The Orkneys and Kirkwall

I fell in love with the Orkney Islands on a cruise with Princess on the old Royal Princess. I am unable to find any cruises now that dock in Kirkwall, Scotland....does anyone know of a cruise with it on it's itinerary! Thanks.

Hi Karen:

I've been hoping to get back there too. In 2010 I hope to do a northern TA out of GB. Like you, while looking around at 2009 itineraries, I noticed

Kirkwall wasn't anywhere I could find this year. It is a tender port.

If no one chimes in with an itinerary for 2009, maybe email Caz Mamwell at info@orkneyarchaeologytours.co.uk. 8 of us used her guiding services in 2007. She was wonderful, full of the whole 5000 years of history that are the Orkneys! She seemed to know all the other guides we passed along the way. For sure, those guides know every ship/pax load headed their way in 2009.

Martha

Amazing information. Cruise ships that I am finding that are still tendering in Kirkwall are Costa, Seabourn and Orient lines. Most of their itineraries involve Iceland or the Fiords. I guess I am looking for a cruise that mirrors the 2005 trip that included Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

We may just have to combine a land trip with a cruise to get back to the wonderful Orkneys and this time I would like to learn more about them with a guide .So thank you Martha and Globilizer for the info.

If I find out anymore re the major lines I will pass it along. Karen.

Have you tried Fred Olsen Cruises?

We have called there on Discovery & Marco Polo (last year), had super weather both times. Marco Polo is now run by Transocean tours a German company & has several round UK cruises.

Thanks. That is more along the lines of what I am looking for. I will keep an eye on their 2010 cruises. I would like one that is 12-14 days in length to give a little more time in ports.

Bingo!! The Celtic Explorer itinerary offered by Transocean is exactly what I am looking for. I am not familiar with them. Are they similar to any of the other lines? And thanks for the info.

Karen, overall we were well pleased with the Marco Polo cruise & it was the Celtic Explorer that we did. Ship is old but very well maintained & good 3* ship. Food was quite good & to our taste but some people find that subjective, one meal of salmon with red onion marmalade was well up to Celebrity standards. We were not very keen on the buffet arrangements (it is an older ship when most people dined in dining room) therefor we ate as much as possible in the dining room. Entertainment was better than expected with a tallented troupe from the states of the former Soviet union doing all the shows in perfect English. We did not land in Jersey but arrived in Cork early (12-14 hrs early). This also meant we went round Lands End in daylight instead of night time. Hope this helps.

Northlink Ferries - I can recommend the fish and chips!

You may have to combine a trip with a land tour if ships are no longer offering it as part of an itinerary.