10 nights. United Kingdom, Ireland

Day 1

london (tower bridge),uk

Departure: 16:00

Of all the European capitals, London resonates most profoundly in the minds of travellers. We soak up London before we even realise it exists and when we finally approach the city, it doesn't let us down. There are the red double-deckers, the bobbies and stoic guards at Buckingham, Westminster Abbey, and the chimes of Big Ben, sounding familiar, as we've heard them before. We see these things with a sense of satisfaction. Yet there's plenty to surprise. London isn't quaint. London isn't a museum, though you could spend all your time hopping from one to the next. It's a bustling, urban sprawl, with traffic jams, shops, and a remarkable international population. Visit the many monuments with nearly a millennium's worth of history, from Chaucer's grave to the pub where the captain of the Mayflower had a pint to Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most snapped sights. But don’t overlook modern London, with its intensely active theatres, international cuisine, political protests, the latest in music and fashion, punks and peers, and everyone in between. In 1777, writer Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and the phrase still rings true. There's something different to experience every day in London.

Read more

Read less

1

Day 2

portland - dorset - uk

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 15:00

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset, England, set on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. It lies about 11 kilometres (7 miles) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 miles) north of the Isle of Portland. The town’s population was 52,323 in 2011, with a wider metropolitan area of 71,083 recorded in 2016. It is the third-largest settlement in Dorset after the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth and Poole. Weymouth is a popular tourist resort, with an economy that relies heavily on its harbour and visitor attractions. It is a gateway located roughly halfway along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coastline known for its outstanding geology and landforms. Weymouth Harbour has hosted cross-channel ferries and is home to pleasure craft and private yachts, while nearby Portland Harbour houses the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which staged the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The A354 road bridge links Weymouth with Portland, and together they make up the borough of Weymouth and Portland. The borough’s history dates back to the 12th century and includes roles in the spread of the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the growth of Georgian architecture, and serving as a major embarkation point for the Normandy Landings.

Read more

Read less

2

Day 3

cork, ireland

Arrival: 10:00 - Departure: 19:00

Cork is Ireland’s second city, but many see it as the country’s leading Gaelic stronghold and the real capital. It’s a welcoming, cosmopolitan and lively place. The River Lee runs through the city before meeting one of the world’s largest natural harbours, with some 29 bridges linking its most distinctive quarters. Cork is a major cultural and artistic hub, home to film, jazz and poetry festivals such as the Cork Midsummer Festival, and it was named European Capital of Culture in 2005. South of the River Lee, St Finbarr’s Cathedral rises above the city, a richly detailed limestone church with three striking spires dedicated to Cork’s founder and patron saint. In the Shandon district, St Anne’s Church offers sweeping views from its tower and the chance to ring its 200‑year‑old bells. The Shandon neighbourhood has kept its authenticity, full of narrow lanes and colourful shops. St Patrick’s Street, built over a former canal, is the city’s main thoroughfare and is noted for the architecture of its buildings. Between St Patrick’s Street and the Grand Parade stands the English Market, a covered food market recently restored, in continuous use since 1610, though the current building dates from 1786. Proudly rebellious and strongly nationalistic, Cork carries the tang of sea air and a deep sense of itself. Its oceanic energy and easy‑going joie de vivre are among the city’s defining qualities.

Read more

Read less

3

Day 4

dublin, ireland

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 19:00

Dublin has been the backdrop for many novels and it's no surprise given its written tradition dates back to 800 A.D. with The Book of Kells, which is now on display at Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university. The city is the birthplace of many literary figures such as Joyce, Beckett, Yeats, Shawn and Wilde to name but a few. The city's Georgian elegance blends seamlessly with the medieval and modern architecture that gives Dublin its unique character. One can't deny that Dublin is a city of culture; the UNESCO designated Ireland's capital as the city of literature in 2010. Culture enthusiasts are also spoilt for choice when it comes to museums and galleries. From the National Museum of Ireland and the National Library to the National Gallery and the charming Little Museum of Dublin housing the lectern that US president JFK used to address the National Parliament in 1963, there is plenty to take in. Not to forget of course the magnificent Dublin Castle dating back to the 13th century. Aside from its splendid riches, the best thing about this city is its people. Dubliners are friendly, warm, surprisingly outgoing and witty, even more so after a few pints of Guinness. In its over 1000 pubs one makes friends easily. It should be compulsory for tourists to spend some time in a pub as it is one of the most memorable experiences of a visit to Ireland. Dublin is also a young city, it has one of the youngest populations in Europe, around half of its inhabitants are believed to be under the age of 25. This fact has made the city vibrant, dynamic, energetic and ambitious. Dublin is brimming with trendy bars, sophisticated restaurants and lively clubs, the epicentre being the buzzing Temple Bar area. Live music is a religion in Ireland and Dublin is its mecca. The city's live music scene is superb and has given the world a number of global musical superstars from U2 and Westlife to The Script and Sinead O’Connor. Everyone is welcome in this now multicultural city, but be warned, Dublin, like its people, is so charismatic and infectious that you may never want to leave.

Read more

Read less

4

Day 5

belfast, northern ireland

Arrival: 06:30 - Departure: 19:00

Belfast, an chathair a bhí tráite ag cathanna tráth, tá a fíor-staid athbhainte aici mar sheod folaithe na hÉireann. Le gach a atracthaíocht agus a cáil nua mar chathair oíche, tá sé ina áit bheoga anois. Is é Halla Cathrach Bhéal Feirste rud nach féidir leat a chailleadh nuair a thugann tú cuairt ar an chathair. Suite ag Cearnóg Dhún na nGall, croílár na cathrach, tá fuinneoga gloine dhaite áille agus murlaí a léiríonn stair Bhéal Feirste sa fhoirgneamh Renaissance seo. Ar na docanna den abhainn, is féidir leat dealbh curiarrach de iasc mór a fheiceáil. Taobh thiar de, tá Titanic Bhéal Feirste. Is ionad taitneamhachta idirghníomhach é Titanic Bhéal Feirste a osclaíodh chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar an 100ú comóradh do bád an long. Tá sé suite i gCeantar Titanic, an forbairt chósta is mó in Eoraip, meascán nua-aimseartha de spás cónaithe, tráchtála, turasóireachta, oideachais agus miondíola a thug ceantar uirbeach nua do Bhéal Feirste. Ceann de na hattrachtaí nach féidir a shéanadh sa chathair ná na murlaí polaitiúla ar Bóthar na Seanchille, tá breis agus 700 acu agus léiríonn siad an t-ama achrannach a bhí ag an chathair. Ach gan dabht, tá Bhéal Feirste ag breathnú ar an todhchaí. Tá bairr agus bialanna galánta go leor sa chathair agus cuirfidh a muintir chroíúil agus cairdiúil grá ionat do Bhéal Feirste.

Read more

Read less

5

Day 6

isle of skye(portree)scotlnd

Arrival: 10:30 - Departure: 20:00

Portree, an príomhbhaile ar Oileán Sgitheanach, is calafort ghnóthach agus ionad cultúir beomhar. Tá an baile suite thart ar a chalafort nádúrtha agus tá sé faoi chumhdach ag ardthalamh agus aillte, agus is áit chéad rogha é do thurasóirí atá ar saoire. Tá an calafort fós in úsáid ag báid iascaireachta chomh maith le báid sult. Tá saoráidí fóillíochta den scoth ann, lena n-áirítear linn snámha, siúlóidí capaill agus cuairteanna báid, chomh maith le go leor deiseanna siopadóireachta chomh maith le réimse leathan lóistín ó óstáin ghalánta go tithe aíochta, B&Banna, áiseanna féinchóirithe agus brúna. Tá campálaíonn in aice láimhe freisin. Is é Portree an hub cultúrtha do Sgitheanach agus tá ceann de na príomhtharraingtheachtaí ann, an tIonad Aros atá buaite ag duaiseanna, ag reáchtáil amharclannaíochta, ceolchoirmeacha agus scannáin go rialta. Tá taispeántas ann freisin a thugann léargas ar stair dhramataí Sgitheanach, taispeántas iontach RSPB le físeán beo agus taifeadta de iolar mara annamh, chomh maith le léiriú fuaime agus físeáin a thugann radharc aeir iontach ar thírdhreacha dochreidte Sgitheanach. Is bunáit chóirithe é an baile do mhórán daoine a bhfuil fonn orthu an t-oileán a fhiosrú. Tarraingíonn an radharcra iontach ar an Ridge Trotternish ó thuaidh go leor cuairteoirí mar go bhfuil an ceantar fíorúil seo faoi smacht ag foirmeacha aille cloiche aisteacha agus iontacha araon, ar nós an Seanfhear Storr, Carraig an Eilt agus na barróg iontacha de Quaraing.

Read more

Read less

6

Day 7

kirkwall, scotland

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 19:00

Kirkwall is the largest town in Orkney, an archipelago to the north of mainland Scotland. The name Kirkwall comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr (Church Bay), which later changed to Kirkvoe, Kirkwaa and Kirkwall. Kirkwall was once the site of an ancient Norse town founded roughly 1,000 years ago. Today, it’s a transport hub with ferries to many different destinations. The Orkney Library and Archive is in Kirkwall. The town also has the world’s most northerly Carnegie library, opened by Andrew Carnegie and his wife in 1909. The building still stands, although the library itself has since moved to a larger premises on Junction Road. Kirkwall has two museums, the larger being the Tankerness House Museum, which holds items of local historical interest in one of Scotland’s best‑preserved 16th‑century townhouses. It is a Category A listed building in Scotland. The prehistoric, Pictish and Viking collections are of international importance. The other museum is the Orkney Wireless Museum, which focuses on the history of radio and recorded sound. One of the town’s major annual events is the Ba Game, held each Christmas Day and New Year’s Day between the Uppies and the Doonies, with each team representing one half of the town.

Read more

Read less

7

Day 9

south queensferry (england)

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 18:00

West Lothian offers a wide range of leisure activities for anyone looking for adventure or relaxation. For those who like to keep active, there are dozens of golf courses in the area, as well as sailing at the Low Port Centre. It’s also excellent walking country, whether you prefer gentle strolls through the many green spaces or something a bit more demanding, such as the Bathgate Hills, where the views are well worth the climb, and the Pentland Hills, which offer more than 100km of waymarked trails to explore.

Read more

Read less

Day 11

london (tower bridge),uk

Arrival: 05:00

Of all the European capitals, London resonates most profoundly in the minds of travellers. We soak up London before we even realise it exists and when we finally approach the city, it doesn't let us down. There are the red double-deckers, the bobbies and stoic guards at Buckingham, Westminster Abbey, and the chimes of Big Ben, sounding familiar, as we've heard them before. We see these things with a sense of satisfaction. Yet there's plenty to surprise. London isn't quaint. London isn't a museum, though you could spend all your time hopping from one to the next. It's a bustling, urban sprawl, with traffic jams, shops, and a remarkable international population. Visit the many monuments with nearly a millennium's worth of history, from Chaucer's grave to the pub where the captain of the Mayflower had a pint to Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most snapped sights. But don’t overlook modern London, with its intensely active theatres, international cuisine, political protests, the latest in music and fashion, punks and peers, and everyone in between. In 1777, writer Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and the phrase still rings true. There's something different to experience every day in London.

Read more

Read less

10 nights. United Kingdom, Ireland

Need help?

Balcony

Inside

Outside

Suite

Photo gallery

Other cruises available aboard the Norwegian Star