Ireland: The Luck of the Irish

The size of Dublin makes it an ideal one for a leisurely walking tour. This morning, our local guides entertain us with tales of the city’s character-filled history. We will hear stories of Ireland’s emotional past through the eyes of its many artists, manic Lord Mayors and rebellious citizens whilst following the park-side alleys of Dublin’s ‘backyard’, St Stephens Green, to the grand Georgian buildings of Irelands’ first university, Trinity College.   

Founded by Queen Elizabeth I, the grounds of the college offer 40 acres of academic seclusion from the hustle and bustle of downtown Dublin. Housed within its campus is the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. This masterpiece of medieval art tells the story of the life of Jesus Christ through the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, making it one of Christendom’s most important works. Our path slows to hear quotes from Dublin's most flamboyant son, Oscar Wilde, before stopping to visit the historic Huguenot cemetery enroute to our hotel.   

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Afternoon experience: Leaving Ireland

After a break for lunch (own expense), we explore Dublin’s past. If you have ever wondered what it might have been like for Irish emigrants to travel across the seas in the 1800s, this is your chance. Originally intended as a cargo ship the Jeanie Johnston converted her decks to carry a vastly different kind of cargo – desperate men, women and children who were fleeing the famine. Over a million Irish fled to new lands to avoid starvation. We walk in their footsteps as we stroll the upper deck of Jeanie Johnston, before taking a deep breath to go below deck to experience the cramped quarters, where up to 250 passengers spent over 23 hours a day during their seven weeks at sea. Continuing with the ancestry theme, we head to Glasnevin cemetery where the stories of 1.6 million people are faithfully preserved. Statues of shamrocks, high crosses and harps abound, each telling a tale of the charge that lies beneath. Our guide will share stories of the colourful personalities who have been laid to rest at this beloved Victorian cemetery, which features epic monuments to Ireland’s many famous characters.   

This evening we meet Irelands greatest exports, its people, with a private after-hours tour of the award-winning EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum. Discover what it means to hold Irish heritage when you meet poets and presidents, singers, and suffragettes. You will meet famous folk and families, from Ned Kelly to the Kennedys, as you follow your souvenir-passport to find out where they came from, why they left and the difference they have made to our everyday lives. In true Irish style we then proceed to a nearby restaurant for some Irish fare at our welcome dinner. 

Accommodation: Iveagh Garden Hotel (or similar) 

Meals: Breakfast, dinner 

For those who enjoy the dense, dark brew that is a glass of Guinness, we invite you to join our Exploration Managers this morning on our ‘Your Choice’ experience for a tour of the Guinness Storehouse. If you would prefer to spend the day exploring Dublin's museums, galleries and shops, our team of local Irish experts will be available to assist with suggestions. 

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Morning experience: The Guinness Academy

The Guinness brewery opened on this spot over 250 years ago, when Arthur Guinness signed a 900-year lease: there’s only 650 years to go. We will see, hear and smell the secret ingredients as they travel through a series of vast machines, before the self-guided tour ends in the circular panoramic Gravity Bar, with its sweeping views across the city of Dublin. Here, we will enjoy a pint of ‘the black stuff’ while learning how to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness academy. You will even receive a certificate to prove it! (Please note that the walk from our hotel to the Guinness Storehouse is approximately 30 minutes. The tour takes around 2 - 3 hours including the tasting). 

For those who would prefer to spend the day exploring Dublin's museums, galleries and shops, our team of local Irish experts will be available to assist with suggestions. Late afternoon, we meet at our hotel and transfer to Dun Laoghaire port, where we board the Sylvia Earle. Once onboard we meet our crew, onboard team and enjoy a Welcome Dinner as we sail south along Irelands east coast.  

Known as the city where culture meets the ‘craic’ (that is Irish for a good time), Waterford is a modern city with a layered history. Invaded by the Norsemen in 914, Waterford became a Viking settlement, which is reflected in its people even today. It emerged from the Middle Ages as a trading port with the wealth from goods that came from as far away as Newfoundland, the profits of which funded the construction of the many Georgian Mansions that line the city’s streets. A town for those who enjoy a good stroll, Waterford is easy on the eye, offers plenty to see and as its reputation suggests, is full of fun.   

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Morning experience: Kilkenny 

Considered Ireland’s best preserved medieval city, Kilkenny mixes small town intimacy with a big city buzz. The former home to the seat of the medieval Irish parliaments, it rivalled Dublin in importance which is evident in its imposing Norman buildings and marble-clad facades, even today. Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny's monolithic castle and few have a more fascinating family story. Kilkenny Castle’s 800 years of history is associated with the rise and fall of the Marshal and Butler families who rose in nobility from Earls to Dukes. In more recent years they were known for their marriages to famous personalities like Winston Churchill’s cousin, and Ellen Stager, an American heiress who brought quite a fortune into the Butler family. However, by 1922 Kilkenny Castle was embroiled in political problems when it was occupied by Republicans and besieged by troops of the Free State. In 1967, the family sold the castle to the Kilkenny Castle Restoration Committee for a mere £50. If you love a good riches-to-rags story, you will enjoy the story of Kilkenny and its powerful peerage. 

Morning experience: The Viking triangle

It is not a coincidence that Waterford's city centre is known locally as the Viking Triangle. Those infamous invaders from across the North Sea settled here 1,100 years ago, bringing with them the wealth of their wares. Our guided walk takes us past Reginald's Tower, the strongpoint of the medieval defensive walls that enclosed the city until the 18th century. The highlight of our visit is the Medieval Museum; the only dedicated medieval museum in Ireland. Its building is also the only one on the island to incorporate two medieval chambers; the 1st century Choristers' Hall and 15th century Mayor's Wine Vault. If it is the story of medieval Irish life that fascinates you, this half day excursion is the perfect choice. 

Afternoon experience: Guided tour of the House of Waterford

Those joining our half day Viking Triangle experience are invited to continue their day in Waterford with a tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory – The House of Waterford. Only a few minutes' walk from the Medieval Museum, the House of Waterford is the factory of the famous glass creations named after their hometown. Opened in 1783, this fine-cut glass is exported worldwide and beloved in every Irish home. We will watch the master blowers, crystal cutters and engravers in action as we follow the story of the crystal masterpieces from the initial design right up to the final engraving.  

Note: This tour is led by our Exploration Manager and includes a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal. After the tour, there will be time for you to explore Waterford at your own pace. If you choose to join this tour, we ask that you make your own way back to the ship.  

Once a port town, always a port town, and Cork sits proudly on an island in the middle of the Lee River. Surrounded by water, the city’s salty air tells the story of Irish emigration, with its historic harbour of Cobh and shores of Kinsale, famed as the port of boarding for the Irish who left for foreign lands. If your ancestors are Irish, there is a high chance they came through Cork. Today the city has a flair for great gigs and modernised traditional dishes and is considered an Irish food mecca that is centred around its restored 18th century English Market.   

Our shore excursions offer you the opportunity to ‘get the gift of the gab’ or follow those Irish who left their homeland for foreign shores. On return to the Sylvia Earle choose to join our afternoon experience, for a true Irish treat when we discover the heart and soul of Irish whiskey or enjoy Cork on an independent exploration before we sail early evening. 

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Option 1- Morning experience: Cobh and the Titanic Experience

A half hour drive from Cork is the famous port of Cobh, where we join a tailormade guided walking tour tracing the story of Irish emigration. Seeking a better life, or simply hoping to survive starvation, hundreds of thousands boarded their vessels bound for foreign lands at Cobh, including Annie Moore, a teenager who was the first immigrant to be processed at the newly opened Ellis Island in New York City. Sadly in 1912 Cobh, known as Queenstown at that time, boarded passengers on the ill-fated Titanic. We visit the Titanic Experience, housed in the original White Star Line ticket office. This unique museum focuses on the individuals who boarded at Cobh, and we follow their progress through arrival and check-in to hear the story of those 123 passengers and their inescapable fate. We return to Cork for lunch onboard the ship, and an afternoon at leisure in Cork.  

Option 2- Morning experience: Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone

If every myth, legend and limerick associated with Blarney Castle’s indomitable ‘stone’ were true, the world would be asking it to solve all our problems. Where the stone came from and how its modern-day reputation was conceived is a matter of contention, but there is no doubt that the thousands of travellers who kiss it every week receive ‘the gift of the gab’. Thought to endow all those who kiss it with eloquence and the skill of flattery, the Blarney stone is shrouded in stories. Was it a witch who was saved from drowning that revealed its power? Was it the Lord of Blarneys eloquent reply to the land title demands of Queen Elizabeth I? Was it the Goddess Cliodhna's hinted reply to a love-lost Cormac McCarthy? Today we will find out the truth.  

Option 1: Afternoon experience: Jameson Whiskey Distillery Experience 

High on the ‘bucket list’ of any visit to Ireland, a whiskey tasting is as traditional as four-leaf clovers and St. Patricks Day. This afternoon we expand our knowledge of this iconic beverage with a tour of Jameson Midleton Whiskey Distillery. Established in 1780, by John Jameson, the distillery established a way of making Irish whiskey that they’ve been proudly sticking to ever since. Today Jameson is the world's bestselling Irish whiskey brand, selling 31 million bottles annually. During our tour, we’ll uncover the rich heritage and craftsmanship behind every drop, as a master distiller shares the passion and tradition that have made Jameson a global icon, while we immerse ourselves in a world of rich heritage, craftsmanship, and the unforgettable stories connected to this amber treasure. 

Full day experience: Cobh, with the Titanic Experience and Kinsale 

Explore the port and seaside towns of Cobh and Kinsale to hear the story of the Irish who left their homeland for fairer shores. In Cobh we join a tailormade guided walking tour tracing the story of Irish emigration. Seeking a better life, or simply hoping to survive starvation, hundreds of thousands boarded their vessels bound for foreign lands at Cobh, including Annie Moore, a teenager who was the first immigrant to be processed at the newly opened Ellis Island in New York City. Sadly in 1912 Cobh, known as Queenstown at that time, boarded passengers on the ill-fated Titanic. We visit the Titanic Experience, housed in the original White Star Line ticket office. This unique museum focuses on the individuals who boarded at Cobh, and we follow their progress through arrival and check-in to hear the story of those 123 passengers and their inescapable fate. 

In the early hours of May 7th 1915 the Cunard liner, Lusitania was struck, only a mere 11 nautical miles off the coast of Kinsale, by a single torpedo shot from a German U-Boat. The people of Kinsale rallied to assist, but within 18 minutes she sank, with only 764 of the 1959 souls onboard surviving. Before leaving Cobh we visit the Lusitania Monument and Graveyard where many of those killed are buried in the Old Church Graveyard. The monument, designed by Jerome O'Connor commemorates those who died in the tragedy. We visit these memorials, before our journey continues to the quaint coastal town of Kinsale, where we hear stories of naval battles, foreign invasions and shipwrecks. Once a garrison town embroiled with invading navies, Kinsale became the natural landfall for all sailing ships that came from the continent and the Americas. It is in these waters where two of the world’s greatest ocean liners were last seen. We spend time exploring Kinsale before returning to Cork late afternoon.  

We arrive at Bantry Bay and tender to shore. The harbourside town of Bantry is the gateway to the touring route known as the Wild Atlantic Way. It is easy to see why Ireland’s colour of choice for everything is green, from its national sporting uniforms to its flag, as we drive the famed Ring of Kerry, tread the trails of Whiddy Island or explore Bantry, surrounded by the lush grass covered hills and dales of the Emerald Isle. For those choosing a morning excursion, Bantry itself is small enough for a comfortable stroll in the afternoon, with shops, cafes and, of course, plenty of pubs.  

The wild beauty of Irelands western coast is on show today, along with the life it offered, past and present. Here we meet small town Ireland with an insight into a different side to the Irish. This evening we will be going ashore to meet them on an Irish night out. To be sure there will be music, singing and plenty of storytelling or this simply would not be Ireland.  

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Full day experience: Ring of Kerry 

No this is not a real ring, although its presence is gold for the local economy, as a day spent driving the Ring of Kerry is the touchstone against which all other beauty spots in Ireland are measured. The Iveragh Peninsula is a magical place full of myths and legends. This landscape of sandstone hills, wooded valleys and pristine lakes has inspired poets and authors to pen many a lament. A photographer's dream, the region is dotted with quaint towns and villages. Its lands have been carved into a series of mountain passes that whisper their story as we follow the trail of the Ring of Kerry.   

Morning experience: Walk Whiddy Island 

A 15-minute ferry crossing takes us to one of Ireland’s 80 islands - Whiddy Island, with a population of 30. A former World War I US Navy seaplane base known as Bantry Bay Station, Whiddy Island offers an insight into ‘island life in Ireland’. At just 3 x 1.5 miles in size, it is an island that is ideal for walking. It is famous for its red and purple hue provided in summer by an extensive planting of fuchsias and birdlife, as Whiddy is also home to kingfishers, little egrets and shags. But it is the story of its people that we have come to hear about, and we could not ask for a more local guide to show us around. He is the local publican, local postal worker, and he is locally known as the King of Whiddy Island. We learn about traditional baking and mussel farming and, of course, we wash it down at his pub with a local brew.  

It is time to join our breakfast club this morning as we sail at sunrise towards the Skellig Islands. Off the coast of County Kerry, two rocky pinnacles rise from the Atlantic Ocean. The Skellig Islands are world-renowned for their ornithological and archaeological significance. Skellig Michael is the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of the Early Christian period and is now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Little Skellig is equally renowned in matters of ornithology. As the home of 27,000 pairs of gannets, it is the second largest colony of such seabirds in the world.  

Some 1,400 years ago a congregation of monks were searching for a place to practice their religion in complete solitude and isolation. Determined to build a monastery on these remote islands, generation after generation of monks hand-carved 600 stone steps with the simplest tools to build a hilltop monastery 600 feet above the pounding waves. The survival of the terraces, oratories and six corbel stone beehive huts are to this day a testament to their skill and dedication. The archaeological remains show the dramatically spartan conditions in which the monks lived; however, after enduring several Viking raids, the monks eventually left the island in the 13th century. The site has subsequently become a place of Christian pilgrimage.   

Note: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages the Skelligs, and they no longer allow cruise ship passengers to land on Skellig Michael. Visitor numbers to Skellig Michael in recent years have reached the maximum permitted by UNESCO and any violation of UNESCO criteria will affect the future UNESCO status of the island. From the elevated height of our vessel, we will enjoy a cruise of the islands.  

Once described by National Geographic Traveller as ‘the most beautiful place on earth’, Dingle is away from the general ‘tourist route’, affording us exclusive access to the wild west coast. Traditionally a fishing port, Dingle Harbour is where we anchor and tender into town. Known for its rugged scenery, dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches, the surrounding promontory is the coastal heart of County Kerry, whilst Dingle itself has a bohemian flair and is famous for its hardware pubs where you can enjoy a brew and buy wares. We enjoy lunch onboard before tendering ashore to experience a slice of Ireland’s rural lifestyle, whilst viewing the wild side of the country and the Irish who call County Kerry home. 

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Option 1 - Afternoon experience: Dingle Peninsula and Tralee 

As the Atlantic carves the coast, we watch its waves from our clifftop drive to Slea Head. Our route weaves and twists as we follow the peninsula, with stops to take in its dramatic scenery as the road narrows, and we literally drive to the edge of the ocean. An unforgiving land, this peninsula attracted medieval monks who lived in beehive-shaped, stone clochans, which we visit at the Fahan Beehive. On the horizon we see the deserted Blasket Islands; an unenviable place to live. The islands were evacuated in 1953 due to a dwindling ageing population, but the islanders’ stories live on, thanks to the Blasket Centre. This interactive museum tells tales of the islanders who survived in often unlivable conditions. We hear their stories, learn some ‘real Irish’ and marvel at their tenacity, before heading onto the famed town of Tralee for a stroll of its quaint streets.  

Option 2 - Afternoon experience: Life on the land – past and present 

We hear tales of ‘life on the land’ this afternoon as we visit ‘famine cottages’ and meet the shepherds and the sheep dogs of the Dingle Peninsula. Our scenic drive follows a route along the dramatic cliffs of the promontory, before heading inland to the farmlands of Dingle.  

This land is sheep country. Generations of farmers have survived here through wild weather, outbreaks of disease and of course, famine. The Kavanagh family is one of them. In the 19th century, the densely populated, western counties of Ireland were poverty stricken. The people in these areas were hugely dependent on the potato crop, and when the potato blight arrived in the 1840s West Kerry experienced severe hardship. Neglected by the ruling classes, people endured horrific conditions, forcing many to emigrate, while those who remained starved. We hear tales of extreme poverty and struggles for survival as we visit the family's 19th century cottages, which remain as they were during the great famine.   

The story of this land continues in a lighter vein as we enjoy a sheepdog demonstration. The shepherds ‘best friends’ take instructions in native Irish as they show off their skills and win our hearts with their cunning ability to herd even the most determined of sheep. Off the coast we see the deserted Blasket Islands: an unenviable place to live. The islands were evacuated in 1953 due to a dwindling ageing population, but the islanders’ stories live on, thanks to the Blasket Centre. This interactive museum tells tales of the islanders who survived in often unlivable conditions. We hear their stories, learn some ‘real Irish’ and marvel at their tenacity, before returning to the ship.  

Option 3: Afternoon experience: Dingle Bay Kayaking 

The waters of Dingle Bay are popular with kayakers of all abilities. We invite all intrepid kayakers to join a local guide this afternoon to explore the coastline, sea caves and harbour of Dingle Bay. It is not unknown to encounter dolphins during this experience, but it is the geographical scenery that makes an afternoon on the bay special. You will be introduced to kayaking, before spending around 2.5 hours kayaking on the bay. We ask that you accurately assess your kayaking fitness before choosing this option, as you will not be able to leave the excursion and return to the port by yourself once the excursion has commenced. This kayaking option requires a minimum number of participants to operate and is subject to local weather conditions. Should it be cancelled, we will try our best to provide you with another experience. 

The breakfast club meets again this morning as we sail the fabled Cliffs of Moher. Towering over the West Clare coast, the Cliffs of Moher are best seen in the early morning from the sea. Visually spectacular, they sit astride the striking landscape of the Burren on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. At a height of over 700 feet at O’Briens Tower, and following the coast for almost eight miles, these ancient cliffs were formed over 320 million years ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. We enjoy a slow sail along the cliff face, before inching into Galway Bay and tendering to Galway town.

This popular west coast seaside town of Galway attracts a steady flow of local visitors. The Irish come here to walk its mile-long promenade and as tradition dictates, kick the walls end for good luck, enjoy fish and chips straight from the newspaper and, of course, 'go on the gargle’ in its cosy pubs.   

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Full day experience: Galway and the workhouse museum

We join a guided exploration of Galway upon our arrival mid-morning. Galway City is rich in culture, art, and history, and has many boutique shops offering the best of Irish crafts, literary works, and artwork. Home to two of the leading colleges in Ireland, Galway has a vibrant culture and is a town for walking. We view The Spanish Arch, that, being Irish, has no connection to Spain whatsoever, before boarding our coach for an hour or so drive through the open countryside of County Galway, where we find a testament to Ireland’s dark days.   

Wracked with poverty and famines, Ireland struggled throughout the 17th – 19th centuries. Many Irish emigrated, but those who could not were often forced to enter institutions simply known as ‘The Workhouse’. As the name suggests, inmates were made to work long hours for meagre food and lodgings in terrible conditions. One of the cruellest aspects of the workhouse was that it split families, segregating them into separate living areas of women, men, girls and boys. Often family members would never see each other again. We visit a new museum, located in a former Workhouse, which aims to show the plight of those who made the ultimate decision in hopes they, and their families, would survive. The museum displays artefacts that are relevant to workhouse life, some of which are the only remaining link to the people who once lived there. After our visit we return to Galway and tender to the ship. 

Full Day Experience: The Burren Badlands and their Birds of Prey 

Discover the rugged beauty of The Burren, where expansive cracked formations showcase the region's remarkable karst bedrock. This ancient limestone, sculpted by glacial activity into striking cliffs, caves, and fossils, unveils a lesser-known side of Ireland’s stunning landscapes. As you navigate through this craggy terrain, charming villages and small communities await, making this journey an essential experience in Ireland. 

Our scenic route leads us to an unexpected highlight—the captivating world of birds of prey. At the Birds of Prey Centre, we delve into the historic bond between Ireland's elite and these magnificent raptors. Here, we’ll witness some of the world's top predators in free flight and learn about the reintroduction of rare species, including the majestic Red Kite. The centres mission focuses on conserving birds of prey through education and awareness while actively fundraising for raptor conservation across Ireland. Get up close with eagles, owls, vultures, and hawks as handlers share fascinating insights into their unique traits and the modern challenges the birds face. After our encounter we'll enjoy a hearty lunch before returning to Galway, where you'll have some free time to explore this seaside town before we tender back to the ship. (This excursion replaces our morning at Dunghaire Castle, as the castle will no longer be accessible to visitors.) 

The fishing village of Killybegs is gateway to the rugged beauty of Slieve League Cliffs and the dramatic backdrop of Ireland’s own Table Mountain, Ben Bulben. Jutting out of Sligo’s northern edge, the peninsula of Mullaghmore pokes into the North Atlantic. Land and sea meet in confluence along the coast of County Sligo, a landscape of jagged mountain peaks that inspired the work of Nobel-winning poet William Butler Yeats.   

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Option 1 - Afternoon experience: Slieve League Cliffs

Slieve League is Ireland’s ultimate sea cliff experience and a signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way. Believed to be Europe's highest accessible sea cliffs, they rise 2,000 feet from the ocean below. The lookouts here offer unspoiled views of the Atlantic as it slams the coastline of Donegal. Slieve League boasts a raw landscape and challenging lifestyle for those who call County Sligo home. We meet some of these stoic characters at the Tí Linn café and craft shop for a hot drink and scones. The Slieve League Cliffs Centre supports local artisans by selling their handmade specialties including items from the Donegal Tweed company and Triona, a company located only a few miles away at Adara.  

Option 2 - Afternoon experience: Adara & the Adara Whiskey Distillery

One of the five designated heritage towns in County Donegal, Adara has built itself a reputation as a village of craftsmen and women. The movement towards uniquely Irish goods is a growth market for the villages scattered throughout Irelands isolated peninsulas. It provides work for young people and whole families are typically involved in the production. As home to the popular Triona Design, visitors enjoy weaving demonstrations based on traditional methods. Steeped in tradition the Adara Distillery operations produce An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin and Sliabh Liag Whiskeys. Established by two ‘scatterlings’, James and Moira Doherty, who returned to the Sliabh Liag peninsula to build a legacy, the distillery employs 30 people in the village of 700. We tour the distillery to appreciate a sustainable, boutique side of Irish whiskey making. One inspired by the almost lost tradition for a smoky style of spirit, brought up to date with the best distillation know-how. We will learn about the history of Donegal’s distilling heritage and see skilled workers breathing new life into it. All tied together by a tasting of this unique brew. 

Our overnight sailing takes us to Northern Ireland, where we cross the international border into the United Kingdom. Simply known as Derry to the Nationalist (Catholic) population but still referred to as Londonderry by the Unionist (Protestant) population, this 'border’ town has seen it all. The sectarian ‘Troubles’ of this predominantly Nationalist city may have blemished its reputation, but in recent years these tensions have eased, and although some suburbs retain their sense of division, strolling the streets is safe and the general population are happy to share stories of their stormy past and ambitious future. We come alongside on the river Foyle, the now open, natural border between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.   

Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences 

Option 1 - Full day experience: Derry – past, present, future. 

Our local guides interpret the story of Londonderry in this excursion, which is a combination of a walking and coach tour. Having lived through the tumultuous times of ‘The Troubles’ as the locals refer to it, their first-hand experiences immerse us in the era, where a word to the wrong person, a stroll on the wrong side of the street or a misplaced glance, could cost you your life. In recent years the artists and youth of Londonderry have painted emotive murals on walls around the city. We pass several of these as our guides explain the city's tumultuous past. A number of monuments in the Bogside neighbourhood shed even more light on key events such as the Hunger Strikes that marred the city. After lunch at a local restaurant, we finish our tour at the guildhall. In the early 1600s, Derry defended itself by building towering 26 feet-high walls around the original city. They are among the best-preserved fortified walls in Europe. We walk atop a section of the ramparts on the way to Guildhall before returning to the ship. 

Option 2 - Full day experience: Dunluce Castle, Giant’s Causeway. 

Northen Ireland is blessed with impressive natural scenery: vast valleys, glittering lakes and cliffs hoisted up from the Atlantic. We visit its most famous natural attraction, the Giant’s Causeway. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway consists of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns lifted from the ocean by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Of course, according to legend, giants strode across columns over the sea from Scotland, creating what looks like a giant pathway of stepping-stones that start on land and disappear into the ocean. After lunch at a local restaurant, we follow the Scenic Causeway Road to Dunluce Castle. Once the headquarters of the MacDonnell clan, the castle fell victim to a violent storm and was abandoned. Its ruins and spectacular backdrop have been popular recently, after it was used as the Castle of Pyke in the famous television show Game of Thrones. Returning to Londonderry, we enjoy a short driving tour before returning to the ship.  

Back onboard we enjoy a Captains farewell dinner with a little Irish entertainment.  

It is fair to say that Belfast has had its share of turbulent times. Famines, disease, invasions and recessions paint a picture of a tough town, but it is in the city’s more recent times, known aptly as ‘The Troubles’, which tarred it with the brush of division. Images of barbed wire, armed soldiers and constant searches for bombs kept tourists away. Today, thanks to open political dialogue and foreign investment, Belfast has a new air about it. It appears lighter somehow, as if a heavy burden has been lifted from its shoulders. 

Our day in Belfast is filled with stories; of the workers who toiled for 14 hours a day to build the world's most glamorous ship, the Titanic, the employment it created, and the race to finish her. Had they taken their time would things have been different for the Titanic? Located on the site where the ship was built, the dockyard’s Titanic Experience may answer a few of our questions. From the dockyards, our tour skips ahead to the days of ‘The Troubles’ as we are guided through Unionist, and Nationalist neighbourhoods. The occasional security gate is a reminder that the island is still contested, but nowadays the city is split into virtual quarters rather than walled ones. The city quarter with its City Hall and St Georges Market, the Cathedral Quarter – the oldest streets in Belfast full of cafes and galleries, the Queen’s Quarter, with its leafy gardens and treasure trove of shops. We take a peek at Belfast's ‘quarters’ before turning south and returning to Dublin for our final night in Ireland’s capital.   

Our evening is a farewell to our fellow explorers and a celebration of all things Irish as we kick up our heels with some traditional Irish dancing, a few ‘jars’ and a traditional Irish dinner. 

Accommodation: Iveagh Garden Hotel (or similar) 

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner 

After breakfast, we bid farewell to all the Irish who have shared their stories with us, past and present, with a smile on our face and a story on our lips. An airport transfer shared with your fellow explorers is included for your onward flight.  

Meals: Breakfast