cc_rider

My only "disappointment" with the Sagrada was that it was raining and they had to cancel my planed tower tour. It's one of the most amazing spaces ever built.

Both have several stops near the port. Colom is probably the easiest to get to.

Of the two lines, I like the City Tour Bus routes better than the Bus Turistic. Their two routes covered several place that the other company did not (Gloria and Hospital S. Cru i S. Pau)

Girona has a much larger and better preserved Jewish Quarter than Barcelona does. There is also a good museum.

Girona's old city is amazing. Very nice day trip if you have time.

How do you get to the city from the cruise port? We arrive on a Monday and from what I have read the shuttle doesn't run that day. Is taxi very expensive?

Is Marseilles a port stop or are you embarking there?

The port bus is convenient and free, but I don't think it runs every day.

The cruise lines run their own shuttles. They are expensive, but not as much as a taxi.

There is also the number 35 city bus, although it is a bit of a walk from the highway where the stop is back into the port.

Anyone know where Royal Caribbean dock?

 

I want a leisurely day at port, just browsing and taking in the atmosphere really. Is it feasible to walk to ND de la Garde from vieux port? I am mid 40s and of good health but not overly fit.

Wouldn't want to walk up to ND.dG unless I was very fit and treated it like a pilgrimage. It's at the top of a very high hill. About 150m / 500ft above the port.

Walking down would be doable if you don't mind lots of steps.

I saw people walking both up and down the hill, but more going down than up.

Naples is as well know for seafood as it is for pizza.

And pastries. Loved the sfogliatella.

In April we had a short port stop (back on board by 3:00) in Marseilles. Spent the time in the city and loved it. Free port shuttle to La Joliette, walk around the Vieux-Port and MUCEM, city bus up to Notre Dame du Garde, walk around the Cantini and into the Noailles/Arab market (Saturday so it was very lively) with lunch from a street vendor, stop at La Brouse, more walking around Vieux-Port, walk up into the Panini (stopping at shops and art galleries) to Vieille Charite, down to La Major and back to port shuttle, all by 2pm.

We never felt unsafe in the areas we were in. I found the people there very friendly and helpful, despite of my poor French. Given a chance I'd go back there again.

In April we stayed 5 nights at SF Apartments

Carrer de Sardenya, 321

+34 620.235.769

+34 640.606.157

info@privaobcn.com

Great location, a half block from the Sagrada Familia. We had the 5th/top floor front unit. High enough that street noise as not a problem. Separate bedroom and roomy living space. While it doesn’t have a roof terrace, the balcony was nice and we had a good view of the S.F. Could keep an eye on the ticket line in front and could even hear the workmen shouting up on the towers. Recommend Aitor, and excellent pinxos-style tapas bar across the street.

The owner of the apartment also runs the restaurant on the ground floor, and that is where he manages from. We booked through hotels.com, and early enough that the price was reasonable for a big city stay.

I know, I know... :)) but it's better to provide accurate details otherwise it can be confusing for visitors searching for information.

 

Besides, some visitors are not aware that the 'divine trio' -as we humorously nickname them, that is: Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà- are only three of the over +20 Modernist sites that can be visited, for those interested in architecture and art that is. Sometimes, choosing different sights one can see what this 19th-century art and architecture movement was all about in much less rowdy and busy sites.

+20 is an understatement. :D One of the first things we did on arriving in Barcelona was to go to the Modernisme Museum and buy the guide book to the Ruta Modernisme. In our 5 days pre and 3 days post cruise we managed to go by more than 50 of the 130+ buildings on the Ruta. If you are interested in the architecture of the period, and not just Gaudi, I strongly recommend following the Ruta.

http://www.rutadelmodernisme.com/default.aspx?idioma=en

edit But probably not on a one day port stop :D

Exactly what I did in April. I was mostly interested in Baroque churches and eating pastry.

Here is the approximate walking route I took

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6950364

Since the churches only stay open until around 1pm, I wanted to see them first, starting with the Duomo. Had a great time wandering the Spacccanapoli and the street of the nativity makers.

The best churches were the Duomo and Gesu Nouvo, although Santa Chiara was charming in it's simplicity. The Santa Chiara Cloister and Museum were a nice break.

I made it a ways into the Spanish quarter, but the weather was turning bad and I wanted to get back to the ship before the thunderstorms. Headed back early, stopping at the Galleri Umberto.

Naples was my favorite port stop of the entire cruise. Most cruise tourists hurry to Pompei or Sorrento and miss this wonderful city.

....

Sat:

Sun: Coloseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (not sure if this is doable in one day)

Mon:

....

Doable unless there are mobility or energy restrictions. And the walk up thru the Forum is interesting.

In April we were at the Trevi and Pantheon midday. Both were so crowded that it was not a pleasant experience. Might want to go to them early or very late.

Here's a web cam site that I found useful.

https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/lazio/roma/fontana-di-trevi.html

all I can say is take a tour as there is not much to do just walking around town. .....

Completely disagree. We had a wonderful day seeing the city.

I was wondering what there is to see in walking distance of the port.

Appreciate any advice you have.

Vieux Port is a major destination. Very lively and very scenic, but can be crowded with tourists.

Notre Dame du Garde is the most popular attraction. Highest point in the city. Impressive church with spectacular view. Can be reached by Le Petit Train or bus 60.

Cathedral Le Major is close to terminal 1 (the post shuttle stop) almost as impressive as N.D du Garde.

Le Panier is the arts district. Charming streets with lots of shops and galleries. Also a nice museum complex at Le Vielle Charite.

Good museums are Mucem (Mediterranean cultures) and Cantini (surrealist art), and there are others for History of Marseilles, Roman docks, etc.

If you are more adventurous, walk around the Arab Markets. We were there on a Saturday and the stalls and shops were busy. Picked a random pastissiere for lunch.

Try these sites

http://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187253-Activities-Marseille_Bouches_du_Rhone_Provence.html

Take the free port shuttle to terminal 1. Then walk two blocks to the Joilette station and take the Metro two stops to the train station.

We went to Noodle Bar for dinner. Went early so it wasn't too crowded. The menu is limited, but it was the best single meal we had on the entire cruise. Of the specialty restaurants, Cagney's was disappointing, Cucina and Le Bistro were ok.

First time in Marseille so want to see the sights in the city.Would like to go to cathedral. Anyone used bus 60 to get there?

In April I took the free port shuttle to Terminal 1, walked 2 blocks to the the Joliette metro station and bought a two trip ticket. Then I walked to Cathedral La Major (it wasn't open yet, but the morning light was good for outside pictures), up to Eglise Saint-Laurant (nice church with good views of the harbor) and down to steps to the Quai du Port to catch the 60 bus. It was a fairly quick, easy and inexpensive ride up to N.D. du Garde.

I considered the Petit Train, but decided not to because of the extra cost and not being a HOHO.

If you take the 60, pick it up close to the start of the route, near Fort Saint-Jean. That way you might get a seat, or get on at all. The stops in the rest of the Vieux-Port are crowded and you might have to wait a bus or two.

For the return I thought about walking down, but took the bus back to the bottom of the hill (got off at the Hard Rock Cafe) and just walked the town. It was Saturday and Vieux-Port and the Arab Market were busy. Got lunch at a patisserie on the Rue d'Aubagne. Wandered the Vieux-port. Stopped in at the Brouse to see the ruins. Stoped at several street markets. Wandered up through the Panier to Place des Moulins and La Vielle Charite museums, stopping in at art galleries and shops along the way. Wandered the Panier a bit more, stopped at Cathedral La Major (now open) and back to the shuttle bus stop. The port stop was short, had to be back on board by 3:00 so I got to the shuttle stop by 2:00

I enjoyed the stop in Marseilles. Nice walkable city. It was also an inexpensive port stop: just the bus, lunch, the museum ticket and donations at the churches I visited.

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My ex-Nanna-in-law came from the "greater Naples" area. On special occasions, she would spend days making all the sweets - the pizelles, the sfoglitella, the cannoli, pignoli, ricotta cookies...yum. Not sugary-sweet, but so flavorful. Probably why I always seem to find the pasticceria wherever I am in Italy!

A certain Italian pastry that I love: Sfogliatella. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfogliatella

We had heard about the pastries in Naples and wanted to try them. The bring-no-food-back-onto-the-ship policy meant we skipped pizza in favor of pastries for lunch. We went to Scaturchio, near San Domenico Maggiore, reputed to be one of the best in the city. The babas were excellent and the sfogliatella was my best food memory of the entire trip. Ate them in a nearby courtyard while listening to a piano student attempting "Ode to Joy" somewhere upstairs.

Morning light on the Nativity facade, afternoon light on the Passion facade.

I prefer morning for visiting inside.

No cost for the restrooms at the airport, but it will cost you a bit at Sants train station.

We were on the Epic in April. NCL was running a shuttle but I don't remember how much they were charging. We took the free shuttle operated by the port. Only a short walk from where we docked. Follow the green line to the white shelter. The stop in town is next to Terminal 1, 15 to 20 minute walk to Vieux Port.

In April we arrived at T2. late morning flight from JFK. Since we were flying Delta, it was probably somewhere in 2A. Memory is a bit it fuzzy due to jet lag and recovering from a cold.

I remember that we arrived at one of the last gates, and had a long walk to passport control. I think there were only a couple of flights in at that time, so getting through passports and baggage claim was very fast. After exiting the baggage area, there is a small shopping area with a decent amount of waiting space. I remember the restrooms being on the far side, a kiosk with a couple of booths in the center, and more shops to the right. You could meet in the area between the restrooms and the center kiosk. Sorry, don't remember the location or any specific shops, but I think there is a coffee shop or cafe in the middle.

Baltimore's a nice city to visit. Shame to waste your stay at the Airport or at White Marsh. Two of the bleakest places in the area.

If it's just a night, best to look around the Inner Harbor or Mount Vernon neighborhood. We've stayed Days Inn Inner Harbor for conventions, and at the Indigo near Mount Vernon. Both were good stays. I've heard that the Hampton Inn near Camden Yards is good, and for something different, Admiral Fells Inn.

Where are you driving from?

 

That Best Western probably has the greatest degree of disagreement on this board of any East Coast hotel; there are those who've stayed there and loved it, and those (largely from the area) who wouldn't venture anywhere near it.

 

If you're coming from the south, there are hotels near the airport that do stay, park, & cruise packages.

 

If you're coming from the north, there are hotels in White Marsh that do the same.

 

If you're coming from the west, either location is probably OK.

Check with NJ transit about the Ridgefield Park bus. Last year we stayed a few nights in Secaucus and took the bus to the Port Authority several times. It was always a kneeling bus, and on one of the trips the driver helped stow a wheelchair in the luggage compartment.

We went from our cruise ship to Sants by taxi. Sunday morning around 8 or 8:30, with two big ships in port, and there was no waiting. I think it cost us 15 euros for the trip.

Naples was our favorite of all of our cruise port stops. I posted this a couple of months ago about our visit.

"We were in Naples on April 26. Loved it. Walked off the ship and just wandered around the town. First we went to the Duomo and things around it, then wandered along the Spaccanapoli and the side streets of the old city. Stopped in at several churches, but the best were San Gregorio Armeno, San Domenic Maggiore and Jesu Nuovo. Also visited Santa Chiara: church, cloister and museum. Wandered the Spanish quarter and returned to the port by the Via Toledo and Galleria Umberto. With a little more time and less sore feet, we would have taken the funicular up to San Martino for the views across the bay.

Loved watching the street life, being in it and part of it for a while. The bustle of the Via Vecchia and Via Tribunali, the quiet of Santa Chiara, the smell of the laundry on the balconies of the Spanish quarter, eating fresh sfogliatella in a courtyard while listening to a piano lesson coming from the windows above (a very tentative Ode to Joy). I want to go back to Naples someday.

Note - the churches seem to close at 2:00, so I planned to see them early in the day."

Naples is known for its pastries. The pastry shop we stopped at was Scaturchio on the Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore. Reputed to be one of the best in town and after tasting the babas and the sfogliatella, I wouldn't dispute that.

They'll have several different bagged teas in the dining rooms & buffet -- black tea, green tea, decaf, a few different herbal teas. But if you want a particular type, you can certainly bring it, and use your cabin coffeemaker to heat water if you don't want to go up to the buffet just for hot water.

On the Epic in April they have several types of tea, but it is all a house brand and not very good. I had brought my own, but the cruise was the second week of our vacation and I was already running out. I tried several types of what they had and settled on just one that was acceptable. On our second last day I discovered that La Cucina had a flavor of black tea that was actually very good but wasn't available upstairs at the buffet. At our last breakfast I picked up a few extra bags to use on our last few days of our trip.

The problem I had was that the water at the buffet and restaurants was never hot enough to get a good brew. The coffee maker in the room did get the water hot enough, barely.

What I did miss was hot chocolate. I was surprised that they didn't have any at the buffett. The coffee was usually pretty bad and wanted to temper it with some cocoa mix or hot chocolate. The only place I could get hot chocolate was for breakfast at the main dining room and it was very good. Next trip I'm bringing cocoa mix.