jandi's Tips

Calvi, Corsica - Beach is clean. Water is clear. 10 minutes walk to the left for the ship tender area.

Monte Carlo, Monaco - The casino opens at 2:00 pm without an afternoon dress code. It costs 10 Euros to enter the main casino and you must give them your passport to scan.

Saint Raphael, France - We used tenders which were quick...Nice town with lots of shopping. They set off fireworks which we saw from our balcony right before the ship left.

Barcelona, Spain - Embarkation with Holland America with a Delta flight was fast and easy. We got our boarding passes and turned in our luggage right at the cruise terminal.

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy - This is a long day if you go into Florence. Pisa was a tourist trap area with tons of vendors. If it wasn't part of the Holland America tour I would say to skip the Leaning Tower...

Palermo, Sicily - Palermo Street For tour - find it online though Viator was great. 15 minute walk form the pier to the Massimo Theater meeting place and then a delicious guided walk tasting food in the market and form street vendors in Palermo.

Olbia, Sardinia - Crystal clear waters at a nearby beach. Free shuttle into town parking lot and then 5 Euros round trip to Pittu Longu beach.

Naples, Italy - The island of Capri is magnificent. High speed ferry gets you there in a hour.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - We organized a private car through rome-airport.net. 125 Euros each way. Driver picked us up right under the ship to go to the Colosseum. Rome is a must do!

Rhodes, Greece - Medieval fortress town with excellent beaches!

Santorini, Greece - This island is a dream. It looks even better than the pictures you see. Take a tour. There is so much more to see than just the whitewashed house in Oia.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey - The ruins in Ephesus have only been 10% excavated and the area is huge. Go to a carpet making demonstration. It is so interesting to see what the local women produce by hand, and they do take no for an answer when you don't want to buy.

Mykonos, Greece - A mini Santorini with less cliffs but the same whitewashed look and narrow streets.

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece - Magna Grecia farm visit was excellent. You get a little bored of the normal site seeing on a long trip so visiting a working olive oil farm and eating local foods was fun.

Nafplion (Nauplion), Greece - Another beautiful Greek town. As you face the town from the ship there is an absolutely stunning walkway along the water to your far right that leads you to a free beach. It takes about 30 minutes to get there.

Venice, Italy - We stayed at a small hotel - Hotel Antiche Figure in a quieter (Santa Croce) section of Venice. The hotel location and staff were superb! Buffet breakfast outside on their waterfront terrace was so scenic. Water taxis drop off/pick up right at the door and gondolas are right outside the hotel doors as well. We recommend an evening gondola ride when the canals are peaceful.

Piraeus (Athens), Greece - Expect heat and crowds at the Acropolis in Athens. What a spectacular site the Parthenon is.

Zuiderdam - In Barcelona, book a Delta flight and use their transport to the airport. It makes disembarkation very easy!