Need Info on Cape Verde Islands off Africa (on transatlantic Oceania Insignia)

[KlassyKathy]

Hi Everyone!!

 

I KNOW there is someone out there recently that may be of some help (the "latest" threads were 2006 & 2007!!)...

 

We will be on the Oceania Insignia transatlantic voyage with a stop in the Cape Verde Island(s) -- Porto Grande... There is one tour to the city of

Mindelo and Catfish Bay. Does anyone have any experience with this port?

 

Where does Insignia port (or tender)?

How far is that from any of the towns (Mindelo, San Vincente, Santo Antao, Catfish Bay), etc?

What are the main sites?

 

In general -- HELP!! Thanks so much -- I have always been so impressed with the helpfullness of the Cruise Critic travelers!!

 

Kathy

[phmcm477]

Kathy,

 

As you see - not much activity. We are on the same cruise and have done a bit of research. There is only one place to put a cruise ship - right next to Mindelo. Looking at Google Earth, it looks like an industrial port. It is about 3/4 mile to town if you can walk through the port - most often this is not permitted and a shuttle is provided. We may end up taking a ships tour if we haven't used up the on-board-credit. not much to do there.

[suzyheights]

We just returned from a cruise on the Royal Princss that stopped at Midello Cape Verde.

We had a shuttle bus into town for $5 -better than walking. We walked around the town and visited the markets and public buildings which was really interesting especially the fish markets.

We then found a taxi that took us across the island to the hills and beachs which made for a full and enjoyable day.

 

Saundra

[loum140]

We just returned from a cruise on the Royal Princss that stopped at Midello Cape Verde.

We had a shuttle bus into town for $5 -better than walking. We walked around the town and visited the markets and public buildings which was really interesting especially the fish markets.

We then found a taxi that took us across the island to the hills and beachs which made for a full and enjoyable day.

 

Saundra

 

Saundra: We will be stopping here in Dec. 2010 on our T/A on Oceania's Insignia, and there's not much information available. Oceania doesn't usually provide shuttle buses. Were there taxis at the port? Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

[paul929207]

We will be there in late May 2010 on the Ocean Princess. I will try to post about the port after our visit.

[jotabecu]

We just returned from a cruise on the Royal Princss that stopped at Midello Cape Verde.

We had a shuttle bus into town for $5 -better than walking. We walked around the town and visited the markets and public buildings which was really interesting especially the fish markets.

We then found a taxi that took us across the island to the hills and beachs which made for a full and enjoyable day.

 

Saundra[/quot

 

 

 

 

Saundra: I expect to be there on 25 May on Ocean Princess, can you give me an idea on the cost of the taxi for the hills. Thanks.

[Aussie Gal]

jotabecu,

 

We have a great Roll Call for the 7th May cruise on the Ocean Princess from Capetown to Dover. We would love you to join us. Here is the link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=789336&page=30

 

Jennie

[jotabecu]

jotabecu,

 

We have a great Roll Call for the 7th May cruise on the Ocean Princess from Capetown to Dover. We would love you to join us. Here is the link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=789336&page=30

 

Jennie

 

 

Thank you Jennie, I have been following it for the last few months

[sailormd]

Hi KlassyKathy:

We were on the recent BCN to RIO Transatlantic (Nov '09) which stopped in Porto Grande, Cape Verde. We did not take the tour; the ship docks within easy walking distance of the town, and plenty of taxis available, inexpensive, if you want to elect to ride back to ship. Nice little internet cafe/bar that you pass as you get off the ship before you exit gate. Brand new civilian marina just being built....lots of personal yachts, and a couple very classy shops.....but their pricing was ridiculously laughable....flipflops for over $70! Nice bar/restaurant looking over the dockage....not yet opened when we arrived. Town quite charming....rustic/colonial architecture....many houses/shops being painted and refurbished. People rather shy but polite and helpful and very sweet. Market was fun but just foodstuffs. Good photo op.

Not too much to purchase....trinkets mostly, and some overpriced and unattractive dashikis/muumuus. They're not quite geared up for the tourist trade. Some aggressive young boy street vendors hawking cheap beads/watches, but they exit when you politely say no thank you. Consensus of people who took tour.....pretty, but nothing noteworthy. Hope this helps. Sailormd

[Gerricann]

Hi Everyone!!

 

I KNOW there is someone out there recently that may be of some help (the "latest" threads were 2006 & 2007!!)...

 

We will be on the Oceania Insignia transatlantic voyage with a stop in the Cape Verde Island(s) -- Porto Grande... There is one tour to the city of

Mindelo and Catfish Bay. Does anyone have any experience with this port?

 

Where does Insignia port (or tender)?

How far is that from any of the towns (Mindelo, San Vincente, Santo Antao, Catfish Bay), etc?

What are the main sites?

 

In general -- HELP!! Thanks so much -- I have always been so impressed with the helpfullness of the Cruise Critic travelers!!

 

Kathy

 

Hi,

 

We have done the Oceania Insignia transatlantic crossing four times already--obviously we enjoy it. Save your money when in Cape Verde. This is one stop that if you can walk you can do yourself; the town is close by--less than a 15 minute walk.

 

Some people do a tour that takes them to the other side of the island and the beaches but no one has come back raving about what the rest of us missed. The fish market, fruit and vegetable market and the locals offer a contrast in what most North Americans are used to. You can stroll through the town on your own without fear that you have missed something special that people on the ship's tour are getting. We actually kept meeting up with the ship's tour everywhere we went.

 

A Belgium developer has started to develop some of the land close to the port as has been mentioned; there are over-priced shops, bars and the usual tourist attractions but we were there the beginning of December '09 and it was not yet completed.

 

The port itself, Porto Grande, is just a basic port that is new to the cruise industry.