This lively, tourist-friendly port city offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities.
Jutting out at the extreme southwest tip of Spain is part of England: Gibraltar, known for its famous rock, apes, World War II tunnels and location as an entry point to the Mediterranean. All of this plus its proximity to Spain – just across an airport runway – make it a wonderful cruise port of call.
Many Europeans visit Gibraltar for extended vacations, either flying in or driving in from Spain. But the view of the rock from the deck of a cruise ship (the way most Americans will first see Gibraltar) is terrific. As you veer closer and closer, the famous Rock of Gibraltar stands out, and then it becomes obvious just how it dominates the nearby landscape. Also notable is how much larger it is in reality, since so many photos just show the tip at the northern end.
There’s plenty of renovation work going on at and around the main cruise dock but it’s still a relatively short trip (roughly 20 minutes) to reach the entrance to the true heart of town. However, for a one-day call (usually about six to eight hours), the best way to strike out on one’s own would be to take the “Official Rock Tour Taxi” right from the dock. The fee is eight pounds (about $16 per person, minimum of four; entrance fees to certain spots additional), and it’s worth it for the knowledgeable driver/guides and the efficiency of getting around. Those who are adventurous and don’t mind climbing a bit might wish to walk to the cable car station, which then whisks you to the top of the rock. From there, visitors can get to virtually all of the key rock highlights.
The rock itself is a highlight of course, and the top portion has been well-preserved for tourists. The Great Siege Tunnels, excavated by the British Army during the Great Siege of 1779-83 are a wonderful labyrinth and offer a fascinating glimpse of how they worked as a defense system (the displays are both fun and informative). One view is of the airport whose crossroads are blocked off when planes land or take off – it’s quite unusual. St. Michael’s Cave, at about 300M above sea level, features an amazing open area which is used for concerts and other special events. At the very southern tip is Europa Point, a great spot to look across the end of the Mediterranean to Morocco. Visitors to the top of the rock will also see many of the famous Rock Apes scurrying about, climbing on cars and all but posing for avid shutterbugs. They’re friendly to a degree but they are still a bit wild, so people have to be careful.
Every cruise line offers a variety of excursions but they seem to be mostly long or short variations on a theme, including trips to the top of the rock and various locations such as the ones listed above. This is such a walkable city that its easy for cruise guests to see it on their own and thus move about at their own pace without bothering with the ship’s tour. It’s cheaper that way as well. And, remember, they speak English here.
Down the hill from the rock itself, and very convenient to the cruise dock, is City Centre, featuring a huge open square full of shops and restaurants. Extending out to the south is a pedestrian-only street full of even more shops and restaurants. Locals from Spain come here quite often for the duty-free prices so clearly there are bargains to be had (with the dollar at such a trading disadvantage now, it pays to shop carefully).
Among the ships stopping in Gibraltar in 2008 are HAL’s Amsterdam; Princess’ Emerald, Grand, Pacific and Sea; RCI’s Splendour and Independence; Seabourn Legend and Silver Cloud.
