We'll be doing our third med cruise from venice to Barcelona on norwegian. Quite a bit less expensive than previous two on princess. The food can't be that bad to pass up the savings. Besides with 10 portts in 12 days well barely be on the boat less be in our cabin.

First trip, went with ship excursions. Second trip all on our own. Considerable savings (100s per port) and freedom and it appears ship excursions have climbed in last 3 years.

To do on your own, you have to do a bit of research. Google what you want to do. Like how to I visit Vatican and coliseum from civitavechhia cruise port. Many have gone before you. Some leave very detailed bread crumbs. Write those crumbs down on index card for each port. You can buy entrance to Vatican and other cities museums online in advance. Print on high quality as we found readers in Istanbul needed high resolution bar codes. Quite a story to get in with lousy printouts.

What ports are you going to, what do you want to see? My way is amazing race vice sitting captive in a motor coach.