Port of Keelung?

[MAZANDSTEVE]

Is there much to do in and around this port if we do not take an excursion?

[kuldalai]

Absolutely nothing . It is just an Industrial Port area . One needs to go into Taipei proper on a Ships Shuttle or Ships Tour . About 45 minute trip by road so taxi would be expensive , and taxis were thin on the ground.

[montelco]

Is there much to do in and around this port if we do not take an excursion?

Hi, the train station is walking distance from the port and will get you into Taipei in half an hour or thereabouts. Very affordable. Go to Central and from there you can explore on your own and even get to Chiang Kai Shek's memorial on another line only a few stops away. We went into Taipei with a shopping tour just to get to the memorial and found our own way from the memorial into town and the Long San Buddhist temple which was great. We advised our guide that we would be making our way back to the port. We spent a couple of hours looking around on our own in Taipei. From there we made our way back to port on the train. The station is about ten to fifteen minutes walk from port depending on traffic and weather. You can see the ships from the Keelung train station. There is only one there. Much better than a taxi and heaps cheaper. Have fun.:)

[montelco]

Absolutely nothing . It is just an Industrial Port area . One needs to go into Taipei proper on a Ships Shuttle or Ships Tour . About 45 minute trip by road so taxi would be expensive , and taxis were thin on the ground.

 

Hi, How was your trip on the Costa Classica earlier this year? What were the ports like that you visited? How long were you in Tapei because we would like to look around again by ourselves if we decide to go at the end of next year?

By the way what was the currency used on the Classica? Were there money changers at the port in Keelung when you arrived? When we did the Sapphire Princess three years ago we found that the Taiwan Tourist Bureau was very well organised on the port so we could change some money for Taiwan dollars. Hope you can help out. cheers. :)

[kuldalai]

Hi, How was your trip on the Costa Classica earlier this year?

 

Overall we liked the Classica a sort of 3 1/2 star cruising experience. Good: Food, Staff, mix of pax, Staterooms, an International feel . Not So good:

Entertainment was pretty woeful, same old dancers night after night just in different costumes . And organizational skills have never been an Italian strength, but one rolls with the punches. Classica is an old ship and whilst in good condition it really should be retired by now .

 

What were the Ports like that you visited?

 

Hong Kong - allow several days there the World's most exciting city .Keelung - interesting in Taipei , still Chinese but distinctly different to both mainland China and Hong Kong . Okinawa - interesting for the War history. Kobe - from here one way to Osaka and the other to Kyoto . The Golden Temple and both Cities contrast the Japan of old and new . Yokohama - for Tokyo, Imperial Palace etc also excellent. Yokohama as a Port City is very attractive in itself too . Nagasaki - a lovely City and so easy to explore yourself, and excellent tram network close to ship. The A-Bomb site and history is so peaceful , but at the same time chilling that man could offer up such destruction on fellow man . Shanghai - Asia's new powerhouse, allow 2 - 3 days here - a real surprise packet .

 

How long were you in Tapei because we would like to look around again by ourselves if we decide to go at the end of next year?

 

We were in Taipei (Keelung Port is 45 mins by road) for a full day .

 

By the way what was the currency used on the Classica? Were there money changers at the Port in Keelung when you arrived?

 

The on board currency on Classica is Euros . Just change your US or Aussie $ at the Ships Purser for Taiwanese $ and save yourself the hassle, ditto for Japanese yen and Chinese Yuan .

 

In Mainland China on shore when you exchange money for Yuan you will be given a receipt. You need to tender one of these receipts at the Airport if you wish to cashout any Yuan for another currency before departing .

The best way to travel these days currency wise is to take a few hunded $ from home in the actual currency of the first country you are going to lob in . For Asia take your main funds in US or Australian $ on a Bank Issued Travel Money Debit Card . Then you can withdraw any local currency at participating ATM's in any country, or make local purchases as an EFT transaction . (The conversion is done automatically.) Enquire from your home Bank . Finally the back-up of the ever faithful 'plastic fantastic" Credit Card . On Classica you need to swipe your Credit Card on joining in a special machine to establish your on-board account . then you use your Costa Card for all on-board purchases. Separate door key cards are in the stateroom doors when you arrive at your cabin .