, having been eliminated when the cruise line went out of business.)

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have, but offer this thought up front: if this is your first cruise, I suggest you book shore excursions through the cruise line rather than do it yourself. This and other forums may also tell of individuals who have already booked independent driver/guides and are looking for people to fill the seats in those vehicles.

Experienced travelers will get Euros in the airport terminal when they land. I'm experienced, but prefer to have my Euros before leaving for the cruise.

As far as Celebrity is concerned, I was very pleased with hotel accommodations in '03 and am confident that you will be as well if you book through the cruise line.
 
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PattyJ

Guest
Kitty, if you got your Euros before leaving where did you get them at?? I don't like charging unless it something more on the expensive side. Maybe some shops or sellers won't take charge cards, then I'm out unless I have cash. Thanks for answering.
 
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PattyJ

Guest
Kitty, if you got your Euros before leaving where did you get them at?? I don't like charging unless it something more on the expensive side. Maybe some shops or sellers won't take charge cards, then I'm out unless I have cash. Thanks for answering.
 
K

kcpark

Guest
I had to get Euros from a Federal Reserve Bank. As I recall (haven't done it yet for this year's cruise), I contacted my local bank and was given the phone number of the nearest Federal Reserve Bank. Called them, told them how many Euros I wanted, the clerk told me how much they would cost (there's the exchange rate plus service fee....) and then processed the paperwork after debiting my my account and then sent the money to me.

At least that's the way I recall it happening. In any case, begin by calling your local bank. Another thought -- you might try AAA, although mine doesn't provide currency exchange service.
 
K

kcpark

Guest
I had to get Euros from a Federal Reserve Bank. As I recall (haven't done it yet for this year's cruise), I contacted my local bank and was given the phone number of the nearest Federal Reserve Bank. Called them, told them how many Euros I wanted, the clerk told me how much they would cost (there's the exchange rate plus service fee....) and then processed the paperwork after debiting my my account and then sent the money to me.

At least that's the way I recall it happening. In any case, begin by calling your local bank. Another thought -- you might try AAA, although mine doesn't provide currency exchange service.
 
J

Joanandjoe

Guest
Our Wind Surf Med. cruise probably had few ports in common with X. For Barcelona, use your feet, the subway, buses, and the arial tram, and do the city on your own. In Villefranche, we spendt some time wandering around the city, then took a great ship's excursion to St. Paul de Vence, where we placed a stone on Marc Chagall's grave. That's an old Jewish custom, and the arrangement of the stones for Chagall was itself a work of art.

Fed. Reserve for Euros? You've got to be kidding. AAA sells Euros and Euro traveler's checks. both in their offices and online. Our bank is Bank of America, and we used ATMs in France (Paribas Bank) and Barcelona (Barclay's) with no bank charge, since we used correspondent banks of Bank America. We could have ordered the Euros at our bank branch or online from Bank of America, but the cost would have been high.
 
J

Joanandjoe

Guest
Our Wind Surf Med. cruise probably had few ports in common with X. For Barcelona, use your feet, the subway, buses, and the arial tram, and do the city on your own. In Villefranche, we spendt some time wandering around the city, then took a great ship's excursion to St. Paul de Vence, where we placed a stone on Marc Chagall's grave. That's an old Jewish custom, and the arrangement of the stones for Chagall was itself a work of art.

Fed. Reserve for Euros? You've got to be kidding. AAA sells Euros and Euro traveler's checks. both in their offices and online. Our bank is Bank of America, and we used ATMs in France (Paribas Bank) and Barcelona (Barclay's) with no bank charge, since we used correspondent banks of Bank America. We could have ordered the Euros at our bank branch or online from Bank of America, but the cost would have been high.
 
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