Getting to Bruges

Is there a shuttle from Zeebrugge to Bruges or do I need to use public transport? Calling there on the Oriana in august

There is a free shuttle from the dock to Blankenberg where you can get a train to Bruges. The trains run once per hour. Alternatively you could take the ships excursion - Bruges on your own.

Brian

Thanks, I checked out Blankenberge and it looks a nice seasidey sort of place. i might just take a stroll there :)

Yes, its quite a nice place. Not too far to walk up to the beach front and there are some chocolate shops.

Brian

Get a taxi from the port - they wait just outside the ships. Quick, easy and they'll drop you right in the city centre. Just make sure you book the return journey with the driver before you get out as getting a taxi back isn't quite so easy!

I would agree with Brian1.

The train was around 7 euros return and we actually travelled on a double decker on the way back.

Weve taken the free shuttle to Blankenberge station then the train. Brugges is lovely and easily walkable. I dont know if its still free for non select fare passengers however the port looked self contained and I couldnt see a pedestrian exit so perhaps the shuttle is provided free anyway. The train station in Brugges is around a 15 minute walk to the centre of town.

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Get a taxi from the port - they wait just outside the ships. Quick, easy and they'll drop you right in the city centre. Just make sure you book the return journey with the driver before you get out as getting a taxi back isn't quite so easy!

Agree taxi is much the easiest way but not the cheapest - I was told it is about 50 Euro each way. We have always used the shuttle/train option.

We did a walking tour (booked through the ship) when we were there that included a boat trip on the canals. It was a lovely day.

Taking the shuttle and train is easy to do. When we were there in June the return fare on the train was ony €5, and that means more money for chocolates :D

We recently visited Bruges with Princess and there was a free shuttle bus to the port gates and we then had a pre booked taxi mini bus for 8 waiting to take us and return to Bruges. Total cost was 50 euros each way so return was 12-5 euros per person and was excellent service.

Bruges is very easy to do on your own. You can get free walking tours and loads of information from the Tourist Office in the main square. The canal boat trips leave from a couple of places and I think cost about 7 Euros.

Is there a shuttle from Zeebrugge to Bruges or do I need to use public transport? Calling there on the Oriana in august

I bet everyone who answered is glad they made the effort.

I bet everyone who answered is glad they made the effort.

What exactly do you mean by that :confused:

Hello :) I have been on coach trips to Bruges, they were fine but expensive. I have also got the train, I looked up the times on this website and took a screenshot to use when I was there: http://www.thetrainline-europe.com

I can confirm it was really easy and the train journey was quite pleasant, I was a bit disorientated at the station in Bruges but just followed the crowd. On another occasion I also just stayed in Blankenburg, you are quite right it is a nice town with a walkable seafront and beach. I hope this helps.

Twice we've been to Bruges and twice we've gone the wrong way, walked for miles and taken about 2 hours to find the center! Duh!

The weather and how i feel on the day will decide whether I take the train to Bruges or stay in Blankenberg. It looks quite a complicated walk from Bruges station to the centre. Thanks for the link Florry, I will check out the sunday train times.

Florry's timetable says 42 mins past the hour to Bruges and 5 past the hour back, both with a 13 minute journey time.

Do they speak French or Flemish in Blankenberge

ps - how do you pronounce these names, is it a soft or hard 'g' ?

Is the shuttle to Blankenberg still free to all fares, does anyone know?

Is the shuttle to Blankenberg still free to all fares, does anyone know?

Yes it is.

https://ask.pocruises.com/resources/carnivaluk/on-shore/PO_Shuttle_Information

Brian

Brilliant, thanks Brian.

Dave, it's a really easy walk into Brugge, you don't even need a map, just follow the crowd (that's what we did). Have done Brugge 5 times with P & O twice by taxi (v easy but a €50 trip per taxi each way - so roll call and share) 2 times on the P & O trip, and once in the train. I will now always do out by train, easy cheap and the same distance walk in as the P & O trip.

In the area around Bruges, they speak Flemish, almost all people speak English perfectly well and there are a few people who speak French. In most shops, signs are in English and Flemish. Walking from Bruges station to the city centre is quite simple, follow the crowds of tourists, alternatively just get on any bus that says centrum outside Bruges station.

We did this trip about 10 days ago. We opted to potter around Blankenburg which is a nice little seaside town. Went into the 'Storms' expo at the pier which was really interesting - although I didn't appreciate the practical demonstration of a force 12 on the way back 2 days later! :D

The port provides a shuttle bus to/from the gate only, P+O provides the shuttle into Blankenburg, it stops very near to the train station.

BTW, Flemish/Dutch pronounce the 'g' as a gutteral 'h' which makes Van Gogh 'Van Hochhhh'.

On Royal Caribbean (no free shuttle) we walked to a station about 15 or so minutes from the port. No problem with the train - other than we could not get the ticket machine on the platform to work, but you can buy tickets on the train.

We had no problem finding the centre from the train station - head for the park, go through the park and you are there.

Last time to Zeebrugge we walked from the port, along the beach to Blankenburg. It's about an hour each way, but it was a nice day and an enjoyable walk. Very clean with one tiny exception - something I've not seen since the 1970s - white dog poo.