DIY Mediterranean port excursions: Pros, cons & costs

Exploring port cities and nearby locales after setting down anchor is part of the joy of cruising.

But it can also be quite expensive, with guided excursions by cruise operators costing as much as nearly $300 CAD per person. Cruise-led excursions also don’t allow you to explore at your own pace or go off the beaten path.

Planning your own excursions is a great way to roam on your schedule, for far cheaper. Here are our top suggestions for DIY port excursions on the Mediterranean, and the pros and cons of doing so.

The pros and cons of DIY excursions

Pro: You have tons of flexibility

If you’re someone who likes to take your time, explore the side streets and stop for lunch, planning DIY excursions is for you. Going it alone also means that you’re often less likely to be stuck in the middle of a large crowd.

“The other thing I like about touring on my own is what I call the happy accidents,” says the host of The Independent Cruiser, a YouTube channel dedicated to DIY excursions. “It’s the little pizza place you stumble upon in Naples; it’s the gelato place in Rome.”

“Things that you wouldn’t have if you were moving in this big, organized tour.”

Con: You do all the planning

A huge advantage of organized tours is that you don’t have to lift a finger. Your stops, tour guide and schedule are all planned by the cruise line, leaving you with nothing to do but enjoy the tour. With DIY excursions, you have to attend to all the details.

Pro: You have tons of flexibility

DIY excursions are generally far more affordable than cruise-led excursions. For instance, a cruise-led excursion from the Port of Naples to Pompeii, may cost as much as 280 CAD per person, whereas a DIY excursion may cost less than half that amount.

Con: If you’re late, you’re left!

Cruise ships must pull anchor and leave port under strict deadlines. If you happen to make it back to the port late after touring on your own, the ship won’t wait for you.

But if you are on a cruise-guided tour that runs over time, the ship will stay docked until the group returns. If you are DIY touring, you can easily avoid being left by allowing a two to three hour time buffer to arrive back at the port.

Also, if there is a public transit delay, be prepared to pay for high ride share or taxi costs to get back to the port on time.

When it’s best to plan a DIY tour

If your port is in a historic, walkable Mediterranean city with lots to see, then it’s definitely best to explore on your own. Since you don’t have to travel outside of the city, the risk of running late is lower and you won’t have to incur transit costs.

For example, Old Town Corfu, a Greek UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Venetian architecture and fortresses, is perfect for a self-guided tour.

The Neo Limani port is only about a mile from the historic area, an optimal distance for a DIY tour. You can walk or take a free shuttle bus from the port.

If your port is far away, and you can’t factor in time for transit back with a two to three-hour buffer; it’s best to book a cruise excursion.

To DIY or not DIY: Top Mediterranean cities and best tour options

Check out how factors such as cost of transportation and distance from the nearest port, could impact your next DIY tour in these major Mediterranean cities. Use this chart as a handy planning guide.

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	Rome	Barcelona	Santorini	Florence
Distance to the city center	More than 80 km from the port in Civitavecchia.	The Port of Barcelona is directly south of the historic Gothic Quarter and El Raval neighborhoods.	Cruise ships can’t dock in the Port of Fira. Instead, passengers are ferried to shore. To get to the Santorini historic district from the port, ascend more than 270 meters of cliff face via a cable car, or foot paths.	Roughly 90km from the Port of Livorno.
Best DIY transit method	A trenitalia express train. Balances cost, speed and reliability	Rideshare via Cabify, Bolt, FreeNow	Cable car	Several independent companies operate tour buses for cruise passengers. They are cheaper than cruise line excursions and monitor your ship’s schedule, so that you can avoid being left behind.
Estimated Round trip cost	€9.20	€30 to €50	€20 adults and older children €10.00 Children 6-12	Starting around €29–€30 per person
Walkability to transit or the city (1-5)	3 You will have to factor in a walk of just under 2km from the dock to the train station and back.	5 A rideshare can drop you off close to the ship, and at a Barcelona address of your choice.	5 The cable car drops you off directly in the historic district of Santorini. Or, you can walk the steep, cliff side paths if time and weather allows.	5 You are picked up and dropped off directly.
Don’t be late! Port transit risk level (High, Medium, Low)	High Factor in transit stops and delays. A ride on the express Trenitalia line is roughly an hour and 15 minutes one way, with five stops.	Low Factor in traffic. The drive is only roughly 20 minutes one way.	Medium Factor in ride times and lines. While the ferry and cable car rides are only minutes, the lines can be extremely long during peak times. And the process of prepping and docking the boat is time consuming.	Medium Factor in a 15-minute shuttle ride from port to Livorno city center to catch your bus to Florence and back. Before you can board your independent bus transfer, you must take a port-operated shuttle from your ship to the center of Florence. The Port of Livorno is highly industrial, so walking freely is prohibited. The shuttle will drop you off in Livorno city, where you will board your bus. An independent shuttle that offers a guarantee of monitoring cruise departure times is highly recommended over ride shares or public transit.

Buy travel insurance to help avoid costly travel mistakes

Why trip cancellation coverage may be valuable

Travel insurance with trip cancellations benefits can save you thousands. You never know when an unavoidable emergency or delay will upend your travel plans.

Let’s say you booked your dream Mediterranean cruise but you or your child is diagnosed with a stomach virus days before your departure.

If your cruise tickets or airfare for a flight to the port are non-refundable, travel insurance may help by reimbursing trip costs.

An Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance plan with trip cancellation benefits could make the difference between postponing your trip for another day, or losing precious vacation funds.

Why you should consider emergency medical coverage

You should know that your provincial or territorial health insurance may not fully protect you if you experience a medical emergency outside of your home province or territory.

Also, many health care providers abroad require proof of ability to pay — such as travel insurance — before treatment. An Allianz Global Assistance Travel Insurance plan with emergency medical benefits may prevent you from incurring costly medical expenses due to both minor illness and major emergencies.

Get a travel insurance quote today to find out how we can help you travel with peace of mind.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, financial, or other professional advice. Allianz Global Assistance is not responsible for the use of external websites or the content or accuracy of external website information.