Thoroughly explore Northern Ireland’s largest city of Belfast and travel into the gorgeous surrounding countryside to view geological wonders such as Giant’s Causeway. To reach the UNESCO World Heritage site causeway, you will follow the Antrim Coast Road with stops along the way at the most breathtaking viewpoints. Urban highlights include browsing the definitive exhibition on the legendary Titanic – which was built in Belfast – a look at Hillsborough Castle, a tasting at McConnell’s Distillery and a dinner show of traditional Irish dancing and music.
DAY 1
After flying into Belfast/Dublin Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Although every effort will be made to have your room available prior to the 3:00pm check-in, it cannot be guaranteed.
The remainder of the day and meals will be on your own, after which you will overnight at the Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for a driving tour of Belfast, a city rich in history and industry. Enjoy commentary on its elegant architecture and sights such as the Grand Opera House and the Albert Memorial before passing Queen’s University, where the Botanic Gardens are located. Within these gardens is the Palm House, a superb structure of cast iron and curved glass panels built before Kew Gardens opened in London in 1839. You will also pass the historical City Hall and the iconic Samson and Goliath cranes, symbols of the city’s shipbuilding past.
At Titanic Belfast® you will experience nine interactive galleries detailing Belfast’s boom years, the Titanic’s construction, the ship’s opulent interiors, tragic sinking and deep-sea wreckage. Enjoy free time to take in the views that overlook the slip-ways where the Titanic was launched. You might also dine and browse the gift shop.
Once the drive continues, you will see Belfast’s political murals, the Crumlin Road Courthouse and Jail and visit the Peace Wall. A lunch of traditional fare and perhaps a Guinness follows.
You will then drive on to the grand Hillsborough Castle, the official residence of the British royal family while in Northern Ireland. You will tour its lavish Georgian interiors, including the State Room, dining rooms, Throne Room and Candlestick Hall, where dignitaries sign the visitor’s book. At the conclusion of the formal tour, feel free to meander through the lovely gardens or stroll to Hillsborough village before returning to the hotel for the evening.
DAY 3
Following breakfast in the hotel, you will drive deeper into gorgeous Antrim County. Upon reaching the town of Larne, you will join the Antrim Coast Road for a three-hour panoramic drive with gorgeous vistas of the windswept coastline, unrivalled seascapes, towering cliffs, white sand beaches, tranquil glens and lush forest parks. Along the way, you will find pretty fishing villages and dramatic headlands.
A photo stop will be made at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge viewpoint. Spanning a chasm some 80 feet deep, this bridge once consisted of a single rope handrail and widely spaced slats. Fishermen would traverse it while holding the salmon they caught, not an endeavor for the faint-hearted. The old bridge was eventually replaced.
Continuing on, you will pause for more photos at Dunluce Castle. Built in the 14th century, Dunluce is perched at the edge of a magnificent cliff with the typically fierce Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop. Most of the fortifications date to the 16th and 17th centuries.
Following lunch at a hotel, you will visit Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site. For centuries, this awe-inspiring geological wonder has captivated visitors with its grandeur and mystery. At the Visitor Center, you can explore various theories about the formation of the causeway’s 40,000 basalt columns.
You will then set off to walk the causeway and see firsthand how this remarkable rock formation has withstood the relentless power of the Atlantic Ocean for millions of years. The striking symmetry of the basalt columns continues to be fascinating and inspiring.
The journey back to your hotel will follow a scenic inland route through Bushmills and Ballymena.
After a few hours to relax at the hotel, you will depart for Befast Untold, a dinner show of Irish céilí dancing and traditional music that will take you on a narrative journey through the hidden backstreets and lost lanes of old Belfast. You will hear melodies and street songs that would have been heard in the shipyards, mills and markets of old.
Following the performance, you will return to the hotel for the evening.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will depart for McConnell’s Distillery, located in the Crumlin Road Gaol, a historical 19th-century prison. You will explore the whiskey-making process, from grain to glass, and witness firsthand how McConnell’s has revived its legendary Irish whiskey brand in this state-of-the-art facility. You will also enjoy a tasting of this acclaimed Irish whiskey before traveling to the cruise ship for embarkation.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
•Itineraries with the most up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
Extra Nights
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1 Fly into Dublin/Belfast Airport.
Transfer to the hotel for a 3:00pm check-in
The remainder of the day and meals will be at your leisure
Overnight at Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 2
Full Irish breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Begin Belfast driving tour and visit Titanic Belfast
12:45pm Lunch
2:00pm Travel to Hillsborough Castle
2:30pm Visit Hillsborough Castle
4:30pm Depart for Belfast city center
5:00pm Arrive at the hotel
Overnight at Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 3
Full Irish breakfast at the hotel
8:30am Depart for the North Antrim coast with photo stops along the way
11:30am Visit Giant’s Causeway
1:30pm Lunch
3:00pm Depart for the hotel
4.30pm Arrive at the hotel
7:00pm Depart the hotel
7:15pm Arrive at the venue for the Belfast Untold dinner show
9:15pm Depart for the hotel
9:30pm Arrive at the hotel
Overnight at Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 4
Full Irish breakfast at the hotel
10:00am Check out of the hotel and depart for McConnell’s Distillery
10:30am Tour McConnell’s Distillery
12:00noon Transfer to the ship for embarkation
Expected Weather: Weather in Ireland is very unpredictable. The average high in Belfast from June through August is approximately 18°C (65°F) and the average low is approximately 12°C (51°F).
What to Bring: Prepare for moderately mild weather at all times and supplement basic dress with a warm sweater and/or a rainproof top. Pack sensible footwear as most rural attractions and some urban areas are best described as “rugged terrain,” and the ground is wet occasionally. Also bring hats and sunglasses.
Local Currency: British Pounds. Credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity: 230v / 50hz (plugs are 3 square pins). An adjacent switch typically controls outlets. Some hotels will have adaptors available, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Luggage: There are no restrictions on pre-cruise baggage other than by the restrictions imposed by your airline. All baggage will be stored in your hotel room.
Documents and Visa Requirements: Please check with your embassy for up-to-date visa information.
Hotel
Grand Central Hotel
9-15 Bedford St, Belfast
*We will only substitute a hotel in unforeseen situations. If a hotel is substituted, it will be similar and with equal ratings and standards and guests will be notified in advance. If guests are not notified of any changes before departure, then the hotel listed in this program will be used.
Room Type: Grand Central Hotel – Deluxe King Rooms (One king bed) and Deluxe Double Rooms (Two queen beds)
Hotel check-in on first day: 3:00 pm (subject to change). While we will pass on your arrival details to the hotel, access to your room cannot be guaranteed before this time as the hotel may be full with other guests. If the room is not available on your arrival, the hotel will store your baggage until your room is ready.
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the most current arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional hotel nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided.
Please check breakfast times with the hotel as they vary according to whether it is a weekday or weekend.
Program Includes:
•Private saloon transfer from Belfast Airport to the hotel on Day 1
•Private touring vehicle for sightseeing as per the itinerary
•A professional English-speaking tour guide for sightseeing as per the itinerary
•Entrance to
oTitanic Belfast (includes audio guides)
oGuided tour of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
oGiant’s Causeway (includes audio guides)
oMcConnell’s Distillery
•2-course lunches in local venues (main course and dessert with tea or coffee and one drink of choice per person) on 2 touring days
•Evening dinner and show on Day 3 (starter, main, dessert with tea/coffee and 1 drink of choice)
•3 nights B&B accommodation at Belfast city Grand Central Hotel
•Porterage for 2 pieces of baggage per person at the hotel, arrival and departure
•All government taxes and charges
•Excursions Ireland handling fee
Program Excludes:
•Meals or beverages not listed above
•Gratuities to drivers and tour guides
•Hotel incidentals, including mini bar
•Personal expenses
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.
