British Isles 2015

[orgutierrez]

Now that some 2015 schedules have been pre-released in the boards, I want to ask for advice for a British Isles cruise in summer 2015. The British Isles is an itinerary I have always been willing to do and in 2015 with P&O's new Britannia, Princess' Royal Princess and Celebrity with the Silhouette it looks like the perfect year to do it.

 

I have cruised only with Celebrity before but cruising this summer with Princess to Alaska. I loved the Eclipse, everything was perfect! But for the British Isles cruise it looks like Celebrity's itinerary is the "worst".

 

Celebrity Silhouette - 15th July 2015 - 12 night cruise

- Amsterdam, Netherlands

- Dover, England

- Edinburgh, Scotland (overnight)

- Invergordon (for Inverness/Loch Ness), Scotland

- Belfast, Ireland

- Dublin, Ireland

- Cobh (for Cork), Ireland

- St. Peter's Port (Guernsey), England

- Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

P&O's Britannia - 6th July 2015 - 12 night cruise

- Southampton, England

- Edinburgh, Scotland

- Invergordon (for Inverness/Loch Ness), Scotland

- Kirkwall, Scotland

- Greenock (for Glasgow), Scotland

- Liverpool, England

- Dublin, Ireland

- Cobh (for Cork), Ireland

- St. Peter's Port (Guernsey), England

- Southampton, England

 

Princess' Royal Princess - 8th July 2015 - 12 night cruise

- Southampton, England

- St. Peter's Port (Guernsey), England

- Cobh (for Cork), Ireland

- Dublin, Ireland

- Liverpool, England

- Greenock (for Glasgow), Scotland

- Kirkwall or Belfast (depending on sailings)

- Invergordon (for Inverness/Loch Ness), Scotland

- Edinburgh, Scotland

- Le Havre (for Paris), France

- Southampton, England

 

In my opinion perhaps the second itinerary is the best out of them all because the only port that skips is Belfast. Even though, sailing out of Amsterdam would be a plus as I haven't been there whilst I have already cruised out of Southampton.

 

Which itinerary is the best?

 

Which one would you choose cruising with a family (a teenager + a 10 year old girl)? Will P&O be too formal and classy having cruised with HAL?

 

Thanks for your opinions. I have posted this post in the P&O, Princess and Celebrity boards so that I can get objective opinions!

[CI66774]

All look good, but I would definitely want to visit Belfast, so I would probably choose the Royal (was on her in December and loved it). Good luck with your choice.

[azrose]

see....I want Liverpool....so I have to pick P&O or Royal....I would (and probably will be) pick Royal -- because I also want Paris :D ... I am thinking I would leave the ship early :D

[CI66774]

I want to see Liverpool, too. Since I liked the Royal so much the first time I sailed her, I'd probably pick Royal again (price being approx. equal, etc.)

[mollymoo12]

We went on the Caribbean Princess last year in August. If you have any flexibility and you have not been there before, I would go in August to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We went when we were at Glasgow (Greenock) as this was an overnight stop and allowed time to get back to ship. Someone on our roll call organised a private tour including stop offs on the way at Loch Lomond. Someone else organised a coach only for £18 per person return. We bought our own tickets. It worked out a lot cheaper than the Princess tour and we beat the Princess tour buses back to the ship (see the roll call and my signature below for date/details if you are interested).

 

Belfast is very interesting (Titanic museum and the Hop on Hop off bus). Le Harve is a long way from Paris and is the one port I would not hurry back to.

 

I also liked Cobh and Liverpool. Didn't see Glasgow as went to the Tattoo. Did a tour from a taxi at the port around Loch Ness etc from Invergordon, again well worth it.

 

June

[cole]

We went on the Caribbean Princess last year in August. If you have any flexibility and you have not been there before, I would go in August to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. We went when we were at Glasgow (Greenock) as this was an overnight stop and allowed time to get back to ship. Someone on our roll call organised a private tour including stop offs on the way at Loch Lomond. Someone else organised a coach only for £18 per person return. We bought our own tickets. It worked out a lot cheaper than the Princess tour and we beat the Princess tour buses back to the ship (see the roll call and my signature below for date/details if you are interested).

 

Belfast is very interesting (Titanic museum and the Hop on Hop off bus). Le Harve is a long way from Paris and is the one port I would not hurry back to.

 

I also liked Cobh and Liverpool. Didn't see Glasgow as went to the Tattoo. Did a tour from a taxi at the port around Loch Ness etc from Invergordon, again well worth it.

 

June

 

I second this opinion. We did this itinerary and loved it because of all of the above. Another point I would make though was if you are interested in Normandy, Le Havre will give you that opportunity. A very emotional experience.

Cole