Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.
Classic nautical finishes, modern amenities, and a spectacular art collection make Zuiderdam a continued favorite and the new home for the annual Grand World Voyage. Numerous enrichment and entertainment activities keep guests going from the moment they wake on this cruise ship. When it comes to dining, everyone has options, from steak at the Pinnacle Grill to burgers and fries at Dive-In to exquisite Italian cuisine at Canaletto. Hear your favorite tunes all evening long at music clubs, such as the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard.
Jun 22, 2027 - Amsterdam
Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.
Jun 23, 2027 - At Sea
Jun 24, 2027 - Stornoway
The name Stornoway comes from the Norse for "Steering Bay", an indication of the early origins of the town. As the best natural harbor in the Western Isles it was a focus for development, and Stornoway Castle was built as early as 1100 by the MacNicol family. Today's Stornoway is a busy, attractive town and the largest settlement in the Western Isles. The shape of the town is defined by the harbour, which partially surrounds it. Visit an interesting range of shops pleasantly different from the usual outlets colonising most UK High Streets. Visitors to Stornoway should be aware that Sunday observance is strong here. Most transport links to Lewis and Harris, and within them, do not operate on a Sunday. Most shops, petrol stations, cafes, pubs, visitor attractions are closed on Sundays, as are at least some public toilets.
Jun 25, 2027 - Belfast
Belfast is popular with travelers who come to discover the city’s physical beauty and renewed tranquility. Enjoy performances at the Grand Opera House, shopping along trendy Donegall Place and visiting numerous pubs along The Golden Mile. St. Anne’s Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, is the principal church of the Anglican Church of Ireland and contains stones from every county in Ireland. Located next to Europa Hotel, the Grand Opera House boasts an impressive mix of large productions of opera, ballet, musicals and drama. Known as the Big Ben of Belfast, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower was built in 1869 to commemorate the Prince Consort. Built in 1849 as one of Queen Victoria’s colleges, Queens University is one of the foremost universities in the British Isles. The classical-style building of Stormont, erected in 1928-32 to house the Parliament of Northern Ireland, stands 3.5 miles outside the city. The Prince of Wales Avenue is exactly one mile long and is bordered by rose beds containing 600 of the famous Korona roses noted for their scarlet blooms.
Jun 26, 2027 - Dublin (Dun Laoghaire)
Dún Laoghaire is a suburban seaside town and seaport nestled at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains in Ireland. The port offers opportunities for biking, canoeing, hiking, clay pigeon shooting, sailing and rock climbing. There are also several music and cultural festivals during the Autumn.
Jun 27, 2027 - Greenock
Greenock - a town slightly west of Glasgow - has a waterfront surrounded by hills and is composed of a bustling industrial area and a residential area with a 19th-century flavor. Glasgow's top attraction, the Burrell Collection, was amassed by wealthy industrialist Sir William Burrell before it was donated to the city and is now housed in a prize-winning museum in Pollok Country Park. This collection includes everything from Chinese porcelain and medieval furniture to paintings by Renoir and Cézanne. Visit the granite cross above town, a proud memorial to French sailors who fought in the Battle of the Atlantic and lost their lives. Enjoy a short ferry ride to the Scottish Highlands. Explore the statue, scientific library, museum, and the Watt School of Engineering, Navigation, Radio, and Radar that commemorate James Watt (discoverer of steam power) who was born in Greenock. Travel to Glasgow and visit George Square, Glasgow's oldest public square. Shortbread is a traditional recipe of Scotland and should not be missed.
Jun 28, 2027 - Greencastle
Jun 29, 2027 - Killybegs
Killbegs offers visitors a variety of attractions and activities to enjoy. The majestic mountains surrounding the town offer great hiking, and walking trails. While culture lovers can visit the Maritime and Heritage Center, and Clachan Folk Village Museum. Killbegs is also an excellent area for water sports, including surfing, diving, kite-surfing, and water skiing. Killybegs is famous for its carpets and tapestries, which are hand-knotted in the Turkish style. Carpets from Killbegs adorn the White House, the Vatican, and Buckingham Palace.
Jun 30, 2027 - Galway
Galway is a city, a county, and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely it's own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly university city, which many delight in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of all -Galway people, combine to create this atmospheric medieval city of culture. From this pulsating heart the rest of the county flows.
Galway Bay, immortalised in song, its beauty unchanging. Scenic Gaeltacht areas including the Aran Islands. Connemara, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital. Mountains, castles and stone walls, banks of turf, long sandy beaches, clear lakes, joyful leaping streams and flowing rivers. The mighty Shannon, delightful countryside punctuated by pretty villages, traditional pubs.
Photo used with permission
from Joe Desbonnet, www.galway.net
Jun 30, 2027 - Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs are the highest point over the Atlantic Ocean, and one of Ireland's top attractions. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars to make room for a signal tower. Visitors will also enjoy exploring the ATLANTIC EDGE. An exciting interpretive center in an underground building with a huge domed cave containing images, exhibits, displays & experiences that is sure to inspire all.
Jul 01, 2027 - Cobh
Cobh’s landmark Cathedral clings miraculously to the town’s steep slopes as they sweep down to the sea of Cork Harbour. That was also the last bit of Irish soil millions of Irish had under their feet before emigrating from here across the oceans in the last century. This tragic part of the nation’s history as well as Cobh’s historic and maritime story is brought alive in the splendid Interpretative Centre.
Jul 02, 2027 - At Sea
Jul 03, 2027 - Amsterdam
Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.
Jul 04, 2027 - At Sea
Jul 05, 2027 - Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
The Orkney Islands are different from mainland Britain and reflect the original 9th century Viking settlement. In addition to Norse heritage are remains of prehistoric monuments such as Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets winding around medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney artifacts is housed in 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions include Maes Howe, Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village Skara Brae. Rock circles, cairns, standing stones, ancient tombs and prehistoric villages are scattered about, gaining these islands international recognition. Only the walls and tower of the 12-century residence, Bishop's Palace, stand. The top of the tower affords a great view of the cathedral and across Kirkwall rooftops. Earl's Palace dates from 1600. Its style blends medieval fierceness with elements of French Renaissance architecture - featuring dungeons, massive fireplaces and magnificent central hall. A good mile south of town is Highland Park - the "most northerly legal distillery in Scotland."
Jul 06, 2027 - At Sea
Jul 07, 2027 - Djupivogur
This village at the head of the bay Berufiord developed around an important trading post in the past. In 1589 the German Hansa merchants were granted a trading license there by the Danish king. Later on the Danish introduced the trade monopoly and took over themselves. The oldest houses (1788-1818) date back to the Danish period. One of them, Langabud (1790), has been renovated and transformed into a nice restaurant and museums. Fishing, fish processing and commerce are the main trades. The scenic beauty of the surroundings is renowned and visitors are treated well in every respect.
Jul 07, 2027 - Berufjordur
Jul 08, 2027 - Akureyri
Akureyri is one of Iceland's oldest towns, and features picturesque historic houses set below snowcapped peaks, botanical gardens and several museums. Explore the interior to see Godafoss Waterfall and Lake Myvatn. It is the largest settlement outside the south-west of Iceland, and one of the country's largest cities. The name means "Meadow Sandspit" in Icelandic. Akureyri is an important shipyard and fishing port, as well as a commercial and distributing centre for agriculture and manufacturing.
Jul 08, 2027 - Eyafjordur
Eyafjordur is the name for the spectacular, Icelandic mountain range that shelters the town of Akureyri. Eyjafjörður is a starting-point for exciting adventure tours to some of the beautiful nature reserves in the Northeast of Iceland. The Eyjafjörður area is also ideally suited for hikes in places such as the Tröllaskagi mountain range, or the wooded park of Kjarnaskógur.
Jul 09, 2027 - Isafjord
The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.
Jul 09, 2027 - Isafjord
The town of Isafjord is a bona fide hive of industry. This busy fishing port runs to sizable shipyards as well as shrimp and fish factories— all ready to handle the catch of the day from the icy waters of the Denmark Strait. Recreational activities around here include hiking, kayaking, and of course, fishing.
Jul 10, 2027 - Grundarfjörður
The small town of Grundarfjörður (Grundarfjordur) is situated in the north of the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland.
Jul 11, 2027 - Reykjavik
The fire, frost and water symbolized by the red, white and blue of Iceland’s flag are manifested in this land. Reykjavik, or Smoky Bay, was so named in 874 A.D. by Ingolf Arnarson when he sighted the numerous hot springs on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Today this remarkably pollution-free city is wrapped around a sweeping bay and has managed to retain its charming Old-World atmosphere. A pastiche of red-blue-and green-roofed houses together with the tall gray tower of Hallgrim’s Church dominate the skyline. In Old Town, many of the wooden buildings have been lovingly restored and stand side by side with modern timber and concrete structures. There are fine museums and art galleries; historic pubs present activity in late afternoon. The beautiful countryside outside of Reykjavik includes such natural wonders as volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains and spectacular waterfalls.
Jul 12, 2027 - Heimaey
Heimaey, off the coast of Iceland, is one of 15 volcanic Westman Islands - home to "Keiko" the star of the "Free Willy" movies. The island is buzzing with life and there are some truly spectacular sights. The perfectly formed natural harbor area has tall cliffs tenanted by multitudes of puffin, fulmar and guillemot. Sprangan is a cliff where young islanders are taught the rope swinging sport. Herjólfsdalur Valley has ruins of old farmhouses dating back to 650 AD. The western part of the island provides an opportunity to view outer islands. 'Stórhöfdi' has magnificent views over the island and majestic glaciers of mainland Iceland and is home to the island's largest puffin colony. Two volcanoes in Heimaey are 5,000-year-old "Helgafell" (Holy Mountain) and the Eldfell (Mt. Fire), whose history is more recent and which offers a viewpoint. A road through the lava field passes the center of the volcano's crater, the ruins of a house buried in lava, and the main streets. Skansinn wooden church was donated to the people of Islands by Norway to commemorate the millennium of Christianity in Iceland.
Jul 13, 2027 - At Sea
Jul 14, 2027 - Runavik
Jul 15, 2027 - Lerwick, Shetland Island
The Shetland Islands are Great Britain's most northerly islands, situated nearly fifty miles northeast of the Orkneys. Lerwick is the capital of the principal island of Mainland and is Britain's most northerly town. Founded on the fishing industry and with strong Viking connections, little now remains of the old village of Lerwick. Features of interest include the Cromwellian Fort Charlotte and annual Norse fire festival, Up-Helly-Aa, held every January. On the southern tip of the island is Jarlshof, site of ruins of several Stone Age and Bronze Age dwellings as well as wheel-houses from the Iron Age. Elsewhere on the island is Clichimin Broch, another prehistoric site containing a Bronze Age fort.
Jul 16, 2027 - At Sea
Jul 17, 2027 - Amsterdam
Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.