Cardiff girl

I don't recall any taxis around the coach park in Bargeweg. There may have been benches in Minnewater Park, which you walk through to the centre, but if you have mobility issues, could you find others to share a cab? They go straight to the centre, meaning more time in Bruges and shorter queues for boat trips, etc, if you're the first ones there!

I think they're two different processes, and if you're happy with what you've got I'd cancel your balcony bid and save the ££. When are you going? Hope you have a lovely first solo cruise. There should be plenty of opportunities to meet up with other solos.

Google maps has the 24, 25, 35 and 95 buses into the city from Museu de les Ciences stop. Then the challenge is finding the bus stop back 🤔...

Goes to show you can't assume - three different times we've experienced between us. Maybe it's earlier on the bigger ships? Anyway, a cab back from Reid's shouldn't take long so as long as you book a sensible time you should be OK. Loads of other diners will be going back to the ship.

I've emailed P&O customer service in the past and got arrival and departure times, though with the caveat that they could change. Sandancer, in the past Funchal has been 9.30 aboard for 10pm sailaway on the standard Canaries/Madeira route, but on repositioning it's 5.30 for 6pm. Does it say 'early evening'?

Thanks for this. Jumping on this, what about shuttles for Palma de Majorca and Cagliari?

We got a pair of swans on Azura in December. I think it's down to the steward, if there are kids or an occasion, but generally speaking, don't expect towel animals. MSC still do them, along with turndown.

Thanks very much - really useful. I read about local wine sold at the market, though if they mainly sell produce then it's less of a priority. The 'nature park' area sounds quite undeveloped, so it sounds like you got the best of it.

Thanks, Edinburgher. Any particular highlights in Cagliari? Did you go to San Benedetto market? Were the local buses easy to work out, and is there an obvious 'top of the hill' stop to aim for? Also, did you see flamingoes? The reviews of Molentargius nature park seem a bit mixed. Thanks.

SuperDino has lots of choice, is slightly cheaper than the Spar, with a nice 30 min walk back to the ship.

Was the market in Cagliari? Can you remember where it was? Sounds interesting, thanks.

Hi Tom, are you still blogging? I can't open that link - would be great to see it, if possible?

Hi Tom, six years on it's still in demand! 🙂 That link didn't work for me - is the post still available?

I always try to praise the main crew I've met on those forms but haven't had one after three P&O cruises. Around a quarter of the people in the Facebook group for my recent Aurora cruise had an email a day or two after getting home - no clue why it's so random. P&O said I could send feedback to po.guestsupport@carnivalukgroup.com. It used to affect crew pay - maybe that's with other lines. We fill in the Shine Awards slips by reception for cabin crew, waiters and others who make a great impression.

Last year I was asked to show my insurance with cruise cover & covid cover highlighted, but haven't been asked recently. I print the main summary with my details, plus the numbers & details on how to claim, and I keep a copy on my phone.

Also, on our return, we stopped to take photos of the ship but were told off by a port official and told to get straight on the ship - so it seems the shuttle across the port is unavoidable.

I've just done this journey with P&O. We'd planned to walk to the Zeebrugge station. We were straight off the ship but would have missed the Zeebrugge hourly train waiting for others to fill the shuttle out of the port. We got the free shuttle to Blankenberge, just missed one train and caught the next an hour later. We had 3ish hours and returned at 2pm to be sure to be back onboard in good time. Day returns were two for €7 on a summer 2 for 1 offer. Someone who paid €40 ship excursion was annoyed she'd paid more than us but she'd had a full, straightforward day in Bruges. We enjoy public transport, but it takes longer and can be unreliable.

The easiest way to get to Bruges is probably an MSC excursion or a taxi from the port gates, assuming there are enough waiting. The local shuttle from near the port gates is cheaper & fairly straightforward. Shuttles and trains stop around 10 /15 mins walk from the centre of Bruges, taxis get you closer.

Thanks again. I'd probably enjoy the walk, just trying to work out the fastest/easiest way to get there. Re taxis, I'm the same - I didn't see any last time, but I wasn't looking. Maybe the best thing is to enjoy the various stages of the journey and see them as part of the day out. At least I know all the various options now (apart from the 33 bus from Blankenberge 🚍).

Also, would a taxi drop off at Zeebrugge-Strand station, and how much would that cost, roughly?

Thanks, Gumshoe. I was straight off the ship in Oct, then sat on that port shuttle for ages waiting for others to come and fill it up! It seems that, with the walk across the park from shuttles and trains, the short journey from Zeebrugge to Bruges takes at least an hour, or more with queuing/missed connections. So, if a taxi is €62x2 return, it'd be €31 each if they let four share. Are there many cabs, and do they drop closer to the centre? 🤔

An hour should work but personally, I'd allow longer to feel comfortable. Last Oct Border Force wanted to see every passport on our ship, causing anxiety and delay. Sometimes four or five big ships disembark on the same day. National Express has a Change and Go add on. You can board any available coach 12 hours either side of your departure for £5 per passenger each way.

Thanks, that explains why I've seen both station names given. It seemed like it might be simpler than getting a shuttle to Blankenberge, also quicker & cheaper than shuttles. I guess we'll see how we feel on the day. Has anyone tried the 33 bus from Blankenberge? The cheapest but slowest option, I think.

Has anyone got the train from Zeebrugge? It's supposed to be 30 mins walk from the cruise terminal & the trains go hourly.

I used the local shuttle last Oct. It's Cruise Express, €20 direct or £21.80 through Viator. It runs from 8.30 - 12 noon every half hour. It comes back every half hour from 4 hrs before boarding. It was a bit chaotic - those who'd prepaid told to wait with those queuing to pay, while the first bus went past empty. Other people found it fine so maybe I was unlucky. I left Bruges 2pm to be sure to get back. https://www.cruise-express.be/en/services/bruges I read that taxis are fixed rate €62 each way. The P&O shuttle is currently £39 for a half day, £40 for a full day.