Gibraltar and Toulon???????

[MATE SPICE]

My husband and I are sailing in June in the RCC Independence of the Sea. We have booked excursion in the major ports of call.

We do not know what to do in Gibraltar and Toulon (France). Ajjaccio (Corsica) is also hard to find an excursion to do.

Any suggestions? WE are seasoned cruisers. This will be our 14th cruise.

Thank you!!!!!

[John Bull]

Gib is easy.

 

Take a taxi/minibus tour of the upper Rock. They'll be lined up at the port, cost £22 or €25 per person in a full or shared vehicle, drivers/marshals arrange the sharing. The tour takes you to St Michael's cave, the apes den on the ridge (Atlantic & Med views), and the Great Siege tunnels overlooking the isthmus & airport. Price includes admissions, tour lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours. It can then return you to the ship, but nearly everyone elects to be dropped in Casemates Square at the bottom of pedestrianized Main Street for a beer or a coffee & then walk the shops & pubs & minor sights (Governor's House, the little Trafalgar cemetery, etc) of Main Street. Then a 20 to 25 min level walk back to the ship.

 

Alternatively up the Rock by cablecar,. Cost is about the same including admissions, cheaper without. Gives you more flexibility but involves a fair bit of walking, including a 30 - 35 minute walk (or taxi ride) from ship to cablecar and a lot of walking at the top if you want to visit the Great Siege tunnels. Be aware that the service doesn't operate in moderate or high winds, the cablecar doesn't stop at the intermediate station in summer months, and there can be long queues to go up after about 9 - 10am.

 

Something different is the WW2 tunnels - for that you need to take a taxi, or a bus from Casemates Square, to the entrance, beyond the Moorish Castle. Or if you have the time & enthusiasm for the taxi tour and the WW2 tunnels, get your driver to drop you off at the WW2 tunnel entrance on the way back down after the Great Siege tunnels.

 

In the "tax-free" shops in Main Street you need to haggle (well, mebbe not at Marks & Spencer ;)), be aware that prices quoted can be higher than shopping at home, and that for electronic goods especially Gib is a dumping-ground for last-year's model. If you're planning to buy a camera, phone, etc, go armed with prices, model numbers, etc, and only pay by credit card.

 

JB :)

Edited May 15, 2014 by John Bull

[MATE SPICE]

Thank you so much for your response. It seems very doable !!!!

When is the last time you did this tour? Any other recommendations? Any favorite restaurant?

[John Bull]

Thank you so much for your response. It seems very doable !!!!

When is the last time you did this tour? Any other recommendations? Any favorite restaurant?

 

Yep, very easy.

Was in Gib this time last year, but didn't do the taxi tour yet again - we've done it 3 or 4 times in recent years, usually from a base in Spain. Instead we planned to have a lazy day in town. Heading for the Alameda Gardens we noticed there was no line for the cablecar (very unusual late in the morning), so on the spur of the moment we took it up & walked back down.

 

Great atmosphere in Casemates Square, but food there is all pretty mediocre - you'll do better in pubs on Main Street. Try the Angry Friar, opposite the Governor's House - have downed a few bevvies there over the years, not eaten there but it provides pretty good pub grub at sensible cost.

JB :)

[Jolimont]

In Ajaccio the ship will most likely dock right in the city. I was there on the Adventure of the Seas and it was really nice to get off the ship right next to small boats within 5mn walk to the old town. A very easy walk and a pleasant town. I didn't feel the need for an excursion, there was plenty to do on our own just looking around and taking pictures. We speak French so maybe that was easier for us, but I think it's a town where you can take it easy. :D

 

[teacherkim]

We will be in Toulon in July off of Serenade and booked a very nice tour, reasonably priced, with Provence Connections (just google them) Obviously haven't taken it yet but they responded quickly to all emails and the deposit was reasonable.

[Jolimont]

The beach is right near the ship too in Ajaccio:

 

[Jolimont]

And this is the view from the deck of the ship. You can see how close the town is.

 

[Jolimont]

Ajaccio is Napoleon's home town, he's not my favorite French ruler, but he had a big impact on history.

 

 

The museum devoted to Napoleon in Ajaccio is pretty good, not really big, you can spend an hour there. It closes over lunch time BTW.

 

 

Another thing to do in Ajaccio is to visit the cathedral: Notre Dame de l'Assomption.

 

 

I love that modern stained glass:

 

 

Honestly, Ajaccio is one of those towns that almost anyone can visit on their own, and you can even get back to the ship for lunch it's so close! Have fun!