Western Med Shore Tours

[LandC]

We are going on our first Fred. Olsen cruise to the Western Mediterranean on Balmoral on 23 April 2011, calling at La Coruna, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Portmao and Lisbon. We'd welcome advice on which Shore tours are worth booking?:confused:

[Coravel]

We did a Western Med cruise aboard the Braemar in October 2008. I think it was called "Kings and Pharahos". It included Gibralter and Lisbon. We did a tour which included visiting the Barbary apes and St Michael's cave. Since the ship was only at port for 4 hours and ours was one of six ships berthed that day, the town was rammed full of people and the queues for the cable cars were ridiculously long. I doubt that we would have seen a great deal if we had done it by ourselves. But next time we would just walk into town and not bother with the apes or caves.

 

In Lisbon, we did the Panoramic tour which is just a bus tour around the city but you see all the worthwhile sights. A number of passengers from the ship went into the city on the train and had their wallets and passports stolen so take care! The trick was that an eastern european woman wheeling a child in a pushchair would follow you onto the train and jam you into a corner. Accomplices would then pick your pockets while you were distracted and they would all get off at the next station.

[LandC]

Thank you Coravel, your advice is extremely helpful. LandC.

[andy mac]

We did lisbon on the black prince 2008 we did river cruise and bus tour of city which was very intersting, but it is up to your self what you want to do.

Yes like any other city be aware of pickpockets.

We did't stop at other ports mentioned so can't help.

Enjoy your cruise .