European shore tours

[bazzaw]

If anybody has an interest, I have posted details of the shore tours (http://cunardtogermany.blogspot.com.au/) we will be doing on our upcoming cruise(s).

If anybody has been to any of these places and has any hints or tips, I would be more than pleased to hear from them. Most of my research has come from info I have gleaned from Brit and US cruising forums - so would love to hear of an Aussie take on it all.

Barry

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Great work Barry.
I think you have it all covered it all very well indeed. A nice combination of tours and DIY. Most of the ports are easy to do on your own.
Thoughts.
St Petersburgh...Great that you are taking a 2 day private tour. Its the only way to go. There is so much to see and the guides know the way around everything. We used Red October and just went with the flow. It was truly awesome and I have had memories etched in my mind which will be there forever. I think all the tour companies up there are pretty good as they all have to be registered with the govt.
Barcelona.
As well as wandering up Los Ramblas we turned right and wandered through the old Medieval City. Got well and truly lost, but we kept to the main "streets", some alleys we would not venture down , and found the Cathedral and the Markets. We always kept an eye on how to get back to Los Ramblas. We used that as our bearings. Saw some great sights.
Monaco.
We took a trip to Eze. Its practically next door and it was a real highlight. You can take the local bus, but we are not too good with timetables and directions and got lost and wasted several hours waiting for connections. .....that's why sometimes when you only have a day , a ships tour is the way to go.

You have done a wonderful job with all you have planned.
All the best to you and Christine for a truly marvelous adventure.

I guess that's

BON VOYAGE... times 3:)

[The_Big_M]

Few suggestions of my own based on what you've written where you'll just explore on your own.

With Rome, plan out what you want to do in advance as there's way more to cover than you have time for, and if there are any highlights you are keen on, there are often more time efficient ways of achieving them if you prepare. Not sure whether you're more a casual or plan based traveller - you can just wander around if you prefer but you probably won't know the significance of the many places you go past - it will add a lot if you plan first.

For Stockholm I found value in a tour as the guide explained a lot rather than it just being scenic as e.g. in Oslo. HOHO should be okay though as you still get coverage and it's a bit spread out with all the islands.

For Gibraltar, you'll actually have some difficulty with your plan. The issue is more the capacity than the limited time. Basically, there are way more tourists than the capacity/speed of the cable cars and there were massive queues there - not just up, but then you have the same coming down again. (FYI, there are two cable cars and they dedicate one to cruise tours and the other to general public, but both are capacity constrained.) I suggest you take one of the private tours which should be near the entrance (though they are limited) and they will drive up and down instead. It'll still be quick but at least you will have more time for that and other things. Also, watch out for the monkeys who do scare some tourists. If you're dead set on a cable car, make sure you're first off, and get there straight away. Gibraltar's incredible for alcohol prices, btw! Other duty free (and essentials) has some good prices, but you won't have much time for that.

You didn't mention which train you're taking in Germany. Love DB :-)

[bazzaw]

F
You didn't mention which train you're taking in Germany. Love DB :-)

We are getting the Eurostar to Paris - and then the French TGV to ULM in Germany. Once in Germany we will be using the regional Bavarian and Baden-Wurttemberg daypasses. These daypasses do not use the high speed ICE trains - just the regional ones - but you get an all day pass for two people for 21 Euro total. The ICE trains are quite expensive, even with advance purchase.

Barry

[Thorpe]

I agree about Gibraltar and the cable car, we were in the line and gave up and caught one of the many mini van tours that were being touted while we were in the line. The guide was good (6 of us in the van), we went to the caves and then to the top of The Rock. The guides are allowed to feed the Apes so we had photos taken with a small one on our shoulder. Got dropped back into town with time to wander around and shop.
Definitely go inside Sagrada Familia, we ummed about it, joined the queue and were inside within 10 minutes. It is so worth it! Also loved Guell Park, we used the HOHO bus.
And for Monte Carlo we really enjoyed the Oceanographic Museum, the Aquarium was really good, spent more time there than we had planned.

[bazzaw]

I agree about Gibraltar and the cable car

Thanks for the thoughts about the car tours to the top of Gibraltar. I know that they are very prolific and well used - but I saw a video of them all parked at the top on a very narrow road and thought that it didn't look very "romantic". But I guess that queing for a long time at the cable car is not particularly exciting either. Money is almost no object here - because I am fairly sure this will be our one and only go at this , so maybe I had better think about grabbing the first van we see at the port??

Barry

[The_Big_M]

Once in Germany we will be using the regional Bavarian and Baden-Wurttemberg daypasses. These daypasses do not use the high speed ICE trains - just the regional ones - but you get an all day pass for two people for 21 Euro total. The ICE trains are quite expensive, even with advance purchase.


While the 'lander' passes are great value - how far does $25 get you for 2 here in NSW? And the facilities are so much better - you can get good deals on the ICE as well. For example, three of us travelled Frankfurt -> Nuremberg which was 2 hours express for 29.25 Euro.

The train technology and environment there is incredibly advanced and so well organised. The ICE is a very different onboard experience from the Intercitys as well. I was very impressed by them.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I was just reading about all thecelebrations Cunard have planned.
Will you see all , or any of this Barry ?

Red Arrows to join Cunard's Three Queens Tribute for HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Cunard Line is delighted to announce that the world-famous Red Arrows will be an extra highlight of the company’s Three Queens Diamond Jubilee Event in Southampton to celebrate the 60 years of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign, on Tuesday 5 June 2012.

In what is expected to be the biggest celebration outside London over the extended bank holiday weekend, all three ships of the Cunard fleet will sail up the Solent in formation for the first time on the morning of 5 June, in preparation for a day of special tributes, celebrations and displays for the enjoyment of the ships’ passengers and residents of the city of Southampton and beyond. This will be the first time the aerial display team will have performed over Cunard’s homeport of Southampton and the Solent, with the action being focused above the Marchwood area of the docks. The display will begin around 1800 hours and conclude almost 25 breathtaking minutes later.

Her Majesty The Queen has long been associated with Cunard, being the only person to have attended the naming of all three Cunard Elizabeths, beginning in 1938 with the original Queen Elizabeth, then 1967 when she launched Queen Elizabeth 2 and 2010 when she named Queen Elizabeth.

The combined sight of Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria together with a seven-aircraft Red Arrows squadron will create both an outstanding spectator experience and a fitting commemoration of Her Majesty’s 60 year reign.

The ships will approach the port soon after first light on Tuesday 5 June, sailing in single file up the Solent, with a flotilla of small boats expected to welcome them in.

As Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria tie up at their berths, Queen Mary 2 will follow on, turning in the upper swinging ground and then passing each ship in turn, with crew lining the foredeck of all three vessels, and the ships’ whistles sounding in salute of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

After the Red Arrows display, as darkness falls, the celebrations will culminate in an evening spectacular where all three ships will be brought within close proximity of each other, and a fusillade of fireworks and special effects will light up the evening sky beyond them.

Queen Mary 2 will then lead Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth in single file down the Solent as all three ships set out on their celebratory Diamond Jubilee voyages.

Mayflower Park will provide the best vantage point for those interested in seeing the arrival of the fleet, the fireworks, and the departure of Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. For the Red Arrows display, Hythe Marina and Town Quay will also offer good viewing.

Peter Shanks, President and Managing Director of Cunard says:

“Seeing Cunard’s three Queens in formation in the Solent for the very first time is set to make for a spectacular start and finish to a very special day in Southampton to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee – but the addition of the Red Arrows to the celebrations brings an extra frisson of excitement, as the epitome British professionalism at sea is matched by the embodiment of British daring and discipline in the air. Cunard is delighted to bring the first ever Red Arrows display to Southampton on this auspicious occasion. We are looking forward to giving both our passengers, and the residents of the Southampton area, the chance to be part of a truly remarkable experience that they will feel proud to talk about for years to come”.


Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council, says:

“The addition of the Red Arrows display to Cunard’s Three Queens Diamond Jubilee Event on Tuesday 5 June adds the finishing touch to a spectacular day for people in the Southampton area. The city will really be hitting the high notes with something new, extraordinary and memorable as a celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 60 year reign.”

[bazzaw]

I was just reading about all thecelebrations Cunard have planned.
Will you see all , or any of this Barry ?


David - yes, will be right in the thick of it :) We will be on QE when she sails into Southampton with QV and QM2 in the early morning - we walk off QE and walk onto QM2 and sail on her that evening around 10 PM after the Red Arrows display and the fireworks.

We sailed on Arcadia out of Southampton early January 2011 -when there were 7 ships in port (QE and QV were two of them) - they put on a military Band for our sailaway and also fireworks - I still don't know whether the fireworks were meant for us, for QE or just to celebrate the largest number of ships in Ports since.... whenever it was :)

Barry