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Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights

Departing Ogden Point, your driver/guide will point out Mile Zero, the western end of the Trans Canada Highway, Beacon Hill Park and Thunderbird Park en route to Craigdarroch Castle an outstanding landmark home standing most affluent in a city steeped in heritage. Craigdarroch was built between 1887–1890 by Robert Dunsmuir and boasts a unique collection of residential stained and leaded glass, period furnishing, and excellent wood paneling and carving. Enjoy your self guided visit in the castle with docents available to answer any questions you may have. After your visit, rejoin your driver/guide returning via Chinatown and welcomed by the Gates of Harmonious Interest. Continue to the inner harbor framed by some of Canada's most recognizable landmarks, the majestic Parliament Buildings aglow in 3,333 light bulbs and the ivy-covered Empress Hotel. At the inner harbor and shopping district you'll be given some free time to take in the local sights and sounds prior to your return journey to the pier and your ship. Note: Must have good mobility and be able to negotiate over 90 stairs at the castle. Order of sights may vary. Use your complimentary shuttle ticket for your return to the pier. The shuttle operates every 20 minutes between the pier and downtown. Your guide will point out shuttle pick-up location to you. The shuttle schedule is dependent on prevailing local conditions, with the last shuttle departing downtown, an hour prior to the ships departure from port. You can choose to remain with your guide and return directly to the pier.
Average:
3 out of 5
3
 out of 
5
(5 Reviews) 5
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot (5 reviews)
5 stars
1
4 stars
1
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
1 star
1
3 of 5(60%)customers would recommend this to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Review 1 for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Overall: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Adventurous: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
SharNJ
Location:New Jersey
Party size:4
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:June
Favorite activities:Relaxing
I want to go here next:Bermuda
Date:July 3, 2012
Know Before You Go
Although I personally liked this excursion, there were some issues. The bus can not travel up to the castle. They drop you off at the bottom of a fairly steep incline and you are required to walk up to the castle. Not an issue for me, but definitely an issue for some (elderly, those with canes or wheelchairs, strollers, bad knees/joints, etc.). Luckily the weather was clear. If it had been raining . . . The castle is also 4 floors and steps are the only means to get from floor to floor. Again, those mentioned above might have trouble navigating these. Unfortunately, we were not made aware of this ahead of time. Consequently, my parents (in their 70's) did not enjoy it as much as I did. All that being said, the castle itself, is beautiful and picturesque; a step back in time for sure.
26 of 26 people found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Overall: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Adventurous: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
sannbblake
Location:Everett, WA
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:June
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Adventure
Date:June 15, 2012
Not a castle
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June 2012. Althought the driver was very informational, I can't say I enjoyed paying for this excursion. The castle is more like a historical mansion. If you enjoy history or historical figures, this may be for you. Or if you just want to ride around the city. The house is only part finished as there are still rooms they may renovate depending on how much money they make. I would stay on the cruise ship unless you feel like going into Victoria to shop or for dinner, in which case you should just take the free shuttle. Sorry, but I did not enjoy this at all.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Overall: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Adventurous: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
TheRuckSackStore
Location:Murrieta, CA
Party size:1
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:May
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Educational
Favorite port:Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
I want to go here next:Panama Canal
Date:May 27, 2012
Nice intro to the city
A nice low key intro to the city
0 of 4 people found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Overall: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Adventurous: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
basebedi
Location:texas
Party size:2
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:August
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Relaxing
Favorite port:Ketchikan, Alaska
I want to go here next:Caribbean
Date:September 6, 2011
beautiful city
This was a great tour because we enjoyed the self guided tour of the castle, you could linger and enjoy each room and the grounds, and the bus tour took us to all the beautiful historic neighborhoods, and the downtown area including Chinatown and the wharf area. I had no idea Victoria was such a lovely place, so green and flowers everywhere. We really loved this tour
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Craigdarroch Castle & Victoria Highlights
Overall: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
Adventurous: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
AKcruiseKPRP
Date:July 26, 2011
Horrible tour guide
The tour itself was okay. The castle tour was self guided. The rest was just driving around the city. Our tour guide, who went by the name Tiny, was extremely rude. When my friend and I gave him our tickets he assumed that we wouldn't be able to climb the hill to the castle. He was constantly complaining about other drivers and pedestrians while still on the microphone. At the last stop for a 10 minute photo stop he was trying to get everyone to take the pass for the alternate hop-on/hop-off bus. My friend and I specifically told him that we would be returning to the bus. As my friend was walking back to the bus, he had the door shut and was pulling away. She had to run into the street to get his attention to stop. There was also another entire family that was trying to catch the tour bus again too. He should have kept a count of the number of hop on/off tickets he gave out versus how many were on the tour. Missing the bus would have been unfortunate and we could have gotten back to the ship, but we were told that we could leave personal items on board the bus and my friend and I had a bag on the front seat of the bus and I don't know how we would have been able to get those items returned. Sadly because of one person, I have no interest of ever returning to Victoria, or Canada for that matter. It was a very sad way to end the cruise.
17 of 26 people found this review helpful.