Lerwick, Shetland Islands?

[Tenorman]

Can anyone tell me whether there are any tour operators who offer tours at the cruise port in Lerwick?

[HeinBloed]

Can anyone tell me whether there are any tour operators who offer tours at the cruise port in Lerwick?

 

In preperation to our call: we found two:

 

seeshetland@aol.com - http://www.seeshetland.shetland.co.uk/

 

shetlandtours@btinternet.com - http://www.shetlandtours.co.uk/

 

One did not answered - but I know that other booked them already. They said it was good.

 

The second was too expensive just for us two. And we did not want to ask our tablemates to share.

 

Good luck when you get in touch with them.

 

Regards,

HeinBloed

[meaclasact2]

You can read the whole blog. It's like an internet-diary.

 

So the start is here:

 

http://heinbloed-minis.blogspot.com/2009/07/lets-face-forward-to-boudicca-and-queen.html

 

And you can read and scroll down:

 

I am not sure if you are reading from the US-based computer if the instructions are in German or English.

 

If German: you scroll down and click on "Neuerer Post" (left at the bottom).

 

In English it might appear "Newer post" (or something like this).

 

So you can jump from one posting to the next and at the end you will read my personal conclusion.

 

After "five" days you can read what I thought of this voyage.

 

Fred Olsen is a British cruiselines which uses "classical"/"traditional" ships. You will not find them with the major lines. It's not a mass-product.

 

We went from Edinburgh (Rosyth) via Lerwick to Bergen (Norway) and returned to Newcastle, England.

 

The voyage was in the first week of August 2009.

 

You will have a great cruise as this is the last time NCL is going this route. You see more from points of world many cruisers will never see.

 

I have only few blogs with English translation:

 

Dover - Copenhagen on EURODAM

 

http://heinbloed-minis.blogspot.com/2009/07/day-0-pre-cruise.html

 

Genoa - Canary Island - Genoa on MSC FANTASIA

 

http://heinbloed-musica.blogspot.com/2009/01/ein-gutes-neues-jahr-happy-new-year.html

 

and where I met our common friends:

 

Boston - Bermuda - Boston on NORWEGIAN DREAM

 

http://heinbloed-dream.blogspot.com/2008/10/prolog-prologue.html

 

On the NORWEGIAN DREAM-blog you may click one more time on "Newer Post" as German and English were alternating sometimes in different posts.

 

Other blogs have not been translated. But you can see pictures:

 

http://www.heinbloed-onboard.de

 

There you can see pictures of NORWEGIAN JEWEL as well.

 

Have a great time with our common friends. I am sure you will get the nicest cruise-mates you can get on any cruise.

 

Regards,

HeinBloed

 

Thank you so much for all the information and your gracious responses. I will most definately pass on your regards to our common friends.

 

Perhaps one day we will have the pleasure of sailing with you as well.

 

Regards,

meaclasact2

[Northender]

Tien, great stuff. I have been offline for awhile as we retired and moved to Maine from Massachusetts.:) Took about 3 weeks to get the connection done from the cable company.

 

Hi to Bruno.

 

It is a small world meaclassact:) See you on the rollcall.

[HeinBloed]

... we retired and moved to Maine from Massachusetts.

 

Ah... I understand...

 

Now you are real North ender... there is nothing more north than Maine... so end of the US...

 

Have a great time now in your "new" life!!!

 

Many regards from Germany

 

HeinBloed

[cruzecrazee]

where is a good place to eat fish and chips near the shetland port(we will be on ncl star

sept 19 cruise)?

[roothy123]

If you're lucky, tri****at will come back on here and answer your lunch question. In the mean time, here are the notes I took (from various sources) for food in Lerwick:

 

"Local says Fort Café has best fish & chips in town. Peerie Shop Café on Esplanade has light stuff & is reasonable. LP likes Peerie Shop, Havly Café, Karibuni, Fort Café (these are least expensive) as well as Hay’s Dock, Mill’s Café, Frankie’s Fish & Chips, & Burrastowth. (A few might not be in Lerwick). On Holmsgarth Rd near ferry is Coop supermarket. Harbour Cafe right across from pier sells meals, toasties, rolls, snacks etc. all day & popular with locals; budget option. Osla's cafe on main street is middle of road option. Mareel cafe bar offers lunches, salads etc. Queen's Hotel & Grand Hotel do lunches too. In Scalloway, De Haaf Restaurant, located on grounds of North Atlantic Fisheries College, serves best fish on island. Might need to reserve. Unless included, tip 10%."

 

I absolutely loved Lerwick (was there less than 3 weeks ago), and the parts of the Mainland that we saw in our day of driving around the island. We rented a car - very easy once you get used to driving on the left, and get out of town. My photos are here if you want to take a peek: http://www.pbase.com/roothy123

 

You may want to do what I did, and stand in Market Cross (near where the tender drops you) at a pre-arranged time and wave to the small camera in the window of one of the shops (forget which one, but the tourist info center at Market Cross can tell you). Our friends saw me very clearly on the webcam, arriving, waving, holding up signs, and leaving! Google Lerwick webcam and you'll probably find it!

 

As to the person who asked about tours, I don't know if any (other than the Seabirds and Seals boat trip) are offered once you get to the pier, but Lerwick has a great web site and you can get info there. It's easy to google it. Since we decided early on to rent a car, I didn't look for tours. Typically, ships offer shore excursions down to Jarlshof or Mousa Broch, somewhere to see ponies, and local (Lerwick) walking tours. Ours offered one to Scalloway Castle, but I wouldn't put this high on your list. We drove past it (in very dense fog) and quite honestly, after being on a cruise which had gone to Edinburgh and Invergordon (Highlands) before Lerwick, I had seen QUITE a few castles! Scalloway's didn't appear to be anything special.

 

For walkers, a walk down to "the Knab" might be fun. Here are some notes I had made, including the Knab: 17th/18th century Lerwick slowly grew along waterfront where merchants built lodberries (houses /warehouses sitting on piers so goods could be unloaded directly from boats). What is called The Lodberrie today is fine group of houses/warehouses at southern end of Commercial Street dating to 18th C. It is last example showing original layout. Bains Beach has nice view of lodberries & water.

 

Coastal walk to Knab is about half hour & starts in town (map on one site shows end of Commercial St. turns into Twageos Rd & runs south to Knab) or near Tesco supermarket/hospital on other side of peninsula. There are beautiful cliffs & sea views. Path is tarmac & mostly flat; on nice day walk has brilliant views, passing lodberries, http://shetlopedia.com/The_Lodberries. Nice streets & interesting buildings on first section. Look for Knowe, former home of artist Fred Irvine, with boat as garage roof near Leog St. Last section is bit steep but tarmac & plenty of benches. Views from top are worth effort. Rock “horse” is at end. Can park in cemetery lot & walk.

 

Clickimin Broch (p-o; 1 ½ mile south from center city) is well-preserved historical site, rather amusingly located on edge of loch & gorgeous hills just behind large Tesco. It’s surrounded by large housing estate & easily accessible. Can walk to examine multiple enclosing walls & impressive stone doorways. There are information boards. Free. Views from top nice too.

 

 

I would love to go back to the Shetland Islands - beautiful! Enjoy!