Prinsendam in Zeebrugge

[Moose Tracks]

Does anyone know if Holland America offers a shuttle service to the train station in Zeebrugge or Brankenberg to catch a train to Bruges? I understand the port area and walk to the train station can be difficult to navigate on foot.

Lynn

[sail7seas]

I don't recall them offering a shuttle when we were there but things may have changed.

 

[MightyQuinn]

Does anyone know if Holland America offers a shuttle service to the train station in Zeebrugge or Brankenberg to catch a train to Bruges? I understand the port area and walk to the train station can be difficult to navigate on foot.

When we arrived in Zeebrugge in April/08 aboard the Prinsendam, there were free shuttles to/from Blankenburg. From there, it was an easy train ride into Bruges. You could also hop a taxi from the pier to Zeebrugge Dorp & catch a direct train from there. Zeebrugge Port is very difficult to navigate on foot & what seems to be very doable on Google Earth is much less so on the ground. We learned from hard experience. Take the free shuttle!

[Moose Tracks]

MightyQuinn....I had searched the forums for information getting to the train from the port and saw your experience you posted in June 2008. That's what got me thinking that it wasn't going to be easy. We'll just hope that HAL offers a shuttle to Brankenberg. If not, we'll either try for a taxi to Brankenberg or share a taxi to Brugge.

 

How did you get back to the ship? Did you take the train and the ship's shuttle?

 

Lynn

[mushroom]

We were there a few months ago and there was a shuttle from the pier to the train station in Blankenburg. Be prepared to pay for your train tickets in cash. They were not able to accept credit cards. The shuttles operated on a frequent basis and it was quite easy to come and go. Be aware, however, that pick pockets are prevelent on the trains and at the train station in Brugge. One of our part was "picked"...exactly when, we don't know...but we suspect it as at the station in Brugge. Just be alert!

[Willsot]

We were there off the Eurodam in July and, as others have said, HAL provided free shuttle buses to Blankenberg, where you can catch the train to Bruges, one of our favorite European cities.

[MightyQuinn]

How did you get back to the ship? Did you take the train and the ship's shuttle?

Yes we had the good sense to learn from our outbound ordeal. We got the train from Bruges to Blankenburg & got the free shuttle back to the ship from there. Momentary panic on the train ride back when we realized we had forgotten to buy a return ticket. :eek::eek: And then, when we got to Blankenburg, we didn’t recognize the shuttle pick-up spot. :eek::eek: So you could say it all added up to an exciting day.

 

Bottom line: if there’s a shuttle to Blankenburg, take it! It’s really the simplest way to go. If there’s none available, take a taxi to Blankenburg or to Zeebrugge Dorp & catch the train from either. Hope you have fun in Bruges. We found it delightful.

[Moose Tracks]

Thank you for all your responses. Looks like there will be a shuttle so that will make things easy. Cruise Critic is terrific....we learn so much from others' experiences.

MightyQuinn...we've used the trains in Holland and Italy and forgotten to stamp the ticket before boarding...you spend the ride in horror that a conductor will come through and nab you.:eek:

Lynn