trrn2016 Posted July 14, 2023 #1 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Hi, Is the port of Kirkwall walkable to town? Do they have tours at the port available? Seems like all of the tours on Princess are pricey and not very good. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malleykatt Posted July 14, 2023 #2 Share Posted July 14, 2023 (edited) We did an independent your lots of local guides here. www.otga.co.uk Orkney tour guide association. The port is not located at the town. When we visited last year local buses ran from the port. Edited July 14, 2023 by Malleykatt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnia 432 Posted July 14, 2023 #3 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Once yo get there, the town is very walkable, harbour, shops, Cathedral. It is a 2.2mile walk from the cruise ship dock to the Cathedral, so unless you are a good walker the shuttle service might be your best bet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trrn2016 Posted July 14, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted July 14, 2023 22 minutes ago, Sarnia 432 said: Once yo get there, the town is very walkable, harbour, shops, Cathedral. It is a 2.2mile walk from the cruise ship dock to the Cathedral, so unless you are a good walker the shuttle service might be your best bet. Must you have GBP or can you use credit card? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamfturcotte Posted July 14, 2023 #5 Share Posted July 14, 2023 The small town is charming. We walk all around . I loved the cathedral and a old castle behind the Castle. We got our best Sweat and T-shirts in the shops. We took a bus to the Standing stones instead of the ships tour. Our Ship tour was to much money , but if your is cheap enough I would of done the ship tour. The town is nice and fine for a day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trrn2016 Posted July 14, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted July 14, 2023 1 hour ago, williamfturcotte said: The small town is charming. We walk all around . I loved the cathedral and a old castle behind the Castle. We got our best Sweat and T-shirts in the shops. We took a bus to the Standing stones instead of the ships tour. Our Ship tour was to much money , but if your is cheap enough I would of done the ship tour. The town is nice and fine for a day All of the excursions are very expensive. I am thinking of walking to the town if it is possible. Also, saw they have a free shuttle to the travel center and then find places to go like the Cathedral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ombud Posted July 14, 2023 #7 Share Posted July 14, 2023 I did the bus to & from Skara Brae. Note: you must have exact change in £. No €,¥,or $ accepted. I know this clip states USD but that was NOT accepted in 2018. Just £s there used to be other alternatives as well so Google it if interested. Weird to call pre-shutdown as olden days but a lot has changed 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trrn2016 Posted July 14, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted July 14, 2023 18 minutes ago, Ombud said: I did the bus to & from Skara Brae. Note: you must have exact change in £. No €,¥,or $ accepted. I know this clip states USD but that was NOT accepted in 2018. Just £s there used to be other alternatives as well so Google it if interested. Weird to call pre-shutdown as olden days but a lot has changed So did you get the bus from the travel centre where the shuttle left you off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ombud Posted July 14, 2023 #9 Share Posted July 14, 2023 (edited) 16 minutes ago, trrn2016 said: So did you get the bus from the travel centre where the shuttle left you off? Main bus terminal. There's another bus (101 or was it T1?) that also did it but stopped in Stromness to pick up / drop off. Just get there early as it's popular. Frankly I think a taxi for 2+ passengers would still be cheaper than the ship tour (1/2 hr, $45ish?) Edited July 14, 2023 by Ombud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KKB Posted July 14, 2023 #10 Share Posted July 14, 2023 32 minutes ago, Ombud said: Main bus terminal. There's another bus (101 or was it T1?) that also did it but stopped in Stromness to pick up / drop off. Just get there early as it's popular. Frankly I think a taxi for 2+ passengers would still be cheaper than the ship tour (1/2 hr, $45ish?) Yes T11 bus. It was a a great tour at an an exceptional price--20-25? I didn't pay, a friend did--they don't take credit cards? (DH & I are going to do this next year) The town is small but very cute. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ombud Posted July 14, 2023 #11 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Just now, KKB said: Yes T11 bus. It was a a great tour at an an exceptional price--20-25? I didn't pay, a friend did--they don't take credit cards? (DH & I are going to do this next year) The town is small but very cute. I know they didn't bc I was next in line and they re-announced correct cash only. Fortunately another roll call member loaned me the rest of £ and I paid him back with $s onboard. I had a few £ but nowhere near enough. He was from USA so $s maybe wasn't a problem? Everyone was scrambling Now I ALWAYS carry 50 in small bills local currency (they also weren't making change) This was June 2018 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Meer Posted July 15, 2023 #12 Share Posted July 15, 2023 13 hours ago, trrn2016 said: Hi, Is the port of Kirkwall walkable to town? Do they have tours at the port available? Seems like all of the tours on Princess are pricey and not very good. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks! This year on Regal we tendered into Kirkwall pier which is right on the edge of the town - about 5 minutes easy walk to the Cathedral. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Meer Posted July 15, 2023 #13 Share Posted July 15, 2023 There is a dock in Kirkwall at Hatston Pier which is about a 2 mile walk to the Cathedral. An NCL ship was docked when we were there so maybe there’s a shuttle bus for those passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KforKitty Posted July 15, 2023 #14 Share Posted July 15, 2023 15 minutes ago, Lady Meer said: There is a dock in Kirkwall at Hatston Pier which is about a 2 mile walk to the Cathedral. An NCL ship was docked when we were there so maybe there’s a shuttle bus for those passengers. Not only is there a shuttle bus it was free when we were in Kirkwall on the Star in June. Catherine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leavingocalaagain Posted July 15, 2023 #15 Share Posted July 15, 2023 20 hours ago, trrn2016 said: Hi, Is the port of Kirkwall walkable to town? Do they have tours at the port available? Seems like all of the tours on Princess are pricey and not very good. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks! It has been about 10 years, but we were able to rent a car, drive to Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and then back to town to walk around to the cathedral and local shops, for much less than the ship tours. Of course, you must be comfortable with driving on the left side. There are several rental car facilities easily walkable in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EDVM96 Posted July 15, 2023 #16 Share Posted July 15, 2023 32 minutes ago, leavingocalaagain said: It has been about 10 years, but we were able to rent a car, drive to Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and then back to town to walk around to the cathedral and local shops, for much less than the ship tours. That's exactly what I plan to do this year (Regal, Aug 31).https://www.wrtullock.com/rental-car-list/ The rental car company is right next to the shuttle bus dropoff in Kirkwall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chips230 Posted May 25 #17 Share Posted May 25 If you book an independent tour off a Princess ship please make sure you take travel insurance to cover the lost excursion fees as you will generally lose 50% with the local companies since they have to cover their lost costs. Regal Princess is known for cancelling the Orkney port for various reasons. We had wind as an excuse but another ship had gone in successfully and the had workers painting the balconies (!) that morning. Also the cancelled another time due to a shortage of coaches on the island. They put on another sea day and call it a bonus sea day with lots of seminar opportunities to buy art / wine / spa procedures... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now