The location of our suite was very convenient, near the executive lounge.  It was spacious, nicely appointed and quiet. The bathtub was generously sized and shower was well equipped if a bit tight, though I could stand to lose some weight. The walk-in closet was exceptional. It was nice not to have to leave anything in the suitcases.  The bed was decent, if a tad short. Everything was in working order and the balcony was a good size and unobstructed.

Southampton

Piped ashore by bagpipes, my wife and I met our guide dressed in full Highland regalia, under a red umbrella on the Newhaven quay. This is where the Oceania Cruise Ship Marina's tender left us for our ten-hour stay in Edinburgh.  Not even the sullen moist skies could dampen the experience of seeing the landscape, the history, the castles and inns.  Our guide knows all the roads, all the tales, the details and mysteries are shared in the most convivial manner.  The time in the vehicle is spent with wonderful music and conversation.  You pick your itinerary or you can leave it to Andy to make selections and everything is adjustable.  He took the time to dress both of us in authentic kilts.  Andy takes a huge piece of tartan cloth and expertly folds, wraps and drapes it on you, much to the delight of the passerby. He also took photographs with our cameras and phones, this is an experience you simply cannot get with a cruise ship's excursion offerings. We saw Castle Scone without being herded along on a ship's excursion tour like lemmings.  The grounds were moist and fecund. There are ancient walls and burial grounds.  our guide knows all the docents and they know him.  His presence added so much to the outings.  We had a great late lunch at Sheep Heid Inn (established around 1360) perhaps the oldest inn in Scotland.  The staff were gracious, the ambiance was historic, the haggis was sublime with neeps, tatties, a great gravy and a nice local IPA.

The Holyrood Palace does not allow photography inside the residence.  It is an impressive and beautiful structure with perhaps too many directly connected rooms for very specific functions.  It becomes tedious and excessive when a resident or visitor must traverse several chambers to reach their destination.  You will grasp my concern if you take the time to visit every accessible room.  Nevertheless, it is a &quot;must see&quot; destination.  I quite understood when our guide chose to wait for our return to the entrance plaza.  At the attached abbey ruins, photography is allowed. The epitaphs on the tombstones are interesting, should you care to invest the time to read them - there are many and some are rather long.

The tour guide banter during the boat ride on the Liffey was fun but there was no time for any questions and answers.  The excursion continued on a cramped bus that sat in horrible Dublin traffic along all the streets that paralleled and bridges that crossed the river.  We fared far better on our own in Dublin on the second day.  The city is very conducive to walking and the shopping is great fun.

Cobh and Cork are both beautiful. The train ride into Cork from Cobh was fast and convenient. The station staff were very helpful in giving us suggestions for places to visit. The city is very pleasant for walking.  The farmers' market was expansive and full of interesting fare.  We purchased some local chocolates. We did a lot of shopping and visited a pub for more Guinness. Yum! 

Cobh (Cork)

2019 Oceania Cruise Line - Celtic Kingdoms (MNA190804) on the Marina

Dates: August 4, 2019 through August 17, 2019

Ports of call:

Embark at Southampton UK

Edinburgh(Newhaven) Scotland

Invergordon Scotland

Glasgow(Greenock) Scotland - Missed(did not dock due to weather conditions)

Dublin Ireland

Cork(Cobh) Ireland

Portland UK

Disembark at Southampton UK

This was our second cruise and first time with Oceania Cruise Line.The passengers were a bit more mature here than on the Norwegian Cruise Line, though one could still find beverage glasses left in inappropriate places.

Marina Review

Celtic Kingdom Cruise - Memories for a Lifetime

Rating by category

Additional details

Cabin Review

Penthouse Suite

Port Reviews

Cobh (Cork)

Find a Marina Cruise from $1,049