I will be cruising to Scotland in May. I prefer not using ship excursions if it's just going to downtown area due to price. I would like to know if it is possible to get off the following ports and get to downtown area by cab or other transportation.
Glascow Scotland
Orkney Islands
Edinburgh
Thanks in advance
For Glasgow, the cruise terminal is at Greenock; 15 minute walk to train station and ca. 40 minutes by train into Glasgow Central. Three or four trains an hour.
Edinburgh cruises moor at in the Firth near Queensferry (great views of the Forth bridges) and tender you into the small town. There is a cruise ship shuttle to the town and on to Edinburgh and then pick up a bus which drops you in central Edinburgh.
Orkney - Kirkwall is the main port and there are two piers, some distance apart. If you land at Kirkwall Pier it just a matter of walking off the ship and you are in Kirkwall. If you are at Hatston Pier there is apparently a free continuously running shuttle that takes you to and from Kirkwall.
Google cruise terminal Glasgow, or Edinburgh or Kirkwall and you will find lots of info on transportation available and costs.
Glasgow- you dock at Greenock. It is a short signposted walk from the cruise terminal to Greenock Central for frequent (two or three an hour) trains to Glasgow Central (35 minute journey)
Kirkwall- Orkney Islands- depends if you are berthed or anchored with tenders ashore. Your cruise company will tell you which. If tendered you arrive right in the town centre. If berthed you dock two miles out of town at Hatston Deep Water Ferry Terminal. A cruise shuttle bus takes you into to the bus station (often on bendy buses).
Edinburgh- there are four possibles (you need to ask which)-
North Queensferry (tender port)- a shuttle bus takes you into the city centre, journey time 30 to 40 minutes (pay on the bus, tickets include all city buses that day); or walk up a long, long flight of steps to Dalmeny Station. Hint- the bus is the sensible option.
Newhaven (tender port)- Tram from it's terminus to the City Centre
Leith (berthed alongside, small ships only)- the Tram again
Rosyth (berthed alongside)- the worst place possible. You are NOT allowed to walk from the ship to the terminal or the terminal to the dock gates. You will be bussed to the terminal. No bus runs to the dock gate. Even if it did it is a very long walk to the closest bus stop or rail station. There should be a shuttle bus over the Forth Bridge into Edinburgh (journey 30 to 40 minutes at the cruise company discretion). If it runs you will only be told the previous night. So from Rosyth (if that is where you dock) take a cruise excursion even if it is just into the City. Rosyth is terrible- was far better when it was a ferry port.
EDIT-
Edinburgh- If tendering the Firth of Forth does whip up and tendering can be unsafe- in that event the call is abandoned.
Orkney- If tendering please be aware that it is a difficult anchorage. I've been on a cruise where we anchored late due to condition and tenders ashore then took for ever. Lots of passengers were too late ashore for booked rental cars or private excursions outside Kirkwall (losing their money). The weather got worse during the afternoon and tenders had to end very early. The ship was frantically contacting people. Anyone who had been the other end of Orkney Mainland would have been in trouble. So plan your day sensibly. Personally I got about 90 minutes ashore. In certain weather just getting into the Harbour is not possible, so berthing is not certain either.
Cruise ships are now coming in to Aberdeen. Why, I don't know. Fortunately, the cruise ships are docking at South Harbour (formerly Nigg Bay), as opposed to the main harbour. So visitors' initial view of Aberdeen would be considerably better than the industrial wasteland that is the main harbour area. Yes, I know that Union Square shopping centre is right there, but once visitors walk up to Union Street, they may see tumbleweeds blowing down the street, past the Poundstretchers and charity shops!
I think that I mentioned this in a previous post, but Aberdeen was recently named the third most depressing city in Britain.
To paraphrase Yakov Smirnoff, "What a city!"
Mike (Auchterless)
Aberdeen was recently named the third most depressing city in Britain.
Makes one wonder who beat them out for 1 and 2. Shudder.
Seriously, Aberdeen has its charms, and visitors need to visit the beautiful Union Terrace Gardens; they're especially gorgeous at dusk.
Hi, jphbucks,
Here's the list:
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk-most-depressing-town-revealed/
I have to assume that you visited Union Terrace Gardens after the 28 million pound refurbishment (it reopened in December, 2022). They certainly did wonders with it. Now if they could do something with Union Street, that would be great!
Aberdeen does have some beautiful areas - its many parks, for example. Unfortunately, most of those areas are not in the central part of the city.
Mike (Auchterless)
