jonever

That is such a good tip, for Venice and many other ports, thank you so much indeed.

Thank you Hank, that is specific and very helpful indeed.   I think I have the information I need now, thank you everyone.

Thank you for the link to the website which as you say is very helpful indeed.

• Many thanks for all your very helpful replies, which I appreciate

My sincere apologies, I should have said that this is a day trip whilst our ship is docked, thank you

Please could anyone tell me how easy or difficult is it to get from where the cruise ships dock in Venice to St. Marks Square and or the Rialto Bridge?

Thank you for your response and the points you make are relevant - I do use the shore excursion guide to try and work out what sights are worth seeing but then like to know - in advance if possible - about the likelihood of taxi tours.  

Many thanks to you all for your responses so far, all of which are very helpful.    I shall keep checking the Forums for further information as suggested but does anyone know specifically if at any of the above ports we could expect taxis waiting, usually with boards showing tourist sites away from the port, offering to take passengers on those tours?   We had this a lot in Madeira, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, for instance and would prefer to do this rather than go on a Shore Tour.   Many thanks once again.

In April and May next year I am going on a cruise which calls at the following ports, could anyone tell me if at any of the ports there are likely to be taxis offering tours to tourist sites, like we have found at other ports such as in Funchal?   Many thanks

Cadiz

Palma

Kerkira, Corfu

Kotor, Montenegro

Hvar, Croatia

Venice (don't know what happens here?)

Koper, Slovenia

Zadar, Croatia

Split, Croatia

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Valletta, Malta

Mahon, Menorca

Malaga, Spain

Leixoes, Portugal

Many thanks for all replies, the cruise has now ended, but I appreciate the effort.

Many thanks for your reply and I have read your previous postings about this which are very helpful. I will not pursue the details of the taxi driver that you know just yet as after seeing details of the timings it may be that it would be too much of rush especially given that it is Easter time. I shall wait and see what tours are offered by the cruise company and decide then, which will be much nearer the time.

Thanks again

Hi

Can anyone tell me if we can get to Porto Soller and ride the train by using a taxi tour service when docking at Palma? And are there usually taxis who offer tours (instead of just offering a taxi to where you want to go) generally at Palma?

By the way we are visiting on what is Good Friday next year, will this affect the availability of taxis and shops etc?

Many thanks in advance.

HI Many thanks for your response which is most helpful - now I have to decide if we will look at the Shore Tour brochure when it arrives! Anyone else with any thoughts on this?

Hi We are booked to go on a Mystery Cruise with Fred Olsen and as much as I do not want to know where we are going I am wondering if Shore Tours will be offered? As I understand we are not told what port until we dock, that being the case, if it is, how do we get on Shore Tours, if indeed these are offered? Any advice from previous Mystery Cruisers would be much appreciated, thanks.

Thanks Keith, that's very helpful.

Hi

We are going on a cruise stopping at Greenland, Iceland and Norway? Will I need to have local currency for each place or will Euros be acceptable?

Hi

Just to clarify earlier answers, we are going to be on a Fred Olson ship, so does anyone know IF a passport is required whilst going ashore, will we be told by Fred Olsen, even if not going on an organised cruise? Plus do we need other ID like Driving licence as mentioned elsewhere? We were not planning to take that with us. Thanks again

Many thanks to everyone for the very helpful replies, much appreciated. Happy cruising.:)

Hi Almost a cruise newbie having had a short trip to Ireland last year. This time we are going from Liverpool to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, calling at Madeira, Portugal and Spain. I would like to know what happens when we dock at any of these places i.e. do we have to through passport control and show our passports, therefore necessitating carrying our passports around with us whilst on shore, be it on a ship-organised tour or under our own steam. Many thanks

We are due to go on our first cruise, a mini-one out of Liverpool to Ireland. It says that they night before we get back we have to leave our suitcases out in the corridor for collection ready for disembarkation next day. That being so what you do with your nightwear and toiletries the next morning, as you have no suitcase to put them in? Thanks

Thank you for your most comprehensive reply which is appreciated.

Hi Does Anyone know if the shuttle bus from port to Dublin is provided on the the Fred Olsen mini cruises as a matter of course? Can't seem to find out who provides the shuttle bus service. Also would taxis be available normally from the ship in the morning? Many thanks

Many thanks for the responses, I hope the water situation is the same on Black Watch as it is on Braemar - looks as I need to pay for bottled water but can get "tap" water in different places on board.

Hi I am new to cruising and have booked a trip on Black Watch. I do not drink tea or coffee which I see is generally free, will I have to pay if I want water to drink?