Bruges In a Day

[Ladybug18]

Hello!

 

We will be onboard the NCL Prima in July and the NCL tour we had wanted to book only has room for one more person (we are a family of  3). We want to to to Bruges for the day and explore the city and do a canal cruise. Can you book a canal cruise while in Bruges or does that need to be done before arrival?

 

Any suggestions for how to get to Bruges from the Zeebrugge port?

 

Thanks

[fishman620]

There is an NCL excursion called "Romantic Bruges" which includes a walking tour & canal boat ride and is less expensive than the Bruges for the Day excursion......that's the one we (5 persons) are doing while on the Prima in August.

 

[John Bull]

 

Easiest is a pre-booked taxi - find a big-un if you can - they're up to 8 seats & you should have no problem finding sharers. Taxis can take you into the cobbled centre - usual drop-point is the Grote Markt. Sorry no idea of current costs.

 

Or

A privately-operated shuttlebus service from the port, best to re-book .Sorry don't know any more about it, the service started after the last time we were there.

 

Or ship's "Bruges on your own" transfer bus.

 

Both of those bus options drop at Bargeplein,  (tour buses not permitted in the centre). From there it's a pleasant 15 - 20 minute walk over the "little red bridge" & thro Minnewater Park

 

By train is cheap but awkward. Ship's payable shuttle from port to Blankenberge station and a 12-minute train ride costing pennies.  But the train is only hourly and because it's preceded by a shuttlebus it's pot-luck whether you get to the station five minutes before a train is leaving or five minutes after one's left. Level 15 - 20 minute walk to the centre of Bruges. 

 

No need to pre-book a canal tour in Bruges. Boats are available from a number of places around the canal, they all charge the same money and follow the same route. So wherever you get on one you'll see the same sights in the same timescale but in a different order. Usually lines for the boats, if there's a pick-up point with a short line, join it.

The boats are identical. And they're all open boats (due to super-low bridges) so of the weather doesn't look reliable take a poncho (or a brolly, but beware those low bridges.

 

JB 🙂