Iceland And British Isles

Cobh is a quaintly charming seaside town built on a steep hill on the Great Island in Cork’s natural harbour. The town features colourful houses and the impressive spire of Saint Coleman’s Cathedral. When you cruise to Cobh you berth close to the centre of town so it is a great place to step off the ship straight into the warm ambience of Ireland. Cobh is only 20 minutes' drive from Cork city, the capital of Cork county. The city is built on an island on the River Lee and spanned by many bridges which create a glamorous continental feel. Ireland is synonymous with its famous whiskey and Irish Distillers, the makers of Jameson Whiskey, have a great visitors’ centre in Cork. Before you leave Cork, try to get to Blarney Castle, site of the famous stone. To kiss the Blarney Stone is to receive the mythical gift of eloquence.

A mass of brightly coloured corrugated iron roofs is a familiar sight here in the world's most northern capital city. Experience the incredible views of the Golden Waterfall and wonder at the spouting geysers. Join in a national pastime - shopping! Designer labels, local wool, gourmet treats, even a flea market, it's all right here.

A mass of brightly coloured corrugated iron roofs is a familiar sight here in the world's most northern capital city. Experience the incredible views of the Golden Waterfall and wonder at the spouting geysers. Join in a national pastime - shopping! Designer labels, local wool, gourmet treats, even a flea market, it's all right here.

The Westfjords in northwest Iceland is a remote and sparsely populated peninsula of steep, tall mountains cut by dozens of fjords. The raw and untamed natural landscape around Ísafjörður is characterized by a subarctic environment. A colourful show of blooming tundra wildflowers carpets the mountain slopes and valleys during the short, cool summer. Keep your binoculars handy. Iceland's western fjords are prime whale watching waters and, if your luck's in, you may just spot a tell-tale spout of water.

Established in the mid-17th century, Akureyri is home to Iceland's largest fishing company and its biggest shipyard. Viking sagas, spectacular fjords, snow-capped mountains... Iceland's Capital of the North is also surprisingly mild and the so-called Green Town is made for those long summer days.

On your journey from Akureyri, experience the beauty of Eyjafjordur as your cruise through Iceland’s longest fjord. Enjoying a wealth of wildlife due to its fertile waters, it is one of the best places in Iceland for whale and puffin watching.

Journey past the remote island of Hrisey, widely hailed as “The Pearl of Eyjafjordur”, due to its beauty and tranquility. The island itself is about seven kilometres long and 2,5 kilometres wide yet is rich in birdlife and a haven for more than 40 species of birds.

Greenock is your gateway to Glasgow. It serves as a brilliant stepping-stone to some of Scotland's most rugged and breathtaking scenery to the north. As you disembark at Greenock to explore Glasgow, you will likely be greeted by the stirring sights and sounds of a traditional Scottish pipe band in full tartan regalia. Greenock itself is a pretty town just a short walk from the port. It has a rich heritage of herring fishing and ship building. Recently there has been huge investment in the waterfront area, the original location of the shipyards. Heavy industry has now been replaced with some very impressive residential property and a theatre overlooking the stunning marina. The town has a range of shops to suit most tastes from exclusive boutiques to large department stores. The cosmopolitan city of Glasgow, the largest in Scotland, is only 25 miles from Greenock. As if the city’s blend of Victorian and ultra-modern architecture was not enough of a spectacle, there are a host of museums and galleries. To help you wind down after the bustle of the vibrant city, Scotland’s largest country park at Castle Semple is a scenic retreat on the shores of Castle Semple Loch. Scotland is famed for its majestic and mystical scenery and the tranquil beauty simply makes your soul happy. Loch Ness may be famous for its monster, but Loch Lomond must take the prize for the most beautiful. Set in the heart of Scotland’s first national park, the loch is only half an hour’s drive from Glasgow. Its loveliness changes through every season but never diminishes, even in the depth of winter when a ghostly stillness blankets the waters. Close to Loch Lomond, the Glengoyne distillery offers not only a chance to sample the ‘Water of Life’ but also an interesting and in-depth tour behind the scenes of a working distillery. It would be wrong not to mention golf. After all, it is the game’s ancestral home. There are over 60 courses around the Glasgow area and if you’ve time for a few holes the clubs will always be willing to hire out equipment.

Liverpool was the former home of Cunard Line. The Cunard Building, the Royal Liver Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building - all on Pier Head - are often described as the city's "Three Graces". Liverpool is vibrant and modern with a taste of the 60s! Take a ferry across the Mersey for stunning harbour views. Or embark on a Magical Mystery Tour commemorating the city's most famous sons.

The UK's premier passenger ship port, located in the picturesque English county of Hampshire, Southampton is a vibrant waterfront city, serviced by direct trains to London, an airport, and an international cruise terminal. Explore the city’s maritime heritage and links to RMS Titanic in the Sea City Museum, see contemporary British art in the Cultural Quarter, or walk the medieval walls in the Old Town. Further afield you’ll find The New Forest National Park, Winchester Cathedral, Stonehenge, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Isle of Wight, while the city’s thriving craft beer and culinary scene will leave you spoilt for choice.