Cruise Talk: Ports in England, Scotland & Ireland

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Ports in England, Scotland & Ireland

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Topic: Ports in England, Scotland & Ireland

WhiteStar
First Class Passenger
Member # 2740

posted 09-02-2008 04:38 PM

My October cruise on the Balmoral includes these ports of call. Anyone been to any of these cities? Any recomendations on must see sites?

Falmouth, Enland
St. Peter Port, Guernesy
Cobh, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Liverpool, England
Belfast
Leith, Scotland
Newcastle, England

I'm not big on those endless shore excursions.

Thanks,

Reed

Posts: 668 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 09-02-2008 04:51 PM

Be warned: Guernsey (a tender port) gets cancelled 50% of the time due to sea conditions. They sometimes substitute Cherbourg, France.

No need for expensive excursions: You can walk from the tender to 'Castle Cornet' at the mouth of the Harbour. It contains four small museums, one being maritime and the others being military. It also has a small café. You can than take a short walk and explore the small town.

Liverpool: I've not been by ship but I think you can easily walk to the renovated Albert Docks where you have pubs, restaurants, the Beatles Museum, a Maritime Museum and the Tate art Gallery. Do check out the 'Liver Building' nearby, the ex-Cunard building. I recall the old White Star office is not so far away.

[ 09-03-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Tom Burke
First Class Passenger
Member # 5238

posted 09-03-2008 02:19 AM

Falmouth: another tender port, but more likely to actually happen, I think, than St Peter Port - Falmouth harbour is a safe and sheltered anchorage. Once ashore the highlight of Falmouth itself is the National Maritime Museum, which is very good. There's also St Mawes Castle and Pendennis Castle.

Newcastle: an odd one, this. You'll dock, but actually out at Tynemouth/North Shields, which is 5 miles or more downriver from Newcastle city centre. Apologies to the residents of North Shields & Tynemouth, but there's nothing of great interest there! You can go into Newcastle city centre but while there are good things there (galleries, theatres) it's a gritty city. For a day visitor it's more of a gateway to tours away: Durham city is not far (very historic), there are sites along Hadrian's Wall the the west, and to the north there's the countryside and the coast - places like Bamburgh, Lindisfarne. If you can hire a car many of these are all do-able on your own, otherwise you're best doing a tour. (Durham might be best on a tour.)

Leith - check where you're anchoring: if it's actually Leith that's great. Then get a bus or a short taxi ride to Princes Street, Edinburgh and you have the glories of Edinburgh all around you: the Old Town, the castle, the new town, etc, etc. There's a couple of square miles there that are truly stunning. Alternatively, staying in Leith you could go over the former royal yacht Britannia - she's moored in Leith and is open to visitors.

Posts: 1469 | From: Sheffield, UK | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

WhiteStar
First Class Passenger
Member # 2740

posted 09-03-2008 08:15 AM

Thanks guys for the tips!

Reed

Posts: 668 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 09-05-2008 05:07 PM

we were just at Cobh & Leith in early Aug.
Cobh has the Queenstown experience in the old railway station right on the dock & well worth viewing to get a background to part of Irish history. Streets apart from waterfront are steep. Cathedral dominates the town. Train run regularly to Cork but nearly everyone who went came back early saying they did not like the place (I only report what was said to us)
Leith has the RY Britannia, a self guided audio tour takes about 1.5 hours (lookout for the whalebone in dining room, I was on escorting ship when it was collected in jan 57). 11 pounds buys you an all day ticket on the open top tour bus's, one takes you to waverly station from the dock, then there is a choice of 4 different coloured bus routes hop on/off with guides onboard giving commentry. well worth the money. Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 09-05-2008 05:15 PM

Forgot to say I spent 4 days in Falmouth in March. Maritime museum is great if a little difficult to navigate round. If you like gardens there are some superb National Trust gardens nearby, Glendugan & Trebah are exceptional world renowned gdns. they will still be superb in october (they were in mid march as well) Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

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