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Welcome to Dublin. On arrival at Dublin airport make your way to the Arrivals Hall to meet our representative, followed by a transfer to our group hotel. At the hotel, visit our hospitality desk in the lobby to meet our team who will provide you with useful information regarding pre-embarkation procedures and about your time in Dublin. You will also receive cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and your cabin number on the ship.
This evening offers time to relax in preparation for our ‘day out in Dublin’ tomorrow. Our group hotel has a popular restaurant and is close to plenty of corner pubs and cosy restaurants should you wish to ‘share a jar’ or try some local cuisine.
Accommodation: Dublin Hotel
Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland, is a city brimming with energy and resilience. Once under British rule, Dublin has emerged with a distinct sense of identity, leading Ireland as a proud member of the European Union and reflecting its evolving role in modern Europe. The city has been home to some of the world’s most influential literary figures, including Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and George Bernard Shaw. Iconic landmarks such as Trinity College, home to the esteemed Book of Kells, highlight its storied past, while the city also serves as a hub of artistic and cultural expression, with global musicians like U2, whose impact resonates from their Dublin roots, having invigorated its creative scene. Dublin’s vibrant pub culture offers a lively social fabric, where traditional and contemporary influences merge to create a city to explore both day and night.
Choose your favourite ‘Your Choice’ experience for a morning full of all things Irish, with time to explore Dublin this afternoon, before we gather for a Welcome Reception this evening.
Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.
Option 1- Morning experience: A taste of Teeling
This morning we stroll to the historic liberties district of Dublin with our local guide, taking in the sights and sounds of ‘Old Dublin, en route to the Teeling Whiskey Distillery. Set in the heart of the historic Liberties district, Teeling opened in 2015, the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years. Whiskey-making runs deep in the Teeling family, tracing back to 1782. Today, brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling carry that legacy forward with a bold, modern spirit. We’ll tour the working distillery, learn about their innovative approach, and enjoy a guided tasting of their signature whiskeys, crafted at a site honoured as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ in 2022.
Option 2 – Morning experience: An EPIC Tale of Emigration
Explore one of Dublin’s top sites, focused on Ireland’s favourite topic: emigration. Our ancestry theme allows us to meet one of Ireland’s greatest exports, its people, with a self-guided tour of the award-winning EPIC; the Irish Emigration Museum. Alongside poets and presidents, singers and suffragettes, you’ll uncover surprising ways Irish heritage has shaped the world, even in your glass.
Irish immigrants took the craft of whiskey-making wherever they went. In the United States, the spelling ‘whiskey’ kept the Irish ‘e,’ while most other English-speaking countries, influenced by Scottish tradition, adopted ‘whisky’ instead. It’s a small but lasting imprint of Irish culture abroad. At EPIC, you’ll 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 impact they’ve had on the world.
Option 3 – Morning experience: The Guinness Story
The Guinness Brewery opened on this spot over 250 years ago, when Arthur Guinness famously signed a 900-year lease—only 650 years to go. Today, Guinness is brewed in nearly 50 countries and enjoyed in over 150, with more than 10 million glasses consumed daily around the world. On our visit, we’ll see, hear, and smell the secret ingredients as they travel through a series of vast machines during the immersive, self-guided tour. It all culminates in the circular, panoramic Gravity Bar, offering sweeping views across Dublin. Here, we’ll raise a pint of ‘the black stuff’—on the house, of course. Afterwards, choose to return to the hotel on your own or catch a lift back with our coach.
Accommodation: Dublin Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Reception (drinks and canapés)
When the Irish partake of an after-dinner drink there’s one favourite they’ll always reach for. Baileys Irish Cream now rivals Guinness and whiskey as a true Irish icon with over 80 million bottles sold each year in more than 160 countries. Today, we drive south towards Waterford with a visit to where it all begins: The Orchard Centre Baileys Farm in County Wicklow, home to fourth-generation farmers Joe and Michael Hayden. On our visit to the 146-hectare, award-winning dairy farm, we’ll hear their family’s story and discover what goes into creating the ultimate adult treat. As a key supplier to Baileys, the farm is a shining example of sustainable, pasture-based dairy farming and proudly part of Baileys’ journey to earning B-Corp certification in 2022. The true stars of this venture — the 220 pampered ‘Ladies’ who produce the rich cream behind every bottle will be nearby as we learn more about this truly Irish treat. And of course, no visit would be complete without a delicious tasting of Baileys, enjoyed right where it all begins.
We make our way further south to the county’s namesake, Waterford, arriving in time for lunch (own expense). 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.
Your time here is free to stroll this easily navigated city, before transferring to the Douglas Mawson. This evening, we enjoy a ‘Welcome aboard’ dinner, where we meet our crew and Vantage Explorations team.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner onboard
Once a port town, always a port town, 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 historical 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 morning 'Your Choice' experiences offer you the opportunity to ‘get the gift of the gab’, follow those Irish who left their homeland for foreign shores at the quaint seafront village of Kinsale, or indulge in a quintessential Irish experience with a popular whiskey tasting. There’s time this afternoon to enjoy Cork at your own pace with the Douglas Mawson berthed near the towns centre.
Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.
Option 1 – Morning experience: The Seaside Gem of Kinsale
We drive to the coast and the picture-perfect 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 ships sailing from the continent and the Americas. It is in these waters where two of the world’s greatest ocean liners were last seen. In the early hours of 7 May 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 on board surviving. There is time to enjoy a stroll around this colourful coastal enclave before returning to Cork for lunch onboard, and time this afternoon to explore Cork independently.
Option 2 – Morning experience: Blarney Castle with an Irish Coffee break
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 regardless, thousands of travellers come to kiss it every week, hoping to be bestowed with ‘the gift of eloquence’. 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 hope to find out.
Option 3 – Morning 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.
After a busy few days, ease into the start of your voyage with a well-earned lie-in, followed by a slow, leisurely breakfast in the comfort of your ship. Whether you're drawn to the state-of-the-art fitness centre for a revitalising workout or prefer to lose yourself in the ship’s curated library, the morning is yours to spend exactly as you please.
For those eager to dive deeper into the journey ahead, our onboard presentations explore the rich history and culture of the destinations we’ll soon visit. Adding to the flavour of the experience, your master storyteller will continue the theme of this journey with an engaging presentation on the favourite brews of Ireland, France, Spain, and Portugal, complete with tastings, of course. From bold beers and creamy liqueurs to robust wines and crisp ciders, this sensory introduction sets the tone for the cultural discoveries that await.
Today, we dock at the port of Le Verdon, the northern gateway to Le Médoc region. Due to tidal restrictions on the Gironde estuary, we moor near its mouth readying ourselves for our journey on the Gironde tonight, while still allowing us access to the region’s coastline and the renowned vineyards of Le Médoc. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, Le Médoc is home to some of the most famous wine estates in the world, including Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Margaux, and Château Latour. The châteaux in Médoc have been producing wines of exceptional quality for centuries, significantly contributing to Bordeaux’s wealth and reputation. Médoc’s unique terroir, with its gravelly soil and ideal climate, allows for the cultivation of grapes that produce wines known for their elegance, complexity, and ageing potential. While some wineries require visitors to be licensed wine merchants, many warmly open their cellar doors for tastings to wine enthusiasts from around the world.
Our ‘Your Choice’ experiences offer you the opportunity to immerse yourself in Le Médoc’s winemaking tradition or learn the dramatic story of the Atlantik Wall fortifications which once scattered this shoreline. For those who would prefer an independent trip to the French seaside, a shuttle will operate from the port to the coastal hamlet of Le Verdon-sur-Mer throughout the day.
Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.
Option 1 – Morning experience: The Wines of Médoc – A Winery Tour and Tasting
Discover the heart of the Médoc on a relaxed coach tour through one of France’s most storied wine-growing regions. As you travel along the famed Route des Châteaux, you’ll pass through a landscape draped in vines, where stone châteaux rise among the rows and village church steeples peek above patchworked paddocks.
This region is celebrated for its powerful, age-worthy red wines, crafted primarily from cabernet sauvignon and merlot, with touches of petit verdot and malbec. The gravel-rich soils and temperate climate lend structure and elegance to the wines, known for their deep colour, firm tannins, and layered aromas of dark fruit, spice, and cedar.
A highlight of the morning is a visit to a traditional château winery. Here, you’ll step into the rhythm of life on the estate, exploring the cellars, learning about their heritage winemaking methods, and enjoying a tasting that reflects the soul of the land. It’s an authentic glimpse into the Médoc’s enduring legacy, where every glass tells a story.
Option 2 – Morning experience: The bunkers of the Atlantik Wall
Just beyond the dunes of Soulac-sur-Mer, in the commune of Le Verdon-sur-Mer, lies Batterie de Arros, once known as Stutzpunkt 307 Reichenberg. This sprawling 10-hectare bunker complex was built between 1941 and 1943 by the German Kriegsmarine to defend the mouth of the Gironde River and protect Bordeaux, a vital port for the Nazi war effort. Part of the massive Atlantik Wall, which stretched over 2,600 kilometres (1,615 miles) along Europe’s western coast, the site housed 20 bunkers, including artillery casemates, command posts, and personnel shelters.
Touring with a local guide, you’ll explore the remnants of this wartime stronghold, some still bearing original murals and bunk beds. Learn how French forces reclaimed the site in April 1945, and how the Gironde’s strategic importance shaped its heavy fortification. After the tour, enjoy free time in Le Verdon-sur-Mer, where the echoes of history linger in the sea breeze and shifting sands.
Navigating the Gironde River estuary, we overnight upstream from Bordeaux at Grattequina ensuring dependable access to Bordeaux city and the renowned surrounding vineyards, affording you two days in this wine rich region. Explore Bordeaux, or immerse yourself in the regions winemaking tradition, promising an unforgettable visit to this esteemed wine country. Our ‘Your Choice’ Experiences are available each day, while a shuttle will operate each afternoon to enable you to enjoy Bordeaux at your own pace. (Note: listed wineries may vary and morning experiences may operate in the afternoon due to availability and sailing times.)
Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.
Option 1 – Morning experience: Discovering Bordeaux
Our 15-minute journey takes us to the iconic city of Bordeaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its beautifully preserved architecture and deep-rooted connection to the wine trade. Situated on the Gironde River, the city’s historic waterfront was its lifeblood for centuries — enabling Bordeaux to flourish as a major port and wine trading hub since Roman times.
We begin with a panoramic introduction to the city, including a visit to the Chartrons riverfront, once the heart of Bordeaux’s wine commerce. Along the way, we’ll pass several of the city’s landmark sites: the grand Esplanade des Quinconces, the elegant Place de la Bourse, the 15th-century Cailhau Gate, and the 14th-century Grosse Cloche. We’ll also see the Palais Rohan, now City Hall, and the St. Andrew’s Cathedral, where Aliénor d’Aquitaine wed Louis VII. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore at your leisure. Return to the ship for lunch or stay longer and enjoy the services of our complimentary shuttle.
Option 2 – Morning experience: A tribute to wines worldwide - La Cité du Vin
Spend a morning at La Cité du Vin, a bold and immersive tribute to wine in the heart of Bordeaux, long considered the centre of global wine production. This extraordinary cultural space offers an introduction to the world of wine and reflects wine’s integral role in the city's story and its broader impact on civilisation.
Spanning 3,000 sqm, the Permanent Exhibition features six themed worlds and 18 interactive modules. You'll explore wine’s journey from Antiquity to today, across five continents, through engaging, multi-sensory experiences. Discover how wine has shaped landscapes, traditions, and societies — transcending borders, beliefs, and centuries. The experience is self-guided, allowing you to follow your own pace and interests. The visit concludes on the 8th floor at the Belvedere, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views over Bordeaux along with a glass of wine from vineyards around the world, or grape juice, as a perfect toast to this rich cultural journey.
Option 3 – Morning experience: Bordeaux - a winemaker’s paradise
Embark on a journey into the vineyards of Bordeaux, where centuries of winemaking tradition meet the charm of the French countryside. This region, renowned for its world-class reds and picturesque estates, offers a rich canvas of history, terroir, and taste. As you travel through gently rolling hills and vine-covered landscapes, you’ll discover why Bordeaux has earned its reputation as one of the globe’s premier wine destinations. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot dominate here, supported by varietals like petit verdot and malbec, producing wines of depth, elegance, and longevity. This morning’s experience includes a visit to a classic château winery, where you’ll explore the cellars, learn about time-honoured techniques, and enjoy a tasting that captures the essence of Bordeaux. It’s a chance to connect with the land, the legacy, and the passion behind every bottle.
Option 4 – Morning experience: Organic wines - a sustainable future
France is embracing a greener future in winemaking, and nowhere is this more evident than at Château de La Dauphine in Bordeaux’s historic Fronsac region. With vineyards dating back nearly 2,000 years, the estate took a bold step in 2015 by converting to biodynamic and organic farming, part of a growing national movement toward sustainability. Unlike standard organic methods, biodynamics treats the vineyard as a living ecosystem, aligning cultivation with lunar and planetary rhythms to enhance soil vitality and grape expression.
This shift has elevated the quality and character of La Dauphine’s wines, bringing out deeper complexity and purity in each bottle. During your visit, you’ll explore these lush, chemical-free vineyards and learn how nature’s cycles shape the terroir. The tour concludes with a tasting—likely featuring their signature merlot, known for its velvety texture and rich scarlet hue. It’s a sip of tradition, innovation, and France’s eco-conscious future.
Option 5 – Half-day experience: The UNESCO World Heritage village of Saint-Émilion
Nestled in the heart of Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion is a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its medieval charm and world-class wines. During our visit, we’ll explore its cobbled streets on ‘Le train des Grand Vignobles’ which offers a guided insight into this quaint town with a stop for a wine tasting at a local château, where merlot reigns supreme. Saint-Émilion’s vineyards are unique for their limestone-rich soils, which lend a distinct minerality to the wines. Another fascinating fact: many of the region’s wine cellars are carved directly into the limestone hillsides, creating naturally cool aging environments. The area’s classification system, revised every ten years, is one of the strictest in France thus ensuring exceptional quality. Saint-Émilion is more than just a pretty village, it’s a wine lover’s haven.
Leaving the Bay of Biscay, we re-enter the mighty Atlantic Ocean and sail along the coast of the Basque country in northern Spain to the port of A Coruña to begin our exploration of the Iberian Peninsula. Our day at sea offers the perfect opportunity for our host to introduce the wines of the regions we’re about to explore, with engaging presentations designed to whet our appetites for the experiences that lie ahead.
Entering Spain, our port of call is Galicia’s second largest town, A Coruña. The city’s history is intertwined with the Camino de Santiago, with pilgrims traditionally arriving by sea before embarking on their journey to Santiago de Compostela around 80 Kilometres (49.7 miles) south.
We conduct our own pilgrimage today with a scenic one-hour drive taking us to Santiago de Compostela, Europe’s most significant pilgrimage city. Once a major site during the Spanish Reconquista, Santiago was heavily damaged in the 10th century by Moorish invaders, igniting the passion of Christian Iberia and spurring a resurgence based on the city’s fervour for St. James. Today, its Old Town, with its mix of romanesque, gothic, and baroque buildings, is renowned as the endpoint of the 495-mile Camino Francés pilgrimage route. The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage has been a spiritual journey for centuries, offering people a chance to seek personal transformation, fulfil a vow, or find a sense of purpose. Pilgrims walk the route for various reasons, including religious devotion, self-discovery or the pursuit of adventure.
Upon arrival, we visit the pilgrimage trail’s reward - Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, dating back to 1122, its stunning façade, showcases a mix of architectural styles. Step through the Holy Door to delve into the fascinating history of St James and the city’s belief that his bones lie within its walls. We return to A Coruña, with the ship sailing to neighbouring Portugal, mid-afternoon.
Arriving in Portugal around midday we enjoy lunch onboard before an afternoon and evening in Porto (or Oporto as it is sometimes known). It was in Porto that the Portuguese ‘Age of Discovery’ began when the indomitable Prince Henry the Navigator set sail to the western coast of Africa in the early 15th century. Porto has never looked back. The city lends its name to the fortified wine produced in nearby valleys, framing the Douro River with its picturesque streets, iconic iron bridges, and renowned wine cellars.
We enjoy a panoramic tour of Porto’s most emblematic landmarks, including the striking azulejo-covered São Bento Station, the iconic Livraria Lello and Torre dos Clérigos. Then, take some free time to explore the historic district of the city at your own pace. Perhaps enjoy a coffee, browse local shops, or sip a chilled glass of Portuguese wine while soaking up the vibrant atmosphere, before we cross the river to the city’s famed port wine cellars. It is here, where the Douro Valley’s iconic wine is aged and stored and where Porto’s historical Rabelo boats, once vital for transporting port wine barrels, still grace the riverbanks, adding to the city’s authentic charm.
In the early evening, we gather for a dinner, rich with Portuguese flavours, before returning to the ship for a late-night sailing.
We berth today at Figueira da Foz, offering us easy access to the colourful town of Aveiro and the Bairrada region, renowned as Portugal’s leading area for sparkling wine production. Our ‘Your Choice’ experiences offer a relaxing traditional canal boat cruise or a visit to a successfully sustainable winery – with a tasting or two, of course!
Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.
Option 1 – Morning experience: The Venice of Portugal – Aveiro
Known as the ‘Venice of Portugal,’ Aveiro is a city shaped by water. Its canal network, built to support the region’s salt trade and seaweed harvesting, remains central to its identity. To navigate the shallow lagoon waters, locals developed the moliceiro, a long, flat-bottomed boat once used to collect moliço (seaweed) for agricultural fertiliser. Today, these boats are colourfully painted and repurposed for canal tours.
We’ll board a moliceiro to explore Aveiro from its best vantage point, on the water, gliding past Art Nouveau buildings, historic warehouses, and low-arched bridges while learning about the city’s maritime past. After the ride, there’s time to explore on foot independently. Browse local shops, or try ovos moles, a unique sweet made from egg yolk and sugar, or enjoy a glass of wine at one of the bars which line the banks of the canals.
Option 2 – Morning experience: The Wines of the Bairrada
Today’s wine tour brings us to Prior Lucas, a family-run winery in the heart of Bairrada, Portugal’s leading region for sparkling wine. While wine has been produced here since the 10th century, Bairrada rose to prominence in the 19th century with the creation of Portugal’s first sparkling wine in 1890. The region’s cool climate and clay-limestone soils produce fresh, vibrant wines, with the native Baga grape prized for its structure and ageing potential.
At Prior Lucas, we begin with a guided walk through the vineyards to see first-hand the diverse soils that shape the character of their wines. This is followed by a tasting of five wines and one olive oil, alongside a presentation on the winery’s history, winemaking process, and the meaning behind each bottle. It’s an experience that beautifully blends place, passion, and purpose, capturing the true spirit of Bairrada.
Lisbon sits on the river Tagus, gifting it access to the coast that made Portugal one of world’s most successful trading nations. Explorers including Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Bartholomeu Dias sailed on behalf of their monarch, discovering new lands and establishing new trade routes. The city prospered, with much of the proceeds from their colonies spent on opulent architecture. On the morning of All Saints Day 1755, Lisbon’s faithful were huddled in church when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck, followed by a series of tsunamis that devastated the city. Candles lit for the religious ceremonies began a firestorm. By the end of the day, more than 75 per cent of the population had perished. Current day Lisbon reflects this tragedy, with few buildings pre-dating the 18th century, but money spent to rebuild the city was spent doggedly, creating a city of wide boulevards, sensible facades and parklands, all backed by opulent baroque interiors and paved by unique black and white-tiled pavements. With a relatively small population, Lisbon is an easy city to navigate. Its hillside suburbs are accessed by trams and funiculars while its waterfront remains a busy harbour, ready to continue the trading prowess that made the city famous.
Our locally guided tour visits Belém, where the city's seafaring legacy is on full display. We’ll hear tales of adventurers and explorers as we view the exterior of the Monastery of Jerónimos, the striking Monument to the Discoveries, which honours Prince Henry the Navigator and his explorers, and the iconic Torre de Belém, a fortress that once guarded the entrance to the city for returning ships.
After the tour, there’s time to enjoy Lisbon’s charming city centre, perfect for wandering cobbled streets, sampling local flavours, or simply soaking in the riverside views, before we transfer to our hotel, where your evening is at your leisure to enjoy Portugal's capital city.
Accommodation: Lisbon Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast onboard
After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
