Scottishclover

If you are getting the train to Cambuslang from Glasgow Central it will be the Lanark train. It’s around 10/15 mins to Cambuslang. Trains go half hourly. Think there will be a bit of a walk from the station to Bothwell St in Cambuslang. Please manage your expectations. This is my local train route into Glasgow and it is not the most scenic!

My advice would be to do an island tour in Madeira. The island is absolutely gorgeous - I have been around 15 times. Much more scenic in my opinion than Tenerife and Lanzarote. Not sure a snorkel excursion is the way to go on the island.

On Apex and Beyond, our daughters found the bottom part of the sofa bed that pulls out quite comfortable, however they nicknamed the top part ( the actual sofa made into a bed in the evening ) “ the rock”. Once it’s set up it is like a trundle bed. After the girls got up in the morning I pushed the bottom section back in myself to make more room. To avoid arguments, they ended switching every night so nobody was stuck on the hard part for any length of time. I wouldn’t worry if it’s teens sleeping on it, let’s face it, they’ll sleep anywhere.

It really is a very good idea to get the DB app and buy your tickets on it. That way you get up to date information about your journey. This is really useful as the German rail system is not what it was. Currently strikes are happening and trains don’t run on time like they used to. A lot of the sights in Berlin are quite far apart so using the underground/S Bahn is the quickest and most efficient way to get around. Verkehrsverbund Berlin has a variety of multi-use tickets. Again there is an app to download which will help with journey planning. Day or weekly passes work well for tourists.

Here’s my suggested itinerary. Go to Schwerin Castle in the morning. You could visit the castle and then take a boat out on the lake, followed by a poke about town. You can easily take the train from the port with one change in Rostock. Buy a Mecklenburg-West-Vorpommern ticket where the whole family can travel all day on local and regional transport for around €25. Then a visit to “Karl’s “ in the afternoon. Karl’s started off as a small strawberry farm and has expanded over the years to be the known as Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Disneyland. It even has its own train station so you can go on public transport. It’s well done, lots to do ( especially for children) but there’s also shopping opportunities and places to eat. We took our teens about 5 years ago and they loved it. My 20 year is on a year abroad in Rostock, went in December with friends and even they all enjoyed it. They were devastated the big slides were closed due to snow😂 If you have been history/city heavy in your other ports an afternoon in Warnemuende is also a nice alternative. The beach is wide and clean and it’s a nice place to wander. I agree with the above poster that it will be a very long day going to Berlin, but you will know if your children can cope. I do think to get the best of Berlin, you have to understand its modern history. I’m not sure how meaningful it will be just to drive by the sights. https://karls.de/roevershagen/

Just so you know you can fly direct to Southampton from Edinburgh with Loganair. It might be easier than flying to Heathrow and getting to Southampton. Another option to consider. Don’t bank on good weather in October, come prepared for anything. If it stays dry you’ve hit the jackpot.

As you can see from the fantastic blog by Alpencool there really is no need to go any further than Rostock and Warnemuende. Rostock’s centre is charming ( look up at all the gabled houses) and there is super transport links. My daughter is currently there on a year abroad and I lived there many moons ago so I’m perhaps a bit biased but the combination of town and beach can’t be beat. Many people venture to the castle at Schwerin as an alternative.We were there in October but unfortunately the castle is closed on Mondays. It does have a lovely setting though on the lake and the town of Schwerin is quite pretty too. Trains leave regularly from Rostock HBF and the castle is about a 15 minute walk from the station in Schwerin. The most scenic area near to Rostock is the Darss Peninsula. Parts of it are a protected wildlife area. However it would be difficult to get to as public transport there is very limited. Whenever I have visited friends have driven me. You might be able to find a tour company to go there. There is the typical thatched houses in the area, for example in Born and Ahrenshoop and then a natural coastal landscape with fantastic cycles and walks. Worth looking into.

We got a local bus up to Hammershus Castle. The journey took us through some small towns and there was a lovely view of the countryside too. We spotted one of the famous round churches too. There is a cafe and visitors centre at the castle and some nice walks along the cliffs, which unfortunately we didn’t have time to do due to a short time in port. Ronne itself is quite charming with some nice shops and cafes. It was busy when we were there in the summer with holidaying Danes and there was a great atmosphere. Directly after we got off the ship there were locals there to help with maps and advice of what to do. Just note, there was no facility to tap cards to pay on the bus. You either need to buy a ticket online or have some cash. https://bornholm.info/en/ has some ideas of what to do. Look at this stop as a nice contrast to the cities on your Baltic cruise.

I second a visit to The National Portrait Gallery. It has a really special atmosphere. I was there last Friday ( it’s our go-to for a coffee to escape the crowds when we are in town shopping). There was a choir singing in the main foyer and I had goosebumps listening to them. I also enjoy The National Museum and the Botanic Gardens. Museum on the Mound is a nice museum but it won’t need a lot of time. I’m not sure it’s entirely worth it unless you have a real interest in the history of money. I often go with my class on school trips and the staff are very knowledgeable during workshops. I can’t imagine it ever being busy so it’s perhaps a good opportunity to avoid the crowds. My suggestion for a gin distillery is a little off-piste but would make for a great afternoon out in good weather. The Secret Garden Gin Distillery specialises in gin with different botanicals. The company started off as a herb garden and then diversified when gin became trendy. It’s a little out of town at Damhead but I think it is definitely a hidden gem. And a bit different to the usual gin experience Your hotel choice sounds amazing but if you decide you want to be away from the main drag, then try Abercorn Guesthouse in Portobello. I had German friends who really enjoyed a stay there and we got a tour round. It was charming. Good if you are looking for a boutique atmosphere and personal service. It’s easy to get in and out of the centre with the local buses. For something a bit different, my favourite Edinburgh Restaurant is David Bann Restaurant on St Mary’s Street. It’s a vegetarian restaurant but uses good quality seasonal produce and makes a change from the usual fare. To reiterate: Edinburgh is very busy all throughout the year, in fact it’s on the verge of being overrun by tourists. But the May bank holiday weekend……just be very prepared for crowds and ensure you book any ticketed attractions in advance. Have a great trip.

Jim, believe me you are not boring anyone with your wonderful photos! My sister lived in Auckland for 5 years and I have friends who live in Tauranga so it’s lovely to see the scenery. As always, another fantastic review of your travels. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

I’ve really enjoyed reading about your adventures. I love your reviews - always so upbeat and fun to read. I love the fact that Mr Norway eats herring for breakfast on his cruise. You can take the boy out of Norway but you can’t take Norway out of the boy……😂 I’m also a lover of herring ( living for a year on the German Baltic Coast facilitated that). I agree about the smoked salmon and Gravlax on the ship being cut too thick and I think being a Norwegian and a Scot we know best! I loved your varied photos of India. It’s important to show the bad as well as the good. It’s a place I would like to visit but not sure I could cope with the sanitation levels and deprivation. How did you deal with that? Me and my family are going on the Arctic Cruise on Celebrity next July. We can’t wait. We were on a Fjords cruise in 2016 and loved it. Really looking forward to exploring your country once more. We are hikers and love the Norwegian attitude about experiencing the outdoors. Think it’s called friluftsliv?? Your via ferrata in Loen looked Amazing! A final accolade for you - so impressed by your English. I mean, I know you’re Norwegian but still…👏🤩 Enjoy the final days of your cruise and wishing you both a safe journey home. As always, reading your review has brightened up my day😀

Just wanted to say this review is amazing. So informative and the photography is top class. It’s clear you have a real love and respect for Japan and its traditions. We had a cruise booked to Japan in March 2024 with Celebrity but had to cancel as one of our daughters is on her year abroad in Germany and the other one couldn’t go either due to commitments with her studies. We decided it wouldn’t be the same without them but after reading your review I’m wishing me and my husband were still going! Enjoy the rest of your cruise. I can’t wait to see more of your travels.

Thank you to everyone for their help and suggestions. It will help to make my planning a bit easier.

Yes, I agree a flight to Southampton would be more convenient but around £600 more expensive one way for the 4 of us. We’re talking Ryanair vs Loganair here. I would rather use the saving to do an amazing excursion on our cruise. Unfortunately we don’t have money to burn and it’s in our nature to do certain things on the cheap😂

I can’t thank you enough for all your insights. Really looking forward to exploring this part of the world.

Looking for some advice from Hampshire locals or anyone else with experience of the New Forest. Pre -cruise we are looking to avoid London and have decided to get a cheap flight from Edinburgh to Bournemouth and spend a few days in the New Forest. Hoping someone will be able to answer these questions: 1) I have been looking at staying in Lymington. Would this be a good base? 2) Also wondering what the public transport is like in the area and how easy it would be to get to Southampton on the morning of the cruise? 3) We are keen hikers so would love some recommendations on good trails/routes in the New Forest? We plan to do a lot of hiking on our Arctic Circle Cruise so will have all the gear anyway. 4) Bringing our adult daughters with us who love a trendy/ cool cafe. Do any spring to mind in the area? If anyone has any other suggestions for a pre-cruise stay fairly close to Southampton, I’d be open to ideas. Thanks.

Hi Charla, Just wanted to say I’ve really enjoyed your reports in the past and am very excited to read your thoughts on this cruise as we did this exact same one in July. We stayed in an Airbnb in Rome for a week beforehand and you have made a great choice to stay in Travestere. We stayed very nearby in Testaccio, which I would recommend you try in the evening as it is a bit of a foodie’s heaven. It’s just a short walk over there. Lots of locals eat in that area so you know it’s good. We also had fun at the food market in Testaccio tasting lots of different dishes. We tried lots of gelato all over Rome and our favourite was actually our “local”Panna & Co on Via Marmorata in Testaccio. Give it a try - you won’t regret it. I can’t wait to see what you get up to in the ports. Have a great trip 😀

We were docked in Naples in July and caught the hydrofoil to the island of Procida. The next stop was Ischia. Just be aware that the hydrofoil can be rough. Let’s just say we were relieved to be getting off at Procida, as people were throwing up everywhere - it was carnage. The crew couldn’t give out sick bags quick enough. We weren’t expecting it as it was a gorgeous day.There were a lot of ship shore excursions on the hydrofoil too.Would hate to do it in the winter. I would love to go to Ischia but my advice would be definitely go on the ferry. The ferry to Ischia takes a wee while though so you would need to weigh up how much time you would actually have on the island.

Thanks so much for the shout out for my trip report. You have made a great start on yours so far 😀 Wondering if you have plans for Berlin/Warnemuende? I was in Rostock and Warnemuende last week on a fact finding mission with my daughter who is going to work there for a year as part of her degree. I also lived there many moons ago so if you have any last minute questions about the area I can help you out. Don’t be one and done with the herring - lots of great fish rolls to try from fishing boats on Alter Strom in Warnemuende. My favourite is Matjes Herring. Give it a try! Looking forward to seeing what else you and your sons get up to on the trip.

When I was on the Beyond the other week you sometimes got water in glass bottles.We were on the Classic Package.

DEBARKATION The last morning on a ship is always very glum. We had a debarkation time of 7:30am ( I had forgot to provide our details on the App🤦‍♀️) and our shared shuttle wasn’t booked until 9 am. We loitered a little on the seats outside Eden and then headed off the ship. It was all quite organised in the terminal and we had no issues finding our luggage. There were plenty porters going about if required and a few seats for waiting both inside and outside the terminal building. Trousers and long sleeves at the ready for the Scottish weather. This is the crazy corridor that connects Eden with the rest of the ship. Our shared shuttle was very prompt ( shame some of the passengers weren’t😖) but the van was a bit of a ramshackle compared to the transport we got to the port. Our very long layover at Gatwick was cut short due to a Baggage Handlers issue in Rome - I could have single handedly loaded the luggage into the hold quicker - and we once again found ourselves sprinting through Gatwick to catch our Edinburgh connection. We really need to stop doing that. We eventually landed at Edinburgh around 10 pm, where temperatures were around 30 degrees cooler than Rome. On the 40 min drive home, our temperature gauge actually dipped to 7 degrees at one point!! It must’ve been just what the doctor ordered though as when they stepped out the car at home, both girls chorused, “Aahh, fresh air!” 😂 Our cruise was BEYOND our expectations and we had a fantastic time making family memories together. FINAL THOUGHTS What made our cruise great: 1) The amazing crew. Always so friendly and accommodating. In particular our stateroom attendant Sharon was amazing and waitstaff in coping with the whole vegan/gluten free hassle. 2) Oceanview Cafe. I know a buffet is not for everybody but the variety and quality of food was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the many healthy options that were available. 3) The array of entertainment and activities on board. It’s not all bells and whistles and in your face but there really is something for everyone. We were especially impressed by the production shows and ship musicians. What would have improved our cruise: ( just a few minor niggles) 1) A different level of air condition. We found the ship to be too cold in parts. Cafe al Bacio and Grand Plaza were the biggest offenders. Bear in mind we are not used to extreme air conditioning though. 2) A couple more vegan options. DD2 has noted there’s better vegan breakfast choices in her student halls at St Andrews than on the ship. 3) Less people. This never affected the level of service or our ability to get a seat but at times the ship felt very busy. A good example of this was on silent disco nights. All in all, we had a brilliant cruise and Celebrity will continue to be our cruise line of choice IF we still perceive it to be value for money for our summer family holiday. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading this and that my review helps others in the planning of their future trips. Happy Cruising😎 Jane x

It was a good itinerary with options to do lots of different activities. I think I preferred the ports on our Scandinavian cruise last year though. We absolutely love that region and the whole Nordic way of life.

I hate to tell you but your children will keep tagging along as long as you are paying😂 It’s the only way they can afford to go on holiday. We have very similar tastes. We have been to Saalbach- Hinterglemm 3 times and Neustift once. Fantastic hiking and great adventure trails, mountain coasters and play parks for families. For active families, Austria in summer is a great choice.

So glad you enjoyed the review. I’m sure we will continue to cruise insides unless a we get a very good deal on a verandah. I agree there is a lack of reviews from families. Our girls are pretty easy going and just really go with the flow. They don’t really socialise much on board - even when we sailed a few times with Disney they never set foot in the kids club! They both enjoy visiting new places and that is the appeal of a cruise for them. Celebrity Edge class is a good fit for them - it shatters the stereotype that most of their friends probably have of cruising.

Yes, I am a bit disappointed that next year The Beyond will be in the Caribbean. I’m pretty sure we are not Caribbean cruise people. We have done Key West and the Bahamas on Disney quite a few years ago but we are definitely more mountain goats than water babies.