La Rochelle

[chrislo]

We will be in La Rochelle on July 8th and would love to sail to Ile de Re.  Any recommendations?

[edinburgher]

4 hours ago, chrislo said:

We will be in La Rochelle on July 8th and would love to sail to Ile de Re.  Any recommendations?

We looked into doing this on our second visit, but alhough there were little boat-type ferries, they were only seasonal and had very few sailings per day in either direction (think 3 or 4) which meant they were not suitable for cruise passengers with a schedule to keep to.  Should a ferry schedule not work for you either, you could go by public bus from la Rochelle, by taxi or hire a car.

 

Maybe they have increased  the number of crossings since then?  Or is there an additional company offering crossings?  What did you find when you internet searched?

 

We decided to stay in town again and although we did most of the sightseeing first time, it meant we could have a more relaxed visit with time for a lunch instead of a quick snack like first time, and time to window shop and explore more of the back streets.

 

la Rochelle is actually a very pleasant town in which  to spend a port day, and if your first visit, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You didn't say if this would not be your first visit, but if it will be, reading some past threads would give you info and suggestions.  Choose from these

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=la rochelle&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=462

Edited June 8 by edinburgher

[onyx007]

On 6/8/2024 at 11:28 PM, edinburgher said:

We decided to stay in town again and although we did most of the sightseeing first time, it meant we could have a more relaxed visit with time for a lunch instead of a quick snack like first time, and time to window shop and explore more of the back streets.

 

la Rochelle is actually a very pleasant town in which  to spend a port day, and if your first visit, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You didn't say if this would not be your first visit, but if it will be, reading some past threads would give you info and suggestions.  Choose from these

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=la rochelle&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=462

 

Can you remember if there was a shuttle bus service ; as I see the cruise port is on an artificial Island (or is there a shuttle to leave that island and drop you of outside the port area ?)

[edinburgher]

19 minutes ago, onyx007 said:

Can you remember if there was a shuttle bus service ; as I see the cruise port is on an artificial Island (or is there a shuttle to leave that island and drop you of outside the port area ?)

I don''t remember la Pallice port being on an island but it may be if you say so. It is certainly a few kilometers out of town.  We used taxis shated with others to and from the main square but these are few in number.

 

Since our visits, there is apparently a public bus stop outside the port and the bus  runs to the main square and bus station, and the afternoon or evening before arrival your ship will probably announce a (for fee) shuttle bus which will run to that same square.

 

Lovely town.  Enjoy.

Edited July 7 by edinburgher

[onyx007]

3 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

I don''t remember la Pallice port being on an island but it may be if you say so. It is certainly a few kilometers out of town.  We used taxis shated with others to and from the main square but these are few in number.

 

Since our visits, there is apparently a public bus stop outside the port and the bus  runs to the main square and bus station, and the afternoon or evening before arrival your ship will probably announce a (for fee) shuttle bus which will run to that same square.

 

Lovely town.  Enjoy.

It probably depends where the ship can go; i think if it's on that island (with a causeway, where you are probably not allowed to walk) then they have you to provide you with a free shuttle to the exit; I will see when I am arriving what's available as I plan to use that public bus to the city center...