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Eastern Mediterranean Cruise

2 Jun 2010 Explorer1185927 said

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I did the Eastern Mediterranean cruise and since I haven't seen reviews of it, I thought I'd give my experiences. A little background--this was my 1st Contiki and I didn't do any travel before or after. So my experiences may or may not be helpfulSmiler

I loved it, it was the trip of a lifetime. You see completely different things every day and it is a crazy week! Silvia, the tour manager, is fabulous. She is very knowledgeable, she managed a large group of us and she is very fun!

The included tours are in Israel and Egypt. They don't give you much option to not do the tours in these places. But they were really great days. The guides are helpful, though bring your i-pod to listen to music while they drone on for hours on the way to the sites!
Istanbul isn't included in the price, but the optional tour isn't actually all that optional. They tell you that you basically must do it. We had a few go off on their own to explore and they saw just as much, if not more, than the organized tour did. It is up to you, but the traffic and drivers are crazy (so plan to walk) and you might miss some of the explanation of places if you go off on your own. But to go at your own pace would be nice. The Grand Bazaar is an experience not to be missed--get on your haggling hat! I wish I would have bought more there.

The optional tours are: Istanbul, Mykonos (a 30 min boat ride to Delios-birthplace of Apollo and Artemis), Crete (see an overview of the island and visit an olive oil farm). Those that took the optional tours loved them, those that didn't had a great time and didn't regret not taking them--so it is up to you. If you don't go on the optionals in Mykonos or Crete you usually go to the beaches and just walk around the town.

You can go inside the Pyramids for about 6 Euros. You should if you can--they say it is small, dark, narrow and claustrophobic. And it probably is. But when else will you get the chance? You will have enough time to get your pictures of the outside--go in if you can. You need Egyptian pounds though, no euros accepted.

Advice and misc thoughts:

Internet: It is available on the ship for 15 Euros an hour--too expensive for most. You can check in Athens and on Mykonos for much cheaper.

Accommodations: We stayed at the President hotel in Athens. It was very nice, and not too far from the metro stations. I walked to Syntagma Square/Plaka District/Acropolis easily (15 min walk). Breakfast is standard fare, but pretty good. Ship rooms are small, but nice. Everyone said it was luxury compared to typical Contiki accommodationsSmiler I had my own room and was happy with that overall. The rooms have 220 or 110 volts (so European or American dryers, chargers and curling/straightening irons work in the outlets). Rooms have hair dryers in them.

Food: Breakfast on the ship is exactly the same every single day. Not bad, but you will be tired of it by the end. Dinners are great, lunches were hit or miss. Lots of variety though.

Money: I got Turkish lira, Egyptian pounds, and Israeli shekels before the trip. Don't do it. It is more of a pain than it is worth and every place took Euros or American dollars. Get enough Euros to get you through a few days, and then take money out as you go. The ship will exchange money and the exchange rate isn't bad--but you are still better off doing it on shore (you won't have time in Istanbul, Egypt or Israel likely though). The one time you will need local currency is if you decide to go into the Pyramids. And you should--they say it isn't worth it, but this is your one opportunity--do it.

Dress: Don't overpack, but you will need dress for everything. The ship can get cool so you will want long sleeves and pants. Days on shore were hot in May, so bring cool clothes. The formal night isn't that formal, just bring semi-dressy stuff. Our group partied at the disco and bars every night so needed fun clothes too. Please keep in mind that the churches and mosques require everyone to have knees and shoulders covered. It is a respect thing. The Blue Mosque will give you a wrap if you aren't dressed properly (and you really don't want that). Ladies, if your shoulders are covered, please don't have your breasts hanging out instead--it defeats the purpose. And shorts/skirts/capri's really do need to be below the knee--not just at it.

Visas: The cruise ship takes care of all the visas needed. You give them your passport on the first day and they keep it for safekeeping and immigration procedures(it feels, strange--I know). They will give you a card for Turkey, you get the passport back for Israel and Egypt with a card and you turn it back into them. No need to worry beforehand about visas if these are your only stops. If you add another tour it may be different.

Slight warning: The guys at the Pyramids with their camels are crazy. They will grab you, try to run you down, and won't leave you alone. Negotiate before you get on a camel, have a friend take a picture, and then get off quick. We had people get taken off walking and the guys will demand 50-80 Euros to let you off. And they fight with each other--it is scary, so be prepared if you want to try the camelsSmiler
The selling is very aggressive there--kids and adults. They also want to take your picture with your camera for money, so be prepared. The guards do it too--not a big deal, just know.

Overall, you do not have a lot of free time on the excursions. You are taken to one shop to buys things on each tour (Israel and Egypt). In Turkey you basically shop in the Bazaar. The islands are more free time.

It was a grand adventure and you will have a blast!

Let me know if you have any additional questions!

  • 12 Jun 2010 Jessica.Liddycoat said

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    I was just wondering, when you are in Istanbul do you pay for the tour, on the website it makes it sound as if it were included.

    In terms of the currency, I also made the mistake last year on a contiki of converting money to turkish lira before leaving…apart from the money for the pyramids, will I require local currency in Israel or Egypt at any other time? Thank you for the review, it was very helpful!

  • 4 Jul 2010 Lizzie_Hayden said

    Lizzie_Hayden

    Thanks, great review!

    I cant wait now!!!

  • 5 Jul 2010 YASMIN said

    YASMIN

    Thanks for your detailed description! I’m taking this tour on Aug. 11 and was wondering how it was going to work. I’ve been on two other Contiki trips, but never on a cruise. I have a couple of questions if its okay with you. 1) What is the dress code for Turkey, Israel & Egypt? 2)Did you get to interact with the other people on the tour? 3)Do you leave your luggage on the cabin when you go to the day trips? 4) What is the weather like? On the boat? 5) When you arrived in Athens, How far was the airport to the hotel? Did you take a taxi?
    -I know it’s a lot of questions…Sorry Smiler<!--graemlin::)-->

  • 9 Jul 2010 ExplorerLDA1982 said

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    Thanks for the review! It’s really helpful!
    I just wanted to clarify, you really don’t need anything besides Euros or US dollars in the ports? Except to go inside the pyramids? All the vendors and shops took Euros and US dollars? It just makes me nervous arriving without any of the country’s currency…but it’s good to know they exchange on the boat just in case…

  • 13 Jul 2010 Explorer1083452 said

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    Hi – just wondering what they do with entry and exit stamps in Israel? I do know that a lot of countries won’t let you in to their countries if you have evidence of visiting Israel whatsoever. This is stamps in your passport, restaurant/hotel receipts, Israeli money and may even go as far as Customs searching your bags and even checking your facebook for pictures. Happened to a friend of mine, she was denied entry to Egypt and the UAE for having evidence of visiting Israel.

    Sorry to ramble on, my question basically was do they stamp your passport or give any indication you’ve been there? I’m so keen to go to Jerusalem but this has stopped me in the past! Any advice would be fantastic!

  • 14 Jul 2010 GatorBrett1 said

    GatorBrett1

    I definitely know Egypt and Jordan allow both Israeli passport and stamps. UAE definitely allows Israeli stamps, but I am not sure if they recognize their passport. Other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran won’t let you in with evidence of either.

    That sucks for what happened to your friend. My only guess is that they thought she was a spy!

  • 15 Jul 2010 Explorer1083452 said

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    Yeah – I was just wondering how they go about it on this particular tour as it is part of my round the world trip and I don’t want to run into any trouble if I do this tour.

  • 26 Aug 2010 KatElmore said

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    Thank you so much for this review!! I’m trying to get a feel of how much money to bring. One review said $500 US dollars. If you don’t mind me asking, how much money did you spend while you were there?

  • 1 Sep 2010 MichelleF13 said

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    Amazing review thank you!!! I am planning this tour next summer some time..

    I had one question about the optionals if anyone can help me. The only one that seemed of interst to me is the sightseeing tour in Athens I was wondering if anyone did this and can help me out?

    Thank you Smiler<!--graemlin::)-->

  • 1 Sep 2010 Stacy said

    Stacy

    @Michelle: If that’s the only one you are interested in, I would recommend doing it on your own if you have time in Athens before or after the cruise. The tour is basically only the Acropolis and then a short driving tour of the city, with a quick 5 min. stop at the Olympic Stadium for a picture.
    If you have your own time to explore, I think you’ll be happier with doing it on your own!

  • 2 Sep 2010 MichelleF13 said

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    Thank you Stacy

  • 9 Jan 2011 AlnJon said

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    Wanting to hear from people who did this trip. Am just wondering if they felt they had enough time in Egypt/Isreal to experience it? We want to do a cruise like this but we are really keen to see as much as Egypt as we can and are concerned that: -

    (a) we will do the cruise and have another week in egypt booked and when the cruise is over think “that was plenty we shouldn’t have booked to go back” or

    (b) finish the cruise and say “bugger I wish we booked for more time in Egypt”

    Thoughts?

  • 10 Jan 2011 Marilou said

    Marilou

    Thank you so much for the review, now I really can’t wait for my departure in September Smiler<!--graemlin::)-->

  • 10 Jan 2011 YASMIN said

    YASMIN

    @ AlnJon

    I took this trip in Aug 2010. Regarding your question about Egypt, You are only there for a day. It takes hours to get to the city of Cairo (lots of traffic) and you do not spend too much time at the pyramids. (Just enough to take pictures) Then, they take you to the Egyptian museum for about an hour. If I were you, I would ditch the guide and explore on my own.
    Just make sure you get to see King Tuts Treasure! (but they don’t let you take your camera)Then they take you to eat on a boat down the Nile River and a gift shop and after that, its a long ride to the Port in Alexandria and then back to the boat. Personally, I wouldn’t go back to Egypt, Contiki takes you to the most important places (Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum) but that’s just my opinion.
    As for Israel, I loved it and would definitely go back on my own, because there isn’t enough time to see everything and the tour guides do not let you wander by yourself. You spend half a day in Bethlehem and the other in Jerusalem, but like I said, there isn’t enough time to explore. They didn’t even let us stop to shop in the Old City, because of time issues.

  • 10 Jan 2011 YASMIN said

    YASMIN

    By the way, DO NOT BOOK THE EXCURSION AT DELOS!!!! IT IS A WASTE OF TIME,Unless you like looking at rocks! If you do this excursion you will not have enough time to explore the island. It’s my only regret about this trip!!!!!!!

  • 25 Jan 2011 ShellyG said

    ShellyG

    Great review! I’ll be going September 21st, and reading this has made me so much more excited! Thanks!

  • 1 Mar 2011 Explorer1230675 said

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    Thanks everyone for the advice. My husband and I are doing this trip end of July 2011, and I’m so nervous on what to expect, yet so excited! :)

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