CatalinaUK

It has to do with making it harder for habitual drug users and homeless to "set up" in public toilets. My SIL is married to a Swede and told me paid toilets were used as a deterrent.

One of the reasons that I have been reluctant to book another cruise has bern the dress code. And, again, the dress code is partly why Viking appeals. I dress well, as does my husband. We are both inspired by 1940s and 1950s fashion. But I've experienced people grumbling about my outfits being too colourful (think pink hair & a turquoise sweater set worn with brown pencil skirt) and my husband has heard mean comments about his traditional sailor tattoos. Not on Viking, I must add! But the way I think about it: we all pay the same amount of money to be on the ship and enjoy its amenities. If someone feels hard done by someone else's idea of a fancy outfit, well. Personally I wouldn't consider black leggings & a tshirt to be fancy - but I don't know their normal lifestyle. Maybe they have a medical issue which makes wearing anything with a "hard" waistband impossible? Maybe they have sensory issues? Maybe they work a job where they have to look polished from head to toe, and they want to relax? I know that some people on previous cruises have judged me & my husband for looking different. I didn't enjoy it and I hope never to pass judgement on others in that way. Viking appeals because they don't have formal nights the way other lines do and they are generally very lowkey.

Personally I find being called things like a "Mega Rock Star" incredibly off-putting. In many ways hubby & I would probably be Virgin's target audience: both tattooed (hubby esp.), we enjoy dressing in retro rockabilly-style clothes, and we enjoy being in our 40s with no kids. But VV just seems so .. for a lack of a better word .. tacky. I don't want non-stop rock/pop throughout a ship. I don't want swings on my balcony. I don't want to "play all day, sleep at night." It all seems a bit too try-hard for our tastes. I want a quiet space where I can read or do my cross-stitch. My hubby wants to learn about wildlife and history. Really, while I think VV has an audience, I don't think there is much of a crossover with Viking.

The Edinburgh Tattoo also coincides with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (a big comedy/theatre festival). Edinburgh gets so crowded in August that many locals prefer to leave the city during August (if possible). If anybody is coming to Edinburgh in August, be prepared to walk up Royal Mile to the Castle rather than be driven there. There are simply too many people for traffic to run smoothly. Princes Street (the main road artery) is also hellish in August.

I would just pack black formals, black flip flops, and black walking sandals. That's three pairs. Plus wearing your Sketchers. And I usually overdress for occasions!

I'm in the UK, so *any* FLW house will do, honestly. I can always repay you in Charles Rennie Mackintosh tips!

Thank you Clay for the glimpse at the FLW house. Another bucket list item added!

Glasgow is one of my favourite cities in the world. It depends what you are interested in doing, though. Obviously the classic HOPO bus will give you the highlights, but I always enjoy looking at the Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed buildings, and this walking tour will finish off at the CRM tea rooms (afternoon tea at its best).

Oh! Just thought of a "hidden gem" (well, to locals it is not). The department store John Lewis has a cafe with stunning views out over Fife and the Firth. If you are just needing a coffee and a quick snack, that's a good place to get away from tourist crowds (though you'll be rubbing elbows with local ladies who lunch). Of course you have to go through a traditional British department store to get there, but that's always an interesting thing when you are abroad. And it's close to all amenities.

I second the Book of Kells & the Long Library. I burst into tears the first time I saw the Book of Kells, I was so overwhelmed. You should book in advance (I did not but I was very off-season and still had to wait). Both Dublin and Edinburgh are very walkable (just remember that parts will have cobblestones). You can absolutely do HOPO busses, but much of the pleasure is just walking through historic places.

Thank you for the correction. I shouldn't type with a migraine!

Just chiming in to say that I second (third?) the suggestion of the Portrait Gallery. The murals are beautiful and the collection excellent. I also enjoy the cafe, though I have not been there since the pandemic. I prefer the Portrait Gallery to the National Gallery, actually. The National Museum of Scotland is also worth a visit (though controversially I think Glasgow's Kelvingrove is the best museum of the two - but don't tell anyone!). Right next door there's the National Library of Scotland which has a good (and free) display of historic documents by Robert Burns.

In my experience, Edinburgh in August will be exceptionally busy so allow for extra time to walk up Royal Mile. You will get the added excitement of street performers, but it can feel quite frantic at times. This also allows thieves extra chances to pickpocket you, so be very careful! Definitely pre-book castle tickets ahead of time. The Grassmarket is a lovely area to have lunch. It's adjacent to the Royal Mile and has a lot of good places. After lunch, stroll down Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament. I wouldn't bother with a tour of Holyrood, to be honest. If you have time and inclination, I'd recommend going to Carlton Hill which gives you a great view of Edinburgh (and it will get you away from the Festival crowds).

When I cruised around Iceland, I enjoyed the Northern ports more, though it may depend upon your interests. I really liked the northwest part of Iceland. The nature was beautiful and I like the slow pace of life.

I would not stay on the East Coast. Two days/two nights are more than enough to enjoy the Isle of Arran which is a short drive from Glasgow. Arran is known as "mini-Scotland" because you get all different kinds of scenery and landscape in one place. There's a whisky distillery at the north tip of the island, Highland-style glen and mountains, a picturesque fishing village on the west of the island, and standing stones at the southern tip of the island. Highly recommended - even this time of year when you don't get many hours of sunlight.