Lorient-Your impression of this port

[winegirl]

Some of the Oceania itineraries include a full day in the port of Lorient, France. Now that at least one cruise has stopped there, I was interested in passenger impressions. This was one port where there was virtually no information, the tourist bureau was not equipped to serve English speaking passengers and there were no tour agencies that I found in the area. Seems like a port that the cruise line just "settled for." Any thoughts if you've been there?

[LAexNY]

Some of the Oceania itineraries include a full day in the port of Lorient, France. Now that at least one cruise has stopped there, I was interested in passenger impressions. This was one port where there was virtually no information, the tourist bureau was not equipped to serve English speaking passengers and there were no tour agencies that I found in the area. Seems like a port that the cruise line just "settled for." Any thoughts if you've been there?

 

Lorient was just replaced on our 5/26/11 Marina cruise

 

Dear Guest and Travel Partner,

We wish to provide you with an important itinerary update to your cruise on the Marina May 26, 2011. Tidal conditions in Lorient on that date necessitate that we make a change. Marina will now call on the lovely cities of Pont-Aven and Concarneau to provide you with a more enriching destination experience.

June 6, 2011 - Lorient, France:

Lorient, France has been changed to Pont-Aven (Concarneau), France 8:00am to 5:00pm

[pembrokegail]

I wish they would do the same for our 6.27. cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

[Oceans&Rivers]

Lorient was just replaced on our 5/26/11 Marina cruise

 

Dear Guest and Travel Partner,

We wish to provide you with an important itinerary update to your cruise on the Marina May 26, 2011. Tidal conditions in Lorient on that date necessitate that we make a change. Marina will now call on the lovely cities of Pont-Aven and Concarneau to provide you with a more enriching destination experience.

June 6, 2011 - Lorient, France:

Lorient, France has been changed to Pont-Aven (Concarneau), France 8:00am to 5:00pm

 

Notice this far ahead of schedule is a very good thing.:)

 

Here are some pictures of Pont-Aven (Concarneau):

 

 

 

[winegirl]

It looks like O is moving at least one future cruise from Lorient to another port, but still seeking impressions of travellers who've already been there. Our cruise leaves in 2 weeks and this is still a port on our schedule.

 

One of the gals I met online was able to get a private excursion for us through a TA in Paris, but the excursion will take us away from Lorient for the day. We are in port for 8 hours and from what I've read about this port online, the word "dreary" sticks in my mind.

[TERRIER1]

Fortunately I am on the cruise where O is moving from Lorient to Concarneau. I tried to find to do things in Lorient prior to this switch of ports and had a difficult time. Some of things I did find are:

- take a ferry to the Ile de Groix. Hopefully it will be a nice day.

- take a regional bus/train to one of the more interesting towns such as Carnac or Quimper if your schedule permits.. I found these in the guide books from the library.

- take local transportation to the Port Louis citadel on the opposite side of the estuary

 

This is a port that does not offer a lot and the local transportation information is difficult to get at. Where do the excursion offered by the ship go to?

[winegirl]

There were a number of 3-4 hr. shore excursions to places like Quimper, Pont Avec, Josselin Castle, the geoliths, etc. The excursions were not too expensive. However, one of my fellow cruisers was able to arrange a private tour with a TA in Paris, for a full day and a stop for lunch at a nice seafood restaurant. The itinerary looked promising, and the price was reasonable, so we booked with her. Otherwise, I'd have booked an excursion to Pont Avec through the ship.

 

By the way, I liked the photos posted above, that's what I'm looking for in rural France. Pont Avec looks like a much more picturesque port, even if the town is smaller than Lorient. The area around Lorient, from the maps and tourist brochures I was sent (all in French,) seems to cater to tourists who wish to camp, sail, windsurf and spend time at the beach. We all know areas like this, and they have their place for daytrippers, car campers and local tourists, but not for a cruise ship port, especially one that is in port for a full day.

[TERRIER1]

After reading about Lorient I couldn't figure out why Oceania chose this port. Very strange place to dock.

[wripro]

Many times the port itself is not the place of interest but merely a jumping off spot for treks to nearby sites. Many cruise lines who do a similar itinerary, including Seabourn, stop at L'Orient. It may also be a good place to reprovision the ship.

[ddcruiser]

We were just on Regatta which stopped in L'Orient. We hailed a taxi for 100 euros with another couple. The driver took us to lovely towns, fishing villages, an abbey, and to the hundreds of megaliths at Carnac, a trip which Oceania had cancelled. Carnac is mysterious and beautiful, with these monuments placed there thousands of years ago. Also, there's a good museum. Do not waste your time in L'Orient. ddcruiser

[Aruba]

Also, there's a good museum. Do not waste your time in L'Orient. ddcruiser

Are you referring to the art museum in Pont Aven? Did you see it and is it worthwhile? I can't say I had ever before heard of the "Pont Aven movement" in art. Apparently Gaughin spearheaded it in the post-impressionist days but I know nothing about it. I don't think we will have time on our tour to visit the museum and see what the movement was all about -- maybe on some future trip.

[winegirl]

I misspelled--I hate it when that happens!

[Aruba]

We'll cut you some slack this time, as long as it doesn't happen again. ;)

[Bruin Steve]

Our August 10, 2011 Marina cruise was also changed from L'Orient to Pont Aven...and the hours were changed from 9-to-5 to 11-to-7...

 

The two ports are a mere 26 miles apart, so I am guessing that there is not a major difference regarding what one might be able to see in the surrounding area...and, it being over a year away for us, we really haven't started planning in detail yet...

 

But, since L'Orient wasn't a port I specifically booked this cruise for, it matters little to me that they changed it for another location so close...

[blacktop]

This is my first time on this site. We leave Aug 10 with ports of call to St. malo etc on Oceania. Anyone have recommendations of how to get private transport to places we choose--such as Dinan, San Sebastion, La Rochelle,?

[LHT28]

This is my first time on this site. We leave Aug 10 with ports of call to St. malo etc on Oceania. Anyone have recommendations of how to get private transport to places we choose--such as Dinan, San Sebastion, La Rochelle,?

You might want to join the roll call for your cruise where you will meet fellow cruisers & share tours & information

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=420

We booked a private tour in St Malo to Dinan & MSM

Maybe renting a car would be a better option if your want to DIY

 

Lyn

[Bruin Steve]

This is my first time on this site. We leave Aug 10 with ports of call to St. malo etc on Oceania. Anyone have recommendations of how to get private transport to places we choose--such as Dinan, San Sebastion, La Rochelle,?

 

blacktop,

First of all, welcome to Cruise Critic...I am glad you found us. This website and its message boards are the absolute best place to find and share information and opinions about cruising. I have been participating here for years and find it an irreplaceable resource.

 

As Lyn pointed out above, the BEST place on Cruise Critic to find and share information regarding a specific cruise is the Roll Call board.

 

Here is the specific thread for the August 10 Marina cruise:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1157579&page=25

 

Many of us have been on there for well over a year, planning tours and such for each port. The private tours I am on have been full for some time...but there are still some others on there still trying to find tour partners and to share transportation to or from the ship...

 

In addition, if you go back and read through the entire thread, there is a lot of shared information on there...

[JHM]

"However, one of my fellow cruisers was able to arrange a private tour with a TA in Paris, for a full day and a stop for lunch at a nice seafood restaurant. The itinerary looked promising, and the price was reasonable, so we booked with her. Otherwise, I'd have booked an excursion to Pont Avec through the ship."

 

Can you tell me how this worked out for you? We're scheduled to stop in Lorient in September.

[winegirl]

JHM: sorry for lack of response, did not see your post until today.

 

Re: Lorient, this turned out to be one of our favorite stops. Reminded us of home. One of the fellow cruisers booked a travel guide (from a husband and wife team who live in Brittany.) The husband Gary,who I think was a teacher, drove our group of 8 all over western Brittany for a day, visiting Quimper, had a great lunch, saw Pont Aven--

 

I don't have the tour operator details but am contacting someone who may and if I can get that information, will post it.

[winegirl]

JHM:

 

Here is a link to the travel specialist who arranged our tour of Brittany for a day from the port of Lorient:

 

http://www.aparistravel.com/france-travel/brittany-tours/140-brittany-tour-from-cruise-ship-in-saint-malo-or-lorient.html

 

We had a guide named Gary and the day was a smashing success! Gary was knowledgeable, drove us all over, arranged for a nice luncheon for our group in Quimper. Just loved the countryside and the tour!

 

I did not arrange this one. The gal who did posted availability of a shared tour on the Cruise Critic Roll Call for our sailing. That way, we had 8 of us who toured together and brought the cost down. The Oceania Roll Calls were pretty active and a lot of us "met" online and again onboard to share tours. In the end, we found some pretty cool, compatible people for many of the shared tours. If you find people who seem to be adventuresome, fun loving and flexible, plus in decent physical shape to allow for a long day of touring, I highly recommend offering to share a tour from Lorient.

[JHM]

Believe it or not, I just saw your reply today. Thank you so much. I am getting in touch with the tour company to see what I can work out. Your experience is a big help. It's very difficult to get anyone in L'orient to answer requests. I'm hopeful that this tour company will come through, as they did for your group. We'll be there Sept. 7, so it's coming up!

[pacheco18]

We were just there on an O cruise -- on a Sunday - and a short stay to boot.

 

There is nothing there. You need to plan an excursion to one of the many nearby towns.

[JHM]

We now have a tour booked from L'orient to Quimper with Marie-Laure. Thanks for your help.:)