Don't Make This Ticket Mistake in Pisa! | Cruise Excursion Advice

Honest Marella Cruise Pisa Excursion Guide: Costs, Crowds & Tips Welcome back to Marion And Me! In today's travel vlog, we are taking you on a day two, night three shore excursion to the iconic city of Pisa, Italy, during our Mediterranean cruise onboard the Marella Explorer 2. If you have ever wondered whether booking ship excursions is worth the money, or if you should attempt to navigate Italian ports on your own, we are breaking down the entire experience, from the total costs to the travel times and crowd control. Our day begins with a 45-minute coach ride from the port of Livorno directly to Pisa, which cost us £62 each. Upon arrival, we meet up with our brilliant tour guide, Luca, who provided fantastic commentary, history, and structure for the group. He even hooked us up with lanyards and audio earpieces so we could listen to his live presentation dynamically. However, we decided to break away from the organized group tour, "go rogue," and explore the historic sights at our own pace—which is completely allowed! We step directly into the breathtaking Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli). We give you a complete, up-close look at the stunning architecture from the outside, including the Baptistry, the massive Cathedral (Duomo), and of course, the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Along the way, we share essential safety tips for tourists visiting this area, including warnings about local pickpockets and street sellers (the "lucky lucky men") trying to place bracelets on your wrists. We also uncover a few crucial travel mistakes we made so you can avoid them on your trip! For example, we learned the hard way that you cannot buy entry tickets at the Baptistry doors; instead, you have to purchase them at the central ticket office located opposite at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. Because of the heavy school trip crowds and massive queues, we decided to stick to an outdoor architectural tour, which was absolutely beautiful given the perfect weather. We even point out a hilarious, futuristic automated lawn mower keeping the grass pristine! After practicing our best "enigmatic" expressions and struggling through the classic, touristy photo shoot trying to hold up the leaning tower, we escape the main crowds to wander the authentic backstreets of Pisa. We explore the local neighborhoods, look at the unique flats with owl pictures on the shutters, and search for a great, non-rip-off local café for a quick Italian coffee and pizza. Finally, we weigh the pros and cons of staying in the industrial working port city of Livorno versus taking a compact 4-hour excursion out to the monuments of Pisa. If this Marella Explorer 2 shore excursion review helps you plan your next European cruise vacation, please make sure to drop a like on the video, leave a comment with your favorite travel memory, and subscribe to Marion And Me for more honest cruise vlogs and travel guides! CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The Leaning Tower Photo Struggle (Intro) 00:59 - Marella Explorer 2 Pisa Excursion Cost & Travel Time 01:37 - Entering the Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli) 02:29 - Crucial Tourist Safety Tips: Avoiding Pickpockets & Scams 02:53 - The Ticket Office Mistake: How to Get Inside the Baptistry 04:12 - Going Rogue: Leaving the Ship Tour to Explore Individually 06:12 - Driving from Livorno & Strategic US Military Base Facts 08:22 - Up Close with the Leaning Tower of Pisa & Toilets Hack 09:22 - Hilarious Banter: Attempting the Iconic Leaning Tower Photo 12:44 - Spotting the Automated Da Vinci Lawn Mower 13:41 - Exploring Authentic Pisa Backstreets & Architecture 15:00 - Finding Coffee & Pizza: Final Verdict on the Excursion About Marion And Me: We are a mature couple sharing honest travel advice, cruise reviews (Marella & Virgin), and tips for the over 50s. Join our weekly adventures as we explore hidden gems in Spain and beyond! As you can see, we are not slick and professional. We are ordinary people trying to live our best life in an authentic way. We try to show: 🌍 Couples Fun Adventures across Spain, Greece, and beyond. 🚢 Honest Cruise Reviews (Virgin Voyages, Marella, Fred Olsen). 🇪🇸 Benidorm Travel Tips for active seniors and families. 🎒 Travel Hacks for packing, budget luxury, and slow travel. 👉 Subscribe for more 'epic' videos: http://bit.ly/3PG2Dts #marellacruises #cruise #cruisereview