Extract from Cruise Critic

In Inverness we used ocean-links-golf. That tour was again, less costly and far more personalized than the HAL tour. We visited a number of places where the large coaches simply could not get in, and avoided some of the coach tourist traps. Our guide Cyd (in full kilts) was great.

Westerdam

21 Aug 2010

Just a quick thank you for the totally unexpected, but greatly appreciated, gift. I can promise that not a single "wee dram" will go to waste.

I was really sorry to miss the tour yesterday. It sounds like they all had a great time and I'm glad that Nancy was finally able to get her cow picture. Thanks for arranging that little surprise.

Also want to thank you for the very enjoyable day in Invergordon. Bruce did his usual superb job with our bus as I'm sure you did with yours. I've heard nothing but positive comments from all on the tour and, in fact, several folks actually sought me out to thank me for arranging such a terrific outing. Of course, I took full credit....

If I ever get back over this way again, I'll certainly use your services. And, should the opportunity arise, be assured that you will have my enthusiastic recommendation.

All the best,

Norm

Westerdam

Invergordon 21 & Edinbugh 23 Aug

Extract from Cruise Critic

In Invergordon we took a private tour with Ocean Links Golf. Bruce was our driver and we had a great day. He was very interesting and we enjoyed seeing Dunrobin Castle and the falconry show there is a must see. He took us to a lot of great places that we wouldn't have seen if we took a tour thru Princess. We really enjoyed this cruise, the ports we visited and all the really nice people we met.

Crown Princess

10 Aug 2010

Just wanted to send you a little note to say thank you for the wonderful day we spent with you. We all agree it was our favorite day of the cruise. I especially thank you for all your special care for my Mom. She thought the day was great and she was so appreciative of your special care. We hope to see you again one day and I have already told people that they have to travel with you when they come to Inverness.

Thank you again.

Kathy

Crown Princess

1 July 2010

From Aida-Fans Forum

Tour mit BruceWir waren im Mai mit Bruce auf Tour Nr. 1 unterwegs und waren nur zu 5 Pesonen. Hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Mit dem Kleinbus konnte er über sehr enge Straßen durch die Highlands fahren, hat bei schönen Aussichten angehalten und auch nicht durch's Schloß "gejagt". Jeder konnte sich individuell alles ansehen. Schön war die Flugschau mit Adler, Falke und Eule. Hat mir jedenfalls besser gefallen als ein Aida Ausflug.

Gruß Monica

Aida Aura

28 May 2010

We arrived home late last night to hot southern CA. After we left you our ship was diverted so we didn't go to Le Havre as planned but sailed south to London instead due to the high seas and rain. So we lucked out with the two sunny days we had with you.

I just looked at the website and it was great to see the photo. The group thanks you for the whiskey as we will all enjoy it at our post cruise party.

Everyone here wishes you the best in your travel endeavor. You have a wonderful way with people that will help you in this industry. I hope I that I can send business your way when clients are in your area.

Thanks again for a wonderful Inverness day with the group including the lovely lunch at the pub and we also really enjoyed our St. Andrews.

Take care.
Sue

Crown Princess

1 Sep 2009

Taken from Aida-Fans critic

CYD

das war echt ein toller Ausflug und wir haben viel - auf Deutsch - gehört und gelacht... die glitschigen Steifen und die Kerk und überhaupt , CYD ist einfach sympatisch und nett und es hat viel Spaß gemacht und wir waren froh im Norden gewesen zu sein, denn Loch Ness, muss vorallem mit AIDA nicht garde der bringer gewesen sein... da lieber mal mehr Geld in die Hand nehmen und so einen Tag in kleiner Gruppe geniesen.

Tour Dunrobin Castle mit Falkenshow , "Kleinlich" Distille ohne Führung nur Verkostung

Robbenbänke, Dornoch und noch viel mehr....

Claudia

AidaAura

27Aug 2009

Bis zum nächsten Mal!!!

Viele liebe Grüße aus Rostock
Antje & Familie

AudaCara 14 Aug 2009

Your family members want to say thank you again for another beautiful day in Scotland.

You and Bruce did again a great job and all members of our tour had been excited.

Today I spoke with Johannes and he concerned me that they also had a great day with you.

Maybe next or one year later Angelika and I will visit Scotland again and then we will have a longer stay in your area.

Hope to see you both again in next time.

Please send many greetings to Bruce.

Best regards

Roderich and his long haired people

AidaAura

Aug 13 2009

Good evening Cyd,

Well as expected with the high quality of your tour, everybody was delighted by their visit visit in the Highlands, even the couple sitting in the front of the bus !!! Many of them came to me to comment and they were very enthusiastic.

It was such a wonderful tour. Thanks a lot.

We will warmly recommend you on the Cruise critic boards and have already mentioned your existence to some of the passengers who took your website address down.



Louise (Canada)

Maasdam

Aug 2009

Grand Princess

27 July 2009

Cyd,
We are back safe and sound! When I went to my internet; the modem had gone bad so I had to get a new one; which I have just completed. Attached is the picture/pictures and a note to let you know we already have a minimum of 8 who want to take you up on your golf offer.

Both umbrellas made it home; I had it out yesterday at a Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp and Bob Dylan concert so you got plenty of exposure...if anyone was sober enough to read that is.

Thanks for a wonderful time and great memories!

Seth (New Mexico)

Grand Princess July 09

Thank you again for the great tour we had with you! We are totally fascinated by the beautiful Scottish landscape and the places we visited with you. In fact, Clynelish for me was the first Scottish Whiskey I ever tried that I liked... I usually am more a straight Kentucky Bourbon favoring kind of a person (Did you ever try US Whiskeys or do they then withdraw your Scottish citizenship?)..

Dunrobin with its falcon show was really great, too. Just exactly what you picture when you think of Scotland. The weather was MUCH better than expected. We will, of course, write about the tour in our forum and hope to get your buses full every time AIDA is in Invergordon - it's really worth it!

Johannes (Germany)

Aida Aura

30 July 2009

Posted on Cruise Critic NCL Norwegian Jade

For Inverness we chose a private tour with Ocean Links Golf and Tours. There were 6 of us on the large mini bus and we had a full eight hour tour which included Dunrobin Castle ( with a wonderful Falconry display); Dornoch cathedral ( where Madonna's son was baptized), views of many other Casles; Shins Falls where salmon try to swim upstream and many other inland drives. Our tour guide, Mrs. Pat Murray, a retired school teacher, did a fabulous job giving many details about the area. This tour was cheaper than the ship's tours.

Mail:

Hi Cyd:

Ivan and I had a delightful tour with Pat Murray and our driver Andy. Pat was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and was most concerned that we had an enjoyable and enlightening tour --- which we did. Pat should be a regular part of your touring business in this area. She is articulate and well-informed. I will make sure that this info is put on cruise critic. P.S. Andy was also informative about area customs etc. We were usually the first to get back to the van after we had free time in a particulear area, and Andy was most willing to answer our questions.

While your tour was a bit more expensive than other private tours we could have taken for a similiar route, because of Pat , we were most pleased. Please feel free to pass our comments onto her and our thanks once again.

Melinda & Ivan

Norwegian Jade

Jun 2009

Hi Cyd

We had a great tour with Bruce (and his daughter is a cutie, too! :o) ). He is very personable and knowledgeable. It was a fun day, even though we were a little rushed at the end. We didn't get a chance to stop at the Little Mermaid statue, unfortunately. And my look at Royal Dornoch was limited to the first tee as we drove past. But, all in all, we had a great time.

Norm USA

Eurodam May 2009

Extract from Cruise.co.uk Review posted 2nd July

At the last port of call, Invergordon, we had a wonderful tour with five fellow cruisers, provided in a small mini bus by couple of local tour guides, neatly dressed in traditional Scottish kilts etc. Thanks Cyd and Bruce of Ocean Links Golf Tours for a great drive round the area. They showed us some lovely views, castles where coaches could not have got to, local landmarks and even basking seals. The only downside was a decision to leave the port early, which meant we weren’t able to see everything we had hoped.

Lamond UK

Boudicca

21 June 2008

wir sind von unserer Nordlandtour mit der MS-Amadea gut nach Hause
zurückgekehrt.

Nun möchten wir uns nochmals für die ausgezeichnete Durchführung des
Ausflugs bedanken, den wir nie vergessen werden.

Lobenswert auch der hervorragende Service von Trinkwasserflaschen bis
Regenschirme alles immer griffbereit zur richtigen Zeit.

Wir erinnern uns immer wieder gerne an diesen schönen Tag in Invergordon
und den vielen Sehenswürdigkeiten. Loch Nes, Dornoch und Dunrobin Castle
mit der fantastischen Falken-Show werden wir bestimmt nicht vergessen,
eine solche überragende Vorführung findet man nur selten.

Herzliche Grüße
Kornelia, Dominic und Karl-Heinz aus Trechtingshausen am Mittelrhein

Hi Cyd
Now that we are home Evelyn and I wanted to say thank you to you and Bruce for a wonderful 2 days in Scotland. We both enjoyed it to the utmost. The trip to St. Andrews was just outstanding and is something that any golfer should see during their lifetime. All
of the sightseeing was great and we can,t forget the little Mermaid. The golf at Tarbat was wonderful and a real experience to see how golf is played at it's home.

The Faconry show was great as was the castle. I also want to thank you for getting us so close to everything so that Evelyn could enjoy all that we had to see without all the stair climbing. Please feel free to use me as a reference at anytime including my email. I have already given your name to my travel agent.

Thank You Again
Kipp Potter (USA)

Cyd,

Thank you again. We had a great time and have discussed returning and spending even more time in the future. You did a great job I making our stay and our golf special.

Bruce (USA)

Eurodam Edinburgh 12 July 2008

Eurodam Invergordon 13 July 2008

Dear Cyd & Bruce:

We had a wonderful time and have mixed emotions about being home. It's such a culture shock coming back to Florida-hot and crowded. You are so blessed living in a beautiful part of God's country and don't ever take it for granted! I pray that someday we will be able to come back and I will go on cruise critic and pass the word about how much we enjoyed going on tours with you both. Best of Luck in your business and God Bless You Both. With affection

Diana T. (USA)

Grand Princess 7 July 2008

Hi Cyd, hi Bruce,

We enjoyed the day with you very much. It will be unforgettable for us. Thank you so much. I loved this wonderful country from the first minute - and my husband loves the whisky :-))) . I think that we will come back one day, because we would like to see more. One single day is not enough for such a nice country.

We have some photos for you, in order that you don´t forget us.

And as I told you at Invergordon: when you are in Germany and it is possible for you, then come to visit us in Viersen (near Mönchengladbach). We would like to welcome you here.

I hope that you could understand everything. I wish my English would be as good as your German.

Best wishes and regards

from Gaby (and Heinz).

Hello Bruce and Cyd

Thanks again for the our great tour with the group of the AIDAaura. I hope that many more AIDA travellers will book your tours because we´ve been really satisfied and can really advise your service.

Now my boss explores the rest of scotland for me in a camper and perhaps we will come back in a time…

Greets also to Andy – the best bus driver we´ve ever met in scotland

Yours

Thomas (Germany)

AidaAura 3rd July 2008

Dear Cyd,
I just want to say that Mary and I were "Blown Away" by the wonderful tour and the marvellous hospitality, you and Bruce so very kindly provided us with, on our recent visit to Invergordon.

Mary and I loved your tour!, as did all the other passengers who took advantage of it that day. We never said to anyone, who we were, so the comments we heard were all genuine, each and every one of them, and there were many. We never heard one single adverse comment during the entire tour. People were really impressed, with your great knowledge of your area and it's History.

From my memory, just sitting quietly listening in the back!, Bruce was never stuck once for an answer, he was asked many many questions and was never stuck for an answer, the same can be said of yourself Cyd. The tour content and timing could not have been better. It was obvious to everyone onboard, that you knew exactly what you were doing, at all times. You were both, a model of professionalism on that day.

Alister & Mary (Greenock)

Boudicca 21 Jun 2008

Hallo Cid !
Wir 6 aus Hamburg sind pünktlich um 8 Uhr morgens in den Hafen eingelaufen.
Bedanken uns für den schönen Tag in Invergorden .
Viele Grüße auch an Bruce und Jim !

Heino + Monika.
Germany

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Bruce,
Hello Cyd,

Rudi and me are back in Germany and today it's monday and I'm in the office again.
Thank you for the wonderful day in scotland! It was very interesting and we had
a lot of fun!

Many greetings!
Heike (Germany)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hallo Cyd und Bruce,

wir möchten uns auf diesem Wege noch einmal herzlich für diesen schönen Tag bedanken, besonders darüber, das wir noch so kurzfristig eine Möglichkeit hatten und mit an "Bord" konnten. Dies haben wir ganz besonders Heike und Rudi zu verdanken, denn Heike hatte von Thornshavn eine Email an Euch geschickt.

Noch einmal vielen Dank für den tollen Tag. Das nächste Mal versuche ich in Englisch zu schreiben - dieser Ausflug hat mich ermutigt wieder mein Sprachkenntnisse aufzufrischen.

Gudrun und Manfred aus Langenfeld

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AidaAura 19 June 2008

Cyd,
Got the pics and I appreciate it very much. It was a memorable Father's
Day for me. You were very helpful to me on the course and it was hard to
believe that you had only played it once before. The umbrella made it
safely home and I've got it in the bag now. They made me check it as a
piece of luggage since it looked a bit weapon-like to them at the
security gate! Maybe you should switch to towels with your logo instead
of umbrellas!
I hope to make it back someday for more golf and will be back in touch.
Thanks again, and many thanks to Bruce for the sightseeing as well.
Tim Benning (USA)

Hi Cyd,

Thanks for the great pictures. We had a great day with you and Bruce and I have told all my golfing friends what superb golf there is to be had in Scotland and they are all jealous. If anyone asks me where to go in Scotland where they can play in a pristine setting without the crowds I will be promptly handing them your e-mail address with an encouraging word that this is where the best organized trip can be booked. I hope the good weather stayed with you for a while. Hope the rest of the summer goes well for you. Marilyn sends regards. Thanks again for your excellent game and tour.
Kim Curtis (USA)

Grand Princess 15 June 2008

Published on Cruise Crtitic 12 June 2008

In Inverness, we used Ocean Links Golf (they do golf vacations and regular tours too). For X pounds per person we had another great 8 1/2 hour day, with a falconry demo at Dornoch castle, gorgeous photo ops in the mountains, stops at Shin Falls and many small villages, a lovely pub lunch (on your own fee) and costumed guide as well as other things. They had a full day for us, much more than the ship tours and with flexibilty for minor mobility concerns for two of the 12 of us and for restroom breaks, etc. They are at www.ocean-links-golf.com and we contracted with Cyd at cyd@ocean-links-golf.com

A group of 8 of the people on this tour had also used Cyd and his people in Edinburgh the day before. If we had known about this opportunity, we would have used him there as well, so ask if you are interested. Again we can heartly recommend them.

Hope this info is useful.

Diamond Diva

Century 1 June 2008

wir sind wieder gut von unserer Kreuzfahrt in Deutschland angekommen und möchten uns auf diesem Weg nochmals ganz herzlich für den schönen Tag in Schottland bedanken. Es hat uns viel Spaß gemacht Land und Leute kennen zu lernen.

Wir wünschen Ihnen alles Gute und noch viele neugierige Touristen ( vielleicht auch ein paar Deutsche mehr )

liebe Grüße senden Monika und Uwe

Published on AIDA-Fans.de Cruise Critique Sep 07

Hallo,
wir waren zusammen mit unseren Freunden auf der Nordlandtour der AIDAvita im August 2007 unterwegs.

Da die Fahrt zum Dunrobin Castle mangels ausreichender Teilnehmerzahl gestrichen wurde, gingen wir in Invergordon eigentlich ohne festes Ziel von Bord und wussten auch nicht so recht, was wir anstellen sollten.

Ein wenig außerhalb des Hafens parkte eine Kleinbus mit Schildern von angebotenen Ausflugszielen. Vor diesem standen zwei ältere Herren in schottischer Landeskleidung, Bruce und Cyd. Bruce ist Schotte, Cyd Engländer. Die beiden waren früher Arbeitskollegen und haben sich dort angefreundet.

Vor einem Jahr haben sie den Kleinbus gekauft und bieten nun Ausflüge, Golftouren, etc. an.
Da Cyd einige Jahre in Deutschland stationiert war, spricht er sehr gut Deutsch.
Als wir nun mit den beiden ins Gespräch kamen und ihnen von der abgesagten Tour zum Dunrobin Castle erzählten, boten sie uns an, eine Tour mit uns zu unternehmen, die unter anderem auch dort vorbeiführen würde.

Als Preis nannten sie uns 45€ pro Person. Mit dem, was Cyd uns alles an Tourenzielen angekündigt hatte, erschien uns das als ein fairer Preis.
Und wir wurden auch nicht enttäuscht. Sie fuhren mit uns durch das Blumenstädtchen Alness, zeigten uns den One-million-dollar-view (traumhafter Ausblick über eine Bucht), Falls of Shin (einen Wasserfall mit Lachsen, die dort in die Höhe springen.), Dunrobin Castle mit der Falkenshow in den Gartenanlagen, Seehunde, Kirchen, das Städtchen Dornoch, die Glenmorangie Distillery, die schottische Meerjungfrau (ähnlich der aus Kopenhagen) und, und, und. Alles angereichert mit hervorragendem Fachwissen und gespickt mit sehr schönen Anekdoten.

Wer jetzt aber meint, dass die Tour bedingt durch die vielen Ziele ziemlich hektisch war, der täuscht sich gewaltig.

Unsere Reiseführer ließen uns überall soviel Zeit, wie wir wollten. Sie fragten nach, ob wir noch Wunschziele bzw. Lust auf weitere Sehenswürdigkeiten hätten und sie uns noch etwas vorschlagen dürften. Wir nahmen so ziemlich alle Vorschläge an, natürlich mit der Vorgabe zur Boarding-time wieder am Schiff sein zu müssen.

Dieses schafften sie ohne Probleme, im Gegenteil auf dem Weg zum Hafen konnten wir noch einmal kurz für eine lohnenswerte Aussicht anhalten.

Und Zeit für ein Erinnerungsfoto mit den beiden blieb auch noch. Wir waren von der Tour so begeistert, dass wir statt der ausgehandelten 45€ pro Person 50€ bezahlt haben. Immerhin waren wir fast 7 Stunden unterwegs und haben mehrere Aidatouren in einer zusammengefasst geboten bekommen.

Also wer die beiden vor dem Hafen von Invergordon sehen sollte, schnell dort hingehen, bevor andere Euch die beiden wegschnappen. Der Kleinbus kann bis zu 8 Personen mitnehmen. Ihr könnt Euch selber Touren zusammenstellen oder von Ihnen Tourenvorschläge erhalten.
Die beiden haben auch eine Internetseite (Englisch), über welche sie auch schon im Vorfeld gebucht werden können. Unter www.ocean-links-golf.com erfahrt ihr so einiges über die beiden

Herren.
MfG
Roderich
Deutschland

AIDAVita

Hi Cyd,

Thank you for a wonderful day again. Everyone had a great time and I guarantee we will have a new group of golfers and tour takers next year when we call in Invergordon. we will be in touch before we come back.

Thanks again,

Scott H. Salisbury

Crystal Symphony

Hi Cyd,

We all got home safely, albeit was a very long ride home. Many thanks for a memorable day in in Edinburgh. We truly enjoyed your hospitality and look forward to our next trip to Scotland, especially the highlands.

Regards,

Manny

USA

Thanks so very much for all your efforts. We al had a fantastic time and hope to do it again as soon as possible. If you have any photos of our group, please send them to me so I can include them in my album.

On the off chance that you get over to my part of the world, I’d be happy to treat you to a round here.

Cheers,

Rob Downey

USA

Grand Princess

Hi Cyd,

I never thought that loosing a sock would make me feel sooooo much better. I feel not a day over 90!
We all had a great time and look forward to a return trip as soon as we can.
Thanks again
Paul Severin

USA

We arrived home on schedule after seeing a few of the sights in London. We watched The Open on TV and I was able to appreciate the heather, gorse, and deep-faced bunkers a lot more after playing at Royal Dornoch.

I want to thank you again for the wonderful day that you arranged for us during our stop at Invergordon. Your hospitality and efforts to make it a special day exceeded my expectations and I think I can safely speak for the rest of our group. Playing golf in Scotland was something I had dreamed of doing for a long time. You and Bruce made it a dream come true. The ladies enjoyed their sightseeing tour with Bruce very much. Please pass along my thanks to him as well.

I would like to think that I will be able to return to Scotland again for some more golf. If so, be assured that I will get in touch with you. And if I run across anyone planning a golf trip to Scotland I will make sure they know about the great service you provided to us.

Regards,
David Taylor

USA

Grand Princess

Cyd,

Thanks for a wonderful day. Everyone had nothing but great things to say. The non-golfers had a great time and once again you and Bruce really came through. Next year we will definitely be getting a hold of you for all our stops in Invergordon. Thanks again.

David Owens, Crystal Casino, Crystal Symphony

Cyd,

I have talked with my staff and we are very excited to play golf again. Please make reservations for 8 people. We dock at 8a on Sept 7. We do not know the exact time we can get off the ship. If there are no meetings or training that morning than we can get off by 9am. I will keep you posted as to a definitive pick up time.

Looking forward to another great day in Scotland.

Best regards,

Michael, Casino Manager, Crystal Serenity

Hi Cyd!

Just wanted to let you know we all got home safe and sound and we’re STILL talking about our day out with you guys!!! What a hoot! The ‘Duck’ was great and just what we needed to help ‘tackle’ our obstacle courses! Not to mention driving on the ‘other side!’ Of course the men all think it was rigged because they weren’t in the top three winners…but we all know that’s why their insurance is higher!!!! Thanks for showing us a FULL DAY of sights (Nessie), and sounds (the flute playing at the Cava Cairns-did you organize that too???) I love my Scottish Heather and you can bet we’ll be coming back to Scotland some day! Don’t change your number! Take care and Thanks again!

Bobbi and Lee Spitzkopf, USA

Grand Princess