CostSaver
OFFER ID 1512960
Irish Wonder
Centuries of Irish culture and heritage are revealed on this adventure across the windswept valleys of Ireland, from Dublin to the breathtaking coastal landscapes of Connemara. Kiss the Blarney Stone, witness Mother Nature’s magic touch at the Cliffs of Moher and circle the Ring of Kerry. There’s much to celebrate on this grand 9-day journey across the 'Emerald Isle'.
Dining Summary
8 nights from $1,850 per person
Costsaver: Irish Wonder
Day 1 - Arrive Dublin – sightseeing
Ireland’s 'fair' capital kick-starts your exhilarating encounter with the 'Emerald Isle'. After check-in, don’t resist the youthful energy of Dublin and take to its streets in search of its characteristic craic. You’ll join your Local Specialist at 2:30pm for a sightseeing tour with views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College. Tap into Dublin’s effervescent spirit and head to Temple Bar or Grafton Street on your own this evening. There’s a colorful pub on every corner, with happy locals and tourists spilling out on to the pavements. You could be one of them. Sláinte!
Accommodations: Travelodge Plus City Center
Day 2 - Dublin – Killarney
Today, travel through County Cork and pursue the 'gift of the gab' at Blarney Castle, where you'll have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Arrive in Killarney where you will be staying for the next two nights.
Accommodations: Killarney
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Killarney - Ring of Kerry Scenic Drive
Ireland's soul-stirring Ring of Kerry takes center stage today as we embark on a scenic drive past its mountains, lakes and lush green countryside – unquestionably one of the most scenic routes in Ireland. We'll see Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, Moll's Gap and the Black Valley, whose remote location led to the area becoming the last in Ireland to receive electricity. Later, head to a local restaurant for dinner.
Accommodations: Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Admire the Cliffs of Moher, then off to Limerick
Today we journey to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher. These sheer cliffs plunge dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean, providing endless ocean views and wonderful photographic opportunities during your experience at this UNESCO-listed highlight along the Wild Atlantic Way. You’ll be enchanted by its irresistible landscapes, and may delight in occasional wildlife sightings. Take an opportunity to explore the interactive visitor center, which brings the whole experience to life from the perspective of the resident wildlife that find sanctuary here. Later, we arrive in Limerick for an orientation.
Accommodations: Castletroy Park
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - On to Donegal
Our journey takes us to Westport for an orientation. Heading north, we arrive in Donegal, a town home to one of Ireland's three fjords, Lough Swilly. This will be our home for the night.
Accommodations: The Abbey
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Onwards to Belfast
Head to Belfast where we will visit the Giant’s Causeway for a memorable experience. Tread in the footsteps of Finn MacCool – his geometric Giant's Causeway is more the stuff of legends than the result of ancient volcanic activity which left its mark on the northern Irish coast. Admire the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that fade into the sea. This evening we will head to a local restaurant for dinner.
Accommodations: Ramada by Wyndham
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Belfast Orientation
Join your Travel Director for an orientation of Belfast, view the historic murals that depict the city's historic struggles, and see the City Hall. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Accommodations: Ramada by Wyndham
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Belfast - Dublin
Today it’s time to return to Dublin where you’ll put your silver tongue to good use during an evening optional dinner and Irish show that will have your toes tapping and taste buds craving another round of Irish coffee. It will be time well spent with new friends after a memorable holiday.
Accommodations: Travelodge Plus City Center
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Depart Dublin
And just like that, your enchanting exploration of the 'Emerald Isle' has come to an end. You’ve seen ancient churches, castles and towering cliffs, had your fair share of the craic and seen beautiful landscapes that many only encounter in pictures. All that’s left is to say a fond slán go fóill as you prepare for your return journey home.
Meals: Breakfast
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
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
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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