North Wales Cruise Excursion From Holyhead
This full day (synchronised to “all aboard”) / 120-mile North Wales Adventure tour departing from your ship (jetty-docked) in Holyhead has been carefully designed and created with your cruise holiday in mind. Not only is it almost half the price of many other tours on offer. We use a variety of vehicles but even when we allocate a full-size coach it’s only with your comfort in mind, always ensuring everyone has plenty of seat space and a full window view.
This is sightseeing the way sightseeing is meant to be done! All our vehicles are the latest models, carefully designed to a purpose-built sightseeing specification with panoramic windows, full PA system, overhead parcel shelves, luggage compartment(s) and forced air ventilation.
Your tour is fully escorted and narrated with a jolly driver and knowledgeable escort who, invariably, will become more of a friend than a tour guide! Every passenger receives special attention and is encouraged to participate in the day as much as possible to ensure that you have a wonderful time with us.
Your tour commences directly from the ship (synchronised with the ships timetable. We won’t go without you or get you back late!). In 2011 Holyhead introduced a direct berthing dock at the end of the British Aluminium Jetty meaning no requirement for tendering. This alleviates poor weather cancellations.
We will take you to places in Wales you thought didn’t (or couldn’t) exist and your driver & tour escort will keep you fully informed and advised as to points of interest and general knowledge regarding the ever-changing panoramic views, including Eryri, or better known as the Snowdonia National Park, which is the second largest National park in Britain. We’ll navigate (by road and foot) some of the most scenic and “Welsh” roads on the map, taking in as much of those glorious views on offer.
There will be plenty of on-route stops and you will get the chance to enter at least one castle on this tour. Journey times between stops are relatively short and conveniences are regular.
The tour has been carefully routed and planned with your driver / escort tailoring the day to suit the weather, crowds, time of day, atmosphere and ambiance of the general group on board. This makes every tour unique, special and memorable and allows you to partake in as much (or little) as you feel comfortable with. You will never be put under any commitment or pressure to do anything that you don’t wish to.
We guarantee you will see more of Wales with BusyBus than you ever thought possible and be the envy of the ship when you exchange stories at dinner!
ITINERARY
LEAVING HOLYHEAD
We enter the mysterious and legendary land of Wales in a short, narrated drive across the island of Anglesey (within a stones-throw of the marital home of Prince William and Kate) and navigate to the Mainland known as North Wales.
CAERNARFON AND CAERNARFON CASTLE
The mighty town of Caernarfon will be our first stop. Its sheer scale and commanding presence sets it somehow apart, and to this day, still trumpets, in no uncertain terms, the intention of its commissioner, Edward I. Begun in 1283 as the definitive chapter in his conquest of Wales, Caernarfon was constructed not only as a military stronghold but also as a seat of government and royal palace. Possibly the most famous of Wales’ castles is Caernarfon Castle, a magnificent-stoned fortress which evokes an authentic medieval atmosphere throughout. When you first see the castle you’ll experience a strange sensation of empathy in the presence of such a historic site.
OGWEN VALLEY – SNOWDONIA
Now, brace yourselves for what BusyBus has become known for (and, we modestly add, won significant national awards for) the North Wales Adventure element of our experience. In to Snowdonia National Park using carefully selected routes to take you off the beaten track and to viewpoints of wonder! You will feel like you own Snowdonia in the tranquillity and ambience (and adventure) we have prepared!
BETWS-Y-COED
No trip to North Wales would be complete without a stop at the “capital”, Betws-Y-Coed (prayer-house in the woods). Interestingly, whilst right in the centre of Snowdonia National Park, an exclusion boundary has allowed this fairy-tale town to flourish into the centre of outdoor tourism in Wales. With its many shops, cafes, pubs and locals, this town can’t fail to impress!
CONWY AND CONWY CASTLE
Next we will visit the town of Conwy, constructed by the English monarch Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as one of the key fortresses in his ‘iron ring’ of castles to contain the Welsh, was built to prompt such a humbling reaction with its fabulous wall circuit of over 3/4 mile long and guarded by no less than 22 towers. Towering proudly over Conwy is arguably the best Welsh castle of all, Conwy Castle. A gritty, dark-stoned fortress which has the rare ability to evoke an authentic medieval atmosphere. The first time that you catch sight of the castle you will know you are in the presence of a historic site which still casts a powerful spell.
LLANFAIRPG
Finally, for that last minute souvenir or a photograph that’ll impress even the quietest of neighbours, we will visit one of Wales’ Wonders, the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch! Yes, really!! One of the longest town names in the World with its famous railway station. Don’t worry if you’re struggling to pronounce it – all of you will be singing it all the way home!
TICKETS JUST £59!
CRUISE ARRIVALS SCHEDULE – HOLYHEAD 2020
| Date | Shipping Line | Vessel | Time in Port | Tour Departure* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th May | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Star | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 15th May | Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Explorer | 08.00-19.00 | 08.30 |
| 2nd June | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Brilliance of the Seas | 08.00-17.00 | 08.30 |
| 7th June | Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Explorer | 08.00-19.00 | 08.30 |
| 9th June | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Brilliance of the Seas | 08.00-17.00 | 08.30 |
| 17th June | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Brilliance of the Seas | 07.00-19.00 | 07.30 |
| 5th July | TUI Cruises | Mein Schiff 3 | 07.00-18.00 | 07.30 |
| 12th July | Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Navigator | 09.00-20.00 | 09.30 |
| 13th July | Silversea | Whisper | 08.00-19.00 | 08.30 |
| 15th July | Holland America Line | ms Veendam | 08.00-17.00 | 08.30 |
| 21st July | Princess Cruises | Island Princess | 07.00-16.00 | 07.30 |
| 24th July | Royal Caribbean Cruises | Brilliance of the Seas | 07.00-18.00 | 07.30 |
| 28th July | Crystal Cruises | Crystal Symphony | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 27th August | Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Splendor | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 9th September | Holland America Line | ms Rotterdam | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 11th September | Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Star | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 17th September | Regent Seven Seas | Seven Seas Explorer | 08.00-19.00 | 08.30 |
| 4th October | Norwegian Cruise Lines | Norwegian Star | 08.00-18.00 | 08.30 |
| 5th October | Oceania Cruises | Nautica | 08.00-20.00 | 08.30 |
* Times are APPROXIMATE. We carefully co-ordinate times to meet & greet you at the quay-side and provide a fully synchronised tour returning at least 1-hour before “all aboard“. We will keep you fully updated via your online booking records if the TOUR DEPARTURE time above changes.
** NOTE: Holyhead (Anglesey) now uses the British Aluminium Jetty for docking. This alleviates the need for tendering and mitigates the risks of poor weather delays and/or cancellations.
…AND FINALLY: We are conscious of passenger concerns regarding the consequences of a late arrival back to ship when using independent excursion providers. In BusyBus’s case, saving upto 50% along with having a wonderful overall experience simply may not be sufficient to convince you, so let me, as Managing Director, re-assure you that all operational aspects of our tours are taken very seriously indeed to mitigate such a risk.
For example, wherever we tour we are always in communication with colleagues, peers, partners and associates who could, at short notice, jump in to assist an immobilised vehicle and/or get passengers safely back to their ship. All our vehicles carry a comprehensive manual that includes emergency procedures, phone numbers, breakdown assistance, medical aid, etc. We are, of course, recommended and known by the Port Authority too and are in regular communication.
If you’re worried about being late back, how do you think we’d feel with stranded souls sitting on the back of our coach?
