Brussels

[cruisesusie]

We would like to do Brussels on our own - any recommendations? Also, how far is the center of town from the area where we dock? Or is it a tender port? Thanks for any info.

 

Susan

[kruzseeka]

We would like to do Brussels on our own - any recommendations? Also, how far is the center of town from the area where we dock? Or is it a tender port? Thanks for any info.

 

Susan

 

Sorry, can't help with your query - but try posting on the Western Med board and doing a search there where you may well find more info on Brussels.

[ab0si]

Brussels is not a port. I would guess that your port is ZeeBrugge. It is easy enough to take a train to/from Brussels. That said, Brugge (which is only a few miles away) is, imho, a more interesting city than Brussels.

[lambs2]

I would also like some first hand informatrion on things to see in Brussels. We ported in Zeebrugge last year on our NCL Sun transatlantic and "did" a full day in lovely Brugge. This coming spring we are again taking a tranasatlantic on the Sun which again ports in Zeebrugge so would like to take the train to Brussels and see some of the sights on our own.

[tomvet]

Brussels is a lot more interesting than what people give it credit for:

 

The Grand Place is probably the most beautiful square in Europe - you could easily while away an hour here marvelling at the architecture and sipping coffee / stella artois and belgian chocolates while people watching

 

5 minutes walk from the Grand Place is the Mannekin Pis - the cheeky cherub like boy who is taking a pee in the fountain - its a Brussels land mark!

 

Then the train to Heysel and look at the Atomium. This was the 1956??? Expo site. The Atomium takes the form of an atom and is interesting to look at - not so interesting inside.

 

Next to it is mini-Europe - Europes land marks - don't recommend unless you are into kitch!!

 

Beside the Atomium are nice bars and restaurants.

 

The EU commission buildings are to be missed unless you want to say been there and saw them. There are nice parks and gardens but the 3 big are the GP, MP and atom for me! That still should take you about 5 hours at a very leisurely pace dock to dock rtn! Brugge is more interesting but definitely go the Brussels considering you have already done Brugge.

[screwcork]

I agree with Tomvet, but not that "The Grand Place is probably the most beautiful square in Europe" - the Grand Place is the most beautiful square in the world! Nevertheless, I would go to Bruges instead!

 

Screwcork

[rsquare]

Sorry, can't help with your query - but try posting on the Western Med board and doing a search there where you may well find more info on Brussels.

 

In the first place, there is no Western Med board on CC. In the second place, even if there was, Belgium sits between France and the Netherlands and is nowhere near the Med. A query to the British Isles/Western Europe board would make more sense, as would a search of their message threads for postings on Brussels or Bruges.

 

BTW, Brussels is an interesting city, with some incredible Art Nouveau architecture and a cartoon museum as well as a Tintin museum. Bruges is pretty, but small; depends basically if you like cities.

[jpver]

Brussels is roughly 1200 km from the Mediterrean!

 

The only ports close to Brussels:

 

- Antwerp at 50 km: however there are few cruise ships calling Antwerp as it is rather far inland. It has a small cruise terminal well situated at the river Scheldt. Sometines you can see a HAL vessel, Sea Cloud, perhaps a Seabourn and a few others

 

- Zeebrugge is at the coast at approx 120 km. Mostly people visit the nearby Brugge of course. This is nice but small. At Zeebrugge: Oceania, Cunard, sometimes HAL are regularly calling this port. Last year Compagnie du Ponant did also.

 

- Rotterdam : in Holland is also an alternative by train. Depending if you have enough time, or as a pre- or post cruise.

[KirkNC]

Wow for a minute I thought global warming had kicked into high gear!

 

Kirk