Gibraltar walking ??

Can anyone advise on the walking distance from ship to town in Gibraltar especially with an arthritic knee?? Is the distance too short to taxi? Are the taxi drivers willing to do short distances or are they like the Maltese (island tours only) or a face like a well slapped bottom!!!:mad:

We lived in Gibraltar at the beginning of the 90s. There are three places that the ships can berth. The main terminal, where we saw QE2 berthed, would be about a 20 minute walk to the city centre. The Naval Dockyard has two berths. The first is the south mole where Canberra used to berth - you would need a taxi. The second is by the Semaphore Tower and is about 5 minutes walk to the south end of main street but about 10 minutes to the centre. Taxis and coaches (28 seaters because of the narrow streets) would meet all cruise ships.

Taxi drivers will take you a short distance and happily. Remember that all Gibraltarians consider themselves part of the United Kingdom and speak excellent English. But you might want to consider a "Rock Tour" in a taxi. The drivers are very knowledgable and are not out to rip you off. They will take you round the rock, which is only 3 miles long by 1 mile wide, and then to the upper rock to see the apes and the historic places as well as the magnificent views over the strait to north africa and to Spain as well as into the meditteranean. You will also get a spectacular view of the airport !

Go for a drink of English beer to the Angry Friar pub in main street. Spirits and perfume are very cheap. Barter with the jewellers and they may give you hefty discounts.

Have a look at my pictures at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/holiday_pics/qe2_nov04/gibraltar.htm, some pictures show where the ship is in relation to the town. About half way down the page on the left there are some useful shots for this.

For the athletic, Gibrtaltar is easily walkable, although few people do. In total I guess a walk up to the caves and back will be less than five miles and you get a bit of sunshine and scenery along the way. It can be quite steep with lots of steps though so that is an issue to consider. We walked but few local beleived we had!

Most people take cabs or organsied excursions. I would take the cab option as the Cunard offerings are very expensive for somewhere it takes five minutes to drive round! Taxi drivers will be fine with short trips, it is a small place so all trips are short!

One thing to remember is to take UK money (uk pounds) if you can. There has always been a bit of tension betweem the rock and Spain and there are shops/market stalls that do not like to take the Euro (the currency used in Spain), I have even had some try to surcharge me for using Euros. Also, from memory, I think the dollar was accepted in many of the shops (someone else can confirm this).

Oh Jon, the pictures bring back great memories of our time in Gib. Yes, the QE2 is berthed where she used to go when we were there. It is about 20 mins walk.

A car journey round the Rock actually takes longer than five minutes as the distance is about 6 miles and there is a speed limit and quite a bit of slow traffic. But it is interesting as the east side has the water catchments and tunnel, then the southern end (Europa Point) has a mosque, lighthouse and views to Morrocco. Driving back to the city centre pass the old naval hospital and look down on the dockyard where Admiral Nelson's body was brought ashore after Trafalgar.

Yes, British Pounds are the best to take although US dollars and euros are accepted. But the Gibraltar currency is British Pounds so everything else has to be converted.

As you see from Jon's pictures the price of spirits is really cheap, even compared to Spain. Cigarettes used to be cheap as well and perfumes are also good value. You can barter with the jewellers if you have cash and they should give you a good discount.

I really want to go back to Gib, we walked over the top of the rock to the water catchment area but did not go up to the point at the southern end, next time we will. The main problem with travelling on QE2 is that I can never wait to get back on board so never spend long enough going round places!

Unless there is somewhere I specifically want to get to I just have a leisurely breakfast and if I'm close by, pop back on for a snack at lunch and then get back for afternoon tea. In the bigger towns/cities of course I get further a field but in the small ports the big girl keeps calling me back.

Cheers you guys, many thanks for the info. Never been before so looking forward to it. Especially the duty free shops. By the way I have some pictures of QE2 when she made her maiden visit to Malta, Moored in Grand Harbour etc!! Not being a computer buff how do I post them on this web site??

I have managed to walk from the port to the town in Gibraltar with two arthritic knees! It really is not far but I agree with the other posters that if you want to go on the rock you will need a taxi.

We are calling in Gibraltar again on our next cruise in October and the QE2 shore excusion brochure mentions a 'seeing the dolphin boat trip'. Has anyone done this and if so is it worth the money? Would I see the same just by being on deck as we enter and leave Gibraltar?

Sweep

There are quite a few resident dolphins off the southern tip of Gib - we used to watch them from our house when we lived there. They do sometimes follow (or rather, lead)ships into the bay. Of course, just like going whale watching you cannot be guaranteed to see the dolphins. However, if you do come across a group of them in the boat you will find it much better than on the deck of QE2 as you will only be a few feet from the surface and they could be very close. The boat trip skippers have all the latest sonar, etc to find the dolphins so you should have a good trip.

Even if you don't see any dolphins, if the weather is fine you should have a good trip and get excellent views and pictures of the Rock.

Thanks iceman. That is really helpful and I shall definitely do the trip. My husband was quite scathing about it so I'll go on my own and leave him to go and stock up on the 'duty free'.;)

Hi, I live in Gibraltar, would just like to add a couple of points.

1. should you take a dolphin trip and not see dolphins then the company will refund the cost of your trip. It sounds crazy but true I know a few people that have been given refunds and never even had to ask for them.

2. the price of spirits is going down we now pay £12 for a case of 12 x 75cl bottles Vodka. Not good for my health its almost as cheap as water.

hic jimgib

The QE2 will be in Gibraltar this July only in the afternoon and evening.

Could somebody advise me, please, if it is feasible to walk in the city first to see the churches and museums during their opening times and visit the rock afterwards. Should this be better done by taxi or by funicular?

Is there anything special about Gibraltar in the evenig, such that the QE2 stas there until 11 pm?

When last in Gib. there were mini busses which charged £1 to go to main street, another £1 for the return journey of course well worth it. We got a taxi on another occasion, did the tour of the Rock, it was good value then he dropped us off at the Far end of Main st. where we loaded up with duty free and presents etc. and caught the mini bus back to the ship.

We are on the QE2 Mediterranean cruise in September that docks in Gibraltar on a Sunday. Cany anyone tell me whether the shops will be open on a Sunday or will it be like an old-fashioned British Sunday - closed!

should you take a dolphin trip and not see dolphins then the company will refund the cost of your trip. It sounds crazy but true I know a few people that have been given refunds and never even had to ask for them.

When we first did the dolphin trips it was in December - they wouldn't guarantee that we'd see any dolphins then. In the spring, summer and autumn they will guarantee them (and they're well worth seeing).

the price of spirits is going down we now pay £12 for a case of 12 x 75cl bottles Vodka. Not good for my health its almost as cheap as water.

We've bought a few bottles in Gib and taken them back to our cabin - Cunard are well aware of what you're doing but don't bother about it. It's also worth mentioning that cigarettes and pipe tobacco are also very cheap - last time we were there a man was taking six cases (25 cartons each) on board - again Cunard didn't bother.

Could somebody advise me, please, if it is feasible to walk in the city first to see the churches and museums during their opening times and visit the rock afterwards. Should this be better done by taxi or by funicular?

 

The last cable car runs at 5-00pm so it isn't feasible to walk, do the town and the top of the Rock in one afternoon. The best bet would be to take a taxi into Casemetes Square, walk up Main Street to the bottom cable car station and then take the cable car to the top. Don't tell your taxi driver what you're doing or he'll want to take you on a tour - If you want to do that book one with a taxi as soon as you get off the ship (Don't book Cunard's tour - it's very expensive).

 

Is there anything special about Gibraltar in the evening, such that the QE2 stays there until 11 pm?

 

No - everything will be shut - I don't know why they stay so late.

Can anyone tell me whether the shops will be open on a Sunday or will it be like an old-fashioned British Sunday - closed!

Most of the tourist shops - those selling souvenirs, drink and fags will be open.

When last in Gib. there were mini busses which charged £1 to go to main street, another £1 for the return journey of course well worth it. We got a taxi on another occasion, did the tour of the Rock, it was good value then he dropped us off at the Far end of Main st. where we loaded up with duty free and presents etc. and caught the mini bus back to the ship.

Don't book your tour through Cunard - they are expensive. Negotiate a Rock Tour with a taxi driver, the Dolphin Safari leaves from Marina Bay (it's walking distance from the ship, but a taxi driver will take you) see their website http://www.dolphinsafari.gi/, You can buy tea and a cake (or a drink and a sandwich on the Wisteria Terrace) at the Rock Hotel and have a much more enjoyable time that you will on an organised tour.

Seems strange staying till 11pm, Gib can be quiet but always live music to be found in bars, especially friday saturday and sunday when you will be spoilt for choice, only other thing to is dine there are a few nice restaurantes, maybe go to either the Rock Hotel or the Casino both do good food and the view is spectacular from both in the evenings. Good gaming at the casino even if it is small by Las Vegas standards.

Sundays most shops closed Safeways ( Morrisons) open, most shops selling cigarettes and booze open very few other shops will be open although if large ships come in a few jewelers will open.

approx 15 to 20 min walk to casemates from the cruise terminal.

There are a few nice restaurants.

What about Biancas? Much cheaper than the rock, although I'd agree that the view isn't as good - but you can eat outside. I wouldn't want to miss my meal on the QE2 though.