Become immersed in the culture and history of Belfast through a multitude of experiences, one of the most compelling being an in-depth exploration of a museum dedicated to the Titanic, which was built in Belfast. Additionally, you will tour grand Hillsborough Castle, sample Irish whiskey at a distillery with a 250-year-old heritage and watch an inspiring evening performance of traditional Irish dancing and music. You will also travel along the picturesque Antrim Coast Road past classic fishing villages and on to the geological wonder Giant’s Causeway.

DAY 1

After debarking the cruise ship, you will be met and 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 lunch venue.

The remainder of the day will be at your leisure other than checking in the Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel, where you will spend three evenings.

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, much of the remaining morning will be free for independent sightseeing or shopping in the city. Check-out is at 11am, however, arrangements can be made for the hotel to securely store your luggage should you need longer.

A transfer will be provided to your departure airport to suit your flight details. We suggest arriving at the airport three hours before international flights.

Extra Nights

•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the same hotel used on the LAST NIGHT of your program.

•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be transferred to the airport per the flight details provided. Check-out time is 11:00am. Meals other than breakfast are on your own after Day 4 of your program.

Land Program Details

•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program timings 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. Final itineraries with updated details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any 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.

•A departure transfer is not included for guests that leave before the last day of the program.

DAY 1 Debark ship

9:30am Meet driver and guide and depart for McConnell’s Distillery

10:00am Guided tour and tasting at McConnell’s Distillery

11:30am Depart for lunch venue

12:00pm Lunch

1:30pm Depart for hotel

2:00pm Check in at the hotel

Overnight at Grand Central Hotel or a similar hotel

DAY 2

Full Irish breakfast

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 North Antrim coast with photo stops along the way

11:30am Visit Giant’s Causeway

1:30 pm 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

11:00am Check out of the hotel

The morning will be at leisure with lunch on your own. If you wish to sightsee or shop independently during the morning, arrangements can be made for the hotel to securely store your luggage.

Transfer arrangements to the airport will be arranged and communicated in your welcome letter.

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 check breakfast times with the hotel as they vary according to whether it is a weekday or weekend.

Program Includes:

• Private touring vehicle for sightseeing as per the itinerary

• A professional English-speaking tour guide for sightseeing as per the itinerary

•Private transfer from the hotel to the airport on Day 4

•Entrance to

oTitanic Belfast (includes audio guides)

oHillsborough Castle and Gardens

oGiant’s Causeway (includes audio guides)

oGuided tour of McConnell’s Distillery

•2-course lunches in local venues (main course and dessert with tea or coffee and one drink of choice per person) on 3 touring days

•Evening dinner and show on Day 3

•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 or 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.