Gettingwarmer Posted March 5, 2021 Author #501 Share Posted March 5, 2021 The last time we docked at Gibraltar with P&O in 2019 we did a tour across the border to Spain to a cork farm. The owner had been to school in England and we were shown around the buildings of his farm as he explained his business and we ended with sherry, ham and cheese. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamianG Posted March 5, 2021 #502 Share Posted March 5, 2021 (edited) A half day in Gibraltar: A walk across the runway just for a unique experience, going as far as the Spanish border then returning to have a look around the cemetary (which is far more intersting than it sounds!). Edited March 5, 2021 by DamianG 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamianG Posted March 5, 2021 #503 Share Posted March 5, 2021 (edited) A dolphin display for our sailaway: Edited March 5, 2021 by DamianG 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted March 5, 2021 #504 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Botanical Gardens 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eddie99 Posted March 5, 2021 #505 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Well, it’s not my favourite place at all, tho’ I have to say we’ve had some nice times there. Part of my dislike, I’m sure, is the walk into town along the ‘mole’, which always seems to feel noisy, crowded and smoky, as the smokers get their off-ship fix. Another thing is that it always seems to be a short stay. How can you relax and enjoy a place when you’re constantly checking your watch? Having grumbled, some nice memories are our first visit, on Oceana, when we took the classic introduction tour of botanic gardens and apes on the rock. The captain, with his wife, was on our bus (captain Vigo or something like that?). We had exemplary service! On other calls we have explored the Trafalgar cemetery, which is fascinating, and last time we were there was on a repositioning, so we had a long time and we walked around to the beach near the airport. Very relaxing and very pleasant - though the traffic was awful, as usual. Somebody mentions that one reason people have a downer is because reaching Gib is a sign your cruise is drawing to an end - I think there is something in this 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardennais Posted March 5, 2021 #506 Share Posted March 5, 2021 5 hours ago, Gettingwarmer said: The last time we docked at Gibraltar with P&O in 2019 we did a tour across the border to Spain to a cork farm. The owner had been to school in England and we were shown around the buildings of his farm as he explained his business and we ended with sherry, ham and cheese. Would you recommend that excursion, because it’s one that I have considered in the past as something different to do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardennais Posted March 5, 2021 #507 Share Posted March 5, 2021 3 hours ago, Eddie99 said: Well, it’s not my favourite place at all, tho’ I have to say we’ve had some nice times there. Part of my dislike, I’m sure, is the walk into town along the ‘mole’, which always seems to feel noisy, crowded and smoky, as the smokers get their off-ship fix. Another thing is that it always seems to be a short stay. How can you relax and enjoy a place when you’re constantly checking your watch? Having grumbled, some nice memories are our first visit, on Oceana, when we took the classic introduction tour of botanic gardens and apes on the rock. The captain, with his wife, was on our bus (captain Vigo or something like that?). We had exemplary service! On other calls we have explored the Trafalgar cemetery, which is fascinating, and last time we were there was on a repositioning, so we had a long time and we walked around to the beach near the airport. Very relaxing and very pleasant - though the traffic was awful, as usual. Somebody mentions that one reason people have a downer is because reaching Gib is a sign your cruise is drawing to an end - I think there is something in this We’ve been there with Princess and had a full day, but the past few years it’s been a half day with P&O. We had a full day when we went over the border to Marbella which was most pleasant. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aulanis Posted March 5, 2021 #508 Share Posted March 5, 2021 OK here are a few more - no apes no town centre no mosque or churches. I see we were lucky going in 2011 it was a year trial when buses were free. Now just free for locals. Ship is /was Thomson Destiny - still sailing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Celestyal_Olympia It was odd to see the Narcissi flowering - it was mid november. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann141 Posted March 5, 2021 #509 Share Posted March 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Aulanis said: OK here are a few more - no apes no town centre no mosque or churches. I see we were lucky going in 2011 it was a year trial when buses were free. Now just free for locals. Ship is /was Thomson Destiny - still sailing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Celestyal_Olympia It was odd to see the Narcissi flowering - it was mid november. Great photos but I don't like the look of that snake!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapau27 Posted March 5, 2021 #510 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Some fabulous photo's. The only time we docked in Gibraltar was on Norwegian Gems maiden voyage in October 2007 and Pauline's late mam perked up when she saw M&S. Paulines late dad took bad on the ship leaving Gibraltar and had a catheter fitted in the ships medical centre. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted March 6, 2021 Author #511 Share Posted March 6, 2021 12 hours ago, Ardennais said: Would you recommend that excursion, because it’s one that I have considered in the past as something different to do. That is exactly why we went. It is a bit of a faff getting across the border, you take one coach and get off to cross the border then get on a different one on the other side. The owner was very good with his talk as you wandered around his grounds. You then moved to another place where you had the snack and drink. It’s not something I would repeat but it made a difference to staying on the ship. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gettingwarmer Posted March 6, 2021 Author #512 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) Docked in Madeira, next Barbados. Edited March 6, 2021 by Gettingwarmer 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Eddie99 Posted March 6, 2021 #513 Share Posted March 6, 2021 I absolutely love Madeira, or I should say Funchal, because no matter how many times we tell ourselves we must see more of the island we’ve never got bored of the capital and wanted to leave it I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s pictures I’ll return with more wittering later and I think I may have one or two pics myself 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bee-ess Posted March 6, 2021 #514 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Madeira 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzywiz Posted March 6, 2021 #515 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) Madeira is a stunning island and I would love to explore a bit more. We are not city people so have only passed through Funchal on our way out into the countryside but it seems to be a very nice place. The sail-in was beautiful... On our first visit in 2013 we went across the island and stopped at the glass viewing platform....definitely not for the faint-hearted... We travelled along the coast.... and then went west across the mountains to the little resort of Porto Moniz... Edited March 6, 2021 by Izzywiz spelling mistake 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzywiz Posted March 6, 2021 #516 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Our second visit was in 2015 and we did a tour of the north east of the island where we, unfortunately, had very poor weather. Our friends went to the west and had glorious sunshine!!! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermotsgirl Posted March 6, 2021 #517 Share Posted March 6, 2021 We’ve been to Madeira about 5 times, as the island is popular in both Canary Island and transatlantic cruises. We would have been there last year for the Four Freds in Funchal event. All 4 FO ships in port at the same time These photos are from 2016 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplesea Posted March 6, 2021 #518 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) We have only been to Maderia once on our trans-altantic in November 2009. Edited March 6, 2021 by purplesea 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamianG Posted March 6, 2021 #519 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) We've been lucky enough to visit Funchal several times and fingers crossed we go there again in 2022. I'm going to have to pretend we've got an extra long stay as I found it hard to choose my favourite experiences and photos. First of all the adult only visit with an excursion exploring the Levada walking trails. We've been on more expensive, activity-crammed excursions but this remains my all time favourite. It was peaceful, not too easy, not too strenuous, genuinely interesting and the time flew by: Edited March 6, 2021 by DamianG 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpycruiser60plus Posted March 6, 2021 #520 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Hello Everyone, Madeira, we first arrived on Britannia OCT17 & said we would return for a longer stay, We did the following year & should have returned last year, But you know the rest. Hopefully as we have vouchers for flight etc we maybe will get there again very soon...................Meanwhile some of my pics of Funchal, Botanical gardens, Cabo Girao, & Camara De Lobas. and one of our favourite restaurants from our hotel stay, with its sharing plater. last pic of pasta de nata & cider as a photo tribute to my life long mate, who has recently passed away, he had been to Madeira & enjoyed the gardens in same spot. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamianG Posted March 6, 2021 #521 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) Now the family day out. An expensive drive to Santa Cruz (near the airport) courtesy of the fastest taxi driver in Funchal Jose Manuel Gouveia for a few hours at Aquaparque Madeira. It's a lovely, family friendly lido but despite our best efforts there is no way we could have got there on public transport. After that we made a quick call into the mall followed by a superb late lunch at Restaurante Marina Terrace overlooking the cruise port: Edited March 6, 2021 by DamianG 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpycruiser60plus Posted March 6, 2021 #522 Share Posted March 6, 2021 Just found a few more pics of boat trip to see Dolphins & a view of Cabo Girao from below!! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann141 Posted March 6, 2021 #523 Share Posted March 6, 2021 31 minutes ago, DamianG said: We've been lucky enough to visit Funchal several times and fingers crossed we go there again in 2022. I'm going to have to pretend we've got an extra long stay as I found it hard to choose my favourite experiences and photos. First of all the adult only visit with an excursion exploring the Levada walking trails. We've been on more expensive, activity-crammed excursions but this remains my all time favourite. It was peaceful, not too easy, not too strenuous, genuinely interesting and the time flew by: I have considered doing the Laveda walk excursion previously.The paths look fine.Are they all like that? I don't fancy having to scramble down banks etc!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamianG Posted March 6, 2021 #524 Share Posted March 6, 2021 (edited) 14 minutes ago, ann141 said: I have considered doing the Laveda walk excursion previously.The paths look fine.Are they all like that? I don't fancy having to scramble down banks etc!! It was back in 2008 but I imagine the format hasn't changed. It was definitely a stroll along paths (rather than a hike) and no climbing or scrambling involved! Coach to the start then it picked us up at the end of the trail after a brief refreshment stop. Which reminds me, as typical Brits we all queued up and paid for drinks at the refreshment stop at a small cafe, then the tour guide told us the drinks were included so we all queued up again for refunds! The cafe owner nearly got away with a good payday. Edited March 6, 2021 by DamianG 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann141 Posted March 6, 2021 #525 Share Posted March 6, 2021 25 minutes ago, DamianG said: It was back in 2008 but I imagine the format hasn't changed. It was definitely a stroll along paths (rather than a hike) and no climbing or scrambling involved! Coach to the start then it picked us up at the end of the trail after a brief refreshment stop. Which reminds me, as typical Brits we all queued up and paid for drinks at the refreshment stop at a small cafe, then the tour guide told us the drinks were included so we all queued up again for refunds! The cafe owner nearly got away with a good payday. Thank you.That sounds ideal, apart from the queuing bit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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