Royal Yacht Britannia

[3Shelaghs]

Getting there from South Queensferry pier? Did you take Lothian 98 to St Andrew's and then the Hop on/off bus to Ocean Pier? Your opinion of experiance? Did you take tea or lunch?Shopping?

[fruitmachine]

1 hour ago, 3Shelaghs said:

Getting there from South Queensferry pier? Did you take Lothian 98 to St Andrew's and then the Hop on/off bus to Ocean Pier? Your opinion of experiance? Did you take tea or lunch?Shopping?

1. Buy an X99 return ticket, as that includes a Network DAYticket for all buses and the tram. (https://www.lothianbuses.com/cruiselink-x99/)
2. Take the X99 from Hawes Pier (where you tender to) to Edinburgh.  
3. Walk north on South St David Street (where the X99 drops off), then across St Andrew Square to the east side.
4. Take the tram northbound (Newhaven on the front) to Ocean Terminal, where Britannia is moored.

 

Enjoy your day in Edinburgh!

Edited June 23, 2023 by fruitmachine

[edinburgher]

20 hours ago, 3Shelaghs said:

Getting there from South Queensferry pier? Did you take Lothian 98 to St Andrew's and then the Hop on/off bus to Ocean Pier? Your opinion of experiance? Did you take tea or lunch?Shopping?

You might also want to consider pre-booking your entry.

[fruitmachine]

4 hours ago, edinburgher said:

You might also want to consider pre-booking your entry.

Although pre-booking is encouraged, their Marketing Manager assured me that nobody asking for a walk-up ticket would ever be turned away.  At worst case, you may be asked to stand aside while a peak went through.

[Joanne G.]

Is the royal yacht walkable from the Newhaven tender port?  Google maps says it is, but I don’t always trust them.  Sometimes the distance isn’t great, but roads are not suitable for pedestrians.  Thanks. 

[fruitmachine]

13 minutes ago, Joanne G. said:

Is the royal yacht walkable from the Newhaven tender port?  Google maps says it is, but I don’t always trust them.  Sometimes the distance isn’t great, but roads are not suitable for pedestrians.  Thanks. 

An easy 0.9 mile walk on the near-flat.  From the tender pontoon, head out to the main road, turn left, and when you get to the tram line keep it on your right until you get to Ocean Terminal.  Britannia entrance is inside the shopping mall.

Or, if you're going into the city after Britannia:

• a 5 minute walk to the tram
• buy a £5.00 DAYticket,
• take the tram (runs every 7 minutes) one stop to Ocean Terminal,
• then after Britannia back on the tram to Princes Street (~20 minutes).

[Joanne G.]

Thank you!  I do plan on going into the city after touring Britannia in the morning.  I appreciate the directions.  

[WESTEAST]

Our ship provided a shuttle bus to the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre which was about a 5 minute drive. The Visitor Centre is on the 2nd floor of the shopping centre to purchase tickets - we had purchased online prior but there was no line-up when we arrived. We enjoyed the tour and there is a nice souvenir shop.  Didn't spend any time in the Shopping Centre so can't comment on shopping or lunch venues. 

[fruitmachine]

8 hours ago, WESTEAST said:

Our ship provided a shuttle bus to the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre which was about a 5 minute drive. The Visitor Centre is on the 2nd floor of the shopping centre to purchase tickets - we had purchased online prior but there was no line-up when we arrived. We enjoyed the tour and there is a nice souvenir shop.  Didn't spend any time in the Shopping Centre so can't comment on shopping or lunch venues. 

That was Ocean Terminal itself that provided the bus, and it's not been running since COVID.  The shopping mall is failing and half of it will soon be demolished.  I see no prospect of a return of that transfer bus.

[edinburgher]

17 hours ago, fruitmachine said:

Although pre-booking is encouraged, their Marketing Manager assured me that nobody asking for a walk-up ticket would ever be turned away.  At worst case, you may be asked to stand aside while a peak went through.

Just luck really as to how many people could be entering at around the same time as you, but walk-up would work better as your timing will be unknown given the tendering and transfer from SQ with the additional transport needed  from city centre to Ocean Terminal.

[ski ww]

Thanks for posting, good info to have. Should come in handy for our cruise next year.  

[3Shelaghs]

Thanks 🙂 

[WESTEAST]

 

On 6/25/2023 at 12:29 AM, fruitmachine said:

That was Ocean Terminal itself that provided the bus, and it's not been running since COVID.  The shopping mall is failing and half of it will soon be demolished.  I see no prospect of a return of that transfer bus.

Thanks for this update. Yes it was pre-Covid in 2019 and did find the shopping mall then a little tired looking.