Britannia visitors' book

“We came to scotland for a wedding. we made a point of visiting Brittania as we had seen her so many time in Cowes it was a must. It was well worth the visit. a superbly arranged tour route and guide system through a wonderful piece of british history. I will visit again next time i am in Scotland”

“what a wonderful day out and great value for money the handset given to you beore you enter makes the tour a lot more interesting and gives you more of an insight into the life of the royal family also good that no photos or videos were restricted a great family day out keep up the good work”

“Fantastic website... Good resources for learning, easy to follow... Keep up the good work!!!”

“Really a wonderful experience. Inside Britannia you feel a piece of British History and Royal Life.”

“We visited Britannia on Monday of this week. It was a truly memorable experience. The staff were helpful and friendly, the ship was immaculate and the use of the audio guides so that you could enjoy the experience at your leaisure made this a truly wonderful experience.”

“A friend recommended that my wife and I visit the Royal Yacht Britannia whilst we were in Edinburgh. This we did and enjoyed it tremendously. It really gave us an insight to how it was to serve on the Yacht. Whatever your views are on the Monarchy, this is a piece of British history and should not be missed.”

“A fantastic experience. A must see, for anyone visiting Edinburgh, I was amazed at how ordinary the Queens bedroom appeared, how the crew lived in those cramped conditions I will never know.The whole experience has been well thought out from start to finish, giving the public a true insight into life on board an amazing ship.”

“How wonderful! What a day out it was! How could anyone forget this yacht? We even bought some fudge and my husband had to have a tee shirt to remember ever detail; took some photos as well.”

“What an excellent attraction. We had a great couple of hours exploring the yacht and found the information provided fascinating. What a wonderful experience, keep up the good work!”

“I and my family paid a visit just after easter and really enjoyed it even my 5 year old who said "this is a boat fit for a princess"”

“I have had the pleasure of visiting HMY Britannia. She is a stunning vessel.”

“I visited the ship with my husband and my 3 boys, we had a fantastic time. It was great to see were my granddad worked for 10 years, it was quite upsetting to think that he had once walked along the corridors. I would just like to thank every one who puts there hard work in it to keep it going, thanks again .”

“Our visit yesterday was wonderful, such a great tourist attraction to add to Edinburgh's list. It was even better than we'd imagined, the audio guide was excellent and a real help in appreciating all there was to see on board. Would recommend a visit to anyone.”

“Visited on my 50th birthday, and what a lovely present it was; just to saunter around this beautiful yacht with so many wonderful memories attached to it. The audio guide was full of information and added wonderfully to what overall started my birthday celebrations of brilliantly! Thanks to all involved in keeping this boat up to the great standard it is in.”

“Very enjoyable visit,reasonable price, and excellent information.”

“Our family of three (incl 1 toddler) visited this fantastic ship last week. I was so impressed that the whole place was buggy accessible, thanks so much for making it an easy place to get round. I was expecting to have to park up at some point, but the buggy made it round the whole place! Our little boy was fascinated with what he called the Queen's holiday boat, and he loved seeing the photos dotted round.”

““Just back from visiting the yacht what a brilliant time we had. The self guided tour was excellent we never felt rushed along even though there were lots of visitors it was as if you were in your own world imagining life on board. Having seen the yacht on film and in famous photos it was fantastic to actually stand on the decks. Brilliant!!””

“One of the most fascinating attractions we have ever visited - with plenty to see! We were made to feel very welcome right from the start. The gentleman handing us our audio handsets was very friendly and courteous - indeed, he provided the nicest handover of an audioguide we've ever known! We actually thought he must have worked on the yacht previously. What an amazing insight into an awe-inspiring lifestyle. The tour is easy to follow and you're able to sit down in parts of the yacht that you wouldn't expect. Hats off to the team who maintain Britannia. A very worthwhile visit which made us feel proud of our heritage.”

“Since my visit on 11th December I have recommended this tour to everyone I have spoken to! I enjoyed every moment of my two hours there and took around 50 photographs. A wonderful experience -particularly I thought at this time of the year when there were no crowds and all the time in the world to really enyoy it.”

“In Edinburgh I visited alot of places, but the Britannia is really something different to see and to know that this ship has sailed around the world for so many years. [I love the engine room]”

“Our visit to RY Britannia was the favourite out of all the things we did in Edinburgh. It was so interesting and the audioguide was brilliant (not too long on each bit!) The icing on the cake was the delicious mulled wine and shortbread served on the ship as part of the Xmas celebrations. Wonderful.”

“This ship is a must for all visitors to Edinburgh. Very interesting and well done. It's a shame that this ship isn't still in use. By visiting this ship you get lot's of information about the life on board, the British Royals and all the technical stuff of this outstanding yacht. It's a really five star plus attraction! By the way, the fudge sold on board is excellent! Thanks for preserving this really magnificant yacht for the next generations.”

“I went for the second time to visit Britannia with a friend and it was excellent. I was pleased to see that the operating theatre, consultation room and sick bay were shown. It was really a wonderful way to pass the time of day and I would definately visit again.”

“Visited 23.8.07 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With so many parts open for inspection (or viewing in case of engine room) a very comprehensive picture was obtained. What a shame it is not still in use as clearly Her Majesty loved this ship. Really liked her decor, very restful indeed. Congratulations to all concerned, this visit was a highlight.”

“My sister and I visited the Royal Yacht on 10th October. It was a beautiful sunny day and we sat on the sun deck watching people having photographs taken by the side of the bell and the compass. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves (young and old). The private rooms were amazingly homely and welcoming. It was easy to imagine Charles and Diana aboard and what fun she must have been to have around. The picture of her rushing to greet William and Harry with arms open wide and a grin to match will always stay in my memory. A big thank you to all involved for making this the highlight of our trip to Edinburgh.”

“Having visited the britannia yesterday we thoroughly enjoyed our tour. we had been meeting some family friends from california and all met in edinburgh for a few days,we felt it was such a great experience and had a wonderful morning,the sun shone and just being able to walk along the boat was a tremendous thing. thankyou for making our trip one we will all treasure and remember always.”

“As I previously stated on your web site, my husband and I were ecstatic when we finally visited this wonderful marine museum Sep 24th. As we were arriving the doors had just closed for the day, but fortunately they let us in through the exit doors. We would never have been able to imagine in one's mind the gracefulness and the beauty this Royal yacht possesses. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have been able to witness this beautiful work of art.”

“What we enjoyed the most about our stay in Edinburgh was the visit of The Royal Yacht Britannia. Really worth seeing again! Thanks a lot for audio guide in Czech! ;-)”

“I was amazed at the diligence with which the heritage has been maintained. Taking a trip on the Britannia enriched my knowledge about the ship. The absolute serenity in the ship speaks volumes about the lifestyle of the royal family.”

“Our son Jon lives in Edinburgh and works in Leith so we walked from Dean Village along the Water of Leith, had lunch with Jon and then spent the afternoon on the Britannia. The Royal Yacht is certainly well worth a visit and I am planning to return in January with my sister. The engine room and the laundry are testimony to an era when things were made to last. I wish I was on the sun deck now with a G&T. Well worth a visit.”

“Dear Sirs I would just like to say how much my wife and I enjoyed our recent visit to the Britannia. Even though the weather was drizzly, this did not detract from the pleasure we both got from our visit. The hand held commentary devices are a great idea. The commentary is factual and not at all patronising-well done. It was interesting to see the set up of the boat and to see that it wasn't all glitz and glamour as one might expect for the sovereign. The visit was part of an anniversary present for my wife and I was just along for company but it was SO interesting-I was amazed by all of the different things to see. Thank you for an excellent visit.”

“Excellent. I was there yesterday with 2 German friends who did not speak English. I was able to listen to the headset in English while they listened in German. We all really enjoyed our visit especially the Rolls Royce and the fact that they kept the beer in the garage when it was not used for the Rolls Royce. It was nice to see so many family photos.”

“I visited Britannia in August, 2007. What an enjoyable experience. The audio guide was so informative, and it enabled visitors to go round at their own pace. It was a great insight into the private living arrangements of the Royal Family, and the daily running of the yacht in general. It is very obvious that Britannia is being maintained to the highest possibe standard, and is a credit to all those people who work there. While the decommissioning was a sad event, I must say that the Queen's loss is our gain. I'd recommend the tour to everyone. I'll definitely be back!!”

“What a wonderful, charming home this must have been for the Royal family, away from the public glare. Having visited this atmospheric yacht twice already, we love it's peaceful ambience and feel sorry that the Royal family have had to part with such a personal treasure. We highly recommend a visit to the Britannia to everyone touring Edinburgh.”

“hello. i visited Britannia in portsmouth in 1995 and she looked brand new then thanks to her dedicated team of yotties. i recently visted her again in edinburgh on 23/07/2007 and i must say she looked exactly the same and to add i think the queen would be proud and maybe still use her for accomodation if she were in town???? well done lads keep up the good work and if u need help give me a call..... john hampton”

“Visited Britannia on 9th of July,very elegant and tastefully designed throughout, an absolute pleasure to see.”

“My husband and I will be in Edinburgh this September for a few days and will most certainly visit this wonderful naval floating museum masterpiece.”

“Thank you for a wonderful family day out! We all enjoyed our visit to the Britannia immensely - from Gran who had worked in the office at John Browns Shipyard at the time she was built to grandsons and grandaughters who shared the experience of seeing round the Royal Yacht and all the history it contained - we can understand why the Queen found Britannia the one place she could truly relax. The audio guide was excellent and we all enjoyed the fudge! Thank you again for giving us all a day which we will always remember. The Currie family, Isle of Arran, Scotland.”

“I visited Britannia last week having previously visited about 3 years ago. I can honestly say that the second visit was even more enjoyable than the first. It's a magnificent yacht and we are so fortunate in being able to visit such an historical vessel.”

“Our tour on May 22, 2006 was one of the best we have ever experienced. It is so gratifying to see history being carefully and lovingly preserved. The fudge from the sweet shop wasn't bad, either!”

“We visited Britannia on the 7th May 2007. What an absolute cracker of a ship, even more worth visiting than we had expected. A real window on our recent (and not so recent!)past. It just felt that the Royal Family had just stepped out. The best tourist attraction in Edinburgh. Charles and Linda McPherson”

“A really brilliant visit - such a surprise to find how much we could see and just how impressive the whole experience was for me and my son Andrew. Thank you for making it possible.”

“We visited Britannia on 4th April 2007. It was a very strange feeling to know that we have walked the same route as royalty as well as very famous people. I found it a beautiful ship and very sad that she had to be decommisioned, i am sure it was a real wrench for the Queen and her family. Well worth a visit.”

“Nice to see this historic ship has been preserved. Keep up the good work!”

“Last weekend my wife and I were in Edinburgh and decided to visit Britannia. We are so glad we did. The tour from start to finish was amazing. There was even the odd occasion when we were the only people in the room or on the deck - a feeling that is hard to describe, although the word surreal does spring to mind. Congratulations to everyone involved. We shall come again.”

“We found our visit so very interesting and would recommend a visit by all tourists. Thoroughly enjoyed our time there.”

“I found the access and information very well organised. The audio guide gives an extremely realistic mood to how life was spent by not only the Royal Family but all the crew on board. An experience not to be missed -- Edinburghs' pride and joy.”

“I visited Britannia with my son at the weekend and can't stop talking about it. A fantastic tour and she truly charmed us all. I can understand why the Queen found Britannia the one place she could truly relax. Fantastic audio tour and would recommend it to all my friends and family.”

“When my husband and I visited Scotland we were delighted to find that Britannia was there. It was a wonderful treat that we shall never forget..A must see!!!”

“I saw Britannia in Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada during the visit of T.R.H. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The ship is simply fantastic! Would love to see the inside some day.”

“Having seen Britannia many times at Cowes, Portsmouth and other places, it was a treat to actually set foot on the old gal! She is still a great ship.”

“I wanted to express how impressed I was at my recent visit to the Yacht. I am blind and used the audio description for VI to aid me round the ship. I was amazed at the extensive detail provided to help me navigate. This is the best audio description experience I have had. My guide dog was also warmly welcomed, which was an added bonus. I would highly recommend both the yacht and its audio facilities to any visually impaired person! Thank you!”

“On return from a visit to N.Ireland I found myself in Edinburgh and realised that 'Britannia' was here. What an absolute delight to find that I could visit and also that my wife was able to visit in her wheelchair. A truly memorable experience but saddened by the sight of Her Majesty's obvious dismay in saying goodbye to an old and faithful friend, as seen in the photograph at the Decommissioning. I must congratulate the team who look after 'Britannia' as the love and affection you have for her shines in everything there is to see and do when aboard. The audio commentary was so useful. Go forward in strength and continue to serve as Her Majesty still does. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN”

“Hats off to the great work on this magnificent yacht. Access to all parts of the ship was amazing. If you're going to Edinburgh, make sure to include the Britannia on your agenda.”

“An excellent and enjoyable visit,very interesting to be able to view the ship close-up,inside and outside.”

“"Keeping up to date with the past". Britannia lives on not only with us ex-Yachtsmen, but with everyone who visits her from being the greatest show afloat.”

“A great guest book idea. All your visitors cannot fail to be impressed by the work your team are doing in keeping the 'old lady' in such good trim. Dixie”

“Since I was a little girl, I was always interested in the Britannia----I read so much about the royal family-----it was a dream come true to step foot on Britannia----I am a Delta Air Lines flight attendant---and only because I have a job that provided me the opportunity to travel would I ever have had one of my dreams come true----It was fabulous!!!”

“I had the honor to visit HMY Britannia during a NATO Meeting in Edinburgh. A group of NATO Army Officers were given a wonderful tour during our stay. I highly recommend a visit to Britannia for anyone on holiday in the Edinburgh area.”

“Wonderful experience, aboard Britannia, and such an informative commentary. Looking forward to more visits.”

“i loved to see it”

“I was at that reunion that for all us ex Yotties was held on board on June24th in 2006,and I am really looking forward to the next one! Great site, keep up the good work. Cheers, Smudger.”

“We visited on May 19 with another couple. The self-guided tour is excellent and provides exact information that answers most questions one would have. The Britannia should be a 'must' stop for visitors to Edinburgh. We particularly enjoyed General Schwartzkoph's remark regarding the engine room. Most enjoyable!”

“What an experience. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Will definately be back. Even the children enjoyed it and that takes some doing!”

“We loved the tour and found it even more interesting and enjoyable than we thought we would. What made it really special though (we were in Edinburgh for our wedding anniversary) was one of the staff, a really nice chap called Lyndsay. He was very friendly and took the time to tell us great stories about past crew and passengers and really made us feel like we were special guests. He was such a nice chap that we were still talking about him days later!”

“We visited on 11th May, 2006. It was a beautiful sunny day and when we were on the shelter deck and in the sun lounge we could just imagine that it was the Carribean or Palma. The experience of being on Britannia will always stay with us. I really wanted my husband to see it as he is ex royal navy and saw it from the distance in the dry dock at Portsmouth in, I think 1996.”

“We visited on Sunday 7th May 2006 and enjoyed our visit very much - this is a great way to spend a couple of hours. Well done to all the staff who keep this great ship in such wonderful condition. Don't leave Edinburgh without doing this.”

“We visited on 3rd May with Rob's 87 year old mother and were impressed by the fact that we had easy wheelchair access for her throughout, even the engine room. We saw much more than we expected and found the staff warm, welcoming and helpful. It was great to experience the smell of cooking on board (as well as homemade fudge from the sweet shop) and so to know that Britannia is still useful and functioning, instead of just being a museum piece. Well done to all.”

“Loved the tour wish we could sail away on her. Can’t wait to vist it again..”

“An excellent visit! Good value for money, highly courteous and efficient staff and a very good audio commentary - what a pleasant change for this be included in the price. A fascinating insight into what must have been a wonderful place to spend a few days. Highly recommended!”

“I was impressed and pleased at the ongoing conservation work aboard. And who among us can fail to admire this beautiful ship and the role it has played in history. Keep up the good work”

“Just back from visiting the yacht what a brilliant time we had. The self guided tour was excellent we never felt rushed along even though there were lots of visitors it was as if you were in your own world imagining life on board. Having seen the yacht on film and in famous photos it was fantastic to actually stand on the decks. Brilliant!!”

“We felt like we were back in the forties and fifties and should have dressed accordingly! Now I know how my hubby gets to be so tidy, with the size of those bunks you would have to be (he was in the Royal Marines). So sorry that he could not be with me on that trip, he would have loved the atmosphere and info.”

“My wife and I visited the yacht in early April 2006. It is inspirational to walk in the footsteps of history. This floating palace is simple yet impressive. It is also beautiful without ostentation. We were very moved.”