Glasgow Cruise Port (Greenock Ocean Terminal) is the gateway to the west coast of Scotland. Multiple different cruise lines call into port here, including Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Azamara, Saga, and more, making it easy to head out on such excursions as whisky-tasting or exploring Scotland’s biggest city.
Set on the River Clyde, Greenock offers views over Loch Lomond National Park and beyond. The port has no tidal or lock restrictions and is accessible year-round for ships of all sizes. As well as being visited by a large number of cruise lines, it is also homeport of Hebridean Cruises, whose one ship, Hebridean Princess, has twice been chartered by H.M. The Queen.
Every cruise ship that docks is greeted by bagpipe players and volunteers from the Inverclyde Tourist Group who, dressed in their distinctive tartan uniforms, are a great source of information and assistance for visitors. If you are not booked on an excursion, you can spend time with the ambassadors learning about the many places of interest nearby.
Glasgow City Centre is around 45 minutes by road or rail. If taking the train, take the Gourock-bound train from Glasgow Central Station to Greenock West, from where it’s a 10-15-minute walk to the port. From Edinburgh it’s around two hours by train; one hour and 45 minutes by road.
Staff meet every cruise ship that docks, so you can rest assured that there will be someone available any time you need assistance. Sightseeing excursions are typically timed to cruise ships’ schedules.
Just a 10-minute walk from the terminal, the town of Greenock offers views of the surrounding mountains and lakes (“lochs”). Walk up Lyle Hill and, on a clear day, you can enjoy views of Loch Long, Holy Loch, Loch Goil, Gareloch, the Argyll Hills and a number of “Munros,” (mountains over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters).
