edinburgher

The journey to the futuristic area is really quite short, and I would expect that for a party of 2 (if you are indeed 2) two tickets for the nearby public bus or the short taxi ride with 2 sharing would be less costly than 2 shuttle tickets, especially if you don't intend to only shuttle between the terminal and the futuristic area. If you venture further the shuttle may be of no further use to you, meaning it would only be an expensive one way ride.

Two cabins means double the storage space and TWO bathrooms instead of one!😀

Pound sterling notes are also made of plastic/polymer Be aware that while Gibraltar issued notes and coins are worth the same as pounds sterling, they are ONLY valid in Gibraltar, so try to use only plastic there to avoid being left with any local coins or notes which would have no value anywhere else..

Nobody disputed that it was not, however it is not the only currency which is legal tender on some islands, and several members pointed out an obvious error to avoid confusion for future cruise passengers visiting any of the French Overseas Departments.

Ideally you want to spend your sightseeing time doing and seeing only the sights which are of interest to you personally, not those of interest to others as everyone has different interests, although this means you doing some pre-trip homework. Suggesting that if you have not already done so, you read past threads for ideas and information. And try googling eg "(name of city/town) Tourist Information" as these local Tourist Information websites are usually a good starting point. And eg Tripadvisor, YouTube, Frommer's, Fodors, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves and any others which appear when you google as suggested above and maybe borrow guide books from a local library? Cadiz has much to offer without trailing for hours to and from Seville, but that will be your decision. Cadiz is super easy to DIY should you stay there. Unless you are comfortable using public transport in Spain, and happy with the travel distances for independent travel, this is where you would consider an excursion.Making this kind of decision is why you need to plan your days to your own interests. A Coruna is the port call for Santiago de Compostela and should you have little interest in religion, you might want different ideas. Cartagena is compact and easily explored independently. Malaga you might want to spend some time looking at as there are many many options but easy to DIY. Past threads to get you started. Choose which you want to read from these Malaga https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=malaga&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=465 la (aLso A )Coruna https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=a coruna&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=465 Cadiz https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=cadiz&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=465 Seville https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=seville&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=465 Cartagena. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=cartagena&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=465 And do look at shorex even should you not want to book one as they will usually describe the highlights and what could be possible within your port timings.

Which to bring largely depends on which countries you will visit and you give no clue. If several have the euro as their legal tender, it would be convenient to have a small amount for really small purchases from traders such as ice cream vendors, or for use in some public toilets or on public transport which do not accept debit or credit cards, otherwise credit and debit cards are widely accepted. if you will visit any UK ports, the legal currency here is the £ sterling, not the euro, and again, a small amount could be useful.

May or may not work for you as there are a number of streets in Edinburgh which HOHOS cannot drive along. This applies especially in the Old Town, and depending on your arrival date, as an example, if on any date in August, large sections of the Royal Mile/High Street are closed to all traffic,as much of it becomes pedestrian only during the Festivals which take place throughout August. If your visit is in August, and actually at all other times, the best way to enjoy the Royal Mile/High Street is on foot.😀

Mystery solved. Martinique and Guadeloupe formally adopted the euro as their legal currency on January 1st 2002 as did other French Overseas Territories including the French half of St Maarten, Guiana and Reunion, meaning that lenquixote66, should you return at any time in the future, you might want to have some euros with you or use only credit cards.

Should you want a tour or would prefer a taxi instead of the X99, go to https://www.cruiseforth.com/, click "find my ship" then select "getting around" and click on S Queensferry. There you will find contact info for taxis. And reading past threads can give lots of info and suggestions for your short time in the city. If you have not already done so, choose which of these past Edinburgh threads to read. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=edinburgh&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=148

Martinique is a French overseas territory and as JB has already explained above, the official currency is the euro. Guadeloupe is the same. It may be that you were paying small independent traders such as those roadside, beachside or in markets with small amounts of US$ cash which they accepted , but I think that if you were trying to pay in regular stores or paying for car rental or similar purchases they would not have been accepted.

Mahon, Bonifacio, Heraklion, Giardini Naxos. Of the four you have so far asked about, Giardini Naxos IS actually a beach resort in addition to being close to Taormina so I guess you might only need walk a short distance to access one. You only need check if you could find your preferred amenities, and if so, this would be the most convenient.

A couple of points which may not have occured to you, but of which you should be aware. Turkey is one of the main suppliers of fake designer goods, and many EU citizens will have them confiscated by authorities when they return home if they are caught with them on re-entry as this is illegal .In addition to confiscation, large fines can also be issued. Does your own country allow the importation of fake goods? And does your country have a maximum tax free allowance for goods purchased overseas? If you declare the value of your purchases honestly and the items are spotted, customs officers would know immediately that the value of the bags has either been underdeclared or they are fakes.

Giving you the same response I have already given in another thread as you appear to be asking about beaches on most of your port days.Replies may be few and far between as I don't think many cruise passengers cruise to visit beaches, and in some of your ports you have asked about accessibility which narrows down your choices as not all will be accessible to the mobility challenged. Try contacting the local TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES for each, as staff should be local and can best advise. Alternatively try internet searching for "(name of town or city) beaches" or something similar then read reviews of the results on eg Tripadvisor. Google really could be your best friend.😀

it may be that Ggoogle could be your best friend as you need an accessible beach, or contacting the local Tourist Information Office with your question as staff will most likely be local and can best advise. This because many passengers will not have a beach day as a priority and might prefer visiting Knossos , Heraklion itself and the archaeological museum, or elsewhere on the the island as Crete has an interesting history.

Unsure if this will be helpful or not, but throwing it into the mix anyway. This is a recent post I added to a thread when someone was asking about Rosyth and might be helpful to read, you only need ignore the parts which have no relevance for you. Post #4 https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992278-new-to-fred-olsen-and-rosyth-departure/#comment-67023712 A couple of points. Yes, there is a building used on turnaround days but Rosyth is a working port and I do not know what that building is used for at other times. Use of the bus for the teeny tiny short transfer to the ship was mandatory, as walking was not permitted. I do not know where shorex coaches, drivers and guides meet on days when ships have only a port call as opposed to embarkation, but they must meet somewhere close to the ship and it may be that you could contact the Port Authorities at Rosyth to ask your question as they will be the ones who know. I looked and there is an e-mail contact form on the website https://www.forthports.co.uk/our-ports/rosyth/

We have visited both and walked right on in, no lines at all. Given how busy the sights up in Sultanahmet were, and given the quality and quantity of exhibits, we were surprised, actually quite shocked, that the Archaeological Museum was as quiet as it was with very few visitors other than ourselves, and we spent a number of hours in there visiting the different buildings. The Turkish and Islamic Arts museum had, including ourselves, maybe 6 or 8 visitors inside and at the time we joked that there were more museum attendants than visitors.

i just now googled it and it appears it is still running up to the Alcazaba. My post #2 has a link which leads to a thread describing where to find it, or try googling it.

From reading past threads I believe there is really nothing in le Verdon itself, and only smaller ships can sail up and down river to/from Bordeaux, quite a distance away and the reason for the port call. Bilbao. Ship shuttles drop off next to the historic Old Town, pleasant for a stroll, and only around a 10-15 minute walk to the river walkway with views of the Guggenheim exterior should you not venture into it. la Coruna is a fairly nondescript town but you dock centrally, just cross the road if you want to stroll around instead of heading to the more distant Santiago de Compostela, the #1 reason for this port call. Oporto, you could travel by metro into the city centre or continue on to the waterfront at Vila Nova da Gaia. (one change of line required for VNDG) A pretty area with boat tours on offer, nice views of the bridge, and port houses to visit. Lisbon you should dock centrally. You could take a public bus, taxi or tram along to the Belem area which is on flat ground and where there are a number of sights and parks to explore. Check the official TOURIST INFORMATION LISBON website for info and images, and could also walk around the area next to the splendid Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta, with many shopping and dining options, also some sights. That area is also on level ground.(there are some really steep streets in Lisbon) Cadiz port is central to the city, you only need cross the main road to enter the old town or turn right and follow the waterfront promenade area with little gardens and cafes along the way. Cartagena, again you only need cross the main road from the cruise terminal and you are there. Barcelona is Barcelona, you only need decide what to do there. There is a blue port shuttle bus which drops you at the foot of Ramblas. Cannes is a tender port which may be tricky with young children, but once there you will be central and could enjoy the promenade and some of the town., also the beaches. Livorno is really a "destination" port for Pisa, Lucca, Florence and others and doesn't have a great deal to offer otherwise, but you could stroll around and maybe walk along the sea front. For ideas, you could read past threads about all of your ports using the easy SEARCH TOOL, but could also internet search "(name of town or city)Tourist Information" plus eg Tripadvisor, YouTube, Frommer's Fodors, Rick Steves, Lonely Planet and others in the results to find info and images to help you decide which would be of interest to your family and which would also be suitable for young children as you would know what they could be capable of. You could also google eg "(name of town or city) for kids" to see if there might be something of special interest for them.

It may be due to the shorex being an "on your own" excursion where the coach will drop you at a location and tell you where and at what time to return to the coach for the journey back to Fos, or in this instance to head to Lourmarin if it is the last stop. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of being dropped off and left to do their own thing,I think lacking confidence when it is in a country whose language they neither speak nor understand.

Hungary IS a member of the EU and as far as I am aware, is also a SCHENGEN member country.

perhaps it is me who is confusing Malaga with somewhere else?🥲

I think you may be confusing Malaga with somewhere else as it is not especially near the port and it is definitely a steep climb up. And Malaga port is big, and depending on where you are docked there can be quite a walk just to reach the port gates. Some ships run shuttle buses to Plaza de la Marina. From there you would take a bus or walk through the waterfront gardens until you reach the point where you would begin the climb. Alcazaba (not Castillo de Gibralfaro) The two are connected by a walkway. if you look at eg Tripadvisor, you will see many many reviews which mention "steep climb up" or "worth the climb" or "amazing views".

Tarragona is another possibility. An easy train journey. Info and images can be easily found online. Sitges is even closer but no point in going to a beach resort in November.

This was replied to back in February. See post #2 and especially read the link to the previous thread as full info can be found on it. twolittleboys, That very steep walk up in possibly hot or even very hot sunshine must have been quite the experience, and I wonder what ages your kids were at the time, as you are, I believe, the only person who has described the climb as "easy to do".