18-night Riviera Rendezvous: Andalusian Nights & Vineyards Cruise

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Art and Architecture in Barcelona (8 hours)

Highlights:
An architectural delight awaits you today in Barcelona, one of the most exciting cities in Europe.  Receive a warm greeting at the port by your private guide and driver and commence your full-day tour with a visit to Gaudi's masterpiece, the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia.  Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be complete until 2028! 

Next, visit Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's most colourful creations.  Continue along Passeig de Gracia, to view Gaudi's Casa Batlló and Casa Mila from the outside, with its brilliant wave-like façade.

After lunch, lose yourself in the narrow streets of the true heart of the city - the medieval Gothic Quarter.  Here you will visit the magnificent 13th-century Cathedral, and the Picasso Museum, where some of the painter's earliest works are housed. At the end of your tour you are transferred back to the port.

• Walk the labyrinthine alleys of the medieval Gothic Quarter to find architectural gems like the Church of Santa Maria del Mar
• Admire the Sagrada Familia and the Picasso Museum, where some of the artist's earliest works are housed.

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Not Included:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Gaudi’s Barcelona (4 hours)

Highlights:
Receive a warm greeting at the port from your private guide and driver and commence your half-day tour with a visit to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece; the impressive, but unfinished Sagrada Familia. Although work started on this project in 1882, this iconic church is not expected to be completed until 2028!

Continue on to Parc Guell, a beautiful municipal garden with a superb panoramic view over the city; the focal point is a colourful sea-serpent-shaped central terrace. Visit the gatehouse where Gaudi lived during his later years which is now a museum dedicated to him. Transfer back to the port at the end of your tour.

• Visit the impressive, but still unfinished Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of the Catalan architect
• Wander through Parc Guell, the UNESCO World Heritage Site considered Gaudi's most colourful creation

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Not Included:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Authentic Barcelona by Bike

Overview: Uncover the most authentic side of Barcelona riding the world's best folding bike, a Brompton. Be led by an expert bike guide and venture into a unique and exclusive experience. Connect with your local guide by sharing and listening to trivia stories about Barcelona. Embark on a ride to explore the least touristy Eixample and Gracia districts. Glimpse the Plaça d'Espanya, the Hospital de la Santa Creu, Sant Pau, and modernist estates.

Duration: 3 Hours

Barcelona Sailing Journey

Overview: Experience the thrill of sailing the Barcelona Coastline. Glimpse the Barcelona skyline from a different perspective and spot some landmarks, including Frank Gehry Golf Fish Sculpture and the Twin Towers", Torres Venecianas. Immerse yourself in the serene deep blue while seeping your glass of wine. Weather permitting, anchor and venture in a short swim.

Duration: 4 Hours

Exploring Cavas' Origin

Overview: Uncover the dedication of a biodynamic winegrowers family committed to excellence in long-aged wines. Venture on a stroll around the winery's iconic vineyards to discover the distinctive features of a unique spot in the Penedès region. Sheltered by the woods, taste a base wine paired with a light snack. Elevate your experience by savoring three long-aged sparkling wines, a limited-edition white wine, and an extra-virgin olive oil.

Duration: 4 Hours

From Market to Home with a Top Chef

Overview: Led by a top Chef who graduated from the prestigious Cordon Bleu School in Paris, embark on an exclusive gourmet journey at her private penthouse. Head to a 19th-century local market and thoroughly select the finest ingredients for your recipe. Dare to partake in the cooking process while you uncover some secrets of high-end cuisine. Savor the combination of flavors paired with a premium selection of Spanish Wines.

Duration: 4 Hours

Hike a World of Nature (7,5 miles)

Overview: Step away from the bustling Barcelona and embrace Catalonia's unique landscape with La Garrotxa and Fageda d'en jordà. Venture into an exciting 7,5 miles hike through the Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa. Engage in a circular route through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Ascend to the inside of Santa Margarita volcano and discover a chapel lying on its crater. Dive into Fageda d'en Jordà, a unique beech forest that grows on the lava flow of Croscat Volcano. Finalize your trail with a stop at the Croscat Volcano grederes.

Duration: 4 Hours

Montserrat Discovery Hike (5 miles)

Overview: Ancient Wonders and hidden gems await you on the famous needles of Montserrat Mountain. Venture into an exciting and intimate hike connecting you to Montserrat's outlandish and most authentic elements. Uncover the region of Agulles and the north face of Montserrat, passing between the needles, having to take some steps climbing ropes, and ending up visiting emblematic places such as Cadireta or Foradada.

Duration: 4 Hours

Montserrat from the Skies

Overview: Marvel at Montserrat Mountain's impressive scenic views. With a bird' s-eye view, witness these massive conglomerates, which form unexpectedly imposing sculptures due to their geological evolution. They all have names related to their shapes, and we find caves, chasms, and torrents in their shelter.
Flying over the Montserrat mountain, the spiritual Center of Catalonia is undoubtedly one of the most surprising and impressive experiences.

Duration: 1 Hour

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Tangier City Visit - 6 Hours

Meet your Car and Guide at the port of Tangier near the gangway.

Duration : 6 hours.

Points of Interest : Cap Spartel, Caves of the Oracle of Herakles, Souks, the kasbah & the Medina...

PRICES INCLUDE: Private circle trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle - according to family or group size - from Tangier’s Port. Private guided sightseeing excursion and all related entrance fees as listed in the itinerary. An English-speaking Licensed National Guide throughout. Lunch is Included.
 
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Medical or accident insurance outside of the vehicle. Gratuities to guides and driver. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water en-route, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
 
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TRAVELERS BRING:
Hygienic ‘wipes;’ camera and ziplock bags for sensitive lenses; sunglasses, sunscreen.

Tetouan and Chefchaouen - 12 Hours

Meet your Car and Guide at the port Tangier near the gangway.

Duration : Approximately 12 hours.

Points of Interest : Tetouan : Mellah (Jewish quarter), Hassan II Square, the traditional walled Medina, the Museum of Moroccan Art, the Handicrafts School, Bab el Oukla ...

Chefchaouen : El Masjid El Andalous , Square of Ouatta el Hamman, the Palace El Makhzen, the medina ...


PRICES INCLUDE: Private circle trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle - according to family or group size - from Tangier’s Port. Private guided sightseeing excursion and all related entrance fees as listed in the itinerary. An English-speaking Licensed National Guide throughout. Light refreshment.
 
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: medical or accident insurance outside of the vehicle. Gratuities to guides and driver. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water en-route, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
 
IT IS RECOMMENDED TRAVELERS BRING WITH THEM: hygienic ‘wipes;’ camera and ziplock bags for sensitive lenses; sunglasses, sunscreen.

Tetouan City Visit - 7 Hours

Meet your Car and Guide at the port Tangier near the gangway. Transfer to the city of Tetouan for a day trip.

Duration : Approximately 7 hours.

Points of Interest : Tetouan :
Mellah (Jewish quarter), Hassan II Square, the traditional walled Medina, the Museum of Moroccan Art, the Handicrafts School, Bab el Oukla ...

PRICES INCLUDE:
Private circle trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle - according to family or group size - from Tangier’s Port. Private guided sightseeing excursion and all related entrance fees as listed in the itinerary. An English-speaking Licensed National Guide throughout. Light refreshment.
 
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Medical or accident insurance outside of the vehicle. Gratuities to guides and driver. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water en-route, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
 
IT IS RECOMMENDED TRAVELERS BRING WITH THEM: 
Hygienic ‘wipes;’ camera and ziplock bags for sensitive lenses; sunglasses, sunscreen.

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

An Exploration of Lisbon (8 hours)

Highlights:
Lying north of the River Tagus estuary and stretching over seven hills, Portugal's capital city has much to offer.  Receive a warm welcome at the port by your private guide and driver and from here commence your engaging tour of Lisbon.

Explore the Belem district with its magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, an extraordinary example of Portugal's 'Manueline' style of architecture. Once populated by monks, the UNESCO-listed monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I to celebrate Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to India in 1498. Time permitting, visit Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), one of Lisbon's most iconic buildings and symbolic of Portugal's great Age of Expansion.

Next, it's time for a refreshment stop, where you may wish to sample the famous and scrumptious Pastéis de Belém (Portuguese custard tarts). From here you return to your cruise ship.

• Discover the beautiful Belem district with its magnificent Jeronimos Monastery
• Behold the priceless treasures on display at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and try the exquisite pasteis de nata local pastries

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Not Included:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Queluz, Sintra and Estoril (8 hours)

Highlights:
Venture outside of Lisbon to explore Queluz, Sintra and Estoril during your private shore excursion. Take the short driver to the sumptuous 18th-century Queluz Palace, where you can admire the magnificent formal gardens and azulejo-lined canals.

Afterwards visit Sintra, the summer retreat of Portuguese monarchs and Moorish emirs before them. Today, this town, nestling on the north side of the Sintra Mountain, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stroll through the town where charming streets are filled with fine handicraft shops. You then descend to Guincho beach for a fabulous view of Cape Rock, the westernmost point of the European continent and continuing to the resort town of Estoril on the scenic coastal road with fantastic views, en route back to your cruise ship.

• Explore Queluz Palace, the summer residence of the Portugese Royal Family
• Take a short drive to Sintra, the summer retreat of Portuguese monarchs and a UNESCO Word Heritage Site

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Not Included:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Highlights of Lisbon (4 hours)

Highlights:
See Belem Tower, one of Lisbon's iconic buildings and symbolic of the nation's Age of Expansion. Admire the impressive collection of painted and gilded Baroque coaches at the National Coach Museum.

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local guide for 8 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Not Included:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Bordeaux - About Grape Varietals… - 8 hours

Several possibilities based on the theme of grape varietals, be it wine tastings or, practical activities. The great Bordeaux wines will no longer hold any secrets for you. 

It's possible to have this activity in any Bordeaux wine appellation!

Wine tasting:  Merlot or Cabernet?

There are 2 major top grape varieties in Bordeaux:  Cabernet Sauvignon produces Ch. Mouton Rothschild and Merlot Pétrus. Each grape variety taste very different. The terroir and the work carried out by Man can exalt each grape and create amazing Bordeaux wines. During the blind tasting find out which grape has been used in the wine before or after its oak ageing. Merlot or Cabernet? 

Theory put in practice:
Blending is an art

Several grape varieties tasting different are available to the wine maker. He/she is an artist making rational or subjective choices in order to elaborate a great wine. Be the wine maker and create your own cuvée but explain your logic first. Does it match? Each group forms a team. 

Wine taster & Expert

Learn how to taste wines like a professional with fun. You also learn about the tricks of the trade. Words like single variety, futures, blended wines, bottled wine and ageing wine will have no more secrets for you. While tasting several wines, you may recognize which wine and term match together. 
 

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00 am - First winery tour

12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting separate grapes varieties and then have a blending session

05:00pm - End of the tour


Tour Duration: 8 hours 
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,
 

Package price includes

• Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
• English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
• 2 winery visits
• Blending sessions

Bordeaux - Wine Architecture in Saint-Emilion - 8 hours

Modern Temples of Bacchus
 

To wine lovers everywhere, the grand vintages of the Bordeaux region of France have long been regarded as the true pinnacle of excellence.

The methods and philosophies used in their production have by and large remained true to the old traditions; modern technology however has undeniably played an ever-more important role in recent years.

To add even more significance to this glorious culture of the grape, if that was possible, the past  decade has seen some of Europe’s most highly-acclaimed and imaginative architects taking time off from their ground-breaking and spectacular major urban projects to contribute their innovative designs to the cellars and vat rooms of some of the region’s top châteaux.

Discover Architectures / Understand Classification/Discover techniques of wine making and appreciate wine tastings!

09:00 am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00 am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères                         

11:30   am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it’s perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00 pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting Chateau La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible:  no
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes 

• Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
• English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
• 2 winery visits
• Monument tour in Saint-Emilion

Bordeaux - Gourmet tour - 8 hours

We invite you to enjoy a gourmet guided tour of Bordeaux which has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in June 2007.

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work.

Our visit offers to combine historic discovery with regional and typical "delicacies" punctuated by three stops at specialized producers:

•Tasting of ewe cheese with jam of cherries from Pyrenean mountains

•Tasting of “cannelé” a very local sweet specialty at Baillardran,

•And of course a "wine tasting" in a bistro…

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 

Package includes 

- Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
-  English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 

- All entrance fees & tasting

- All tax and Vat 

Does not include 

- Lunch 

- Gratuities 

- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  

Not available during French Bank Holiday

Bordeaux - Cultural tour - 8 hours

“The historic centre of Bordeaux forms an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the Age of Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city, except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Countries.

From its medieval quarters to the Classical splendour of the Golden Age in the 18th Century, you will be able to discover a city emerging from a long face lift of over 5 years of work. 

The futuristic tram network established in 2005 is evidence of the dynamism of today’s Bordeaux and the historic heart which has been given back to pedestrians, allow the visitors to discover the principal monuments illustrating the city’s History: the Palais Gallien amphitheatre (4th century), the Saint Seurin Basilica (11th century foundations), the Saint André Cathedral (13th century), the Porte Cailhau and the "Grosse Cloche" ("big bell", 15th century). 

The 18th century gave the city its outstanding "Grand Theatre", a national opera house built in 1781, and the Allées de Tourny, as well as the remarkable waterfront buildings and the Place de la Bourse (formerly the Place Royale), a quarter over 4 kilometres in length which serves as the backdrop for the port’s trading activities.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light
 

Package includes

• Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
• English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
• All entrance fees
• All tax and Vat 

Does not include 

- Lunch 

- Gratuities 

- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  

Not available on May 1st, January 01st & December 25

Bordeaux -Saint Emilion Wine Tour - 8 hours

In the morning, departure with your English speaking driver guide to Saint Emilion.
 

Surrounded by its vineyards, the city offers ancient ramparts, monuments and narrow streets. The village and the vineyards have been classed as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco in 1999.

“Grape production was introduced into this fertile region of Aquitaine by the Romans and was intensified during the Middle Age. The area of Saint-Émilion benefited from its position on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella and several churches, monasteries and hospices were built there from the XIth century onwards. It was granted its own jurisdictional status during the period of English rule in the XIIth century. This is an exceptional landscape entirely given over to grape-production and whose towns and villages are home to outstanding historic monuments.” (Unesco Cit.)

Centuries after the Latin poet Ausonius, the hermit Emilion found here peace and tranquility, which were necessary for his meditation. He discovered a grotto watered by a natural spring in the rocky centre of what is now the town bearing his name, where he lived until his death.

Private guided tour of the principal sights of the medieval town: the Emilion Hermitage, the Tour du Roy built in the 13th century by Richard the Lion heart, the collegiate church and its 14th century cloister and, above all, the exceptional monolithic church and its catacombs dug out of the limestone cliff between the 9th and the 11th centuries. Its 38 metre span makes it the largest such church in Europe.

Lunch will take place at a restaurant located in the city.

In the afternoon, visit with wine tasting at a Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion.

Tour Duration:8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light, 
 

Package Includes 

• Transportation: pick up/drop off at the Port
• English speaking licensed driver guide with a deluxe car with AC at disposal 
• All entrance fees & tasting
• All tax and Vat 

Does not include 

- Lunch

- Gratuities 

- Travel insurance and personal expenses 

Departure dates : all day , all year  

May 1st - due to French law, cost double and most of the Wine estate are close 

 

Bordeaux - A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting… - 8 hours

 A Wine, a Vintage, a Tasting…

Taste and identify the differences between the great Bordeaux wines, according to the vintage…

Wine experts give a great importance to Vintages. Why is it so important? How to recognize the quality of the vintage? How to guess the vintage? Should we agree or is it a matter of taste? Let us taste 4 vintages from the same wine property and comment. The expert guides you and shares his knowledge while you comment and learn tricks of the trade.
 

Château Grand Vertical Tasting Workshop

The privilege of tasting 6 great vintages dating back as far as 20 years:

• Château de Ferrand 1988 & 1989

• Château de Ferrand 1998 & 1999

• Château de Ferrand 2008 & 2009

This workshop includes a private tour, an initiation into aromas, a tasting of 6 vintages, and a food/wine pairing with our “Assiette Gourmande”.

Schedule: 

09:00am - Departure from the harbor of Bordeaux

10:00am - First winery tour such as Château Faugères

11:30am - Discover the enchanting medieval village of Saint-Emilion, classified by Unesco in 1999. A luminous, ochre-colored jewel built of limestone and Roman roof tiles, it is perched on a plateau and completely surrounded by a sea of vineyards.

The steep and narrow cobblestone streets are lined with remnants of monasteries and convents dating from the 11th to 18th centuries that tell the story of the village. A Unesco World Heritage-inspired scavenger hunt will bring you face to face with the art, wine and stunning landscapes of Saint-Emilion.

12:30pm to 02:00pm - Time to stroll and have lunch

02:30 pm - Wine tasting at Chateau  La Dominique

05:00pm - End of the tour

Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: NO
Physical Activity Level: Light,

Package price includes

• Transportation: Pick up/drop off at the Port
• Day Tour: English speaking driver guide with sedan deluxe car
• 2 winery visits and vertical workshop

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Cobh - Cork/Blarney Shore Excursion - Full Day Tour

Arrive at port and meet with your driver/guide who will escort you around Cork today. Drive through the attractive City of Cork which hosts some fine Georgian architecture, the imposing St Finbarr’s Cathedral, great shopping and many pubs. Continue your journey into the Irish countryside to the pretty town of Blarney. Continue on to visit the 15th century Blarney Castle, famous for its stone, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all those who kiss it. The stone itself is set in the wall below the battlements and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. Lunch at a local pub.

Following lunch visit Cork City Gaol. Here you can step back in time to see what 19th Century life was like in Cork – inside and outside prison walls. Amazingly life like figures, furnished cells, sound effects and fascinating exhibitions are to be seen.

Return to your ship this evening.

Inclusions:

• Private Driver Guide
• Entrance to Blarney Castle
• Entrance to Cork City Gaol
• Lunch

Cobh's Highlight's Shore Excursion - Cobh/Midleton - Full Day Tour

Meet with your professional driver & local guide who will escort you around East Cork today.  

Your first stop of the day is a visit to Cobh Heritage Centre a dramatic exhibition of the origins, history and legacy of Cobh.  Known previously as Queenstown this was the main port for Irish emigrants to Canada and the United States.  The story of the Titanic and the White Star line is also told at the Cobh Heritage Centre.

Continue on this morning for a visit of the Stephen Pearce Pottery Gallery.  Spend the late morning touring the pottery.  Browse around the Pottery showroom and Gallery shop, or view their latest exhibition in the Gallery.

Lunch today at the famous Ballymaloe House, the renowned Irish country house hotel and restaurant owned and run by the Allen family over 40 years. Darina Allen is one of Europe's most famous chefs and has a cookery school also on the grounds of Ballymaloe.  Nestled in a 400 acre estate in rural East Cork, Ballymaloe House is only 20 miles from the historic city of Cork and minutes from the breathtaking south coast.  Ballymaloe prides itself on offering a warm welcome, award-winning cuisine which celebrates the best of local, seasonal produce.

This afternoon, enjoy a visit to The Old Midleton Distillery which is a wonderful, worthwhile excursion.  Tour the distillery and learn how the world famous Irish whiskey is made.

Included:

• Private Driver Guide
• Cobh Heritage Centre 
• Stephen Pearce Pottery Gallery
• Lunch at Ballimaloe House
• Entrance to the Old Midleton Distillery

Not Included: 
Gratuities

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

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:

• Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
• Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
• Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Exclusions

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
• Supplement for public holidays
• Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above

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:

• See the world-famous Book of Kells, a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination
• Continue to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and home of a memorial to the writer Jonathan Swift

Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

• Private transport by luxury car or minivan
• An expert local driver-guide for 4 hours
• Entrance fees to all sights and museums
• All taxes

Exclusions:

• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities

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 18^th 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

• Private Driver Guide
• Entrance to Powerscourt House & Gardens
• Lunch