‘REAL Guernsey Tour’ + cruise

Our first stop during a May 2018 cruise around the British Isles was St. Peter Port on Guernsey. Online, we had booked a tour there with Tour Guernsey (Barnabe Ltd., Market St., St. Peter Port, Guernsey, England, GY1 1HB, U.K.; phone +44 778 1423 616, www.tourguernsey.com), whom we recommend enthusiastically.

Guide/driver Andy Taylor operated a Land Rover that had been modified into a safari-type vehicle with raised seats and open sides. (It had plastic covers and blankets, if needed.) The vehicle accommodated up to 12 passengers, but there were only six on our tour.

The 3-hour "REAL Guernsey Tour" covered the roads and lanes of Guernsey far better than a bus could. In addition, Andy was an excellent guide, full of interesting info about his island.

We think that this tour, priced at £55 (near $72) per person, was the best way to discover Guernsey.

As for the 12-night "British Isles" cruise aboard the MS Royal Princess of Princess Cruises (800/774-6237, princess.com), May 13-25, we had been attracted by the itinerary — Guernsey, three ports in Ireland and three in Scotland plus Le Havre, France — and the bargain price of $2,400 per person, double occupancy, including air from Atlanta, Georgia.

As it turned out, however, we felt that 3,600 passengers were too many for this cruise. The delays caused by long lines in boarding and disembarking, especially at the two tender ports, tended to offset the comfortable balcony cabin, excellent service and good food.

TED & CAROL MULLETT

Lake Toxaway, NC