Experience the joys of two iconic Scottish activities: drinking a wee dram of whisky and playing the bagpipes.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at a downtown venue for a whisky tasting. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will host the event, in which the whiskies will be served at cask strength. That means the drams will not have been subjected to chill filtration or any other interference that would alter their tastes.

You will be served three drams, a dram being an eighth of a fluid ounce. The tasting will reveal the remarkable variety within the distillation processes and present the complexities that the different oak casks and aging times impart.

Before each dram is sampled, one of the society’s members will describe the whisky’s characteristics. Some whiskies might taste spicy and dry while others may be heavily peated with strong smoky flavors. The experience will be enlightening and entertaining.

Your immersion into the world of bagpipes will be just as fulfilling. Louise Marshall, one of Scotland’s most renowned pipers, will lead your workshop. She has played for Queen Elizabeth II and Pope Benedict XVI, and her instruction will be based on years of experience.

Marshall will teach you basic chanter techniques, show you how bagpipes work and describe the instrument’s history. If you wish to look the part, Scottish attire such as kilts, sporrans and feather bonnets will be available.

Explore parts of Edinburgh that are often overlooked but shouldn’t be, as these revitalized areas have become thriving destinations.

After departing from the pier, you will soon reach Dean Village, a historical area of Edinburgh where grains were milled for 800 years. Once a separate village where many mill workers lived, it still seems vastly different from busier Edinburgh.

Highlights include a 19th-century residential building for the mill workers known as Well Court and Dean Bridge, which spans the Water of Leith. Thomas Telford, the engineer behind the ingenious Caledonian Canal, designed the bridge. While meandering about, you might also see decorative mill stones and stone plaques with carvings of baked breads and pies, a nod to the grains used to make them.

Continuing on, you will next explore Stockbridge, a village on the north edge of Edinburgh that is wonderfully bohemian and artsy. Landmarks include the Roman temple-inspired St. Bernard’s Well, whose waters supposedly have medicinal qualities, and the Stockbridge Colonies, a cluster of 19th-century stone homes that is really a village within a village.

A leisurely walk to Leith follows. A port for more than 1,000 years, Leith has been thoughtfully renovated and revitalized, yet its historical character has remained intact. During the guided portion of your visit, you might see what was once the largest swing bridge in the United Kingdom, a 17th-century signal tower that was originally a windmill, and the statue of Roberts Burns. During free time, you can explore even further.

Delve into the history of the royals and aristocracy that have lived in and around Edinburgh, beginning with an exploration of Hopetoun House, a magnificent country estate that is still privately owned. While touring the house and grounds, you will gain insight into the Hope family that has resided there since the late 1600s. The interiors have remained virtually unchanged for centuries and beautifully reflect the elegance of the Georgian era. Free time for lunch follows in Edinburgh’s enlightening Royal Mile, the grand thoroughfare between Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official Scottish residence. Afterwards, while touring Edinburgh castle, you may see the Honours of Scotland – which are the oldest crown jewels in Britain – and the apartment where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI. The Great Hall is another highlight, especially its wood-beam ceiling, which rests on stones carved with symbols such as the thistle, Scotland’s national emblem.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Tour the spectacular private estate that the Hope family has resided in since the late 1600s. • Browse the royal treasures in Edinburgh Castle, a fortress that is the city’s oldest building. • Meander the Royal Mile during free time and dine there on your own. less

Walk Edinburgh’s glorious Royal Mile, the medieval thoroughfare that stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The walk will commence at the castle’s esplanade in the shadow of the imposing fortress, the city’s oldest building. While descending the Royal Mile, you will pass a litany of historical buildings such as Gladstone’s Land, the former townhouse of a wealthy merchant that has been restored to its 17th-century splendor. You will also see Lady Stair’s House, a literary museum dedicated to the works of Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, both of whom were born in Edinburgh. Upon reaching the end of the street, you will enjoy free time, during which you might explore Holyroodhouse, the British monarch’s official residence in Scotland. In the 18th century, famed novelist Daniel Defoe hailed the Royal Mile as “the largest, longest and finest street in the world.” It remains extraordinary even today.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse. • Pass one historical building after another for an idea of city life through the centuries. • Spend free time around Holyroodhouse, where you might tour the royal residence or shop. less

History and beauty come together in the city of Edinburgh. Arrive at Princes Street, with its array of fine stores on one side, and the beautifully laid-out formal gardens on the other. Visit the imposing Edinburgh Castle, home of Scottish Kings and Queens for centuries, perched on its rocky site 445 feet above the city. See the 15th-century Old Royal Palace which houses the Scottish Crown Jewels and the apartment in which Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James VI of Scotland who also became James I of England.

This castle has witnessed many tense moments in its thousand-year history. Take a drive through the Old Town, and see the historical area known as the "Royal Mile," Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate with delightful multi-storied houses and quaint side streets. Pass spectacular Holyrood House, the official Scottish residence of the Queen and the new Scottish Parliament building.

Even from a distance St. Andrews delights the visitor. It’s a town for all seasons and all tastes. Named after Scotland’s patron saint, St. Andrews, it is the home of the world’s oldest golf club, founded in 1754. The Club is the headquarters of world golf and the supreme authority in golfing matters. Crowds from all over the world have gathered round the 18th hole of the famous Old Course, knowing just how much depended on a putt.

You’ll travel along the main route before branching off onto country roads with fine pastoral views heading towards St. Andrews. Upon arrival into St. Andrews Town, you’ll stop at the atmospheric ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, which are among the most photographed in Scotland. Your tour continues with a panoramic drive-through of St. Andrews seeing the bustling market town, and then enjoying an overview of the layout of the golf courses. You’ll be able to view from the outside, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. You’ll have some free time for a short stroll around areas of the Old Course, or to browse in one of the many small specialist shops selling golf memorabilia and golf clothing.

This is a perfect option to get to know Edinburgh for those who may not be able to negotiate walking and climbing. A narrated drive introduces you to the historic capital of Scotland. You’ll take in the main city sights and get an interesting overview of Edinburgh. Your tour takes you through the Old Town descending eastwards along the ridge from the castle. This is the historical area known as the ‘Royal Mile’ where you drive along Castle Hill, Lawnmarket, High Street and Canongate passing delightful multi-storied houses and quaint side streets. In the area of the old town, you’ll get a flavor of what 16th and 17th century Edinburgh was like – a cramped, impossibly crowded area of tall buildings on either side of the mile of road between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood.

At one end of the Royal Mile you’ll see splendid and regal Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Queen when she pays official visits to Scotland. Drive to the top of Arthur’s Seat from where you’ll have a marvelous view of Edinburgh Castle standing proudly on its soaring rock. This notable landmark, dominates old town and the entire city. You’ll also drive along Princes Street, flanked by shops and beautiful garden parks as you continue to Georgian New Town where in the late 18th century, prosperous Edinburgh commissioned the finest architects to create a city of classical buildings, tree-lined squares and crescents linked by wide streets that exude elegance and harmony.

The highlight of this tour is a visit to one of Scotland’s most impressive feats of engineering – the Falkirk Wheel. The world’s first rotating boatlift links two canals - one 82 feet (25 metres) higher than the other. Sitting in your canal boat on the lower gondola of the wheel, it rotates, carrying some 500 tonnes of boat and water as you gracefully raise to the upper level, counterbalanced by the top gondola coming down. This experience is made all the better with a short cruise along the canal offering stunning views from the top.

Continue to the city of Stirling, known as ‘the brooch that clasps together the highlands and the lowlands’. The lower town is packed with contemporary shopping malls, theatres and art galleries. Enjoy some free time here to look around, so you can browse the high street stores, sip coffee at a sidewalk café or head up to explore the Castle of the Holy Rude.

If you would like to explore Edinburg on your own, this private motorcoach transfer is ideal. You’ll be dropped off in a central location near the Royal Mile, and you’ll have nearly 6 hours to enjoy the city as you please. Your return transfer to the ship departs from the same place as your drop-off. A tour escort will be traveling with you to and from the ship to answer any questions you may have about sightseeing, dining or shopping.

At the designated time, rejoin your motorcoach for the return to the port. Please confirm with your escort the meeting point and time of departure. There is only one timely return transfer and guests who are late would be responsible for expenses incurred to return to the ship.