Newport question

[Exponent]

We are going to be in Newport in early October on a Princess cruise. Can you book tours to The Breakers on your own? The excursions from the ship are booked at the time we need to go. Maybe through a separate tour group around the dock?

 

We will have time free from about 1:45pm to 6:00pm.

 

Thanks!

[SailBadtheSinner]

Exponent asked: ....Can you book tours to The Breakers on your own?...

 

The Breakers is very easy to do your own tour. You could buy your tickets online in advance http://tickets.newportmansions.org/ , at the door (of the Breakers) or at the Newport Visitors Center which is located one block north from the tender dock. There is a Newport bus that goes right by the Breakers which can be boarded at the NVC. You would take a bus route # 67 outbound and return.

and also asked: ....Maybe through a separate tour group around the dock?....

 

Doubtful.

[Keith1010]

As noted you can easily see Breakers on your own.

 

In terms of how you plan the day, just wanted you to know that Newport is a tender port so allow plenty of time for the tender which goes a fair distance. Once you are on the tender and push out expect about 10 or 15 minutes for the ride. And you will need to be back on the ship 30 minutes before the departure of the ship.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing this mansion.

 

Keith

[CMM]

We walked part of the cliff walk and then just went up to the breakers and bought our tickets right there. There were two lines. One for tour groups and one for people like us. They alternated letting people in from both lines. We didn't wait long (maybe less than 30 minutes) Husband stayed in line and I use the restroom and then we had a drink from a vender on the lawn.

I was glad we did this on our own as you can walk the cliff walk before or after.

[Rick02809]

I live in Bristol, RI, about a 15 minute drive from Newport. There are a lot of shops on America's Cup Boulevard, and Thames Street which is across the street from the Visitor's Center.

If you go to http://www.google.com and Google “Newport RI Taxi Cabs”, you will get a good list, I would keep the numbers handy in the event that you can't get on the bus, or get stranded and need a quick ride to the ship.

If you feel like walking to the mansions, it can be quite an endeavor, head South on America's Cup Boulevard (keep the water on your right), until you hit the "Wave" statue (surfer's feet sticking out of a wave) at the statue, that intersection is Memorial Boulevard, a 5 minute walk up a slight hill will take you to Bellvue Ave, or the Million Dollar Mile. Take a right on to Bellevue and you can stroll the grounds.

If you go to http://www.newportmansions.org , you can "Pre-tour" the mansions to see which one(s) that you are interested in. I recommend taking a cab to Belleview Ave, however Newport on a Sunday can be quite congested.

October 10-11 the Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown (you need a cab fare to get over the Pell Bridge $4. toll each way plus cab fare) will be open to tours http://www.beavertaillight.org

October 10-12 The 17th Annual International Oktoberfest will be held in Newport at the Newport Yachting Center (traffic will most definitely be a nightmare if you plan on cabbing it to the mansions, so allow for added time.

October 17-18 Bowen's Wharf will be having the Seafood Festival , Great food, sample a "Stuffie" stuffed quahog and New England Clam Chowder. http://www.bowenswharf.com

Regardless, if you get off of the ship by 9 AM, you will have no problem taking in the local shops and restaurants, and touring the mansions, and still making it back to the ship on time.

http://www.newportwaterfrontevents.com

Another nice excursion is the 72’ Schooner “Madeline” the tour will take you through Newport harbor, out to Fort Adams and the surrounding area, each tour lasts about 90 minutes, tickets $ 27.00 per person http://www.cruisenewport.com

I highly recommend this tour, I have done it in the past, and it is a nice relaxing excursion!

 

Welcome to Rhode Island!!!

[vickila]

Exponent asked: ....Can you book tours to The Breakers on your own?...

 

The Breakers is very easy to do your own tour. You could buy your tickets online in advance http://tickets.newportmansions.org/ , at the door (of the Breakers) or at the Newport Visitors Center which is located one block north from the tender dock. There is a Newport bus that goes right by the Breakers which can be boarded at the NVC. You would take a bus route # 67 outbound and return.

 

and also asked: ....Maybe through a separate tour group around the dock?....

 

Doubtful.

 

Just a quick note -- the bus depot mentioned (Visitor's center) is 2 blocks to the left after you get off the tender. At the Visitor's Center they have an ACCESSIBLE HANDBOOK -- BIG SURPRISE - the bus #67 is wheelchair/scooter accessible with a lift. $1.75 each way. The Breakers is accessible through a ground entrance (speak to gate keeper) and has a small elevator - but fits scooter and one person. The entrance into the Breakers is pebbly - not sure a wheelchair could be pushed easily over that - but after that it's smooth hallways - and a radio tells you if you have a problem fitting through a doorway or area, how to get around it. Thoroughly enjoyed The Breakers on the scooter and was happy to learn Bus #67 which runs frequently could take us to it. This was Oct. 2009. Vicki:)

[Rick02809]

You can get a list of all of the mansions here http://www.newportmansions.org/ you can pre-tour the mansions that you are interested in.

 

You can purchase tickets at the door of each mansion if you don't want to pre-book.

[O_George]

We are going to be in Newport in early October on a Princess cruise. Can you book tours to The Breakers on your own? The excursions from the ship are booked at the time we need to go. Maybe through a separate tour group around the dock?

 

We will have time free from about 1:45pm to 6:00pm.

 

Thanks!

 

Yes you can book the Breakers tour on your own, we were actually able to purchase the tickets the day of.

[alabama ghost]

We were there in mid October on the Crown Princess. We took our time getting a tender in, then walked the 2 blocks to the visitor center where we bought both bus tickets and tickets for the Breakers.

 

The bus stop is right outside the visitor center; we got on bus 67 to the Breakers, got off and went through the mansion. No waiting at all, no lines anywhere. Guess it was so good because of the time of year. (It was also cold!)

 

Took bus 67 back to downtown and the visitor center. Easy as pie! The bus also stopped at other "cottages" if you wanted to go there and the Cliff Walk was behind them.

 

Enjoy your visit...we did!

[SailBadtheSinner]

The Breakers is very easy to do your own tour. You could buy your tickets online in advance http://tickets.newportmansions.org/ , at the door (of the Breakers) or at the Newport Gateway Center which is located one block north from the tender dock on America's Cup Ave. There is a Newport bus that goes right by the Breakers which can be boarded at the NGC. You would take a bus route # 67 outbound and return. This bus can be boarded at the NGC Here's the link to the schedule for the outbound #67 bus: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/view.php

 

 

 

SBtS