We did not do a tour instead we took the transfer bus for a cost of USD10 each into town and spent a few hours wandering around all the little lanes. While we felt lost at times we happened across so many quaint sights. Found the windmills more by good luck than good management. Headed back to the ship early afternoon as we felt we had seen all we needed to see. 


Mykonos

A tour to Ephesus is a must, take lots of water and an umbrella as there is alot of walking to be done and its very hot in summer. Our tour, The Best of Ephesus with lunch was quite fast, the guide provided excellent information, but you move at a fastish pace, so if you want to take lots of photos or look more closely you almost need to break off the group to do so. Its hard to believe you are allowed to get so up close and personal with this site as so many others you are confined to roped areas. 
Lunch was a buffet, at a seaside resort, very processed tourist like, but the resort was beautiful. 
Carpet making display was good, but they spent too much time making you feel welcome and getting you drinks- realise its the culture but if you want to buy a carpet it adds pressure time wise. You need to do your homework if you want to purchase a carpet, size, go with colour swatches and a budget in mind. Hard to know if the prices were a great buy, bargaining was a bit intimidating when you are out of practice. We did not buy in the end as we felt we had not done enough homework before we went there. The bazaar near the ship was quite lively, I am sure it would have been easier to handle had we been in Turkey for an extended stay, but fresh off a relaxed day on the boat it was a bit overwhelming!! 
Shopkeepers are very hospitable, before you know it you will be sitting down drink in hand while they show you their wares! And if you don't appear interested in what they have they will march you down to their other store where they have different things..my goodness its hard to get off the ride once you are on. Got to try on some beautiful jewellery, even though I made it very clear I was not buying! Did buy a beautiful genuine miniaturist painting on camel bone, but it was not a bargain. 
Certainly a place I would go back to for an extended visit. 


Kusadasi

We did a short tour Athens Sightseeing- 4 hours. It was short and sweet and just enough for us. Commentary of sights as we drove to the Acropolis. A tour of the Acropolis, its was very crowded. Toilet stop at the bottom of the climb with very long queues to use the ladies. After our guided tour we had about 3/4 hour free time to have a look about and be back down to the meeting point to get back on the bus. 
We did have an opportunity to leave the tour in the shopping district but we did not know that was an option until we were on the tour. Celebrity staff were available at the city drop off point to give you details of how you could make your own way back to the ship.I would have done this if I had been aware this was an option prior to the excursion. 
Bus ride back to the ship offered some further sightseeing. 


Athens (Piraeus)

My husband did the Taste of Sorrento and Pompeii tour. Everything about it was excellent, especially getting to taste the fresh Mozarella. 
I took the complementary shuttle into Salerno. Did not know this was an option til I read the 'Celebrity Today'. Forgot to allow for Siesta time and sadly most shops were shut. 



Naples

As we had been sick a hot day in Rome (it was 40C with 85% humidity) was the last thing needed so we changed our tour to Pasta making. We went to a local ecoworld hotel resort www.tenutadellargento.com 
This was so much fun, everyone was aproned up and got there hands into the dough. No machines, we did it the old fashioned way. We got to eat the pasta we made for lunch! 
Complimentary buses were available from the ship pier to the port gates which is close to Civitavecchia town centre. 


Rome (Civitavecchia)

Florence and Pisa tour (LV05A) 
Bus trip into Florence stops to use toilet facilities on the way as there were no facilities available til we stopped for lunch. 
A hot day and we covered lots of pavement! Alas our Florence guides microphone was a waste of time. Unless you were up close it was hard to hear what she was saying. The walking tour was interesting, once again had to move off the group to explore further, it was just a commentated walking tour. Stopped at a leather shop, good quality, higher priced leather. Too little time to make a considered purchase (we had 45 minutes). Smaller shops nearby had cheaper priced/lesser quality leatherwear. 
Lunch was excellent. 
Drove back to the ship via the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Was a long walk from the palking to the tower. Were escorted to the entrance of the field of miracles and had free time to explore the outside. 


Florence (Livorno)

Suite 1202. Sports Deck. Close to elevators and stairs down to the buffet restaurant. Very small balcony. Good storage space. Bathroom a bit tired- silicone visible to seal around counter top.  DVD player, movies available on request, get in quickly for best selection. 
12 floor a reasonably quiet deck, just occasional people up on the deck above, they can see down into the balcony as balconys extend out beyond the deck above. Being near the entry to the 12th floor from the outside decks it was quieter than I would have expected.

Our cabin size was just adequate for the 3 of us when the sofa bed was made up.Our son just had the soft drink package and I am sure he made the most of that, and he always found a spare bottle of water in the fridge in our room.

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