Newhaven for Edinburgh: Originally the ship was to have visited South Queensferry but prior to the cruise we were informed of a change and that Newhaven was the port for Edinburgh. As the ship was anchored, the tender service was in operation.
Passenger had previously been told that as the tide levels would be very low there would be no tender service between 11.00 and 14.00. My previous experience of using the tender service on ships has been that once the tour passengers are off the ship, there is a relatively short wait for the tender service, but this was not the case in the two ports where tenders were used passengers had a long wait to be called to board a tender. We were informed that the Forth Belle (capacity 215 passengers) would be used to transport passengers up to 12 noon, so we were fortunate to get off the ship, before the low tide stopped tender services. When we approached the shore passengers were told to move from the back of the boat so as to shift the weight and prevent the propellers from scrapping on the bottom, an indication of the level of the water.
A free shuttle was available to take people to the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre Leith, which is near the Royal Yacht Britannia. We took a bus into Edinburgh to meet our daughter for a sandwich lunch in Princes Street Gardens. It was a warm day and we enjoy chatting and watching the world go by. Edinburgh is near to where we live so we did not do any touristy things. The tours from the ship included Edinburgh Castle, Falkirk Wheel, St Andrews, Stirling Castle, which are excellent tours for anyone visiting this part of Scotland.
Sailaway: I was looking forward to the sail away from Newhaven, as the ship would be sailing past the Isle of May and Bass Rock. I was a bit disappointed that there was not any commentary or even a fact sheet made available to inform passengers about these islands. For most passengers enjoying cocktails or dinner they would probably have thought the view was nice but would not realise the significance of these islands. I live in Scotland hence my interest.
The Isle of May is a seabird and seal sanctuary that I have previously only experienced from the web cameras at North Berwick Seabird Centre. I have also been interested in the lighthouse you see in this picture because of my interest in the Lighthouse Stevensons, Robert Louis Stevenson’s engineering forefathers, who were responsible for building lighthouses around Scotland.

The steep volcanic Bass Rock, is an island that today is home to the world's largest colony of Northern Gannets. I had taken a photo from the ship, which does not do justice to the island, so I am attaching this photo by Francis C Franklin where you can clearly see the birds on the rock and the lighthouse.
Photo is the work of Francis C Franklin, who has given permission to share, however credit must be given to his workIt is difficult to imagine that this rocky island was once inhabited. Initially by St Baldred, who gives his name to the ruin of St Baldred’s chapel. Then the Lauder family, the ruins of a castle dating back to the 13 century are just visible below the lighthouse. The island was purchased by the Crown in 1671 and used as a state prison. The Scots author and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson used the setting of the Bass Rock prison in his novel Catriona, where the character James Stewart was imprisoned. Another connection to the Stevenson family is Robert Louis Stevenson’s cousin, David Stevenson designed the lighthouse on the island.
It was a lovely evening for the sail away and we enjoyed taking some time out on deck to admire the view and who would have thought that there was so much history to a rocky outcrop, such as the Bass Rock.
Tomorrow, I will tell you a little about the Queen Elizabeth and some of the areas of the ship.