N315

[Notebook64]

Hi

Visiting ports - 

Santander

Vigo

Lisbon

Porto - Leixoes

St Peter Port

 

any info appreciated regards leaving the port - 

eg - walk 200m and you are in the town

catch tube / train at port

catch hop on hop off bus

hire a cycle etc..

Electric scooter

Thanks

 

[AndyMichelle]

In Santander, the park around Magdalena Palace is fantastic. 

Nice tea room with toilets, lots of history and a great little mini sea life type place with sea lions etc that was free to enter.

Easily accessible by bus, we did hoho that we caught almost outside the port. 

Spent a few hours wandering, it felt like a really magical place. 

Don't plan too much for St Peter Port, it is often missed. 

Andy 

 

[Notebook64]

1 minute ago, AndyMichelle said:

In Santander, the park around Magdalena Palace is fantastic. 

Nice tea room with toilets, lots of history and a great little mini sea life type place with sea lions etc that was free to enter.

Easily accessible by bus, we did hoho that we caught almost outside the port. 

Spent a few hours wandering, it felt like a really magical place. 

Don't plan too much for St Peter Port, it is often missed. 

Andy 

 

Thanks

[Britboys]

Not been to Porto so can't help, although I know the docks are not actually in the city.

Santander I did a HOHO but sadly it was torrential rain all day so we got straight back on the ship when the bus got back to the port. It is right in the city centre.

Vigo - easy to do on foot if you are mobile - it is built on a hill. Take the lift in the shopping centre and walk up to the Park then slowly wander back down towards the town and ship. Great place for a seafood lunch if that floats your boat. Alternatively, an excursion to beautiful Santiago de Compostela.

Lisbon is lovely but very hilly. There is a HOHO and also a tourist route on the old vintage trams that takes you into the oldest district, the Alfama. The Elevador Santa Justa is fun to do but may have long queues at busy times. It was designed by a student of a certain Monsieur Eiffel...

St Peter Port - either just wander around the town or have a nice lunch. Difficult to plan ahead due to the potential of not getting in. It is also a tender port so those on ship's excursions will get priority.

[DamianG]

Vigo is disliked by many but we love it. There are bars, restaurants and a shopping mall adjacent to the port and the old town is a short walk away. 
Parque Monte de Castro is also nearby and though we’ve not tried it many recommend a ferry ride to Barco Islas Cies.

We usually catch a bus or get at a taxi from the port to the beach and promenade at Playa Samil. Then on our return we have a meal somewhere on “Oyster Alley” in the old town.

[SeaJane]

3 hours ago, Notebook64 said:

Hi

Visiting ports - 

Santander

Vigo

Lisbon

Porto - Leixoes

St Peter Port

 

any info appreciated regards leaving the port - 

eg - walk 200m and you are in the town

catch tube / train at port

catch hop on hop off bus

hire a cycle etc..

Electric scooter

Thanks

 

Vigo - is a very short walk into the town.

Lisbon - there is a shuttle bus which takes you to a square in the city, however due to traffic and one way systems it takes about 30 minutes. It is much quicker and more pleasant to walk into the centre if you are able as the ship is docked very close. 
Porto - P&O shuttle into city takes about 40 minutes, but is certainly the best option if you have not been before as Porto is well worth a visit. Alternatively there is a port shuttle to the dock gates at Leixoes and you can then spend time in this small town or visit the beach. 
 

We did a similar itinerary on N313 a week ago and St Peter Port was cancelled due to forecast high winds making tendering dangerous. The Captain made the decision early and substituted La Coruna.

[DamianG]

Lots to do in Lisbon depending on your tastes. Oceanarium (aquarium), zoo, sightseeing tram ride, cable car, shopping, restaurants, bars etc. Make sure you try some Pastel de Nata, either the originals at Pasteis de Belem or similar from market stalls or food outlets.

[Ardennais]

Lisbon - be careful when choosing the coloured routes with the HOHO bus because our route once took us all round the city and close to the airport before we got to the stops we were interested in! Our mistake, but still quite pleasant. 
 

St Peter Port - we have always managed to make it, but as noted above, the excursions get priority on the tenders. I was very glad on one occasion that we had a morning excursion as it took some passengers a long time to disembark. 

[No pager thank you]

The day trip to Sark is highly recommended from St. Peter's Port, a scenic place, like stepping back in time.  Fantastic chocolate shop on the island.

 

To get there, it is a short tender to the port from the ship, followed by a ferry ride (around 45 minutes to a hour, by memory) from there.

[Landon90]

Can anyone recommend a good beach to visit in Santander? Preferably one with facilities to get a beer and some lunch. 
 

I remember visiting a while back and visited a beach quite far away from the dock, lots of restaurants and bars and could rent comfy sun beds but can’t remember the name of it. 

[P&O SUE]

In Porto take the P&O shuttle into the town, I thought it was only 25-30 minutes. Where you are dropped off there was a land train but we got the HoHo bus that included a boat ride on the river, fabulous views !