Off to a rough start in Lisbon

[LaCroisiereS'amuse]

On 5/24/2023 at 5:24 PM, travelingJimmy said:

So for whatever it is worth, Marina is in OPorto today but we didn’t dock in Oporto. We are currently docked in Matosinhos about an hour away from Oporto. Usually they will call that out but they didn’t. Seems kinda odd. We didn’t have a private tour today but if we did that might have been problematic. 

 

Leixoes/Matosinhos is the regular port for ocean going ships visiting Oporto & ocean going cruise ships don't enter the Douro.  The city centre is easily reached by line A of the metro in 35 minutes.  There are some amazing fish restaurants by the port gates in Matosinhos.

[jonthomas]

No shuttle to Oporto?

 

[firsttimers68]

We were luckier. Arrived at check in around 12.15, ( scheduled for noon check in) and it only took about 20 minutes including security. 

[Jayne E]

We are on Riviera and Lisbon & Porto ports both cancelled for 5/25 & 5/26 due to “impending port worker strikes”.  We were notified of this on 5/23.

Appears you boarded 5/23. Were there strikes going on?

 

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

On 5/23/2023 at 8:34 AM, travelingJimmy said:

Just boarded Marina in Lisbon. This is our 8th Oceania cruise. Off to a rough start. First we had to stand in line with 3200 of our closest friends from the P&O Ventura. Both cruises were at the same dock and had to share the same line and checking counter.  Longest check in we have ever had.  Then all the stuff we did on the online checkin before we left, well forget about it.  The pictures we took had to be redone since they were not valid apparently in Lisbon.  Their scanners didn’t work so it was manual to put in our passport data.  Once we FINALLY got checked in, trying to find the way to the ship was well, let’s say interesting.  Signage was terrible but the good news is we got our steps in for the day and got a nice self guided tour of the docks and terminal. Ok. A nice glass of wine on the deck at the terrace cafe and I’ll be good as new.   Dinner tonight at Jacques.  

This is pretty unusual, even with 2 ships.  But unfortunately, Lisbon has just had some widespread strikes which affected many airport and cruise port operations.  It sounds like you got caught up in it.  Hopefully you disembark in another city, or if Lisbon, that the strikes ae over.

[IWantToLiveOverTheSea]

On 5/24/2023 at 12:24 PM, travelingJimmy said:

So for whatever it is worth, Marina is in OPorto today but we didn’t dock in Oporto. We are currently docked in Matosinhos about an hour away from Oporto. Usually they will call that out but they didn’t. Seems kinda odd. We didn’t have a private tour today but if we did that might have been problematic. 

The only ships that can go down the river are river ships (AMA, Viking, etc.)  Matosinhos (Leixoes) is the port for Oporto (Porto).  We docked in Leixoes in April. A shuttle to Porto was offered.  It took about a half hour and dropped off on the waterfront a little ways from the Dom Luis Bridge (Alfandega Transport Center).  There were a few tour options for touring there (tourist tram, I think HoHo bus, possibly taxis) or you could just walk along the waterfront to go where you wanted to go.  We walked to the bridge and started our exploration there.