We will be arriving Zeebrugge by cruise ship in April.
Have found instructions for train between Zeebrugge-Dorp and Brugge, but would like to know how to obtain tickets for the trip. Contacted the operator and this was their reply -- "There is no desk at Zeebrugge dorp only a ticket machine where you can pay by card (no credit cards)".
Not really sure what kind of card they are referring to. Does anyone know if the machine will accept cash?
Thank you.
According to the website of the NMBS (the Belgian railways) the ticket machine should work on credit cards: www.belgianrail.be/en/stations-and-train/search-a-station/13/zeebrugge-dorp.aspx
If you have trouble with it, contact the ticket collector. I'm sure you won't be the first one. I had the same on some unmanned station around Mons and just could by it on the train.
I would take the train from Blakenberge to Brugge, not from Zeebrugge. In Zeebrugge, the station has no ticket agent and the trains run infrequently. Hop the coastal tram at the cruise port stop and take it all the way the Blankenberge, where there are fast trains to Brugge every hour.
Most visitors from cruise ships in Zeebrugge take the coastal tram to Blankenberge like T. already notes and from there the train to Brugge station.
The Zweedse Kaai close to the large sealock, is usually the place where the ship will dock. You have just to walk to the main road leading to Zeebrugge Dorp. The walk from the ship to tram stop “Zeebrugge Kerk” is about 10 to 15 min., located opposite the church you actually can’t miss. Not sure if the winter schedule is already changed into summer schedule in April, but expect you can catch a tram every twenty minutes. There is a timetable at the platform, use the one for direction “De Panne”. Tickets for the tram costs €3 per person for a single journey, there is as far as I know no ticket machine there, but the driver sells them anyway. Be sure he validates the ticket, if not ask him or use one of the yellow machines you can find at the entrances of the tram.
The tram stops at “Blankenberge Station” opposite the train station in Blankenberge, you have to buy another ticket for the train to Brugge. The coastal tram with direction “Knokke” will bring you back to Zeebrugge at the end of the day.
Thank you, everyone. We will take the tram to Blankenberge to catch the train.
