Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 2 on 5/6/2002.

This article is 77 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.

The lap of luxury

Explore Scotland in a different way - from the luxurious surroundings of a cruise ship

The interior of Scotland is rich with culture and breathtaking scenery – a natural habitat for holiday-makers. But sometimes getting from accommodation to excursion by road or rail can be wearying and time-consuming. Driving for hours down narrow twisty roads can turn a holiday into a gruelling motoring marathon, fraying the most benign of tempers and significantly reducing the enjoyment factor when you eventually arrive at your destination.

So why not do as our ancestors did and go by sea? Travelling by ship allows you to squeeze in a lot of sightseeing in a short time without having to change hotels or repack your case. And instead of sitting for hours in a car or tour-bus, you can relax and pass the time between destinations comfortably at sea, reading, learning to play bridge, having lunch or working out in the onboard gym.

There has never been a better time to take a cruise out of Scotland – following the events of 11 September last year, many British holidaymakers are looking for ideas that don’t involve flying, and many Americans, traditionally the core of the cruise market, although still keen to travel, want to avoid the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, both of which are perceived as potential trouble spots.

Cruising is the ideal stress-free holiday because once the passenger has made the initial choice of which route to take and which ship to travel on, the burden of any further decision-making is removed, and you can be as lazy or as active as you feel, not h.....

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By Nicki Symington

Section : Scottish Cruises

Page number : 69