2020 Escape to the British Isles Shore Excursions

These activities are exclusive events for Stitchers’ Escapes. You must already be registered for our 2020 Escape to the British Isles Cruise in order to participate.

You will register for both Shore Excursions and Onboard Classes on the same form. Registration will begin on Saturday, November 23 at 9:00am Mountain time. We will send an email and post an announcement in the Facebook group when registration opens.

Payment

We will send you an invoice within 10 days of receiving your registration. A deposit equal to half your total will be due within 30 days. The balance will be due within 60 days. Your space is secure once we receive your deposit.

Choose carefully. If you cancel, we issue refunds only if the class or excursion is at full capacity and we fill your spot.

General Information

We arranged most of the excursions through Royal Caribbean, which means we have all the benefits of taking a RCCL excursion: guaranteed first off the ship, guaranteed return to the ship, and most convenient access to the tour bus. However, you will register through Stitchers’ Escapes rather than RCCL. Therefore, you will not see our excursions on your cruise planner after booking. Tickets will be provided to the Stitchers’ Escapes crew and distributed to the group on board.

For our port of call in St Peter Port, Guernsey, we found that we could make the best arrangements by working with a local accredited tour guide rather than through RCCL. This is a tender port and the tender will dock in St Peter Port where our local guides will meet us. Everyone will be responsible for returning to the ship on time.

For all excursions, please notify us if you use a wheelchair or motorized scooter, or have other mobility concerns, such as the need to use the elevator rather than the stairs to reach the gangway deck, so we can work with the Royal Caribbean staff to provide the most comfortable experience for you.

Each tour has a minimum and maximum number of guests. If it appears that we will not reach the minimum for an excursion, we reserve the right to cancel the excursion and return the registration fees for that excursion. For most excursions, once we reach the maximum number of participants, we will keep a waiting list. If we are able to meet the minimum for a second bus, we will add one.

When an excursion requires smaller sub-groups, we make every effort to keep roommates and people traveling together in the same group.

Excursions will go on rain or shine, unless otherwise announced by the tour providers.

Unless otherwise noted, excursions do not include meals.

Guests who are not registered for an excursion will not be permitted to use the excursion transportation.

Edinburgh, Scotland – Saturday, July 18

Our port is Queensferry, about a 45-minute drive from Edinburgh. Tour times include travel to and from Edinburgh.

Queensferry is a tender port, where the ship anchors in the harbor and we go ashore in a smaller vessel. Those joining an excursion will not need to obtain tender tickets on their own as we will be able to obtain them on your behalf.

A Royal Day Out – Scotland Edition

7:45am-4:45pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

Start the day at the Royal Yacht Britannia, where we will get the royal treatment on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. Arrive just as Her Majesty and the Royal Family did, via the Royal Brow. A guided tour through the ship includes the Admiral’s Cabin, the State Apartments, and the State Dining Room. The tour concludes with complimentary refreshments on the Royal Deck. Everyone will receive the official Britannia Guidebook as a souvenir of the visit! (A $12 value)

Then it’s on to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Explore the Palace’s State Apartments, the remains of the 12th-century Holyrood Abbey, and the Palace Gardens, and learn how the Queen uses the Palace today and about Holyrood’s association with important historical figures including Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Your ticket also includes admission to the adjacent Queen’s Gallery, which houses changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.

Note: due to limited capacity on the yacht, we will not be able to offer a second group on this excursion. 

City of Edinburgh & Castle

8:00am-12:00pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

Visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle, situated at the top of the Royal Mile. This historic fortress houses the Scottish Crown Jewels, and is the place where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI. It is also home to St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh. After exploring the castle at your leisure, enjoy a panoramic drive through Old Town’s historic Royal Mile to Castle Hill, Lawn Market, High Street, and Canogate. Along the way, pass the unforgettable St. Giles Cathedral and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

You will have the option to skip the panoramic drive and extend your time in Edinburgh. Guests choosing this option will be responsible for their own transportation back to the ship. Public bus transportation has been available in past years, and we will keep an eye out for details. Taxis are also available.

Our tour bus will be private if we meet the minimum of 35 guests. If we have fewer than 35 guests, other Royal Caribbean guests may be added to the bus.

Inverness, Scotland – Sunday, July 19

Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle

9:00am-5:00pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

The day begins with a guided drive from our port in Invergordon to the shores of Loch Ness. There, we will board a 200-passenger vessel for a scenic cruise through the man-made Caledonian Canal into Loch Ness. The cruise includes a 1-hour stop to explore the historic ruins of Urquhart Castle. After the three-hour Loch Ness cruise, we will transfer to Inverness and you will have about 2 hours of free time to explore the city before we return to port.

This excursion is not suitable for those with mobility concerns. The path from the boat dock to the castle is steep and unpaved, and you will not be permitted to stay on the boat during the stop.

On the Loch Ness cruise, the vessel has free WiFi, refreshments available for purchase, and a restroom.

Cork (Cobh), Ireland – Tuesday, July 21

The Heart of Cork City

8:30am-3:00pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

Start the day on a scenic, guided drive from the port in Cobh to the town of Cork. There, we will visit Cork City Gaol, once a jail and now a museum; our ticket includes an audio guide. Then it’s on to the beautiful St Fin Barre’s Cathedral for a guided tour and free time to enjoy the gardens. A short drive will take us to the English Market, one of the world’s oldest municipal markets, where you will have free time for lunch and shopping. (You won’t be able to bring any fresh fruits or vegetables back to the ship, but the Market offers plenty of non-food vendors!) You’ll have time to explore the curving streets in the bustling shopping areas around the English Market, too. 

Then, upon our return to Cobh, you will have about two more hours to explore the town on your own, or you can re-board the ship for a relaxing afternoon of stitching!

Dublin, Ireland – Wednesday, July 22

Dubin is our overnight stop. We arrive in the late afternoon on July 22, and this excursion will fill the rest of the day. 

We are not arranging a group excursion on our second day, July 23, but will be providing as much information as we can about transportation options from the port into the city, and about things to see and do. Royal Caribbean offers a variety of excursions you can purchase through your Cruise Planner and we encourage you to use the Facebook group to find a touring buddy or two!

The Best of Dublin

2:45pm-10:45pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

After a short drive into Dublin, our first stop is Trinity College where we will explore the grounds and visit the iconic library where we will view the Book of Kells. Then, it’s on to the Old Jameson Distillery. A Jameson’s Ambassador will show us around the original home of the famous whiskey. Everyone will have a chance to participate in the comparative tasting and enjoy a complimentary drink. Plus, what would a visit to Ireland be without some rousing music and dance? To finish our evening, we will enjoy dinner and a performance at Celtic Nights! 

Note: Celtic Nights can accommodate dietary allergies. Before signing up, review the menu here. Closer to departure, we will contact everyone attending the excursion to collect information about allergies and will communicate them to the venue.

Holyhead, Wales – Friday, July 24

Steam Train & Caernarfon Castle

7:30am-4:30pm
Minimum: 35
Maximum: 40

From our port in Holyhead, we will make the 1-hour journey to Snowdonia National Park. There, a historic steam train will take us to the summit of Snowdon Mountain, the highest mountain in Wales and the highest point in the British Isles outside the Scottish Highlands. Next, we will travel to the town of Caernarfon, home of Caernarfon Castle. Viewers of the upcoming season of Netflix’s The Crown and those interested in the British Royal Family will recognize this as the location of Prince Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales. We will have free time for lunch, and then tour the Castle. 

Note: due to limited seating on the train, we will not be able to offer a second group on this excursion.

St. Peter Port, Guernsey – Sunday, July 26

Guernsey is a tender port. Since we are arranging this excursion independently from Royal Caribbean, tender tickets will not automatically provided. We will attempt to make arrangements for blocks of tickets through our group coordinator on board, but those participating in this excursion may be responsible for obtaining tickets for an appropriate tender time on their own. We recommend departing the ship at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled start time. Meeting locations will be on shore.

We have arranged 3 tour options with certified, local guides. The island is known for its occupation by the German army during World War II, as depicted in the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. 

Of special interest to our group, Guernsey is also home to the amazing Bailiwick of Guernsey Millennium Tapestry. This community needlework project commemorates 1,000 years of local history in 10 panels, each stitched by a different parish. The Tapestry Gallery is not usually open on Sundays, but we have made arrangements for it to be open exclusively for our group. Each group will stop there for a 30-minute visit. We have made appointments for a maximum of seven group visits to the Tapestry gallery.

Staggard start times for these tours allow for the best viewing at the tapestry gallery, beginning at 8:30 am. The latest ending time for any of the tours will be 2:00. Once registration closes, we will assign the groups.

Guernsey Walking Tour

Staggered start times between 10:00am and 11:30am
Each tour is 2.5 hours
Minimum: 32
Maximum: 48

Our guide will lead us on a 2.5-hour walking tour of St. Peter Port, including sites related to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and a stop at the Tapestry Gallery. The excursion price includes your admission to the Tapestry gallery. Depending on your start time, you will have plenty of time to enjoy shopping, or additional sightseeing in St. Peter Port before or after your tour.

Although the guide will allow the group to set the pace, this tour is not suitable for guests with mobility concerns. We will walk about 2 miles, including up and down some hills. Each group will include 12 to 16 people.

Town Walk with Castle Cornet

9:00am-1:00pm
Minimum: 16
Maximum: 30

Our guides will lead us on a 4-hour walking tour of St. Peter Port, including sites related to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and a stop at the Tapestry Gallery. Plus, we will visit the historic Castle Cornet. The excursion prices includes your admission to the gallery and the castle. After the tour, you will have several hours to enjoy lunch, shopping, or additional sightseeing in St. Peter Port.

Although the guide will allow the group to set the pace, this tour is not suitable for guests with mobility concerns. We will walk about 3 miles, including up and down some hills.

Island Vehicle Tour

8:30am-12:30pm
Minimum: 10
Maximum: 15

Our guide will take us on a 4-hour drive around Guernsey, including stops at The Little Chapel, the German Occupation Museum, and the Tapestry Gallery. The excursion price includes your admission to both the museum and the gallery.

This tour is suitable for guests with mobility concerns. The driver will drop the group off close to the site entrances and you can set your own pace as you explore each one. After the tour, you will have several hours to enjoy lunch, shopping, or additional sightseeing in St. Peter Port.

Note: due to limited seating in the vehicle, we will not be able to offer a second group on this excursion.

Dover, England – Monday, July 27

We are not arranging a group excursion in Dover. We will share as much information as we can about transportation and attractions, but we encourage you to do  your own research. Royal Caribbean offers a variety of excursions you can purchase through your Cruise Planner – the Facebook group is a great way to get a group together for the day.