Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Rock or Gilbratar and Epic

bdaddyiii

By bdaddyiii,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

 Share

Recommended Posts

bdaddyiii

bdaddyiii

Posted
Posted

I am looking to book the Epic out of Southampton to Barcelona with stops in Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Grenada (Malaga), Spain; and Cartagena, Spain. I realize the ship passes through the Strait of Gilbratar and does not stop at the Rock but can you see it from the ship? I have not been able to find any excursions listed for these stops either which I find sorta funny but any information would be helpful. Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
4774Papa

4774Papa

Posted
Posted

We passed through the Straits of Gibraltar on our Jade cruise from Barcelona to Morocco and the Canary Island in 2011.

We did not see the rock. I think we passed it in the middle of the night and too far had it been in daytime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HokiePoq

HokiePoq

Posted
Posted (edited)

We saw lights at a distance. Every passage has been at night. DH even got up in the middle of the night at the time the ship said we'd be passing it.

However, we were able to take a tour to Gibraltar and the rock from Malaga. It's was a ship's tour which had not been advertised online, IIRC. If you've not been to Malaga before, the Alhambra tour is not to be missed. The Gibraltar tour was great but Alhambra was one of the best ever.

Edited by HokiePoq
Link to comment
Share on other sites
KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

Posted
Posted

We saw Gibraltar from the Spirit when we passed by on the way to Casablanca in April. On earlier cruises I believe that it was dusk or dark by the time they got there.

 

On this Epic itinerary, as you pass through heading into the Med, going to Malaga it is likely to be during the night so it's likely to be dark and very early in the morning.

 

As said above, NCL usually run excursions to Gibraltar from Malaga. I believe it is quite rushed though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

Posted
Posted
We did not see the rock. I think we passed it in the middle of the night and too far had it been in daytime.

 

It certainly wouldn't be too far in daytime. The Strait of Gibraltar is less than 10 miles wide, so the only reason you wouldn't be able to see Gibraltar would be if it was dark or in bad weather.

 

Unfortunately, as said above, it is often dark at the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
letmego4

letmego4

Posted
Posted
We saw lights at a distance. Every passage has been at night. DH even got up in the middle of the night at the time the ship said we'd be passing it.

However, we were able to take a tour to Gibraltar and the rock from Malaga. It's was a ship's tour which had not been advertised online, IIRC. If you've not been to Malaga before, the Alhambra tour is not to be missed. The Gibraltar tour was great but Alhambra was one of the best ever.

 

Where exactly did the tour bus drop passengers off once you got to Gibraltar?

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ulster-cruiser

ulster-cruiser

Posted
Posted
So,,,, we were on the Epic and spent several hours sitting and watching while we transited the Straits of Gibraltar and saw the rock. We were in a forward facing balcony and had a 180 degree view as we transited the Straits.

 

Were you on the return trip from Southampton? On the inbound to Southampton we couldn't see the rock due to the weather unfortunately.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BirdTravels "Live from...." Rare

BirdTravels

Posted
Posted
Were you on the return trip from Southampton? On the inbound to Southampton we couldn't see the rock due to the weather unfortunately.

 

We were on the Southampton to Barcelona cruise after the completion of the Dry Dock. We transited during the early afternoon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
hamrag

hamrag

Posted
Posted (edited)
I am looking to book the Epic out of Southampton to Barcelona with stops in Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Grenada (Malaga), Spain; and Cartagena, Spain. I realize the ship passes through the Strait of Gilbratar and does not stop at the Rock but can you see it from the ship? I have not been able to find any excursions listed for these stops either which I find sorta funny but any information would be helpful. Thanks

 

In daylight, you will see the rock if weather conditions are favourable. Be aware that, even in good weather, the rock can be shrouded in cloud. Binoculars would give a better view, as the rock is in the distance when in the Strait.

 

With regard to an excursion from Malaga to Gibraltar, I would advise against as it will take over two hours road travel each way with a restroom break. Apart from the distance, there is ongoing friction between the Spanish and British authorities which frequently causes delay at the border crossing.....often at least half an hour! Whilst an interesting destination, it is far from being a "must see" IMHO.

Edited by hamrag
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BirdTravels "Live from...." Rare

BirdTravels

Posted
Posted
In daylight, you will see the rock if weather conditions are favourable. Be aware that, even in good weather, the rock can be shrouded in cloud. Binoculars would give a better view, as the rock is in the distance when in the Strait.

 

FYI. You're responding to an OP from June 2014. The one-off re-positioning cruise occurred 2 months ago.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Budget Queen

Budget Queen

Posted
Posted
Where exactly did the tour bus drop passengers off once you got to Gibraltar?

Thanks!

 

If it is a "tour" of Gibraltar- you would be taken up the rock, where they would have a few stops, where you would be given an amount of time to return. The caverns, apes and bunkers are usual stops.

 

It is an easy drive from Malaga which I done a few times. BUT you would need a very long port day. I rent my cars at the rail station, which I'm usually coming in on. which depending on the dock used, needs a cab. When I've been there on a cruise ship- the Hop On Hop Off Bus is a good option with shorter time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kirsty_r

kirsty_r

Posted
Posted
Traffic from Malaga to Gib can be bad too. When you get there, there is also the risk of long queues to get over the border. You can park up on the Spanish side and walk over which can quicken things up.

The ncl tour is a transfer only... They take you to the border you walk across and another bus takes you into town. They aim to give you a minimum of 4 hours on the rock.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kirsty_r

kirsty_r

Posted
Posted
It was a surprise to me too. Take a look at google earth. Gibraltar is a small peninsula, some distance from the Strait of Gibralter.

 

But it is visible in daylight through the strait, I thought it might have been lit up at night but unfortunately not...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail on Sun Princess®
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...