malteserdani Posted June 7, 2017 #1 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Hi Everyone. We are set to cruise with Royal Carribean on the Navigator of the seas to Le Havre, Bilbao and Gijon in August and need some advice. Has any of you been on this cruise before? If so did you do the excursions offered onboard or did you make your own plans and trips? We want to do things ourselves (to save money) but need some advice on where to go and how to get there! Also, any info on what to expect onboard would be great too! Thanks :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 7, 2017 #2 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Welcome to Cruise Critic. Some of the resources you might want to check out are the Ports of Call forums here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted June 7, 2017 #3 Share Posted June 7, 2017 We haven't done a ships excursion, in years (over 10). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted June 7, 2017 #4 Share Posted June 7, 2017 A few years ago, we rented a car in Le Harve and went to Honfleur, Caen and Bayeau. We met another couple on the ship and the joined us and paid half the cost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sequim88 Posted June 7, 2017 #5 Share Posted June 7, 2017 RCCL's Brilliance of the Seas stopping at Le Havre was on our first TA and we did bus tour to Paris with lunch on a river boat. Being our first European experience we opted for cruise line excursion. Also we sort of have a rule even now that the farther from the ship a destination is the more likely to use their services so they have to get us back or the ship will wait. Although later we became more independent and took trains on our own from Livorno to Pisa and from Villefranche to Monaco and Nice. First timers I usually advise to get their feet wet with cruise line tours even though a lot more money than on own there's peace of mind. If you really want to to it yourself then get the appropriate Rick Steves guides and also view his videos - most all are available on his web site or YouTube. You don't really have to make a sustaining donation to your local PBS station to get them (unless you really want to ;) ). But the guide books are a wealth of info for self touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 7, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted June 7, 2017 Welcome to Cruise Critic. Some of the resources you might want to check out are the Ports of Call forums here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19 Thank you for the link I'll have a look through and see what I can find. I'm very new to all this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 7, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted June 7, 2017 We haven't done a ships excursion, in years (over 10). Do you have any advice on what to do in any of the Ports we're visiting without doing the planned excursions? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieks-STL Posted June 7, 2017 #8 Share Posted June 7, 2017 I did the bus tour and river cruise on the Seine. Was a nice intro to Paris and the river cruise was much fun despite the rain. If you've never been to Paris this tour will leave you wanting more. Have fun! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 7, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted June 7, 2017 RCCL's Brilliance of the Seas stopping at Le Havre was on our first TA and we did bus tour to Paris with lunch on a river boat. Being our first European experience we opted for cruise line excursion. Also we sort of have a rule even now that the farther from the ship a destination is the more likely to use their services so they have to get us back or the ship will wait. Although later we became more independent and took trains on our own from Livorno to Pisa and from Villefranche to Monaco and Nice. First timers I usually advise to get their feet wet with cruise line tours even though a lot more money than on own there's peace of mind. If you really want to to it yourself then get the appropriate Rick Steves guides and also view his videos - most all are available on his web site or YouTube. You don't really have to make a sustaining donation to your local PBS station to get them (unless you really want to ;) ). But the guide books are a wealth of info for self touring. Thank you for your reply that's really helpful. We were going to do the d day trip but it's so expensive. We found we could do a 3 day holiday for not much more! So we're going to do that instead 😂. I'll have a look for the guides though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 7, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted June 7, 2017 A few years ago, we rented a car in Le Harve and went to Honfleur, Caen and Bayeau. We met another couple on the ship and the joined us and paid half the cost Was it easy enough to rent a car at the port? And not too easy to get lost?? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandma Dazzles Posted June 7, 2017 #11 Share Posted June 7, 2017 You might want to post questions on the Royal Caribbean board in addition to the ports of call board, especially any questions relative to Rc or the Navigator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted June 7, 2017 #12 Share Posted June 7, 2017 A guidebook will set you in the right direction. Most things are easy to DIY...but you MUST have info! Read up on your ports! You'll have a great time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 8, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted June 8, 2017 You might want to post questions on the Royal Caribbean board in addition to the ports of call board, especially any questions relative to Rc or the Navigator. Ah ok thank you ill do that as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted June 8, 2017 #14 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Have you joined your Roll Call to see what private tours others on your cruise may be doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 8, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Have you joined your Roll Call to see what private tours others on your cruise may be doing? Hi how do I do that please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted June 8, 2017 #16 Share Posted June 8, 2017 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=268 These are the roll calls of the Navigator of the Seas. Look for the date of your cruise and join in the conversation. It is very likely that other passengers have already arranged for private excursions or know how to get to the important sites with public transportation. You could also check Google maps to find out where the cruise port is located in, let's say in Bilbao. Maybe it's a river boat or public bus ride away from downtown with the famous Guggenheim museum. Sometimes, cruise lines provide a low cost shuttle into town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malteserdani Posted June 8, 2017 Author #17 Share Posted June 8, 2017 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=268 These are the roll calls of the Navigator of the Seas. Look for the date of your cruise and join in the conversation. It is very likely that other passengers have already arranged for private excursions or know how to get to the important sites with public transportation. You could also check Google maps to find out where the cruise port is located in, let's say in Bilbao. Maybe it's a river boat or public bus ride away from downtown with the famous Guggenheim museum. Sometimes, cruise lines provide a low cost shuttle into town. that's great thank you for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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