british isles royal princess

[irene]

Has anyone taken the british isles cruise aboard the Royal Princess. If so, please tell me how the excursions were, which ones we should choose, etc. We like to travel independently and would like to know if we can catch a cab into Dublin on our own or is it better to take the excursion. Also, what other ports had the availability of traveling to town on your own rather than paying $45. to go into town just to be dropped off. Thanks everyone in advance.

[Bop]

Hi Irene,
We were on the Royal in August for the British Isles itinerary. Great trip and the Princess shuttle buses were available for all ports at $4pp. We went on our own in Edinburgh, Dublin, Plymouth, and could have added Waterford. I would recommend the Princess tour to Balfour Castle in Kirkwall but you can probably make arrangements to get there by boat from Kirkwall, which is a charming city to walk around as well. You may want to take a tour from LeHavre. We went to Normandy vs. Paris and had a wonderful and moving experience. If I had it to do again, howerer, I'd probably opt for a cab or van tour arranged ahead of time rather than the Princess bus tour. We wasted hours eating en masse and felt rushed at the beaches and cemetary.
You'll love the Royal. It's just the right size and service and food are wonderful. Go early and stay over in London. Great city to tour on your own. Use the Tube and get anywhere you want with speed and ease.

Take care and good cruising!

TTFN,
Bop

My parents have sailed this iten twice on the Royal and will do it again in June. They love this particular Princess ship and this iten.

Irene,
If they still do it, the evening cabaret show in Dublin was great. We did it last year. In Inverness we went to Loch Ness and really liked that. In Edinburgh, we went up to Edinburgh castle and then walked down to Holyrood castle. remember like BOP said, Princess has shuttles in every port to the city center for $4.00 each way and you can't beat that. Paris is about 3 hours each way and if you haven't been ther, Normandy is well worth it.
Jim

PS-loved the Royal