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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Scotland: Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Scotland: Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick

June 19 at sea
June 20 Edinburgh/Rosyth
June 21 Kirkwall
June 22 scheduled to dock in Lerwick but Captain said too rough to dock. Hated to miss the Shetland mainland, as I was looking forward to looking for puffins and ponies again. Lovely place.
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Thom, being tall, was even more cramped - but got out OK
Thom, being tall, was even more cramped - but got out OK		 A handsome horse was outside
A handsome horse was outside		 My sturdy friend was surrounded by buttercups.
My sturdy friend was surrounded by buttercups.		 For most ports, a local pilot came on board. It was fun watching the pilot transfer to Star while both ships were moving.
For most ports, a local pilot came on board. It was fun watching the pilot transfer to Star while both ships were moving. 		We saw Helliar Holm lighthouse again after the ship left Kirkwall.
We saw Helliar Holm lighthouse again after the ship left Kirkwall.		 The next morning, when I saw Bressay light on the port side I knew something was wrong. Captain said we couldn't dock (winds).
The next morning, when I saw Bressay light on the port side I knew something was wrong. Captain said we couldn't dock (winds).
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Ruth Rosenthal05-Jun-2018 23:51
I go on cruisecritic.com's Port of Call section to see if others have written about tours. (If you haven't visited that site, DO IT!!!) I also sometimes just google, and sometimes go on TripAdvisor.com to look for info on activities and tours. Then I email vendors. We don't do a lot of private tours, but all I've done so far have been worthwhile, and often cost less than ship tours. Sometimes you can also find a few people on the ship (or on Cruise Critic's Roll Call section) to share in the cost. With any tour you arrange, make sure vendor will refund any money you've paid if ship doesn't make it to the port. Almost all will, but it helps to know in advance. Sometimes a port is missed, so you don't want to be out of money. And no, if you're on a cruise, you don't need to worry about getting back late and missing the ship. The well known vendors are pros and won't let that happen. Don't be afraid to book your own tour, but remember that if you're on a cruise ship, you'll probably need at least 45 minutes after it docks before you can meet a vendor ashore. Don't cut things too close. Also, you'll likely be expected to be back on the ship a half hour or more before it's scheduled to depart. If ship is a little late coming in, almost all vendors will know when that happens and wait for you. Don't sweat it. They track ship progress on marinetraffic.com
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