Cruising from Edinburgh (Port of Leith, or Rosyth)

So why cruise from Edinburgh?  Well, you’re geographically nearer to the Norwegian Fjords, North Cape, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Shetland Isles and Orkney Isles than most other UK departure ports.  You also have a beautiful and historic city to explore, either pre or post-cruise, and you also have one of the UK’s (and the World of golf’s) most famous country hotels (Gleneagles) only an hour away, for a further holiday extension, should you wish!  This stunning gem of a hotel is located in the picturesque landscapes of Perthshire, and is the perfect location for that special birthday or anniversary treat!

But back to Edinburgh…what do you have to see?  If you’re feeling energetic, then a hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat, the long-extinct volcano that overlooks the fringes of the city, is recommended.  If this is a little too much, even a gentle stroll up and down the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to the castle will get the heart going a bit.  This is perfect pub-crawl territory too!  Across to the north side of the city centre, and you’ll find most of the shopping, along with another fine selection of bars and restaurants, including the famous ‘Dirty Dicks’ pub.  Just a short bus ride away you’ll also find Edinburgh Zoo, which is one of the best zoos in the uk, famous in particular for two ‘P’s; Penguins and Pandas.

Currently the ports of Leith and Rosyth are only served by a few cruise lines, namely Fred Olsen, Azamara, Cruise and Maritime Voyages, Windstar and Sea Cloud, so you can be sure that any embarkation process here is slick and quick, as you won’t find any super-sized cruise ships here.  Itineraries are unique, with many smaller ports accessible along the various routes undertaken, such as Geiranger in Norway, Thorshavn in the Faroes, Douglas (Isle of Man), and Tobermory in the Western Isles.  Special ports for that special cruise….why not give it a try?