Ports of call are more than just destinations; the best ports of call offer activities to enhance your cruise.
One of the best ways to enjoy an intimate relationship with the beautiful ports of call on your cruise is to rent a bicycle and ride through the streets and villages. You’ll get acquainted with the sites, smells, sounds, and people of the places you visit. Join a guided bicycle tour or set out on your own. Either way, you’ll become much better acquainted with your cruise ports.
When ships arrive at cruise ship ports in certain areas, it’s very easy and inexpensive to rent a bike, and sometimes they are arranged for when it is a guided excursion.
Here at CruiseExperts.com, we know a lot of vacationers enjoy cruises that take them to ports of call where they can tour with bicycles. We’ve put together a list of some great cruise ports where you can enjoy biking.
Key West, Florida – This is a great biking area, and you can easily cover all of Key West on a bicycle. Rentals are inexpensive, and it can be a great family day spent exploring the sites. Visit Fort Zachery Taylor State Park and ride along the shore on shaded paths. You’ll bike along the Key West Shipping Channel and past the historic Fort Zachery Taylor. Bicycle to the home and museum of writer Ernest Hemmingway, and then enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic harbor and seaport. Everything you want to see is accessible by bike.
Halifax, Nova Scotia – You can pedal with pleasure through beautiful Halifax. A great ride for the less-experienced biker is from Casino to Point Pleasant Park. Some of your ride will be on the waterfront boardwalk and some on a very low traffic road in that winds through the Halifax Port Authority. The park has trail maps posted that point out the easy route around the perimeter or the more difficult and steeper interior trail. Halifax has more than 62 miles of bike lanes and off-road trails. You’ll find bike rentals available right on the waterfront, and prices are reasonable. You can find a variety of bike varieties including electric bikes, road bikes, city bikes, and hybrids ranging in price from $20 to $45 per day.
Amsterdam, Netherlands – Bicycling in Amsterdam is the main way the locals get around. The city is designed for bikes, and you can pedal just about anywhere. Amsterdam has signs and signals designed just for bikers. At intersections, you’ll see traditional yellow, red, and green lights in the shape of a bicycle, and you need to obey them. Round blue signs with a white bicycle indicate a bike lane or route. Visit historical sites, enjoy the quaint shops, and have lunch in local restaurants. You can do it all by bike. Join a guided tour with a local to be sure you don’t miss anything.
Brussels, Belgium – You’ll find as many bikes on the streets of Brussels as you will cars. It seems like a national pastime for citizens of all ages. You can find a bike at an automated rental kiosk or join a bike tour to get in all the sites. There is an exceptionally beautiful cycling path in Brussels named the “Green Walk,” and the highlights include the Woluwe Valley and the Sonian Forest which is the last of the ancient woods that historically formed a divide between Gallic tribes and the Romans. Ride through the city to discover chocolate makers, restaurants, and charming shops.
The Island of Bonair – Many people believe the best way to experience the beauty of the flora and fauna of the island is by cycling. There are easy cycling routes as well as challenging mountain bike trails, and many miles of both road and off-road cycling routes. You’ll see and get to meet local residents (Dutch is the official language but many people speak English as well), enjoy beautiful weather, enjoy the donkey and flamingo sanctuaries (makes for great photos), see all the sites, and do some shopping.
Click here for our ultimate guide to cruise ports in Florida.