karenbeanpole Posted July 17, 2014 #1 Share Posted July 17, 2014 If anyone has been to any of those places, or even knows anything about them and what to do etc, please help! Any suggestions, ideas, knowledge welcome!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted July 18, 2014 #2 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) If anyone has been to any of those places, or even knows anything about them and what to do etc, please help! Any suggestions, ideas, knowledge welcome!!:D Been to all. Live in one. Visit good friends frequently in one other. Do some research online, let us know what you like to do, and you usually get better answers. Unless of course you want suggestions about, say, strip clubs??? Dive bars? Or whatever else perhaps interests some of us. :-0 Is this for the usual one-day-per ship's docking or a longer stay? Start with this: Natal--Cidade Alta e Ribeira neighborhoods, beaches, buggy ride on beach Recife--Olinda, Olaria Brennard, Recife Velho, Boa Viagem beach, music, crafts Salvador--Pelourinho, Bomfim, islands, beaches, food, music/capoeira (see: http://www.salvadorcentral.com) Edited July 18, 2014 by VidaNaPraia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted July 18, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Thanks, good to know a local! In Natal we are docked from 8am till 6pm. Would like to do buggy tour to Genipabu but not sure how to book buggy and how much it would cost. I've heard that there might be people at the dock trying to sell tours.. is that a good place to start? If it is too pricey, is it worth taking a taxi there? Will it take all day? In Recife, we are docked 8-7. Thought of Olinda, also of Pernambuco beachs. Not sure if they are any good, or should we just stay around Recife? Not sure how to get around those places, or whether it is safe? Where is Boa Viagum beach? How do we get there. I think it all depends on whether it's raining when we get there or sunny..... does it rain much in these parts in November/December? We are not in Salvador long - 7am till 2pm. From what I've been reading, maybe a trip up the Elevator is good. Can we get around the town quite easily on foot? I don't think we have time to venture very far. Thanks for your help :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t60 Posted July 18, 2014 #4 Share Posted July 18, 2014 snip..Salvador--Pelourinho, Bomfim, islands, beaches, food, music/capoeira (see: www.salvadorcentral.com) Brilliant link. Thank you If you have any info on the following ports that would be great, we are cruising part of the Brasilian coast March 2015. Santos, Buzios, Maceio, Fortaleza, also anything a bit different for Rio. We have been lucky enough to have visited there twice before so have done the usual touristy stuff Thanx Sandy in Spain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted July 18, 2014 #5 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Natal. The sand dunes & buggies are only about a 15 minute drive from the ship. We couldn't find an operator on the web, though you can book through agencies such as Viator or City Discovery. We chose not to, mainly because of the limited info on their websites, instead we chose to wing-it. When we disembarked buggy tours weren't being offered at the port. In fact I don't recall anything being offered, other than taxis. They offered to take us to Redinha where we could fix up a buggy but the fare they were seeking for that short journey was excessive, and we were none-too-sure we could find a buggy ride at the end of it. While we were pondering, a solitary dune buggy turned up, and we agreed a price. Great fun. Much cheaper than ship's offerings (surprise, surprise :rolleyes:) though probably about the same vfm because theirs was longer. And they enjoyed their experience too. We were lucky, if you're keen to enjoy a buggy ride I'd advise you fix it up - ideal if you can get a recommendation & contact details of an operator, or if operators now have websites, otherwise you'll have to bite the bullet & book through either the ship or one of those booking agencies. Recife. Here's what we did, much the same as many others. Taxi (unless you can find a convenient bus service) from the port to Olinda, IIRC about 10-15 minute drive. This is a historic little town (village?), built on the hillside overlooking the coast - if you want to walk the town get the driver to drop you at the top, it's pretty steep. If you want to take the little road-train tour, get him to drop you by the tourist information & bus-stops at the bottom (this is likely where he'd drop you if you simply asked for "Olinda"). Then a bus from there (frequent bus service, & plenty of folk or the TI office for advice) to the older part of central Recife, Sao Jose - actually on an island though you'd mebbe not notice cos of lots of bridges connecting it to the rest of town. There's a quirky little shopping arcade in a former prison, the cells are shops other than one preserved cell. Sao Jose is quite atmospheric, lots of people, and shops & stalls overflowing into the street. From hereabouts something like a 20 minute walk (the last part very boring), or taxi, back to the ship. Salvador de Bahia. Since like us you only have a half day, probably simplest to visit the old town, overlooking the port. Follow the herd past the market to the big elevator that takes you up the cliff face to the old town. The elevator is free for seniors - we didn't know that so unwittingly we paid. :eek: Cost us about ten cents. :D The old town is easy to walk, plenty of churches, historic buildings, shops, cafes. Very safe, but some of the surrounding neighbourhoods are considered unsafe - tourist police politely turned-back visitors who headed off in the wrong direction. Just our own one-day experiences from a couple of years back. JB :) Edited July 18, 2014 by John Bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted July 21, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Thanks so much fir all that info - it is very helpful! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted July 21, 2014 Author #7 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Do you remember how much you paid for the buggy in Natal?:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bull Posted July 23, 2014 #8 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Do you remember how much you paid for the buggy in Natal?:o Sorry, just can,t remember. Much less than ship's excursion tho for a lesser experience. And less than Viator's. Was decent vfm. Perhaps about 80USD for the two of us? But that's a guess. 2 years ago. JB :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarbird Posted August 17, 2014 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Do you remember how much you paid for the buggy in Natal?:o My wife and I and 3 other couples did the dune buggy ride 3 years ago--It was $65 per person for about 4 hours. I booked it based on an internet search and emails. PS---Our cruise line wanted over $300 per person. Be careful in Salvador old city--it has a lot of petty crime. Olinda and the beach in Recife are nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted August 18, 2014 #10 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Be careful in Salvador old city--it has a lot of petty crime. specifically pick pocketing in the Pelourinho historic district that most tourists visit. It isn't inevitable. And no reason to be quaking in your boots, just aware of your stuff and your surroundings. You should also decide in advance how to deal with the child beggars there. And the beach in Recife has sharks, both aquatic and terrestrial. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie101 Posted September 15, 2014 #11 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Are you on the Azanara leaving on 27th November from Malaga. Your times docked are the same as ours. If so wondered if you wanted to share taxis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted September 15, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Are you on the Azanara leaving on 27th November from Malaga. Your times docked are the same as ours. If so wondered if you wanted to share taxis We are on the Azamara Journey on the 27th November. However, we are doing the B2B so starting in Malaga on 16th November. Can't share, otherwise would have been good. See you onboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gymfreak Posted September 29, 2014 #13 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Been to all. Live in one. Visit good friends frequently in one other.Do some research online, let us know what you like to do, and you usually get better answers. Unless of course you want suggestions about, say, strip clubs??? Dive bars? Or whatever else perhaps interests some of us. :-0 Is this for the usual one-day-per ship's docking or a longer stay? Start with this: Natal--Cidade Alta e Ribeira neighborhoods, beaches, buggy ride on beach Recife--Olinda, Olaria Brennard, Recife Velho, Boa Viagem beach, music, crafts Salvador--Pelourinho, Bomfim, islands, beaches, food, music/capoeira (see: http://www.salvadorcentral.com) Hi there Your info is very helpful. We would like to do a buggy ride in Natal. Can't find much for booking one online. Do you know if it's far from the ship dock to the area for the buggy rides and if they are easy to acquire there. Also a rough estimate of the cst would be useful . I think we are on the same ship as the first person on this thread so any info would be fantastic Thanks Vicki Brown 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gymfreak Posted September 29, 2014 #14 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Natal. The sand dunes & buggies are only about a 15 minute drive from the ship. We couldn't find an operator on the web, though you can book through agencies such as Viator or City Discovery. We chose not to, mainly because of the limited info on their websites, instead we chose to wing-it. When we disembarked buggy tours weren't being offered at the port. In fact I don't recall anything being offered, other than taxis. They offered to take us to Redinha where we could fix up a buggy but the fare they were seeking for that short journey was excessive, and we were none-too-sure we could find a buggy ride at the end of it. While we were pondering, a solitary dune buggy turned up, and we agreed a price. Great fun. Much cheaper than ship's offerings (surprise, surprise :rolleyes:) though probably about the same vfm because theirs was longer. And they enjoyed their experience too. We were lucky, if you're keen to enjoy a buggy ride I'd advise you fix it up - ideal if you can get a recommendation & contact details of an operator, or if operators now have websites, otherwise you'll have to bite the bullet & book through either the ship or one of those booking agencies. Recife. Here's what we did, much the same as many others. Taxi (unless you can find a convenient bus service) from the port to Olinda, IIRC about 10-15 minute drive. This is a historic little town (village?), built on the hillside overlooking the coast - if you want to walk the town get the driver to drop you at the top, it's pretty steep. If you want to take the little road-train tour, get him to drop you by the tourist information & bus-stops at the bottom (this is likely where he'd drop you if you simply asked for "Olinda"). Then a bus from there (frequent bus service, & plenty of folk or the TI office for advice) to the older part of central Recife, Sao Jose - actually on an island though you'd mebbe not notice cos of lots of bridges connecting it to the rest of town. There's a quirky little shopping arcade in a former prison, the cells are shops other than one preserved cell. Sao Jose is quite atmospheric, lots of people, and shops & stalls overflowing into the street. From hereabouts something like a 20 minute walk (the last part very boring), or taxi, back to the ship. Salvador de Bahia. Since like us you only have a half day, probably simplest to visit the old town, overlooking the port. Follow the herd past the market to the big elevator that takes you up the cliff face to the old town. The elevator is free for seniors - we didn't know that so unwittingly we paid. :eek: Cost us about ten cents. :D The old town is easy to walk, plenty of churches, historic buildings, shops, cafes. Very safe, but some of the surrounding neighbourhoods are considered unsafe - tourist police politely turned-back visitors who headed off in the wrong direction. Just our own one-day experiences from a couple of years back. JB :) Hi Just also red your detailed reply. We are on the sme cruise s the first person to start the thread so it is much appreciated Vicki DJR9r6ZX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacobeau Posted October 1, 2014 #15 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Mollie 101. I am on the Azamara cruise and would be happy to share taxi in Recife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted October 1, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Mollie 101. I am on the Azamara cruise and would be happy to share taxi in Recife. Don't know what we are doing in Recife yet but we could meet up and talk.... See you at the M&M after the drill? We are Vic and Karen from Guildford. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted October 1, 2014 #17 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Don't know what we are doing in Recife yet .... If you're going to bother to get off the ship at all, definitely go to Olinda. It's a World Heritage site. Culture, history, views....and great shopping. Perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VidaNaPraia Posted October 1, 2014 #18 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Another unique place, if you have time (it's kind of on the other side of town, in the Varzea neighborhood), is the Olaria Francisco Brennand (not to be confused with the Castelo/instituto/museum Ricardo Brennand), the artisi's sculpture park and ceramic studio. The video really does not do it justice, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted October 2, 2014 Author #19 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Mollie 101. I am on the Azamara cruise and would be happy to share taxi in Recife. Maybe we can share taxi to Olinda? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie101 Posted October 4, 2014 #20 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Don't know what we are doing in Recife yet but we could meet up and talk.... See you at the M&M after the drill? We are Vic and Karen from Guildford. Sent from my iPad using Forums Hi vic and Karen great yeah will meet up on ship. We are Julie and Paul from Liverpool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norn iron Posted October 8, 2014 #21 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) Hi vic and Karen great yeah will meet up on ship. We are Julie and Paul from Liverpool Millie101 why do you not join the specific roll call for this cruise? http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1754259 Plus if you haven't already registered for the meet an mingle (with all those on the roll call) you could do that as well David Edited October 8, 2014 by norn iron forgot to add the link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norn iron Posted October 8, 2014 #22 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Mollie 101. I am on the Azamara cruise and would be happy to share taxi in Recife. pacobeau, as per my previous post to Millie101, why do you not join the specific role call for this cruise? http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1754259 Plus if you haven't already registered for the meet an mingle (with all those on the roll call) you could do that as well David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenbeanpole Posted October 30, 2014 Author #23 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Please for those who have been to Natal before, can you tell me if there are ATM cash machines in the port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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