SixOneTwo

Isn't the term "well-behaved" completely and utterly subjective? And doesn't it really depend on the kids' normal state of behavior?

We often hear about how "great the waiter was with my child," lavishing special treatment on him/her because s/he was the only child in the room. When servers and event-goers start patronizing the little one and the situation devolves into "all about the child in the room," then the event suddently has a different atmosphere. It's not an adult event anymore, it's now a child-admiring event, with people cooing and condescending, changing their relation and communication to that level, etc... I see this time and time again. It's not what I expect at an adults-only situation.

I just want to say that I'm a proud odd-repeater. :D

Devil's advocate here: I'm not allowed to hang out in the Fun Factory, no matter how well-behaved I am. Can I ask for an exception?

We walked to Morrison's to buy "pop" as we call it here in the midwest. I didn't notice if they sold wine. It is about a mile away, because you have to walk around a large fenced-in parking lot next to the ship. If you're standing at the pier entrance with the ship behind you, you have to walk to the right and then generally "counterclockwise" around the parking lot.

 

See if this map link works:

 

http://binged.it/1fYNu9D

 

FYI, it's not really a quaint walk.

Upwarduk is close, but not absolutely correct, for this particular itinerary. We needed Euros in France AND in Ireland (not to be confused with Northern Ireland). Otherwise it was all about the British Pound.

 

Be aware that Guernsey has it's own currency, but accepts British Pounds with no hesitation, though you may get Guernsey Pounds in change. As best as I can understand, they are completely interchangeable.

 

We obtained a little of each before leaving the US, then stocked up at ATMs once there. The world is really getting smaller as it concerns obtaining foreign currency. If you are in the US and you do business with Wells Fargo, they tend to be a good source for getting the currency you need without gouging on fees.

I would definitely plan to invite the guide to lunch and pay for it. The guide might have other ideas or plans during that lunchtime, but it's nice to offer. I would say half the time the guides we've used have eaten with us and the other half they've hung around with other guides outside of a restaurant that they all recommend.

 

As for admission fees, it really depends. That's something you should consider when choosing the tour service. We book alot of private guides as well and we have almost always paid for our admission tickets. Turkey and St.Petersburg were the exceptions. Sometimes guides will arrange for advance purchase when you need to buy ahead of your arrival, but when that's happened for us, we've paid back the guide.

 

Usually having a guide will help you skip any lines for buying tickets. And the guide is frequently admitted for free.

I would pay a fee for a jacuzzi or T-pool that GUARANTEES no children under 18.

 

If they could bring some pets on board and rent them out, I'd pay for that also.

 

Popcorn is another possibility. But it has to be really high quality stuff. Ships are definitely missing out on the salty snack angle.

Strolling London

The British Museum's Foster-designed roof expansion

Mmmmmm

Victoria Embankment--can you see the London Eye?

View from our hotel's rooftop bar

The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre

A little "Nessie Humor"

Beautiful river scene in Inverness

A rainbow bids us goodbye from Scotland

The Jacobite Warrior

Map of Loch Ness

Approaching Urqhuart Castle

Bagpipe Serenade

View of Urqhuart from the visitors center

Just a quick aside here: The Tattoo was very difficult to photograph with amateur equipment, so apologies for the quality.

Newark Castle in Greenock

The Royal Mile filled with Tattoo-goers

Flags over the portal to the Tattoo

Beginning of the Tattoo; note pyrotechnics from Castle

The band from Mexico. Images projected onto Edinburgh Castle during performances

The green of Ireland

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Giant's Causeway

Dunluce Castle

The Dark Hedges

Where the Cavern Club is now (slightly relocated from down the street)

The Liverpool Cathedral interior

Cathedral exterior

Park/Cemetery in old quarry

Tall ship near the cruise terminal, a very vibrant area

Our transportation for the Beatles tour

Penny Lane

The Barbershop where there's a barber showing photographs of every head he's had the pleasure to know...

Closely read this gravestone

Gates to Strawberry Field

The Trinity College Library Long Room

Christchurch Cathedral

Horse & Carriage at Guinness (you can hire them)

Some great neon

The "Temple Bar" at Temple Bar

More photos soon for the remaining ports...

 

Hawkers, I would definitely suggest some sort of raingear. We used t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, polarfleece occasionally and rainjackets occasionally. Only needed gloves for the Tattoo.

 

Your results may vary.:)

The Lusitania rescuers' memorial

What is left of the actual wooden dock where the last Titanic passengers left terra firma

Shot of the White Star Line embarkation point, now the "Titanic Experience"

Cemetery shots

View from the ship of Cobh

See how close the ship is?!

St. Colman's cathedral

The Deck of Cards

Some Guernsey "color." These are all shots within a few blocks of the tender drop-off point.

American Cemetery in Normandy

Our guide, showing D-Day logistics

The German cemetery

A bunker at Point du Hoc

Families enjoying a day at Omaha Beach

The glamorous port of LeHavre and the quaint village of Bayeaux, including the tapestry museum, the cathedral and some local architecture.

These are just some character shots of Harwich.

Stonehenge

Fortnum & Mason gourmet foods (this is just the honey department)

Cool Brittania souvenir supermarket

Room at Doubletree Tower of London

St. Dunstan's in the East

View of the Thames from Monument

The Hahn/Cock sculpture at Trafalgar Square

The Ghost Bus