Azores & Bilbao

[Hawaiiatheart]

Our upcoming transatlantic cruise on the Celebrity Edge includes stops in the Azores and Bilboa.  We would appreciate any suggestions for a party of 7 adults to make the most of these ports.  We have booked private tours for our other stops, but we are at a loss for these locations.  We are interested in seeing San Sebastian, but have just 9 hours in Balboa and are not sure, if this would give us enough time.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Edited February 22, 2019 by Host Bonjour
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[mskaufman]

In Bilbao why not just check out the famous museum

[BarbinMich]

The scenery in the Azores is the attraction.  One can arrange for a private or ship's tour to the eastern end of Sao Miguel (island where Ponta delgada is) where there is beautiful coastal scenery and inland there are "hot spots" where the locals cook their meals in holes in the ground.  In the spring the rhododendrons (or something similar) are abloom.  The western end of the island is hilly/mountainy with some beautiful lakes.  Going either direction can be a 6+ hr tour so can only do one during a stop there.  As I recall ships offer tours to tea plantations in the center of the island, which would be my last choice.

[Hawaiiatheart]

We are aware of the Guggenheim museum,  and it is a possibility, but several of our group are interested in seeing San Sebastian.

 

I appreciate the information on the Azores and will look for a private tour for us.  

[Hlitner]

Gexto to San Sebastian would best be done via some kind of vehicle be it rental car/van or a private car/driver.   We have spent some time in the area (on both cruises and driving trips) and have actually spent 3 night in San Sebastian.  I particularly enjoyed San Sebastian in the evening when the tapas bars were "hopping" as was the town.  During the daytime we spent most of our time on the beach (which made for some interesting people watching).  For 7 adults you would probably do best by booking a private car/driver to get you to San Sebastian.  Once there, you can look at the cute tapas bars (empty that time of the day) and folks sunning on the beach.

 

We would recommend a trip over to Bilbao rather then all the way to San Sebastian.  I am not sure what you expect in San Sebastian during the daytime, but perhaps you know something we have not discovered.  We did enjoy our time in San Sebastian (but prefer Biarritz) but would not normally go there on a port day.  And yes, we have been to Gexto on port days (3 times) but always were content to spend our time in nearby Bilbao.

 

Hank