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

ms_ora

MrSmartprice wrote: »

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

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.

one!

@MrSmartprice

Many thanks for providing these information in detail for each of the cities. It is brilliant :T Also, your memory power is commendable.

With regards to Gibraltar, are you suggesting that we should go for a taxi tour and we could get that from the Taxi Desk ?

vivatifosi

ms_ora wrote: »

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

Ibiza: I'd walk into town. Some cruise companies also offer shuttle buses, which may be worth looking into. I'm assuming you are arriving in San Antonio as that's where we arrived, though Ibiza Town is prettier.

Gibraltar: as most people have said, this is somewhere you can just get off and walk into town. Tax free shopping is good and the cable car is interesting, as is seeing the apes. One thing that Gib is less well known for though is the quality of its dolphin watching. I love dolphins and I've been dolphin watching all over the world but the experience in Gibraltar is the best I've ever had. If you do go, try and find out whether there is a ship leaving port earlier than you - we had an amazing view of mum dolphins teaching their young to use the surf of a ship to give them a tow, as well as juvenile dolphins surfing the bow wave at the front of a cruise ship. Please note though, all dolphin watching experiences are different. Even if you don't go out to see them, make sure that you're on as low an outside deck as possible and watch the water as the ship leaves port. They will probably follow the ship again, but as soon as you get out of the main bay they disappear - they stick to a pretty small area.

Barcelona: where do you start? There's so much to see. As others have already said, keep your belongings well stashed and you'll have a great time. Get the Port Bus to the Columbus Statue. Allow plenty of time to get back as there's a bridge which opens and I've seen buses stuck on the bridge with people desparate to get back to the ship and no way of getting there. It's just a matter of being practical and leaving plenty of time. I like Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Las Ramblas, Montjuic and the views over the city, the beaches at Barceloneta, the Picasso Gallery... Get yourself a T10 travel card. You can share it between you. Not sure of current cost but last year it was about 8 euros and covers 10 train journeys. So, for example, you could take the bus to the Columbus statue, walk up Las Ramblas, take a train to the station at Sagrada Familia, spend a couple of hours looking round there, take another train to a second destination for a look round, then use three further fares back to the Columbus Statue. That will use 9 of your 10 journeys and the three of you will have travelled around Barcelona for a day for about 8 euros. Get a map and familiarise yourself with the metro network before you leave though as it can be complicated.

ms_ora

vivatifosi wrote: »

Ibiza: I'd walk into town. Some cruise companies also offer shuttle buses, which may be worth looking into. I'm assuming you are arriving in San Antonio as that's where we arrived, though Ibiza Town is prettier.

Hi Vivatifosi

Thanks very much for taking time out to reply to my post and providing invaluable information in detail. This will prove very handy to us when visiting these places.:T

Gibraltar : Thank you for giving the tips on Dolphins watching. My daughter just loves Dolphins. We will follow your instructions to see them.

Barcelona : You have literally prepared a day itinerary to Barcelona to us. Now we don't have to apply our brains. Just follow your itinerary

Cheers