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Globus
OFFER ID 1566388
Fancy seeing the very best of Ireland and Scotland in 9 days? This is the vacation for you, starting with 4 days in Ireland taking in the lively capitals of Dublin and Belfast, with plenty of scenic action in between. Learn the art of scone baking and sheep herding at a typical Irish farm visit that will be a memory that will never fade and visit the ultimate Titanic experience to understand fully why the ship holds such an iconic place in history. The Celtic connection sails across the seas to Scotland with visits to castles in Inveraray, Stirling and Edinburgh, a whisky distillery and even a remote village community that supplied roof slate to thousands of houses. Along the way the scenery will astound you as you glide through lochs and glens to the capital of Edinburgh, known as "Auld Reekie" from days gone by when the city was filled with smoke from coal and wood fires. This trip will warm the cockles of your Celtic heart!
8 nights from $3,199 per person
A Taste Of Ireland And Scotland
Day 1 ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELANDCéad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 DUBLINIreland’s Capital City DUBLIN Take a morning orientation drive to see O’Connell Street, Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the legendary library of Trinity College.
Day 3 DUBLIN–ATHLONE–RATHBAUN FARM–GALWAY–CASTLEBARScones and Cities ATHLONE Visit the town.
RATHBAUN [LF] Try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding, and enjoy coffee and scones at an Irish farm.
GALWAY Free time.
191 mi / 308 km (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Someone’s in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the long-time tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape.
Day 4 CASTLEBAR–BUNDORAN–BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELANDSpend Your Day Your Way in Belfast BUNDORAN Free time.
BELFAST Explore Belfast on an included YourChoice Excursion in Northern Ireland’s capital city.
186 mi / 300 km (B)
TAKE YOUR PICK
Explore your way today with your choice of excursions:
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES Take an inspiring journey through war and peace on a city center walking tour of Belfast. Learn the history of The Troubles and the path to peace and reconciliation.
OR:
BEST OF BELFAST Discover the essential Belfast with your expert Local Guide. Explore its beautiful architecture, stunning street art, unique heritage, and the amazing stories of its citizens from across the centuries.
Day 5 BELFAST–GLASGOW, SCOTLANDStrait to Scotland BELFAST Visit the Titanic Belfast experience.
Take a ferry crossing to Cairnryan on Scotland’s southwest coast en route to Glasgow.
132 mi / 212 km (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE The North Channel (also called the Irish Channel) connects northeast Ireland to the southwestern coast of Scotland. The North Channel is part of the Ocean’s Seven, a set of seven long-distance open-water swims, although most who cross rely on the many ferries that run between Belfast and Cairnryan, the Scottish village with a proud maritime history, including building sections of the floating Mulberry Harbors built to support the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
Day 6 GLASGOW–INVERARAY–OBANClans and Slate LOCH LOMOND Stop for photos.
INVERARAY Visit the castle.
ELLENABEICH Visit the remote former slate-mining village.
OBAN Free time.
102 mi / 164 km (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
THE CLAN’S CASTLE Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, one of Scotland’s most powerful and influential clans. The castle’s conical roofs and turrets give it a fairy-tale appearance, while its interior features stunning rooms with opulent decorations. Located with stunning views over Loch Fyne, it’s no wonder it has been used for location filing on many occasions, including the popular Downton Abbey.
Day 7 OBAN–GLEN COE–STIRLING CASTLE–EDINBURGHGlens and Tipples GLENCOE Scenic drive through Glen Coe and The Trossachs National Park.
STIRLING Visit the Castle and a [LF] whisky distillery.
155 mi / 249 km (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES We’ll raise a wee dram of malt whisky at an historic distillery, distilling in slow Scottish style in the highlands for many years. Slinte Mhath!
Day 8 EDINBURGHDrummers, Pipers & Precious Jewels EDINBURGH Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the New Town, the Old Town, and a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 1, 8 and 15.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MUSIC & MASTERPIECES Ascend to Castle Rock to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, with an 11,000-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The Castle forms the background of the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes and drums performed en masse in August each year.
Day 9 EDINBURGHSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
(B)
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.
Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.
Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.
Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.
Highlights:
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Disembark for a city adventure this morning accompanied by your expert guide and driver. Your tour of Dublin begins with the impressive Trinity College; Ireland's oldest university. Explore the Old Library, which houses 200,000 antiquarian texts and the oldest surviving harp in Ireland. Here you will see the world-famous Book of Kells; a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination. Hand-crafted by monks, it contains the four gospels and has been resident at Trinity College since the 17th century. Continue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, where you have the opportunity to see a memorial to Jonathan Swift, the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', who became Dean of St. Patrick's in 1713. Afterwards you are transferred back to port.
Highlights:
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Upon arrival in Dublin Port, you will meet with your private driver/guide and transfer directly to Powerscourt House & Gardens in Co. Wicklow
This stunning 18th Century Stately home comprises extensive gardens, which are open to the public; as is the Main House. There is a lovely restaurant in the house, overlooking the gardens and Wicklow Mountains, which offers the finest in Irish artisan, home cooked cuisine. The 34,000 acres of this estate extend along both shores of the River Dargle . Powerscourt is one of the finest properties in Europe, designed and laid out by Daniel Robertson between 1745 and 1767. This property is filled with splendid Greek and Italian-inspired statuary, decorative ironwork, a petrified-moss grotto, lovely herbaceous borders, a Japanese garden, a circular pond and fountain with statues of winged horses, and an occasional herd of deer. Opportunity for shopping at Avoca Handweavers now located in Powerscourt House. Enjoy lunch here at Powerscourt or at a traditional Irish pub in the city centre.
Upon your return from Powerscourt Estate, your private driver guide will take you on your tour of Dublin City.
Whilst Dublin is a vibrant and bustling city, by European standards it is a small city with a population of just over 1 million people. Much of Dublin’s streetscapes are adorned with beautiful 18th century townhouses and a number of city parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green and indeed Merrion Square. The highlights of any tour in Dublin may include a visit to Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse… and –if time permits –St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Following the city tour, your driver will return you to your ship.
Inclusions
Castlebar is a welcoming market town in West Ireland’s County Mayo. It is a town steeped in history, with its oldest building dating back to 1739. Summer walking tours are a popular attraction of Castlebar where visitors can walk and discover some of the amazing beauty and rich history of the region, amid its rivers, bogs and mountains. Other popular attractions of Castlebar include The Blues Festival, The Heritage Day, The International Four Days’ Walks, The Royal Theatre and so much more.
Belfast: Cultural Belfast - 8 hours
Belfast may be a small city, but it has a wealth of culture and excitement on offer for you to discover! Firstly, visit the purpose-built iconic ‘Titanic Belfast’. With over nine galleries, the Titanic story is brought to life for you with exhibitions, rides, full-scale reconstructions and lots
of interactive fun.
After a hearty Irish lunch (payable locally) head into Belfast city where your guide unravels stories related to “the troubles” of Northern Ireland. You cannot miss the murals across Belfast that offer a fascinating history in pictures. Although huge strides have been made in the fight to combat sectarianism in the city, the marks of the past can still be witnessed across the city, adorning the sides of buildings and walls. A tour of Belfast wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a pint of Guinness at the famous Crown Bar in the city centre. This 19th-century bar is an experience that is unique to Northern Ireland. You are privately transferred back to board your cruise after your tour.
Highlights:
Belfast: Highlights of Belfast - 6 hours
Today you are met by your expert local guide for a sightseeing in Belfast and the surrounding area. Spend the morning on a panoramic tour of the city centre, where you see the impressive City Hall in Donegall Square, St. Anne’s Cathedral and the buildings of Queen’s University. During this tour, your guide talks to you about the sectarian divisions that have been so prominent in Belfast in recent years. You also visit the Titanic Quarter, so-called as it was here that the ill-fated liner was being constructed a century ago. Your guide shows you where the ship was constructed and the Thomson Dock where it had its final fit-out.
Highlights:
Belfast - Tour of Antrim Coast - Full Day Tour
Edinburgh: Royal Edinburgh - 8 hours
Edinburgh: Introducing Edinburgh - 4 hours
The capital city of Scotland is undoubtedly one of the most dramatically-situated cities in Europe; this setting has had a profound effect on its historical development and today your expert local guide unravels these themes on a half-day sightseeing tour. The focal point of the city is Edinburgh Castle, a royal fortress that symbolises the Scottish nation and is home to the 'Honours of Scotland', the oldest set of Crown Jewels in the British Isles. From the impressive military installations there are stunning views of the city. The Royal Mile stretches down on from castle through the 'Old Town' of Edinburgh, at the heart of which is St. Giles Cathedral. This fascinating Gothic church is topped by a fine medieval spire in the shape of a crown. At the foot of the Royal Mile is Holyrood Palace, the Queen's Official Residence in Scotland*. The palace's neighbour is the much more recent Scottish Parliament Building; its striking contemporary designs are in eye-catching contrast to the classical style of the palace.
*Tour of palace staterooms is included if no member of the Royal Family is present at time of visit
Highlights:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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