micarda

Will be on cruise and never take ship tours. Any recommendations for private guides/tours of the above cities as well as Edinburgh and Le Havre would be welcomed. Guides names, tour companies you have used etc.
Thanks in advance.
Martin

dulciusexasperis

LOL, on a cruise and never take ship tours but want a private tour guide. The word 'dichotomy' comes to mind although it doesn't exactly fit. I can't think of a word that does, maybe someone else can.

I don't want to freak you out completely Martin but have you ever considered the possibility of simply visitng those cities without a cruise ship and guiding yourself in each? Too radical?

How long does this cruise last? I figure you need at least 3 full days in each city listed to see even the basic points of interest. That adds up to 24 days. Adding time to 'cruise' from one to another is another 7 days or so. Total 31 days. So I take it this is a month long cruise?

MmePerdu

Cruisers are a tribe unto themselves. No offense intended, just different from the landlubbers among us who go to really see what's there. Another perspective entirely, literally as well as philosophically.

Cruise Critic's forum is more likely to have what you're looking for, micarda.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/

micarda

Wow. Did not expect this response. We have travelled to over 120 countries, mostly on our own and cruise when that works best. We have used private tour guides in the past and no one has ever been at put out by the "dichotomy". That said, this is a 26 day cruise and if someone else has any personal recommendations for cities mentioned, I would be grateful. Liverpool has been taken care of already.

MmePerdu

"Did not expect this response."

I will say that cruises are a good way to go if you want to know what to expect.

Again, 'Cruise Critic' will be the place to find the most experienced recommendations.

abram

Well, there certainly is a dichotomy between taking a cruise ship tour (we don't like those either) and hiring a private guide.

We found Cork (didn't love it), Belfast, and Dublin very easy to tour on our own, mostly walking, occasionally taking a bus.

flanneruk

Cork and Inverness are exceptionally underwhelming places to visit (though some Corconians are in denial of this), though both are on the edge of glorious scenery. You need guides for what's called West Cork (the western part of County Cork) and the Eastern Highlands respectively. They're both difficult to do by yourselves.

As abram says Belfast and Dublin - like Liverpool - really don't need a guide. Nor does Edinburgh. All are proper cities, with decent public transport and clear signage in English.

Liverpool, especially, doesn't: it's one of the very few cruise calling points anywhere in the world where the boat ties up in a UNESCO World Heritage site, you can walk off the boat straight into the middle of a real city and spend the day delighting in its architecture. Faffing about with an intermediary destroys the whole point of the place.

micarda

Thanks all for the suggestions.

nanabee

micarda, I'm sorry you didn't get much information (seemingly) that you specifically asked for. It's like when someone posts they'd like information for their upcoming trip to Australia and people start posting - oh you don't want to go there - go to New Zealand instead. Or, your taking a cruise? Take a plane instead like I did and I really liked it so you should too. Errr!

venturegirl

Completely agree, Nanabee. Micarda, usually people on this forum are very helpful, so don’t give up on it. Although I don’t have a guide recommendation, in an effort to offer you something, I was just in Dublin in the fall and the center is really walkable with many sites between Christchurch and Trinity College – Temple Bar lies in between (here and Grafton St are great for hearing talented street musicians). There is a cute up and coming arts district a couple blocks west of Temple Bar. Just a few blocks off this main drag of Dame St are Stephens Green, Merrion Square Park, and the National Archaeology Museum (which was fabulous). They give a great student tour at Trinity College, which you can pay a nominal fee for as you enter into the main quad. The Guinness factory tour is also on this main drag the other way, but far enough that I would grab a taxi for a short layover. If you aren’t able to get a guide recommendation here, jump in a taxi from your docking point to this main area. I found every Dublin taxi that I was in the drivers were friendly, chatty, and gave me impromptu tours! Good luck.

hetismij2

Wow! what responses. I am sorry Micarda.
I can't help with recommendations, but I suggest you contact the tourist offices in each city. They probably have a list of approved guides and can help you more than it seems people on this forum are willing or able to.

micarda

Again thank you all for the quick responses. We have found some guides and now are looking for city guides for Dublin and Glasgow. Wife has limitations on walking due to cardiac problem and needs transportation between sites. Any suggestions?

jaja

How about for Dublin taking the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus? Make the entire loop first and then go back to the ones that interest you.

janisj

My response was deleted - so Just in case you didn't see the info . . . Your ship docks in Invergordon which is quite some distance from Inverness. Have you found a guide that meets the ship?

BigRuss

Gee, if you're that far off from Inverness, you may be better off with the on-board offering for a tour. They probably don't run you to I'ness itself but to Culloden and Cawdor Castle (see the ancient home of MacBeth!). I'ness itself is just a random town, its proximity to other sites easily reached by car is the attraction.

micarda

Invergodron is correct: we have not found a guide yet. The Dublin HO/HO bus is a definite possibility .

janisj

For the stop at Invergordon you might want to just go w/ an excursion offered by the Cruise ship.

What are some of the optional shore excursions through the ship? Maybe we can help you pick the best one.

OkieLady

I booked tours on my first cruise. After that decided never again they take you places you have no interest in as well rushing you on to the next stop when you are truly interested in staying where you are. We now research where we will be staying for the day decide what we really want to see and hire a cab. They're always lined up waiting when you come off the ship. If you have no place in mind to see ask the cabbie to take you around. Also, you can split the cab fare if others travel with you.

janisj

That strategy works in some cities/destinations . . . But not in places like Invergordon which is fairly remote and a long distance from any sites one would probably want to see.

kleeblatt

Dublin: the hop on/hop off is good
Belfast: a black cab tour. Highly recommended

A cruise is fine as long as you know some ports are far away from the cities therefore limiting your sightseeing time.

Enjoy and ignore dulciusexasperis. He's the Fodor's bully.