Wow I did it! British Isles here we come. Tell me everything!!

[karatemom2]

After years of contemplating the idea of doing the British Isles cruise we have finally made the leap and booked today for next June. I am beyond excited because this has been my dream trip for years. I know there is a great deal of info in the archives here and I will be searching for all of the trip reviews. But I know many of you have done this cruise so I'm hoping to get lots of great feed back and advice. I'm so excited!!! :D

[john watson]

If you list the ports we can go through them.

 

Regards John

Edited November 23, 2015 by john watson

[Colo Cruiser]

Congrats on the booking!

[CrowCaw]

Fiancé and I were window shopping on the Princess site and saw a 33 day British Isles sailing out of Houston in the Spring that we wanted soooo bad.

 

I am envious of you, I don't have any more time off until next fall :(

[karatemom2]

We booked the 12 day that departs from Southampton and visits Guernsey, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, and Le Havre. We will be spending 4 days in London before our cruise as well!!

[nukesubsailor]

After years of contemplating the idea of doing the British Isles cruise we have finally made the leap and booked today for next June. I am beyond excited because this has been my dream trip for years. I know there is a great deal of info in the archives here and I will be searching for all of the trip reviews. But I know many of you have done this cruise so I'm hoping to get lots of great feed back and advice. I'm so excited!!! :D

 

We did the 12-day British Isles cruise last July. It was our dream trip for years also. My experience convinced me that if I can afford it, I would do this trip again but as two consecutive cruises done back-to-back. It is an exhausting trip with all there is to see and only having time for one excursion at each port doesn't let you see everything you would like to see. Going around twice would let you see twice as much or at least give you a chance to rest up.

Most of the excursions involve a lengthy coach ride going and returning.

[TracieABD]

I did this cruise in July. It was amazing. Here is a link to my live from. There is quite a bit of info on our privately booked tours.

Happy planning!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2226507

[FridaysChild]

I would highly recommend that you read the trip review by DeloreanGirl. She did the British Isles cruise and her review is great (and very detailed). I don't know how to link it, but if you search the forum, you'll find it.

 

The British Isles cruise is on my wish list, but it will be many years before it is reality. In the mean time, I just read reviews and live vicariously through others.

[Kenswing]

I would highly recommend that you read the trip review by DeloreanGirl. She did the British Isles cruise and her review is great (and very detailed). I don't know how to link it, but if you search the forum, you'll find it.

 

A great review.. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1652129&highlight=british+isles+a+thesis

[dickinson]

Because of Delorean Girls review a few years ago it made me want to do it too. We finally did this past May and loved it! Many tours we did were half day and it still was exhausting! However, I would still highly recommend it. Just don't think of it being a relaxing cruise because it is port intensive.

 

I posted a review in the members review section. Here it is: http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=505308

 

If you want to read others just look under Royal Princess for this past summer.

[karatemom2]

Thank you so much for the links. Planning this trip is going to be so much fun!!

[Blondilu]

My sister and I did this cruise last August and it was amazing. I'll add my name to the list that think you should read Delorean Girls review. Another one I really enjoyed was by ohhbother. Here is the link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1851903&highlight=british+isles

 

I did a report but it is nowhere near as informative or for that matter, as entertaining as either of the ones I mentioned. And there are many others, I just can't remember their names. Search this forum for "British Isles".

 

Hope you have as much fun planning as I did. And have an awesome trip!

[phabric]

The Port of Call - Britain is a great thread to get information.

 

Join your Roll Call and see if anyone is making plans for private tours.

[phabric]

Here are the private tours I took in August 2013 with many from our Roll Call. Saved a lot doing private tours and we saw more than Princess tours.

 

Guernsey - did city bus around the island.

Cobh - http://www.ecoach.ie

Dublin - http://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com

- http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie

Liverpool - http://www.busybus.co.uk (for Wales)

- http://www.pooloflifetours.com ( for Beatle & city)

Belfast - http://www.odysseycoachtours.co.uk

Invergordon - http://www.shorexcursions.co.uk

Le Havre - http://www.overlordtour.com

 

All these private tours were recommended from past passengers on Cruise Critic.

 

 

 

Dublin - I took a taxi (15E each way) to Trinity College for the Book of Kells then the Hop On Hop Off. Princess offers a shuttle into Dublin for a fee.

 

All private tours were met dockside. I would recommend all the tour companies I took.

 

If you took the cruise in August you would be able to see the Edinburgh Tattoo.

 

In London, I stayed at Premier Inn Waterloo

[Wichenford Wolf]

We booked the 12 day that departs from Southampton and visits Guernsey, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, and Le Havre. We will be spending 4 days in London before our cruise as well!!

 

This is a typical British isles itinerary and shows how few ports we have in England which can take large cruise ships.

 

As a result, Liverpool is the only English port on your list. It is a shame that you will go all round the English coast and see nothing of the country. Rather like us taking a trip of "North America" and stopping at the east and west coasts of Canada, Mexico with one stop in - say - Galveston to represent USA.

 

Because the trip visits parts of the British Isles other than England, we've actually considered doing this trip too!

 

I think Le Havre is included to reflect the fact that for many centuries, northern France was part of Britain ;):)

[phabric]

Here are the private tours I took in August 2013 with many from our Roll Call. Saved a lot doing private tours and we saw more than Princess tours.

 

Guernsey - did city bus around the island.

Cobh - http://www.ecoach.ie

Dublin - http://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com

- http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie

Liverpool - http://www.busybus.co.uk (for Wales)

- http://www.pooloflifetours.com ( for Beatle & city)

Belfast - http://www.odysseycoachtours.co.uk

Invergordon - http://www.shorexcursions.co.uk

Le Havre - http://www.overlordtour.com

 

All these private tours were recommended from past passengers on Cruise Critic.

 

Dublin - I took a taxi (15E each way) to Trinity College for the Book of Kells then the Hop On Hop Off. Princess offers a shuttle into Dublin for a fee.

 

All private tours were met dockside. I would recommend all the tour companies I took.

 

If you took the cruise in August you would be able to see the Edinburgh Tattoo and Buckingham Palace staterooms.

 

In London, I stayed at Premier Inn Waterloo]and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Great area for Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hop On Hop Off (HOHO), regular bus, pubs, restaurants, Tube, Waterloo train station. I also have stayed in the Victoria area, also great for Buckingham Palace, The Mews, queens Gallery, The. Mall, Victoria Coach station, Victoria train station. Tube.

 

I took http://www.justairports.com from LHR to my London hotel. Use your hotel's postal code to get a quote, price is per car.

 

There are varies ways to Southampton -

Princess transfer for LHR and Victoria Coach station on embarkment day only.

National Express Coach http://www.nationalexpress.com from Victoria coach Station to Southampton COACH station (this is the one you want) then a short taxi ride to the dock. Check prices close to cruise, to see if they have cheap prices.

Train

International Friends wwwinternationalfriends.com. They only go on embarkment and disembarkment days from certain London hotels, They pick up from hotel to take to Victoria Coach station. Great way to go to London after the cruise if you are staying in London, LHR hotel, or have late flights.

Edited November 23, 2015 by phabric

[skynight]

Here is one port:

In Belfast we walked off the ship around 9am. We took a cab over to the Titanic Experience. While the Titanic Experience is just across the harbor you can not walk there, and there is no direct bus service. We arrived before all the large tour groups and Princess tours, and were able to go through the experience without any crowds. It was very interesting, not like a normal museum. We purchased the tickets on line 3 or 4 months in advance. The museum took about 2 hours. We then walked downtown to the city hall area, spent some time there and took the free shuttle back to the ship. The walk from the Titanic Experience to city hall is about 30 mins.

[phabric]

Here are the private tours I took in August 2013 with many from our Roll Call. Saved a lot doing private tours and we saw more than Princess tours.

 

Guernsey - did city bus around the island.

Cobh - http://www.ecoach.ie

Dublin - http://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com

- http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie

Liverpool - http://www.busybus.co.uk (for Wales)

- http://www.pooloflifetours.com ( for Beatle & city)

Belfast - http://www.odysseycoachtours.co.uk

Invergordon - http://www.shorexcursions.co.uk

Le Havre - http://www.overlordtour.com

 

All these private tours were recommended from past passengers on Cruise Critic.

 

Dublin - I took a taxi (15E each way) to Trinity College for the Book of Kells then the Hop On Hop Off. Princess offers a shuttle into Dublin for a fee.

 

All private tours were met dockside. I would recommend all the tour companies I took.

 

If you took the cruise in August you would be able to see the Edinburgh Tattoo and Buckingham Palace staterooms.

 

In London, I stayed at Premier Inn Waterloo]and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Great area for Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hop On Hop Off (HOHO), regular bus, pubs, restaurants, Tube, Waterloo train station. I also have stayed in the Victoria area, also great for Buckingham Palace, The Mews, queens Gallery, The. Mall, Victoria Coach station, Victoria train station. Tube.

 

I took http://www.justairports.com from LHR to my London hotel. Use your hotel's postal code to get a quote, price is per car.

 

There are varies ways to Southampton -

Princess transfer for LHR and Victoria Coach station on embarkment day only.

National Express Coach http://www.nationalexpress.com from Victoria coach Station to Southampton COACH station (this is the one you want) then a short taxi ride to the dock. Check prices close to cruise, to see if they have cheap prices.

Train

International Friends wwwinternationalfriends.com. They only go on embarkment and disembarkment days from certain London hotels, They pick up from hotel to take to Victoria Coach station. Great way to go to London after the cruise if you are staying in London, LHR hotel, or have late flights.

 

 

Should read International Friends http://www.internationalfriends.co.uk.

 

While in London, the bus does not accept cash so need Oyster card.

 

The cruise is very port intense with only 2 sea days many were exhausted by the time the sea days came. If you plan on doing self laundry go early.

[karatemom2]

Here are the private tours I took in August 2013 with many from our Roll Call. Saved a lot doing private tours and we saw more than Princess tours.

 

Guernsey - did city bus around the island.

Cobh - www.ecoach.ie

Dublin - www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com

- www.dublinsightseeing.ie

Liverpool - www.busybus.co.uk (for Wales)

- www.pooloflifetours.com ( for Beatle & city)

Belfast - www.odysseycoachtours.co.uk

Invergordon - www.shorexcursions.co.uk

Le Havre - www.overlordtour.com

 

All these private tours were recommended from past passengers on Cruise Critic.

 

Dublin - I took a taxi (15E each way) to Trinity College for the Book of Kells then the Hop On Hop Off. Princess offers a shuttle into Dublin for a fee.

 

All private tours were met dockside. I would recommend all the tour companies I took.

 

If you took the cruise in August you would be able to see the Edinburgh Tattoo and Buckingham Palace staterooms.

 

In London, I stayed at Premier Inn Waterloo]and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Great area for Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hop On Hop Off (HOHO), regular bus, pubs, restaurants, Tube, Waterloo train station. I also have stayed in the Victoria area, also great for Buckingham Palace, The Mews, queens Gallery, The. Mall, Victoria Coach station, Victoria train station. Tube.

 

I took www.justairports.com from LHR to my London hotel. Use your hotel's postal code to get a quote, price is per car.

 

There are varies ways to Southampton -

Princess transfer for LHR and Victoria Coach station on embarkment day only.

National Express Coach www.nationalexpress.com from Victoria coach Station to Southampton COACH station (this is the one you want) then a short taxi ride to the dock. Check prices close to cruise, to see if they have cheap prices.

Train

International Friends wwwinternationalfriends.com. They only go on embarkment and disembarkment days from certain London hotels, They pick up from hotel to take to Victoria Coach station. Great way to go to London after the cruise if you are staying in London, LHR hotel, or have late flights.

 

This is unbelievably helpful as we much prefer private tours. Thank you so much. I'm particularly thrilled to find out I can manage a Wales tour. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with that particular tour?

[TracieABD]

K-mom-

If you like, I can email you our spreadsheet with all our private tour info and the prices.

 

We saved so much money by booking privately...

Tracie-Lynn

 

tracie @ carolina . rr . com

Edited November 23, 2015 by TracieABD

[karatemom2]

K-mom-

If you like, I can email you our spreadsheet with all our private tour info and the prices.

 

We saved so much money by booking privately...

Tracie-Lynn

 

tracie @ carolina . rr . com

 

Tracie thank you so much. I'm sending off an email!

[TracieABD]

Tracie thank you so much. I'm sending off an email!

 

You've got mail!

[Darcy15]

Welcome to my side of the pond :)

 

I did your cruise last year - enjoyed seeing my country from a different perspective, and no need to change currency or suffer from jet lag :D

[phabric]

This is unbelievably helpful as we much prefer private tours. Thank you so much. I'm particularly thrilled to find out I can manage a Wales tour. Can you tell me a bit about your experience with that particular tour?

 

I did not take the Wale tour. Our Roll Call people seem to have enjoyed it.

 

I took the Beatle tour with Pool of Life, excellent tour if any interest in the Beatles.

 

I listed the tours on my Roll Call to share and within hours my tour would be full and others would set up another tour with the same company, sometimes we would have 4-5 groups going.

 

I saved $$$$ doing private tours sharing with others vs Princess plus we saw a lot.

 

Reserve early.

Edited November 23, 2015 by phabric

[sunshine nana]

We've done this twice! Loved it! Guernsey, if you have any interest in WWII, there is a great private museum that you can get to on the bus. Read the Potato Peel Society before you go!

For Belfast, we took the Princess Beatles tour, loved it! Also, the concert that night in the theatre was great!

Stirling Castle was the BEST Castle and we saw many!

First time, we went to Wales, second time Liverpool. It will rain, but not all day.