SmartTraveller

We have lived in Portugal for over 3 years and driving in Lisbon can not only be just hair raising but total insanity.  We only do it if there is no other option or we are 150% sure we can get parking. Don't waste your money and nervous energy on a car in the larger cities.

You don't need a car in Lisbon or Porto -- they are a liability.  Excellent public transport, relatively cheap taxis (although some are scammers), Bolt and Uber.  You can take a train to Sintra where a car is also a liability.  A train is also a good way to get to Belem, Cascais, Setubal and other places like Évora. 

 Key things to know about driving in Portugal are:-

1.  If on a multi lane road and you overtake another car, get back into the far right hand lane as quickly as it is safe to do so.  If you dont, you may cop a fine.  This is the same as most of Europe.

2.  Roundabouts - everywhere.  Study the roundabout technique or you could have a serious accident or cause one. Its not what you expect to be.  Google "Portugal GNR roundabout rules. Oh, did I mention its always good to have eyes in the back of your head?  There are many people, not just tourists who dont know or dont follow the rules making a large, busy roundabout akin to Dodgem Cars,

3.  Those nice, polite, happy, mild mannered Portugese that you meet everywhere?.  Chances are they become the devil incarnated behind the wheel of a car.  Specialities are overtaking on the crest of a hill or a blind corner or just generally crazy stuff.  Practice your defensive driving skills at all times!

Very sorry to hear about your problems with SS. Also sorry to hear that the Cloud still has problems with the noise from the pool equipment. This was a problem on our t/a on the Cloud in April and caused the occupant of the Owners Suite (just above 638 and 640) to cancel all his future Cloud voyages.

I travelled in 705 (?) which is the second bedroom to the Owners Suite on the Cloud on the transatlantic crossing that departed Barcelona on 25th October 2013. Coming into Casablanca, the ship rolled badly for about 20 minutes. Imagine my shock (and horror!) to find raw sewerage water in both my basin and shower just as I was about to bathe prior to joining an excursion. Combined with the fact that my walk in wardrobe door was also jammed shut, it wasnt a fun morning!

I have followed this thread with great interest. Maybe a difficult question but how many singles do you think there are on the average cruise? 1, 5, 10, 20?

 

Thanks Howard

Hi Howard

Obviously, numbers vary but I dont think I have ever cruised solo where there has been less than 10 of us. However on the Transatlantic crossing on Silver Cloud the number was quite high - around 26 from a total of 219 passengers. 65% or so were female. Mixed nationalities.

Hope that helps

How lovely that you met someone on board, hope you enjoy many more cruises and have a very happy future together.

 

Sophia :)

Thank you. We are both 63 so feel blessed to have found each other and have the opportunity to share this great love. The Cloud will always be special to us, as a result and we hope to sail again on her, soon.

However, when you meet someone on a ship, chances are they dont live around the corner so now we are juggling the logistics of creating a life together from two on different continents, 15000 km apart! We are getting there!

Thanks again for your kind wishes

Julie

There is no need to book transfers. After you emerge from Customs, you will see the Lisbon Tourist office outside. Go there and order a taxi. They will take the fixed fee, you will get a uniformed chaeffeur and Mercedes immediately. When I was there last year it was Euro25 to the heart of town (Rossio).

I think your layering idea is perfect. I live in Melbourne but am from Adelaide. In October, both cities can have pretty changeable weather. Its been lovely the last week or two (low 20s) but we could still get a very cold day so you need to be prepared.

Last year I did the crossing from Barcelona to Barbados on Silver Cloud alone. We had two gentlemen hosts. I have travelled solo on other lines and the Silversea experience is vastly superior. There was a cocktail party on our first night out, the gentlemen hosts were in the bar during the early evening to organise dinner tables so no-one had to dine alone. Other passengers were very warm and friendly - I was "adopted" by a number of couples so had dinner, breakfast and lunch companions. This, combined with the low single supplement made the solo experience on Silversea a winner.

Choose a voyage with gentlemen hosts - they do make a big difference. I also think the smaller ship size is good as on the large ships, you may meet nice, friendly people then never see them again!

However, my solo cruising days are over, as on the Cloud, I also met the love of my life and we are planning a future together.

Really enjoyed the crossing from Barcelona to Barbados last year. Such a lovely bunch of people onboard - so friendly. We were so lucky with the weather - it was superb!

I couldnt fault the service although I thought the food could have been better. In my view it lacked variety and tended towards the bland. My original suite had a very annoying hydraulic pump noise in the ceiling and I was moved to another which was fine.

However a friend I made on that crossing and I are looking at doing the TA from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon on Silver Spirit in April next year.

Perhaps some of you may be onboard!

Julie

A friend and I are trying to decide between the Cloud or Spirit for a TA in April. Does anyone know who the hotel director, cruise director and chef might be on the Cloud at that time?

 

Jaci

Hi Jaci

I did the TA from Barcelona to Barbados on Cloud in October last year. The Cruise Director was David Lawton, the head chef was leaving the ship when we got to Barbados. (I wasnt too impressed with the food - thought it was bland and uninteresting so perhaps a good thing) I cannot recall the name of the hotel director.

Overall, I enjoyed the cruise very much.

However, a friend I made on the Cloud and I are looking at the crossing on the Spirit from Fort Lauderdale to Lisbon in April 2015 ..no really firm reasons..we just like the itinerary and enjoyed cruising with Silversea.