Getting ashore
Cruise ships dock at the North Shields ferry terminal pier, next to Royal Quays Marina. The pier has two berths, takes ships up to 300 m long and handles 2,000 passengers. The terminal building has 700 seats and six check-in desks, with luggage handling. A July 2019 project added a 300 square metre baggage area for Marella Cruises, with room for 1,000 bags. Parking costs £9.50 a night, with short and long-term options. Shuttles run from the pier to downtown and the Metro, and cruise lines sell them at about €16 a person, usually only on the night before the call. Check the ship’s notice for shuttle times and prices, as both may have changed.
For walkers and architecture fans
Grainger Town was built between 1835 and 1842 around Grey Street, Grainger Street and Clayton Street. Grey’s Monument, 41 m tall, stands at the top of Grey Street. Newcastle Castle costs £9.95 for adults and is open daily from April to September. The Tyne Bridge dates from 1928. The Gateshead Millennium Bridge tilts to let boats pass, though it may only tilt occasionally, so check before you plan a crossing. The Great North Museum: Hancock, the Laing Art Gallery and the Discovery Museum are free. CitySightseeing hop-on, hop-off buses leave from Newcastle Central Station, with pre-recorded English commentary and a partly covered top deck. Each circuit lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, and the route passes the Quayside, the BALTIC arts centre, The Sage Gateshead and Gateshead Quays. Prices change, so check the castle before you go.
For nature and outdoor fans
Hadrian’s Wall is reached by bus 122, and Wallsend marks the start of the wall, so it is a day out rather than a stop for a few hours. River Escapes runs three-hour summer trips and one-hour city trips at weekends, a relaxed way to see the Tyne from the water. For a short call, the one-hour trip is the realistic option, and it runs only at weekends, so check the day of your call. Compare cruise line tours with independent operators before you book.
For shoppers
Northumberland Street is the main shopping street, with Fenwick as the flagship store. Eldon Square holds John Lewis, Argos, Boots and Next. Grainger Market is an indoor market in an 1835 hall, open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:30. Small stores usually open six or seven days a week from 10:00 to 18:00, and larger stores often stay open until 21:00. The Royal Quays outlet centre is about 10 minutes’ walk from the pier. The MetroCentre in Gateshead is one of Europe’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, with free parking, but it is not on the Metro.
For eaters and drinkers
Budget options in the city centre include Frankie & Tony’s Sandwich Bar, where sandwiches cost about £4, Pani’s Cafe, El Coto for tapas and Zapatista Burrito Bar. Mid-range choices include Zizzi on Grey Street, Marco Polo and Khai Khai. Blackfriars is a 13th-century refectory with long tables. Cook House has mains at £10 to £40. Cash machines usually dispense £10 and £20 notes, and Visa, Mastercard and Maestro are accepted by most shops and restaurants. Many cafés and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi. These prices are undated, so treat them as a guide rather than a fixed rate.
Getting around and money
Metro hours run from about 06:00 to 23:00 on the Green and Yellow lines, with single fares of £2.30, £3.20 or £3.90 by zone, from 2022. The North East Day Ticket is £7.50 for 2026 and covers the buses, so compare the two if you use both. A taxi is the simplest choice with luggage or a group, and a ride to the ferry terminal was about £18 in 2022. The terminal is about 13 km from downtown. Newcastle International Airport is about 24 km away, roughly 30 minutes by car or 20 minutes on the Metro. Newcastle Central Station has trains to London King’s Cross in about three hours and to Edinburgh every 30 minutes. The pound sterling is used throughout the UK. Scottish notes are not always accepted in England, so change them before you leave Scotland. The emergency number is 999, and 112 also works.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources read do not describe step-free routes from the pier, at the Metro stations or on the Quayside. Ask the cruise line about the gangway and any shuttle, and ask a taxi firm for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle before you book.