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Departure Port – Venice, Italy

December 9, 2009 at 10:36 pm · Filed under port-of-departure ·Tagged cruise, cruise holiday, cruise vacation, cruise-ship, cruise-terminal, cruiseship, holiday, holidays, italy, mediterranean, port-of-call, ship, vacation, vacations, venice

Carnival Freedom cruising past St Marks Square, Venice

Venice – A Great Place to Start Your Cruise

Venice Cruise Terminal is located in the west area of Venice, sandwiched between Tronchetto Island and Piazzale Roma. Here there are 3 transport facilities (cruises, ferries and hydrofoils). The volume of passengers has risen from three hundred thousand in 2000 to the present figure of substantially in excess of 1,000,000. The numbers continue to grow, confirming Venice as a top choice of tourists.

The port of Venice is not directly on the Mediterranean, but sits on the Venetian Lagoon, this is connected to the Adriatic by a inlet called the Porto di Lido. The company that operates Venice Port is the Venezia Terminal Passeggeri.

Venice Cruise Terminal plays host to more than 20 cruise lines, including MSC, Louis Cruises, Carnival’s and NCL.

The Bridget of Sighs, at the Doges Palace, Venice

Don’t Miss Out on Venice Itself

In choosing a cruise vacation departing from Venice, you have already treated yourself to wandering the streets of arguably the most magnificent and romantic city in the world. So make sure you allow at least two to three days either before or after your cruise to enjoy wonderful Venice.

The most iconic of Venice’s buildings are those around St Marks Square – the Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile. All 3 were started in the late tenth century, and in the next three hundred years the buildings underwent many renovations and changes.

The Greek island of Santorini, a popular destination for cruises from Venice

Suggested Cruises

Cruises from Venice generally concentrate on three areas, the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea (with its spectacular Greek Islands), and Turkey. For a comprehensive presentation of timetables see Cruises from Venice Italy.

Examples of typical itineraries would be:

‘Greek Islands In The Sun’ from MSC (Venice, Baris, Corfu, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Katakolon, Dubrovnik, Venice),
‘Adriatic Coast and Italy’ from Louis Cruises (Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Lipari, Italy, Civitavecchia, Marseille, Messina, Kotor, Split, Venice),
and ‘Jewels of the Adriatic’ from MSC (Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Athens, Argostoli, Kotor, Ancona, Venice).

Venice Cruise Ship Port - Maritima Basin

Venice Cruise Terminal
Venice Cruise Terminal contains 3 areas: the Marittima basin, which can handle the biggest cruise ships that call in Venice, and and the smaller Santa Marta and San Basilio quays. These two are nearby on the Giudecca Canal.

Marittima is the largest of the ship docks at the Port of Venice’s Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, with 3 terminal buildings and enough docking space to manage several large ships at once. Ships docking here include the Musica (MSC), Splendour of the Seas (RCI), Poesia (MSC), Oriana (Carnival), Artemis (Carnival), Armonia (MSC). It includes the Isonzo Quay (berths 18 and 20), the Tagliamento Quay (berths 107, 109, 110, and 112), the Piave Quay (117) and the TM Quay (TM berth).

Santa Marta (Quays 24 to 28) and San Basilio (Quays 29 to 31) is the long quay than runs from the mainport area to the Fondamenta Zàttere, the promenade along the southern bank of the Giudecca Canal. Santa Marta handles ships like Europa (Hapag Lloyd), Black Prince (Fred Olsen), Wind Spirit (Windstar), Insignia (Oceania). San Basilio handles smaller ships such as the Regatta (Oceania).

Piazzale Roma, Venice, Italy

Transferring to The Cruise Terminal

If you’re embarking on a cruise ship at Venice, the least hassle method to travel between the airport and the ship is to book the transfer when booking your cruise. If you’ve booked the components of your holiday separately, the following details how to travel to the Venice Cruise Terminal.

From the airport

The cruise terminals are a 15- or 20-minute taxi journey from Venice’s Airport. A cheaper alternative is the airport bus to the Piazzale Roma, followed by a taxi or bus ride. Another option is a water taxi, pricey but stylish and fun.

From the Piazzale Roma

The Piazzale Roma is the major transport hub for Venice and is the final point motor vehicles can get to before the city center. It is located at the end of the access road to Venice. The piazza is home to the bus station, and sits between the train station, and the cruise and ferry terminals. There is also a major Vaporetto stop (For ACTV timetables see www.actv.itj).

The least expensive option to get to the cruise terminals from Pizzale Roma is the free shuttle bus, which runs frequently on days with cruise ship departures. Another option is a taxi, but these may charge upwards of 20 euros.

For the Maritima terminal a third option is bus #6, to the Tronchetto ferry terminal, this has a stop next to the cruise terminal. Another possibility is to travel on foot, as it’s a short walk from Piazzale Roma to the Maritima cruise terminal, although this can be very tiresome on a warm day,especially with lots of luggage. To walk follow the main road back towards the mainland, and after crossing the railway turn left towards the cruise terminal, crossing over the bridge.

To get to Santa Marta or San Basilio terminals you can take vaporetto lines 61/62 from Pizzale Roma. Don’t attempt to walk, as it’s over 30 minutes, with difficult routefinding.

From the Piazza San Marco

Alilaguna runs an express boat service between the Piazza San Marco and Marittima (Line M) every half hour during the daytime. The trip takes 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a vaporetto (# 1 or 2 line) to the Piazzale Roma and carry on from there as described.

From Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station

It’s a quick walk to cross the Ponte della Costituzione (Constition Bridge) to get to the Piazzale Roma.
From Venezia-Mestre Train Station

Mestre station is located on the Italian mainland. Catch bus line 2, this leaves directly in front of the station, to Piazzale Roma on Venice island.

Other Information
Currency EURO
Timezone GMT+1
Language Spoken Italian

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Departure Port – Barcelona Spain

November 26, 2009 at 9:59 am · Filed under port-of-departure ·Tagged barcelona, cruise, cruise holiday, cruise vacation, cruise-ship, cruise-terminal, cruiseship, mediterranean, port-of-call, ship, spain

Cruise ship arriving at WTC terminal, Barcelona Port

Introduction to Barcelona

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and the capital of Catalonia, a defiant and independent region of Spain, which has it’s own language, culture, and history. Located on Spain’s southern coast its climate is classically Mediterranean, never too hot and never too cold. It’s the perfect location for a vacation, relaxing by walking the pavements, shopping, spending time at a café, eating Spanish fare in the evening, and visiting awe-inspiring sights.

Map Showing Barcelona Cruise Terminals, WTC (N,E,S) , Adossat Quay (A,B,C,D), Port Vell (M)

Barcelona Cruise Terminals

Cruise ships dock at Port Vell. The area is a tourist attraction in its own right with a large Maremàgnum shopping mall with a huge IMAX cinema, and Europe’s biggest aquarium. Port Vell leads directly on to Las Ramblas, the iconic Barcelona street lined with cafes and street entertainment that feeds into the center of the city. Las Ramblas is also known by the singular, La Rambla.

The port has 7 cruise terminals, split into 3 quays.

Adossat Terminals (Terminals A, B, C, D)
Terminals A, B, C and D are located at the Adossat Quay and are furthest away from the city center. Terminal D is also called Palacruceros. Shuttle buses make the short trip from the terminals to the foot of Las Ramblas (Colon Square).

World Trade Center Quay (Terminals N,S,E)
2 terminals are located at the World Trade Center (WTC) quay which are called North, and South. From these it is an easy walk to Colon square at the foot of Las Ramblas. The North Terminal can handle one medium sized vessel, the South Terminal two ships, the biggest one up to a length of 253 meters. The additional mooring space at quay East can be utlized by either the North or South Terminals.

Port Vell (Terminal M)
Near to the World Trade Center Terminal. This ferry terminal is sometimes employed for cruiseliners.

All terminals have taxi ranks.

La Valletta, Malta, a popular destination for cruises departing from Barcelona

Available Cruises
Cruises leaving from Barcelona offer a wide variety of destinations. The most popular is a trip circumnavigating the Western Mediterranean. Alternatives would be the Canary Islands, Morocco, or longer trips to the Eastern Mediterranean and Greece. A sample of itineraries would be:

Pearls of the Riviera (Oceania) Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, St Tropez, Monaco, Portofino, Livorno, Amalfi, Sorrento, Civitavecchia
Eastern Mediterranean (NCL) Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Izmir, Alexandria, La Valletta, Barcelona
Canary Islands & Morocco (NCL) Barcelona, Casablanca, Agadir, Gran Canaria, Funchal, Malaga, Barcelona
Spain, Italy, Tunisia (Costa) Barcelona, Marseille, Savona, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona

For a complete listing see cruises from Barcelona.

La Pedrera (or Casa Mila) an extravant house designed by Gaudi for the developer Pere Milà Camps

Out and About in Barcelona

It takes an enthusiastic tourist a week to tour Barcelona, so if you have only a day or two, you’ll be very busy. Don’t miss famous spots like La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s astounding church, the medieval, characterful Barrio Gothic area, and the Pablo Picasso museum. Finally visit Montjuic for a spectacular view of the whole of the city and the surrounding countryside and ocean.

Las Ramblas
An impressive promenade connecting Port Vell to Placa de Catalunya, the heart of old Barcelona. The street is lined with shops, cafes, florists, street performers, and Boqueria, a charming market. You’ll pass by the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona’s gorgeous opera theater. La Rambla finishes at the Placa de Catalunya, a large square filled by shops, cafes and bars.

La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona’s iconic church was designed by Barcelona’s most famous son Antonio Gaudi. Work began in 1883, and the spectacular building is only now nearing completion. Don’t miss features like the nativity-themed facade, the mosaic bell towers, and ornate doorways standing for faith, hope and charity.

The Museu d’art Contemporani de Barcelona
This bright white glass and concrete building rises above Barcelona old town. The Contemporary Art Museum collection, which starts in roughly 1950, includes many artworks from the Catalan region, by local artists like Antoni Tapies) as well as works by International artists such as Miguel Barcelo.

Barri Gotic
In Barcelona’s gothic quarter, the buildings date back to the thirteenth century. The streets are narrow and winding and crammed with busy life. At the center of the Barri Gotic lies the Museu Picasso, featuring the works of Picasso. Another must see is the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, a magnificent building with gothic architecture.

La Pedrera
Gaudí planned a fantastic house with undulating, living forms for the property developer Pere Milà Camps. La Pedrera was Gaudi’s last work before spending all his time to the Sagrada Família.

Parc Guell
Another Gaudi design, Parc Guell is an intriguing public park. The planting is adventurous and colorful, but the real attraction is Guadi’s design work, likeornate steps and bizarre concrete walls.

Montjuic
The area of Montjuic is 700 feet above the city’s port and is filled with cafes, boutiques, art galleries and museums. Worth a visit the Museu Arqueologic which showcases items from early civilizations from Catalonia and the Balearics. Also recommended is the Museu Nacional d’art de Catalunya, which has a big collection of Romanesque art.

Travelling to the Port of Barcelona

From the City to the Port
Walking
The WTCcruise ship terminals are the closest to the foot of La Rambla, being approximately a five minute walk. However the Adossat dock cruise ship terminals, A, B, C, D, are a larger distance away and you would need to take a shuttle bus nicknamed the Blue Bus which collects at the memorial to Christopher Columbus and drops off at Adossat quayside.
Metro
The Drassanes stop (L3 Green Line) is no more than five minutes by foot from the Christopher Columbus statue.
Taxi
It’s easy to catch a taxi from the city center to the port. This is not expensive, fare around eight euros, and fast, generally under twenty minutes.
Getting from the Airport to the Cruise Port
By bus
Take the Bus to Placa Catalunya in Barcelona, next travel by metro from Catalunya to Drassanes. From there walk to the statue of Christopher Columbus. Wait for the Blue bus which shuttles to your cruise ship terminal.
Taxi
The best way for travelling from the airport to the docks is a cab. The journey takes about 25 mins and costs around thirty five euros in total. The cost should cover per-bag extras and extra airport and cruise port charges.

Further Information

Language Catalan/Spanish
Currency EURO

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Departure Port – Athens, Greece

November 23, 2009 at 12:40 pm · Filed under port-of-departure ·Tagged athens, cruise, cruise holiday, cruise vacation, cruises, greece, holiday, meditteranean, piraeus, ship, ships, vacation

Piraeus, Port of Athens

Piraeus has been the port for Athens since Classical times. The port was founded at the beginning of the fifth century BC by Themistocles, who foresaw the possibilities for its 3 natural harbors. The early buildings were consolidated by Pericles with the construction of ‘the Long Walls’ to protect the route to Athens. Nowadays it is an important city in its own right, containing much of Greater Athens’ trade. For most visitors, though, it is the inter-island ferries based in Piraeus that are the reason for passing through. The port sees the departure of up to 60 ferries per day.

Note that the official spelling of Piraeus is now Pireas, and all signs have been updated.

Athens is only 7 miles from Piraeus, and the majority of travellers will spend the visit in Athens. Nestled on a plain between five hills, Athens can get hot, dirty and polluted in the summer months. But at the city’s heart stands the magnificent Acropolis, a don’t miss attraction for travellers from all around the world. Jusrt North of the Acropolis lies the cosmopolitan tourist-friendly district of Plaka, a place full of historic interest, and these two form the staple of travellers.

Piraeus Cruise Terminal A

Piraeus Cruise Terminals

Cruise ships dock in the Piraeus Port located on the southern side of the city. The port sits on the Saronic Gulf, in the Aegean Sea. The port is an important ferry terminus, serving the Greek Islands. Greece is composed of a multitude of islands, so ferries are vital and ferries arrive at and leave from Piraeus throughout the day and night. The cruise ship berths aresituated on the quays to the southern side of the port.
Cruiseliners berth at either Cruise Terminal A or Cruise Terminal B. Cruise Terminal A, accessed by entrance E11, is situated in mid-harbour sandwiched by the Mioulis and Xaveris quays. Cruise Terminal B, approached by gate E12, sits at the mouth of the harbour, protected by the Termistokleous pier. The cruise ship load of Piraeus is about 11 cruise ships. For more port information, see Piraeus Port, Greece.

Available Cruises
The cruise ship routes from Piraeus typically visit a selection from ports in the Ionian Sea, the Black Sea, and Egypt. For a comprehensive selection of cruises from Piraeus, see Cruises from Athens, Greece.

Shopping in Plaka District, Athens, Greece

Out and About in Athens

The Acropolis
The main focus of the visitor’s attention in Athens is the Acropolis. It costs 12 euro to enter into the Acropolis.
The top attracation in Athens is the Acropolis, a 150 m (512 ft) rock in the center of the city topped with a number of temples built in around 400BC. The archeological importance of these ancient buildings makes the Acropolis world-famous. It costs 12 euro to gain entrance.
At the top of the Acropolis stands the magnificent Parthenon, a superb classical Greek temple, a magestic sight from almost everywhere in Athens.
Another iconic building is the Erechtheion. The six ladies that serve as pillars are reproductions, you can see 5 originals in the Acropolis museum. Number 6 is in the British Museum in London, together with large parts of the Parthenon frieze.
Syntagma Square
See the soldiers dressed in their unique skirt withwhite tights and odd shoes. Especially recommended is the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Plaka
Near the Acropolis sits the Plaka District. This area is made up of narrow meandering streets.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum can be found towards the west end of Plaka. Here you’ll find the impressive Tower of the Winds, a 8 sided tower with a different wind deity on each side. Shares ticket with Acropolis.
The Shops in Plaka
There are a ton of local products worth purchasing. olive oil, small carpets, and leather shoes are all manufactured/grown nearby and offer excellent value. The local antiques market is always bustling and fascinating.
Dining in Plaka
Eating in one of the sidewalk restaurants enjoying a plate of local food with a glass of ouzo is a great way to spend the lunch hour.

Marina Zea, Piraeus

Out and About in Piraeus

Marina Zea
Zea, also called Pasalimani, is where you can catch one of the Flying Dolphins to the islands in the Saronic Gulf, and there are also the most fantastic yachts moored there in the marina, which is one of the largest in Europe. There are lots of restaurants, shops, and taverns along the shore; if you like boat-watching, sit outside a café and watch the activity in the beautiful harbor.
Hellenic Maritime Museum
This nautical and naval museum has many exhibits showing Greek ships, both modern and ancient. There are paintings, ship models, flags, maps, and all sorts of equipment used on ships. A section of the wall built around Piraeus by Themistocles in ancient times is here, and so are some items from Aristotle Onassis’s yacht. There are some weird little objects in this museum, such as ship models that prisoners carved from bone, and many very interesting exhibits for those interested in naval history.
Archeological Museum
The archeological museum has exhibits from ancient times, such as statues that date back to the 4th century BC. There is a very large funeral monument, grave markers, and important bronze statues of Apollo, Athena, and Artemis. Sculptures from both the Classical and Roman periods are on display, as are many treasures excavated in Piraeus; there are also ruins of an ancient theater nearby.

Bridget from metro to port - Piraeus, Greece

Bridge over the main road from the Rail station towards the Port entrance

Traveling to the Port of Piraeus

From the Piraeus Electric Train station
It’s around one mile from the rail station to Cruise Terminal A, and around a mile and a half to Cruise Terminal B. Don’t be tempted to walk, as its quite a distance on a swelteringly-hot afternoon. Rather cross over the main road on the new bridge for pedestrians. Catch a coach to your cruise terminal (lines 832, 833 843 or 859)..

Metro Rail Line
The simplest way to travel from Athens to the Piraeus Port is via the metro rail line. ISAP Line 1 (green, Kifissia – Piraeus) connects the city of Athens directly to the port. Look at the metro map (http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/ath/athens.htm) for the route to take from your location in Athens.
Bus
Two buses that shuttle between Piraeus and Athens. Buses Nos 040 and 049 operate all day, and run every 20 minutes from 0600 until midnight and then every hour. Bus No 040 runs between Syntagma square (Plaka district) in Athens and Akti Xaveriou in Piraeus (situated right between the cruise terminals). Bus No 049 links Omonia Square in Athens and Themistokleous Square in Piraeus. Alight at Karaiskaki sq which is opposite gate E8, and from here get a 843 bus to the cruise terminals located at gate E11 or E12.
Taxi
Cab prices are relatively modest in Athens, but unscrupulous drivers are not uncommon, so use the service recommended by your hotel. It’s more for baggage (EUR0,30 for each piece), and more for entrance to the port ( EUR0,60). The trip between Athens’ center and PiraeusPort takes around 30 min and the cab fare is around EUR20.
Travelling from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port
Metro Train
Line 3 connects Athens airport to Monastiraki where you change to green Line 1, taking you to Piraeus. The journey time between the airport and the port is about an hour and a quarter.
By Bus
Bus no X96 runs day and night between the airport and Piraeus’s Karaïskaki Square, with services 3 times an hour. The bus departs from the lot outside arrivals Gates 4 and 5. On arrival at Piraeus you need to catch a further bus to the cruise terminals (number|no 832, 833, 843 or 859).
Taxi
There’s an additional charge for trips from Athens’ airport, Baggage costs more on a per-item basis and the trip takes at least one hour (iit’s 30 km between the airport and the port) so the cab fare can be €50 or more.

Further Information

Language: Greeek
Currency: EURO

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Depature Port – Civitavecchia, Italy

October 17, 2009 at 3:12 pm · Filed under port-of-departure ·Tagged cruise-ship, cruise-terminal, cruise-travel, cruise-ships, cruise, cruiseship, cruiseships, italy, rome, vacation, vacation-guide, vacation-ideas, holidays, holidays-in-italy, holidays-and-travel, ports-o-call, harbor, holiday, holiday-ideas

An aerial view of the port Of Civitavecchia, Italy, the access port for Rome, about one hour away by train

Civitavecchia, The Port of Rome

Located around 80km north-west of Rome, Civitavecchia, translated as ‘ancient town’, is a busy ferry, cruise and cargo port with good transport links to the Rome area and the middle of Italy. There is a good rail service from Civitavecchia to central Rome, with services every half hour, and a time for the journey of around 70 to 80 minutes.

The Roman Emperor Trajan founded Civitavecchia Port in the 2nd century, calling it Centumcellae. Even today, remains of Trajan’s Port, which lie inside the modern port , can still be seen. Towards the end of the 15th century, Civitavecchia port was subject to attack by pirates. Pope Julius II instigated the construction of a fort to protect the port. The works were completed by Michelangelo in 1537. In the 19th century the Port of Civitavecchia was connected to Rome by a railroad. World War II brought destruction to nearly three-quarters of the Port. Reconstruction enlarged the Port beyond its pre-war area.

Today Civitavecchia handles over two thousand ferry and cruise ship movements per year, for nearly 2 million passengers, making it the third busiest Mediterranean port.

The Bramante Cruise Terminal at quay 12 handling passenger embarkation/disembarkation

Civitavecchia Cruise Terminals

The Port of Civitavecchia contains more than twenty piers. Most of the port is utilised by ferry and container ships. Cruiseliners dock at quays inside the outer wall. The quays for cruise ships are 11 – Traianea, and 12/12B/13A/13B (Antemurale Colombo). Sometimes number 25 (Commerciale) across the harbor is also utilised.
At the moment there are 3 terminals, named the Bramante at pier 12, and temporary terminals at piers 11 and 25.

The port of Istanbul, Turkey, a popular port-of-call for east bound cruises

Available Cruises
Generally cruises concentrate on either the East Mediterranean – Greece, the Greek Islands and Istanbul, or the Western Mediterranean – France, Spain, Corsica and Sardinia, and Mallorca/Ibiza. For cruise schedules see cruises from civitavecchia italy
Cruises might typically have itineraries such as
10 Night Eastern Mediterranean (Celebrity) Civitavecchia, Messina, Piraeus, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Naples, Civitavecchia
14 Night Best of Italy (Azamara) Civitavecchia, Sorrento, Giardini-Naxos, Ravenna, Trieste, Venice, Dubrovnik, Livorno, Civitavecchia
11 Night Eastern Mediterranean (Celebrity) Civitavecchia, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Piraeus, Naples, Civitavecchia
13 Night Holy Land (Celebrity) Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Haifa, Ashdod, Alexandria, Naples, Civitavecchia

The shoreline promenade at Civitavecchia, which runs behind the sandy beach

Out and About in Civitavecchia

As the Port for Rome, the City of Civitavecchia is the gateway to one of the most beautiful and fascinating destinations in the world. But Civitavecchia itself has a few interesting sights deserving a visit, if you have a few hours to spend either side of your cruise. Wander through the city center, preferably with a map, and you will spot remains of the old city walls, Benedict XIV’s fountain, ancient buildings such as the old hospital, quaint squares and a lot of Italian life. So combining a stroll through the town with a seafront sunbathing session to pass a very agreable day. Selected sights of interest include:

The Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi
The Franciscans built the 18th Century Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi on an earlier 17th Century church. The Neoclassical-Baroque design of the building impressive. The foundation stone was laid by Pope Gregory IX in 1228, and the cathedral was finished in 1253. The church contains beautiful stained glass windows and frescos.

Forte Michelangelo
The 16th Century fortress named Forte Michelangelo towers imposingly over the port. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II and finished in 1535 by Giulano Leno. The central tower was designed by Michelangelo. Built on the remains of Roman barracks of the Imperial Fleet, the fortress is made from walls over 6 metres thick.

Civitavecchia’s Archaelogical Museum
This is located in an eighteenth Century building once owned by Pope Clemente XIII and constructed for the papal garrison. It has an extensive collection artifacts mainly of Estrucan and Roman origin.

Civitavecchia Beach
Steps from the seafront promenade, just opposite the train station, descend to a yellow sandy beach. The sea is remarkably clean and good for swimming.

La Scaglia necropolis
The La Scaglia tomb complex dates from the 6th and 5th Centuries BC. View these extensive underground workings The chill atmosphere will bring a chill to your bones.

The train station at Civitavecchia, about 10 minutes walk from the port entrance - express trains to Rome take 45 minutes, commuter trains 70 minutes

Travelling to the Port of Civitavecchia

From Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Taxi
A taxi ride from Leonardo da Vinci airport to the Port of Civitavecchia costs around 150 euros one way. Taxis are available outside the arrivals terminal. It’s a good idea to only use registered cabs (white cars with a taximeter).
Train
Catch the train from the Leonardo da Vinci Airport to the Rome Termini train station. The journey takes about 30 minutes. Make sure you validate/punch your ticket before boarding the train.

From Rome center to Cruise Terminal
Train
The train to the Port of Civitavecchia runs from Rome’s Termini train Station, situated in the center of Rome. Trains leave every half hour and cost about €11 per passenger. The journey takes between 70 and 80 minutes. The Port is a ten minute walk from Civitavecchia train station. Turn right as you leave the station, and follow the road that parallels the sea front. Frequent signs confirm you are going the correct way. When you reach the entrance to the port, adjacent to the Michelangelo fort, you will find a bus stop. Here buses run to the actual cruise terminals/piers. There’s also an information kiosk which can be helpful.

Resources

Port map showing cruise ship quay numbers Map of Cruise Port of Civitavecchia

Office port website Port of Civitavecchia

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Departure Port – Southampton, England

September 22, 2009 at 9:59 am · Filed under port-of-departure ·Tagged cruise-ship, cruise-ships, cruise-terminal, cruise-travel, southampton, southampton-port

Introduction to Southampton Port

Aerial View Of Southampton Docks

Southampton is known as the ‘Cruise Capital’ of the UK and is home to some of the world’s premier cruise lines. Its natural deep harbor, one-off double tide and sophisticated Ship Traffic Services allow the port to berth the largest vessels, from enormous container ships to today’s huge cruise ships.

The port is split between the Eastern Docks and Western Docks. The Mayflower and City Cruise Terminals are to be found at the Western Docks, whilst the QE2 and Ocean Cruise Terminals are located at the Eastern Docks.

The Eastern Docks saw perhaps Southampton’s biggest moment in history. In 1912 the Titanic left from White Star Dock (near Ocean dock) on its maiden voyage. When the ship went down, of the 1500 lives lost, 500 were Southampton based crew members and the effect on the city was huge.

The City of Southampton

The City of Southampton is generally seen as a port of departure, and not many cruise passengers linger to investigate the city itself. Though if you’ve spare time at one or the other end of your cruise, there’s a lot to see and do.

Shopping Malls
The city’s foremost shopping center, Above Bar, is where you’ll find the main high street brands. An alternative destination is Ocean Village which has undercover shopping, a peaceful marina and many bars and good restaurants. Another option is the new West Quay retail center which offers leading chain stores.

Old Town
During the medieval era, the town was surrounded by a fortified wall with huge gate buildings. Bargate at the northern end of the old town, is the city’s most well-known landmark. The building makes a excellent point to start the walk of walls. Stop at the wall’s towers, the remains of the castle, the West Gate, the ruins of the old friary and God’s House Tower where you’ll find is home to} the local Archaeological Museum (free). Other noteworthy places are the restored Medieval Merchants House, the Maritime Museumlocated in the old Wool House (free), with itsabsorbing Titanic exhibition, and the remarkable Tudor House, a (free entry) museum with gorgeous gardens.

Art Gallery
Southampton City Art Gallery is renowned for its exhibitions of Victorian-era art.

Aviation Museum
The Solent Sky Aviation Museum showcases the innovative work of R Mitchell, the Spitfire’s creator.

The Titanic Trail
Walk around the trail taking in memorials and places associated with the Titanic. The trail starts at the Musician’s Memorial and stops at the Maritime Museum, situated in the Wool House, which presents the history of the fatal voyage.

The Jane Austen Walking Trail
Jane Austen first came to Southampton when she was 7 years old and she often vacationed in the city. Later on she lived in Southampton. The Trail visits the buildings associated with the author.

The New Forest
A pretty location well-known for its rugged heaths, and common-law arrangements of grazing.

Available Cruises

Cruises from Southampton go to the Mediterranean, St Petersburg and the Baltic Sea, the Canaries and the Norwegian Fjords. Transatlantic and longer cruises are also available. If you live in the UK cruises departing from Southampton are easily accessible, thanks to its good road and rail links. For a complete list of cruises leaving from Southampton see Cruises From Southampton.

A selection of routes available might include
* 2 Night Short Break (Ventura – P&O) (Southampton, Zeebrugge, Southampton),
* Southampton to Mumbai (Aurora – P&O) (Southampton, Barcelona, Piraeus, Port Said, Suez Canal, Sharm El Sheikh, Salalah, Oman, Muscat, Dubai, Mumbai), * Canaries Spring Cruise (Black Watch – Fred Olsen) (Southampton, Funchal, St Cruz De La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Agadir, Arrecife, Southampton), * West Mediterranean (Oceana – P&O) (Southampton, Gibraltar, Cartagena, Civitavecchia, Livornor, Monaco, Barcelona, Cadiz, Southampton), * Baltic (Arcadia – P&O) (Southampton, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Oslo, Kristiansund, Southampton), * Central Mediterranean (Azura – P&O) (Southampton, Malaga, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula, Gibraltar, Southampton), * Westbound Transatlantic (Queen Mary 2 – Cunard) (Southampton, New York), * Far North and Spitzbergen (Oriana – P&O) (Southampton, Stavanger, Andalsnes, Trondheim, Ny Alesund, Tromso, Bergen, Eidfjord, Southampton), France and Spain (Ventura – P&O) (Southampton, La Coruna, Bilbao, La Rochelle, Brest, Guernsey, Southampton), * Greeenland and Iceland (Black Watch – Fred Olsen) Southampton, Qaqortoq, Narsarsuaq, Nanortalik, Isafjord, Reykjavik, Southampton).

The Port Ship Schedule, which covers all cruise terminals, is available at http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp

Cruise Terminals

Queen Elizabeth 2 Terminal

Eastern Docks
Queen Elizabeth II Terminal – Berth 38/9
The QE2 terminal was opened in 1966 by the Queen. The terminal is home to Cunard’s ships, Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2, and Queen Elizabeth. Facilities include a short stay car park, a bar, a taxi rank and a cafe. The viewing gallery is not open to visitors.

Ocean Cruise Terminal Berth 46
The original Ocean Cruise Terminal was an iconic Art-Deco building. Sadly this was removed in 1983 The modern building, opened in 2009, is completely different from the earlier building, being a massive modern design with curved lines. Facilites available include a cab rank, a short stay car park, and a restaurant and bar.

Western Docks
City Cruise Terminal Berth 101
The City Cruise Terminal has recently undergone a major refurbishment to double its size. It can now handle the large ‘Freedom Class’ ships of RCI. Facilities are a short stay car park, a taxi rank, a bar and cafe. Closeby Mayflower Park is a great point to watch ship departures.
Mayflower Cruise Terminal Berth 106
The Mayflower Cruise Terminal, opened in 1960, has long been associated with the P&O fleet of ships. Facilities include a taxi rank, a bar and cafe, and viewing gallery.

Information on the Cruise Terminals can also be found at Southampton – Port of Depature.

Getting to Southampton’s Cruise Terminals

By Road
The M27 motorway, linking towns bordering the southern coast of England, runs just to the north of Southampton. The M3 motorway connects the city to London and also, by connecting to the A34 road with the Midlands and North. The M271 motorway, a spur of the M27, links it with the Docks and city centre.
By Train
Direct trains connect Southampton with London, and many parts of England.There is a every 30 minute service between London Waterloo and Southampton Central station. Rail routes run eastwards to Portsmouth, north towards the Midlands, and west to cities such as Bournemouth and Bristol.
From outside the train station you can either catch a taxi, or take the free CityLink bus service between the rail station and Town Quay every fifteen minutes.
By Plane
From London Heathrow Airport There is a National Express coach running to and from Heathrow Terminal every hour.
From London Gatwick Take the train to Southampton Centrall station.
From Southampton Airport Hire a cab to the port.

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Port of Call – Ibiza Town, Ibiza

September 10, 2009 at 12:46 pm · Filed under ports-of-call ·Tagged cruise-ship, cruises, eivissa, ibiza-port, ibiza-town, port-of-call, ports-of-call

Introduction

The Harbor, La Marina, and Dalt Vila, Ibiza Town

The culture of Ibiza is as varied as its pronunciation. ‘E-zee-thaa’, ‘e-bee-tha’, ‘e-vee-tha’ and (my favorite) ‘e-bitz-er’ are all commonly heard. And it’s hard to find such a diverse blend of people anywhere. Ibiza attracts all sorts of visitors with its outrageous nightlife, beautiful beaches and dependable summer climate.

Throughout time, the 3 Balearic islands Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza were the subject of invasion by foreign empires. Even as early as the fifth century BC Carthagian forces controlled Ibiza. Islamic forces arrived around the eight century AD and established control until the disintegration of the Caliphate of Cordoba, when James of Spain wrested dominance over the island in in 1229. Just fifty years passed before he lost his claim to the separate state of Mallorca. Later the islands returned to the Spanish crown.

Today the original Ibiza, an attractive island of villagers and fisherman remains. But Ibiza is equally famed for its laid-back vibe, its clubbing venues, its chilled beach-bars, and its rocking parties. Hoards of people descend upon the island to sample the beaches and nightlife.

Port Description

Celebrity Century moored at Botafac

As your cruise ship enters the port of Eivissa (or Ibiza Town), on the left side you will have an excellent view of the magnificent fortifications of the Dalt Vila, (Old Town). The town ramparts were completed in the late 16th century, to keep pirates at bay, and are 75 ft high and 15ft deep. On your right hand sits the new town, the home to one of the biggest clubs in the world, Pacha.

Most ships will dock at the outer harbor of Botafac. It is about a 5 minute coach ride to Dalt Vila. Smaller ships will dock at the Muelle Levant quayside, adjacent to the cosmolotian Sa Penya streets, just a 5 min stroll to the Old Town.

For the port website see Balearic Port Authority. To go to a lisiting of cruiselines visiting Ibiza, and schedules, click Cruises Visiting Ibiza.

Excursions

The Belltower of Ibiza Cathedral

Dalt Vila
Stroll up Dalt Villa and enjoy quaint shops, and picturesque homes jammed into cramped streets – all the typical signs of a relaxed Mediterranean port. There are many chances to pause and admire the view which encompasses the town and harbor. At last you’ll reach the Placa De Catedral, at the very summit, for all around views of the complete island. The island of Formentera is easy to see in the near distance.

Museum of Contemporary Art
This museum, housed in Dalt Vila, showcases contemporary Ibizan canvasses and sculptures.

Museu Puget
The Museu Puget features a good selection of canvasses and photographs by the well-known Ibizan artist Narcis Puget Vinas.

Puig d’en Valls
The eighteenth century windmills of Puig d’en Valls (Hill of the Windmills) show the indispensibilty of windmills in the development of Ibiza. At the moment you should manage to spot 4 of them. Under the hill’s lee sits the fascinating Punic Necropolis.

Ibiza Street Stall, La Marina area

La Marina
La Marina, Ibiza Town’s harbourside district, often just referred to as ‘El Puerto’, forms the center of Ibiza town. It’s a patchwork warren of narrow streets sandwiched between the harbour waters and the high walls of Dalt Vila. Its streets and small piazzas are crammed with fashionable boutiques, appealing cafes and trendy bars, and a frenetic market of overburdened stalls.

Playa Den Bossa
To get to Playa Den Bossa beach take a short drive from Ibiza town by taxi or bus, or take the water taxi, which leaves from just outside McDonalds. This is the longest beach on Ibiza, and is also host to the legendary Bora-Bora beach bar, and the fabulous Space megaclub.

Further Information

For more info on the port see, Port Of Ibiza.

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Language: Spanish

Time Zone: GMT +2

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Cruise Ship World

Departure Port – Venice, Italy

Departure Port – Barcelona Spain

Departure Port – Athens, Greece

Depature Port – Civitavecchia, Italy

Departure Port – Southampton, England

Port of Call – Ibiza Town, Ibiza

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