Crystaltipps67 Posted February 17 #1 Share Posted February 17 We are on Sky next month (yay) and one of the stops is the back end of nowhere - Le Verdon, France, which is billed as Bordeaux, but really isn't anywhere close. Apparently there is NOTHING at the port, no taxis, no public transport. Nada, nights, nowt. Now we don't want to be spending all day on an over-priced Princess excursion to Bordeaux that will mostly be spent on a bus, but nor do we really want to have to spend the day on board as there are already quite a few sea days on this voyage. We are more than happy mooching around locally, but the nearest town (Soulac-sur-mer) is still a bit far to walk to from what I can see. I hope that Princess will at least put on a shuttle (overpriced, no doubt, but beggars can't be choosers) . But I can't find a way of finding that out in advance of getting on board. Do you wise ones have any recent experience of Le Vernon, or know how I can establish if there's a shuttle as it will help me to plan how we'll spend that day. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystaltipps67 Posted February 17 Author #2 Share Posted February 17 Wow - live chat with Princess and I got the answer that no, Princess won't be offering a shuttle. So looks like we are prisoners on the ship unless we do one of their excursions. That's really poor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skynight Posted February 17 #3 Share Posted February 17 Have you tried the roll call for this voyage? Others on the same cruise as you may have something arranged. I believe you are on the March 25th cruise. Here is the roll call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare alanstarr Posted February 17 #4 Share Posted February 17 In October (on NCL), I did a half-day tour with Vigne Authentique. Picked up and dropped off at the port, and visited a couple wineries. Would definitely recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidoLiz Posted February 17 #5 Share Posted February 17 We were there in Nov. 2022 and it turned out to be a great port stop. Yes, a shuttle bus to Soulac was provided at a reasonable rate by Princess (although not announced in advance). We had a great blue-sky day touring the pretty town, strolling the clean wide beaches, and enjoying an outdoor cafe with fresh mussels, frites and local wines. I hope you enjoy a similarly wonderful day! It’s definitely not the “back end of nowhere”. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Wildcat Posted February 17 #6 Share Posted February 17 Did a Google search and found several companies offering excursions. Also discussion at the port forum and web page on transportation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norwayfan1 Posted February 17 #7 Share Posted February 17 We visited Le Verdun a while back, though it was with NCL, not Princess. The cruise company offered a paid-for shuttle to Soulac, though it wasn't advertised in advance. We didn't want to go to Bordeaux or take the shuttle, so we just walked off the ship and through the port gate and went for a long and pleasant walk along the coast, as did quite a few other passengers. NCL very much tried to imply that it wasn't possible to leave the port area, and but this was not the case at all, however uninviting the port area initially looked from the top deck of the ship. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandawithdogs Posted February 17 #8 Share Posted February 17 Could maybe hire uber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastforwardcoach Posted February 18 #9 Share Posted February 18 Looks like this is for the 25 March 2024 cruise on Sky Princess. There is a roll call for this at: THIS LINK Also a chance to sign up to the Meet & Greet being organised for Tuesday 26 March at 11.00-12.00 at Take Five Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystaltipps67 Posted February 18 Author #10 Share Posted February 18 22 minutes ago, fastforwardcoach said: Looks like this is for the 25 March 2024 cruise on Sky Princess. There is a roll call for this at: THIS LINK Also a chance to sign up to the Meet & Greet being organised for Tuesday 26 March at 11.00-12.00 at Take Five Thanks all. I've already searched the boards and there's nothing recent about what Princess offers in terms of shuttle. I'm on the roll call but it's not been active in terms of this port. For info - I contacted Virginie months ago and she's not currently doing tours as she is just about to have a baby! When I said it was the back end of nowhere I meant the port - I am keen to visit Soulac. My concern as someone who both wants to be organised and have stuff planned but also doesn't want to pay over the odds, is that it would be really nice if Princess announced up front if there was going to be a shuttle so that I could plan. I will investigate cabs and try to book one in advance. Thanks again all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystaltipps67 Posted February 18 Author #11 Share Posted February 18 20 hours ago, alanstarr said: In October (on NCL), I did a half-day tour with Vigne Authentique. Picked up and dropped off at the port, and visited a couple wineries. Would definitely recommend. She's about to have a baby. I contacted her some months ago as she was the only sensibly priced tour on offer. Everything else (well I can actually only find one other company - Orpheus - which is ridiculously expensive! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougH Posted February 18 #12 Share Posted February 18 I was there in the fall of 2022. There was a shuttle to Soulac but not sure if it was free or nominal cost. Nice little main street to wander down to the beach. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sunviking90 Posted February 18 #13 Share Posted February 18 We stopped here on the Emerald Princess in fall 2022 and there was a FREE shuttle bus to Soulac sur Mer. It’s a very pretty little beach town. They said the ride would be about 20 minutes, but it was only about 10-15 minutes away. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzpros Posted August 11 #14 Share Posted August 11 On 2/18/2024 at 11:34 AM, sunviking90 said: We stopped here on the Emerald Princess in fall 2022 and there was a FREE shuttle bus to Soulac sur Mer. It’s a very pretty little beach town. They said the ride would be about 20 minutes, but it was only about 10-15 minutes away. Hi, do you know what time does the Shuttle starts and end? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sunviking90 Posted August 11 #15 Share Posted August 11 12 minutes ago, cruzpros said: Hi, do you know what time does the Shuttle starts and end? I don’t remember, but it ran throughout the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zogrand Posted August 13 #16 Share Posted August 13 We were in LeVerdon in April this year and there was a shuttle. It ran most of the day. There were quite a few buses running. Soulac sur Mer was a cute, walkable town. I can’t remember if there was a fee but if there was, it was not too expensive or I would have remembered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink-belle Posted August 13 #17 Share Posted August 13 I really like the Le Verdon stop, and our visits to Soulac Sur Mer. It’s got a nice beachfront and some good restaurants/cafes. Princess has always supplied FREE shuttles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkingsoon Posted August 13 #18 Share Posted August 13 I was there a couple months ago and took a tour of the German WW2 bunkers adjacent to Soulac-Sur-Mer, a great tour led by a fascinating gentleman with an interesting tale who was actually there as a young child during their construction and allowed by the soldiers to come and go upon their completion. It was one of the best tours I've been on. I'll leave you to do the googling, but if it's available I highly recommend it. Later on I went for a walk from the ship, went a couple miles and realized that, yes indeed, we were still in the middle of nowhere. I had some luck in other nearby ports with both rideshare and taxi apps, but given the size of the Sky and remoteness of the port, I wouldn't count on being able to get one. I rather envied the river cruises berthed right downtown in Bordeaux. Walkingsoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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