Western Mediterranean Cruise - Shore Excursions - Local Transportation Tips / Advice

ms_ora

Hello fellow travelers,

I need your help please. We are sailing on a cruise to Western Mediterranean this month end.
Our ship's port of call are

1) Palma de Mallorca (Cruise Start)
2) Marseille (France)
3) Ibiza
4) Malaga
5) Gibraltar
6) Barcelona
7) Palma de Mallorca (Cruise End)

We will be doing the shore excursions on our own as the one arranged by Cruise line are very
expensive (this is what I have found out from various reviews). Private Taxis are always an option,
but as I am on a budget, I would like to know what various modes of cheap transportation are available
to get into the above town/city from the port where our ship will be docked. We are a family of
2 adults and 1 child (8 years).

Also, as our flights are from Palma de Mallorca (PMI), I would like to know if there is any local
bus service that runs between airport and the port ?

Your valuable advice / suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Apart from transportation, any
tips on cruising (dos / don'ts) or anything on the above cities (must see) from your past experience
will also be very helpful as we are cruising first time.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers

travellerboy

We have always found that car-hire is the best option, easy to arrange in advance on internet. I would advise you choose automatic and take a Sat Nav.
You will still need to use the Shuttle Bus out of the port area, which can be a rip-off.

ms_ora

travellerboy wrote: »

We have always found that car-hire is the best option, easy to arrange in advance on internet. I would advise you choose automatic and take a Sat Nav.
You will still need to use the Shuttle Bus out of the port area, which can be a rip-off.

Thanks travellerboy for your prompt reply. Unfortunately car hire won't be possible in this itinerary as we won't be getting more than 10 hours in each city.

loobs40

First port of call for you, so to speak, is the cruisecritic forum. That's where you should be asking these questions. There are individual forums for Ports, but there is also a first time cruise section.

Its a predominantly US forum, but don't let that put you off.

You'll have hours of fun there

loobs40

For what its worth my observations on these ports

• Marseille : don't bother getting off the ship.
• Malaga : lovely City. We went on a three hour bike tour the day before a cruise with http://www.malagabiketours.eu/ run by a lovely lady called Kay. Her shop is close to the port. Not for nothing she's number 1 on Trip Advisor for bike tours in Malaga
• Barcelona : get a Taxi to the port entrance at the bottom of Las Ramblas and then use the Metro for wherever you want to go. Easy peasy

Would also say some days its worth staying on the ship in the morning, as everyone else gets off leaving all the facilities, especially sunbeds and pools virtually empty. Then pop off the boat in the afternoon for a few hours when they alll come back !

Have a great time, you may find you are hooked by the time the cruise ends, especially if your son/daighter has enjoyed the kids clubs etc on the ship

travellerboy

ms_ora wrote: »

Thanks travellerboy for your prompt reply. Unfortunately car hire won't be possible in this itinerary as we won't be getting more than 10 hours in each city.

You hire the car for 1 day although you will only use it for 6-8 hours, which will be definately cheaper than a cruise tour.

ms_ora

loobs40 wrote: »

For what its worth my observations on these ports

@loobs40

Many thanks for your quick reply. :T All of your tips including for Malaga, Marceille and Bacelona will prove very helpful to us. I will definitely keep them in mind.

getmore4less

In gib you either walk the town or take a taxi tour.

You can walk to the cable car and do that but it a trek

there are also local buses that go past a lot ofthe smaller sites if you prefer that to the caves/monkeys.

MAlaga shitle to the port entrance the rest is walkable.

BCN : port shuttle to the colombus monumet then public transport or start with a walk up la ramblas/gothic area


Ibiza : I think we walked cute town by day.

it will be hot so make sure you have hats and sunblock.

loobs40

getmore4less wrote: »

Ibiza : I think we walked cute town by day.

.

Which parts of Ibiza are not so cute then ?

MrSmartprice

Been to most of those on cruises so here's my take on a few points:

Barcelona: As others have said, the port will provide a free shuttle to the end of the Ramblas so you can make your own way from there. You could take a metro from there (Drassanes, I think) to Placa Catalunya at the other end of the Ramblas. Then stroll down the Ramblas at your leisure in the downhill direction.;) Do see the Boqueria Market, just off the Ramblas - it's amazing.

You could also go via metro to see Sagrada Familia, or do the Camp Nou tour (Metro Collblanc) if it's not a match day. Parc Guell is worth a look too. Bear in mind that you wouldn't do it all in a day.

Malaga: It's a new cruise terminal and shuttle buses drop you in town. Lovely city to stroll around.

Gibraltar: As you leave the ship you go through a terminal building where there is a taxi desk. They will sort out a tour in one. Don't join the queue for taxis to town! They hold 8 people and go when full and the tours are far better than the coach ones for half the price. The coaches can't get everywhere on the Rock and you will see why when you see the roads! They include all entrances to caves etc, take you to Apes Den, and drop you back at the ship or in town if you prefer.

As for general advice, invest in a lightweight moneybelt for valuables in places like Barcelona, and keep your bag around your shoulder at all times. Pickpockets look for soft targets, so don't be one!

ms_ora

getmore4less wrote: »

In gib you either walk the town or take a taxi tour.

You can walk to the cable car and do that but it a trek

there are also local buses that go past a lot ofthe smaller sites if you prefer that to the caves/monkeys.

MAlaga shitle to the port entrance the rest is walkable.

BCN : port shuttle to the colombus monumet then public transport or start with a walk up la ramblas/gothic area

Ibiza : I think we walked cute town by day.

it will be hot so make sure you have hats and sunblock.

Fantastic !! Many thanks getmore4less for your tips. They will prove very helpful to us. :T