Explore iconic royal landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Holyroodhouse Palace, while leaving your evenings free to delve deeply into the attractions in Scotland’s capital that sound most appealing to you.
DAY 1
Upon exiting Customs at the Edinburgh International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the city center. Enjoy inspiring views of Edinburgh Castle from your upgraded Castle View room.
Check in is at 3:00pm, and the rest of the day is yours to settle in at your leisure. Should you have an early arriving flight, you may wish to purchase an extra night as we cannot guarantee the rooms will be available before 3:00pm.
Meals are on your own today.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel to Dean Village, is a tranquil green oasis on the Water of Leith, only a five-minute walk from Princes Street. The village once housed various mills and remnants of the industries can still be seen today. Be sure to notice the mill stones and carved stone plaques on display outdoors.
Following the walkway along the Water of Leith, you will come to the impressive Dean Bridge designed by Thomas Telford and the classical temple of St Bernard’s Well. You will also pass Well Court, built in the 1880s as model housing for local workers. It adds to the picturesque charm of the area.
Next you will head towards Broomhall House. Dating from 1702, the private family residence is the seat of the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, 37th Chief of the Bruce Family. The Bruces can trace their history back 1,500 years and claim descent from the royal families of Scotland, Ireland and France.
The family now living at Broomhall House are lineal descendants of King Robert the Bruce, the warrior king who won Scottish independence at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His 700-year-old sword is still kept at Broomhall.
Although Broomhall isn’t open to the public, a member of the Bruce family will give you a private tour of the principal rooms. They include a library with more than 4,000 books and a piano that Chopin played, a picture gallery with Old Master paintings, a private museum laid out as a cabinet of curiosities, and a dining room furnished with 16th-century Dutch furniture that a colossal carved mantelpiece dominates. You will also see artifacts, portraits and memorabilia from British history, diplomatic gifts gathered from around the world and letters from Queen Victoria.
After visiting, you will be dropped off on the Royal Mile right in the heart of Edinburgh, where you will have time for lunch on your own.
The tour will then continue at the top of the Royal Mile with a guided inside visit of Edinburgh Castle, home of Scottish kings and queens for centuries. It perches on a rocky site high above the city. You will see the 15th-century Old Royal Palace that houses the Scottish Crown Jewels and the apartment in which Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England.
Afterwards, you will return to your hotel for the evening, the remainder of which will be at your leisure.
Note: Edinburgh is quite hilly with many cobblestone streets, so wear comfortable walking shoes.
DAY 3
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to Stirling, where you will see Stirling Castle overlooking one of the many loops of the River Forth. It rises abruptly from the flat plains. Because of its strategic position guarding the route north, Stirling has been a fortress town since the earliest of times.
Bitterly fought over and bravely defended, the castle has been called the Key to Scotland. As a result, its possession has been the focus of contention for many centuries, with battles like Bannockburn fought in its shadow.
You will drive through the old town to the castle, where every inch seems drenched in history. The present castle dates mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries, when it was a principal royal residence. James III was born there in 1451, James V spent his childhood there, and the infant Mary Queen of Scots was crowned there in 1543. Renovations in the 16th century largely shaped the structure that survives today.
You will see the main features of the central turreted gatehouse with its flanking towers and curtain wall, the Great Hall and the palace, one of the earliest Renaissance buildings in Scotland. The panoramic views from the battlements are spectacular.
After touring the castle, you will be served lunch in a nearby restaurant.
You will then drive through the beautiful Trossachs national park before arriving at Glengoyne Distillery, which has been operating continuously for more than 150 years. Its traditional methods have been handed down from generation to generation to produce a distinctive malt whisky that is a favorite of connoisseurs. The essence of its flavor has been preserved by using air-dried barley, rather than barley dried. The result is a more subtle, complex whisky in which all of the delicate flavors freely express themselves.
The expert guide will introduce you to the stages of the whisky-making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturing. You will see the gleaming copper stills, casks of American oak and other necessities needed to produce this fine malt whisky. A sampling of a “wee dram” follows, after which you may browse the gift shop.
You will then return back to Edinburgh for an evening at your leisure.
DAY 4
After breakfast and check out, you will board your coach and transfer to Holyroodhouse Palace, a royal residence and the official home of the queen when she is in Scotland. There, you will gain an understanding of the palace's close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historical figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. You will also learn how the queen uses the palace when carrying out official engagements.
Following some free time to grab a bite to eat, your royal experience will continue on the royal yacht Britannia, once home to the queen and the royal family, and host to state and official occasions when she visited foreign shores. In the shoreside Visitor’s Centre, you will receive an audio-phone to enhance your self-conducted tour through the various sections of the yacht. Later, you can browse the gift shop for products associated with the yacht, which is berthed as a permanent exhibition.
You will then be transferred to Lieth Cruise Terminal for embarkation.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Transfer from the Edinburgh International Airport to your hotel
3:00pm Check-in at the hotel
Remainder of the day at leisure, meals on own
Overnight at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
AM Full English breakfast
8:30am Meet guide in the hotel lobby
8:45am Drive to Dean Village in Edinburgh
9:00am Walking tour of Dean Village
10:15am Drive to Broomhall
11:30am Visit of Broomhall House
1:30pm Drive back to Edinburgh
2:30pm Drop off at Royal Mile, free time for lunch on own
4:00pm Edinburgh Castle tour
6:00pm Return to your hotel
Evening at your leisure, dinner on own
Overnight at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa or similar hotel
DAY 3
AM Full English breakfast
8:45am Meet guide in the hotel lobby
9:00am Drive to Stirling
10:30am Visit Stirling Castle
12:30pm Lunch in a restaurant in Stirling
1:45pm Scenic drive through the Trossachs national park
2:45pm Distillery tour
4:15pm Drive back to Edinburgh
Evening at your leisure, dinner on own
Overnight at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa or similar hotel
DAY 4
AM Full English breakfast followed by check-out
9:15am Meet guide in the hotel lobby
9:30am Transfer to Holyrood House
10:00am Visit Holyrood House
12:00pm Free time for lunch on own
1:30pm Transfer to the Royal Yacht Britannia
2:00pm Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia
3:30pm Transfer to Cruise Terminal for embarkation
Expected Weather
Weather in the United Kingdom is very unpredictable, and you may experience rain at any time.
The average daily high temperature is 66°F, (18°C) rarely falling below 58°F (14°C) or exceeding 72°F (22°C).
The average daily low temperature is 51°F (10°C), rarely falling below 45°F (7°C) or exceeding 57°F (13°C).
What to Bring
Prepare for moderately mild weather at all times and be able to supplement basic dress with a warm sweater and/or a rainproof top. Pack sensible footwear, as most rural attractions and even some urban areas are best described as “rugged terrain,” and the ground is wet occasionally. Also bring hats and sunglasses.
Local Currency
Pound Sterling. Credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
230v / 50hz (plugs are 3 square pins). An adjacent switch typically controls outlets. Some hotels will have adaptors available, although this cannot be guaranteed. We recommend bringing a travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required.
Please check with your local embassy for up-to-date visa information for your nationality.
Hotel Address
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
1 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SR
Phone: +44 131 229 9131
*We will only substitute a hotel in unforeseen situations. If a hotel is substituted, it will be similar and with equal ratings and standards and guests will be notified in advance. If guests are not notified of any changes before departure, then the hotel listed in this program will be used.
Program Includes:
•Three nights at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh or similar – Classic Room Castle View
•Transportation and the services of an English-speaking tour guide for three full days of sightseeing and all associated expenses
•Lunch in Stirling on Day 3
•Entrances per the program
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes
•Meals or beverages not listed
•Hotel incidentals, including mini bar and room service
•Personal expenses
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
