Mediterranean Cruise

[mlfallis]

For our honeymoon my DH and I are going on a Mediterranean Cruise

These are the ports we hit:
Provence (Marseilles), France
Villefranche (Nice), France
jaccio, Corsica
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Naples, Capri, Italy
Tunis, Tunisia


In addition we have about 3 days of our own time to spend in Barcelona, Spain.

We have booked most of our tours through the cruice line (Royal Carribbean) however we need to decide what to do in Barcelona and we have a half day in Nice to explore as we want.

Now for the questions:
1 ~ Any recommendations for Barcelona? (Attractions and Dinning)
2 ~ Any recommendations for Nice? (Attractions only)
3 ~ How much cash in Euros would you suggest we take? How much in travellers cheques?
4 ~ Anything else you think we should know before our trip.

We leave in less than a month, so I just want to make sure I am not forgetting anything.

TIA

[tlew12778]

Nice is one of our favorite cities to visit. We just came back from there actually. I would spend the half day walking around the old city. It's mostly pedestrian only and it's small enough that you don't really need a map. A walking tour (from a guide like Frommer's or something) can take a couple hours. Then if you want to shop, I would head over to Avenue Jean Medicin and the side streets of Place Massena. You should definitely walk along the Promenade des Anglais. There is also a cool botanical garden near the airport (sort of out of the way if you are on foot though). I heard that that the greenhouse is the most technologically advanced in all of Europe.

Barcelona, I have to say, disappointed me. It's nice to walk around and see, but the food isn't great and the Ramblas is overrated IMO. You should stroll down it just to do it, but there is nothing really worth seeing there bc it's SO touristy. The sex museum was funny but not really worth it (we were bored and trying to get out of the rain when we were there). Just lots of pics of the Kama Sutra illustrations. I would spend the time checking out the Gaudi houses and the Sagrada Familia (although, you should decide if you want to spend the money to get in or not... it's just a construction zone but you get a panoramic view of the city and can see the details of the facade from the roof).

For shopping, I would just use a CC and not use cash. Make sure you have picture ID with you as a lot of stores ask for it now. Also, make sure you get your tax back form if you spend a lot (each country has their own limit... Italy is 153 euro, but I don't know what it is in France or Spain). I would avoid traveller's cheques altogether. Some people gave us TCs as gifts for our wedding and I am having the HARDEST time converting them. My bank won't even convert them for me. I have to go to Amex and there is only one here with limited hours. If your ATM card is on the Cirrus network, it will work in most ATMs you find in Europe. Just make sure your bank allows international withdrawals and you're all set.

[mlfallis]

Thanks Tiffany.

Barcelona wasn't our first choice of cities to spend so much time in, just the way things worked out. Any ideas on where to find a good map?

[meatpie]

Your hotel should have a good map in Barcelona, but if you don't want to wait a travel guide should have one. I agree with the La Sagrada Familia. It is amazing.

Also, you might take in a futbol/soccer match in Barcelona. That's what the hus and I would do with a few extra days!!

Nice - The Village of Eze is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. It's perched on a rock overlooking a mountain, can only be walked into and out of, and has an amazing hotel and restaurant with views to die for. Also Aix en Provence was a favorite of ours, but we got there from Marseilles. Not sure on how easily accessible it is from Nice.

[mlfallis]

Thanks Meatpie.

Aix en Provence is actually one of our trips we take with the cruise ship.

I think I may wait for the hotel's map. No where around here seems to have one I can buy and I really don't want to have to pay shipping on one that we could just get there for free.

[meatpie]

You'll love Aix en Provence!!

Have you tried the message boards at http://www.cruisecritic.com/??? They helped us a ton when plannign our honeymoon. Have a wonderful time. We did a similar cruise on Holland America for our honeymoon.

[tlew12778]

Google maps. They are awesome. You can do a screen capture and print out the sections you are interested in. Otherwise, the tourist office will always have free maps. You can always find them in the center of town. In Barcelona there is more than one along the Ramblas.

[tlew12778]

Oh and Villefranche (sur mer) is not Nice. It's actually a small town slightly east of Nice. You'd want a car to get to Nice actually. I think there is a train too but then you'd be at the whim of the train schedule and I don't know how well that would work with your cruise. I think that the only thing Villefranche has to offer is a castle. I don't remember precisely bc I was there last November and didn't bother stopping there again on my last trip.

[mlfallis]

I think we tender in from our cruise to Villefranche and head to Nice on our tours.

Thanks for all the heads up you guys, it has been really helpfull.

[DisneyGirl]

I was thinking about going on a mediterranean tour for my anniversary and was wondering how long is the cruise? 1 week/2 week

Thanks

come back and Let us know how your trip was.

[mlfallis]

Our cruise is 8 days plus we have 3 nights in Barcelona, 2 before and 1 after the cruise.

I will be sure to report back.

[DisneyGirl]

Thanks mlfallis

[mollyeilis]

Have you looked at www.ricksteves.com? I'm local to his store, so I watch his PBS show all the time and visit semi-regularly, but he does have an online store.

spain and portugal map (http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=117&id=210), the '06 Spain book (http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=12&id=265)...he also has the graffiti wall (http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti_menu.htm) for people to post their tips and info. :)