CRUISES FROM SCOTLAND
A major departure port for the Scandinavian cruises is the Port of Leith in Edinburgh. Glasgow’s Greenock port on the Clyde River is the starting point of many cruises to the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal, and Greenland and Iceland as well as the Baltics.
A typical Scandinavian cruise out of Edinburgh is around 8 days and has ports of call like Bergen, Norway with its beautiful mountains; Geiranger in the middle of the Norway’s district of fjords; and Flam, Norway where the scenery includes mountains, steep waterfalls, and deep valleys.
Many Cruises from Scotland are on small Ships with unique Itineraries
There are a number of unique cruises from Scotland on smaller ships with only 25 or 30 cabins that provide the opportunity to sail on the beautiful lochs of this Scotland as well as to some of its many surrounding islands like the Isle of Man and the Isle of Skye. One such cruise starts near Inverness at Dochgarroch and heads down the Caledonian Canal.
The ship goes through a series of six locks at Fort Augustus along shores that are covered in lush green trees and on to the mountainous area of Loch Lochy. Eight more lochs are traversed before arriving at Ben Nevis. Some cruises will include stops in Oban and the Isle of Mull. These cruises are typically five days long but there are longer versions that sail on to Armdale or the Isle of Skye.
Other cruises from Scotland on these smaller vessels sail from places like Holy Loch near Dunoon and travel around the large sea lochs and islands in south Argyll. Although only an hour from Glasgow, this area feels remote and the scenery can leave you breathless. A cruise like this may also include the Cumbrae Isles, the Island of Bute, and Holy Island.
The Port of Rosyth
Larger cruise lines offer cruises that embark from the port of Rosyth in Edinburgh and travel around the British Isles. Some ports on these cruises include Kirkwall in the Orkneys where you can experience Christian, Nordic, and Celtic history. From there the ship goes on to Belfast and Dublin and then on to Milford Haven in Wales. After Wales the next port of call is the English Channel’s oldest settlement, St. Peter Port, Guernsey.
There are a variety of cruises available around Scotland like Hebredian Island cruises that start and end in Oban or Fairlie. Most of these cruises in and around Scotland are operated by private, smaller companies rather than the larger, well-known cruise lines.