-
Day 1
Dover (England)
Embark your ship in Dover.
-
Day 2
Portland
Portland Island and the resort town of Weymouth are connected by a 5-mile (8 km) long neck of white sand known as Chesil Beach. Renowned as the finest example of a barrier-type beach in Europe, Chesil Beach was formed 10,000 years ago as glaciers receded and sea levels rose. The rugged coastline of Dorset and the many attractions in the area are what make Weymouth such a popular vacation destination.
-
Day 3
At sea
Enjoy the facilities on board during a relaxing day at sea.
-
Day 4
Bantry (Ireland)
Bantry Bay, framed by the Sheep's Head Hills and the Caha Mountains, offers one of the Ireland’s most magnificent seascapes and picturesque harbors. As with other areas on Ireland's south-west coast, Bantry claims an ancient connection to the sixth-century Saint Breandán the Navigator, who was, in Irish folklore, the first person to discover America. A highlight of the area is stately Bantry House and Garden Estate.
-
Day 5
Foynes
The village of Foynes has a population of 600. It is situated on the southern bank of the legendary River Shannon Estuary and is surrounded by the lush, green hills of County Limerick. Foynes is best known for its aviation history, especially from 1937-1945 when it became one of the world’s aviation hubs. Land-based aircraft lacked sufficient range for Atlantic crossings, so it was here that they would stop and refuel. The Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum tells the exciting story of how seaplanes would use Foynes as their last port of call before crossing to North America.
-
Day 6
Galway
An historic Irish castle built along the River Corrib in 1121 grew rapidly into the city of Galway. There are two main squares in the city, Eyre Square and the Spanish Parade. At the center of Eyre Square is John F. Kennedy Park, erected in honor of U.S. President Kennedy’s visit here in 1963. A carved bust of the president was affectionately placed by the people of Galway at the exact spot where Kennedy stood to deliver his speech. Spanish Parade is the site of the Spanish Arches, two stone arches that made up the historic wall that once surrounded Galway. Remnants of medieval town walls lie between shops selling handcrafted rings, books and musical instruments.
-
Day 7
Inishmore
Off the mouth of Galway Bay lie the Aran Islands, a windblown source of Irish lyric and lore for centuries. The largest, Inis Mór, holds the ruins of several prehistoric stone fortresses, the most famous being Dún Aonghasa, atop a 300-foot cliff over the sea. The so-called Worm Hole is a remarkable rectangular fracture in the basaltic rock of the shoreline. The Seven Churches is a ruin of a medieval Christian enclave, with picturesque ruins and evocative early gravestones. Blue Flag Kilmurvey Beach is a good spot for birdwatching, with a sea colony nearby.
-
Day 8
Killybegs
Killybegs is a center of the Irish offshore fishing industry and is Ireland’s largest fishing port. Located in the County of Donegal, it is also renowned for its tapestries and carpets known as ‘Donegals.’ Produced on the world’s largest loom, some 42’ (13 m) long, each one is hand-fashioned by 12 workers. Killybeg’s ‘Donegals’ can be found all over the world in some of the finest and most prestigious private and public collections. Hand-knotted in the Turkish style, these floor coverings are true works of art, everything being done by hand, and no two are identical.
-
Day 9
Greencastle for Londonderry (Northern Ireland)
Beside the River Foyle in Northern Ireland, Derry is still surrounded by its seven-gated, 17th Century city walls. The spired St. Columb cathedral within the walls has exhibits about the extended siege the city endured in the 17th Century. The Peace Bridge is a modern monument to more modern troubles. The Tower Museum exhibits local history and affords views of the town and the red sandstone 1890 Guildhall nearby. On a hill outside the walls stands the 2,000-year-old Grianan of Aileach ringfort.
-
Day 10
Greenock (Scotland)
The town of Greenock grew from a fishing village to become the site of the first dock on the River Clyde in 1711. Fishing and shipbuilding became its major industries and the area served as a jumping off point for passenger ships departing for Canada and the U.S., as well as many vital convoys during the Second World War. The town’s maritime history is celebrated at the Custom House Museum in the Princes Pier Railway Station and in the scale model of a 20-gun frigate suspended above the Sailor’s Loft of Old West Kirk. Built in 1591, Old West Kirk (church), contains a major collection of Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows.
-
Day 11
Belfast (Northern Ireland)
Belfast is Northern Ireland’s fun-loving and cosmopolitan capital. Its seat of government is Stormont Castle, a beautiful baronial mansion. There is something of interest here for everyone: Victorian architecture, a glittering waterfront, modern art, and over 90 Irish pubs. The Giant's Ring, a 5,000-year- old stone ‘henge’ shows occupation here since the Bronze Age. The magnificent copper dome of Belfast City Hall dominates the city centre. Belfast is also the site of the memorial statue for R.M.S Titanic, because it was here that the ship was built in 1909.
-
Day 12
Barrow-in-Furness (England)
Barrow-in-Furness is a town in Cumbria in Northwest England, at the end of a peninsula on the Irish Sea. Known as the ‘Gateway to the Lakes District,’ it was at one time the largest iron- and steelworks in the world, dubbed the ‘English Chicago.’ It was and remains an important shipbuilding center, currently manufacturing oil tankers and nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Navy. Although the steel industry is much reduced, today this stretch of coastline is called the ‘Energy Coast,’ with both natural gas production and the world’s largest concentration of wind-powered turbines arrayed offshore.
-
Day 13
Dublin (Ireland)
Historic Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is rich in tradition and heritage. Founded in 841 as a Viking settlement, Dublin remained under Viking rule until the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Divided by the Liffey and Tolka rivers, Dublin is a truly quaint and picturesque city. Bridges, waterways, narrow alleyways, and beautiful Georgian architecture await discovery. Dublin’s 751 pubs support a traditional folk music scene second to none.
-
Day 14
At sea
Enjoy the facilities on board during a relaxing day at sea.
-
Day 15
Dover (England)
Disembark your ship in Dover.