New to Azamara with questions on port transportation

[leennp]

I have my first Azamara cruise booked for next August and have been reading through the boards to make the most of our cruise but have some specific questions for experts on CC.  Azamara list one of the included benefits as complimentary port shuttles with the caveat listed as "where available"    Is there a way to no ahead of time if this will be an option in any of your port stops?   If shuttle is available in a particular port, do you have to reserve ahead of time?     Are they usually available all day and would there be a schedule, such as hourly departures from ship, 1/2 hourly from town back to ship?    Do they usually drop off in center of town?    Just trying to decide which ports we might want to skip any prebooked tours and wander on our own or pick up an independent walking tour.   The ports involved on this cruise are New Castle uponTyne, Leith, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Zeebrugge.

[audobon_tx]

Leith: weather permitting, you will dock by the Royal Yacht Britannia. Take local bus into Edinburgh, it's easy.

 

Amsterdam: you dock by central station.  No shuttle offered nor needed.

 

Antwerp: usually docked near city center.  No shuttle required.  Hoho etc options right by pier.

 

Zeebrugge: can't recall for sure.  We took the Azamara transfer/return to Bruges.  We were going to take the train but a strike ruled that out.

 

Newcastle: don't know.

Edited November 28, 2018 by flyingshoes

[marinaro44]

1 hour ago, leennp said:

I have my first Azamara cruise booked for next August and have been reading through the boards to make the most of our cruise but have some specific questions for experts on CC.  Azamara list one of the included benefits as complimentary port shuttles with the caveat listed as "where available"    Is there a way to no ahead of time if this will be an option in any of your port stops?   If shuttle is available in a particular port, do you have to reserve ahead of time?     Are they usually available all day and would there be a schedule, such as hourly departures from ship, 1/2 hourly from town back to ship?    Do they usually drop off in center of town?    Just trying to decide which ports we might want to skip any prebooked tours and wander on our own or pick up an independent walking tour.   The ports involved on this cruise are New Castle uponTyne, Leith, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Zeebrugge.

No reservations.  Run all day to a published schedule.  Go to center of town.

[audobon_tx]

PS.  Where offered the shuttles will run on a regular schedule, typically every 20-30 minutes, no reservations required, and will drop off in city center or transportation hub.

[nordski]

49 minutes ago, flyingshoes said:

Leith: weather permitting, you will dock by the Royal Yacht Britannia. Take local bus into Edinburgh, it's easy.

 

Two summers ago, in Leith there was a shuttle taking us to the central area of Edinburgh.

[audobon_tx]

9 minutes ago, nordski said:

 

Two summers ago, in Leith there was a shuttle taking us to the central area of Edinburgh.

Wasn't offered this past July.  Don't recall the reason. The ship reimbursed passengers for the bus fare.

Edited November 28, 2018 by flyingshoes

[leennp]

Thanks for information, that does help in planning.  Unsure if the bus situation will be complicated at night in Edinburgh due to Tattoo, we already have tickets for Tattoo, just need to ensure know ahead of time how to get back to ship.

[nordski]

1 hour ago, flyingshoes said:

Wasn't offered this past July.  Don't recall the reason. The ship reimbursed passengers for the bus fare.

 

That is really interesting. Can’t recall them reimbursing bus fare at any other port.

[nordski]

1 hour ago, leennp said:

Thanks for information, that does help in planning.  Unsure if the bus situation will be complicated at night in Edinburgh due to Tattoo, we already have tickets for Tattoo, just need to ensure know ahead of time how to get back to ship.

 

Hope you update us on your experience during or after your cruise. In 2017 we were there just prior to the Tattoo. Perhaps that explains the existence of the Shuttle.

 

We plan to return for the Tatoo in 2020, so your experience will really help us.

 

If Uktog, who frequents this forum, sees your question she may be able to explain Bus logistics.

 

Or you could post a new thread to seek her advice. She has a wealth of information about Edinburgh, G&T’s, and even bacon butties, if memory serves. 😄

 

 

 

 

[uktog]

Getting back from the Tattoo is very busy but what you need to do is walk down the hill from the Castle. On the left hand side you will see a pub called Deacon Brodie’s (good spot in the day) turn left down the Mound to Princes Street. Cross over and find a 22 bus stop to Ocean Terminal (the last stop on the route which is where Azamara will be) 

if it’s very late you head for a night bus stop (N22)

The other must. Download the bus app as that also lets you buy m tickets and avoids the need for change but you need one phone per traveler at present but that may change y the time you are in Edinburgh 

 

http://tfeapp.com/

 

Its a great app though needs WiFi. Wherever you are in town it will tell you what bus to get and when is the next one. 

 

Edinburgh now has Uber but my advice would be don’t call Uber until you are on The Mound and wait there if you want a taxi. They can’t pick up at present in Princes Street or the Airport and the road from the Castle to Deacon Brodie’s is closed a lot during the festival 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[150edmiston]

Great advice leennp, and from us thanks for this UKTog.  We’re about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and had no idea a bus ran to Ocean Terminal. David