Many of the cruise have special themes and events, such as the ‘Myths & Legends of Ireland & the UK’ – with shore excursions to Stonehenge, the Giant’s Causeway, and the Blarney Stone – and a ‘Highland Games & Edinburgh Tattoo’ experience, taking in two of Scotland’s most spectacular events, the Cowal and Dunoon Highland Games and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
On Boudicca’s 11-night ‘Floral Britannia’ cruise, ex Dover in April, the ship will visit St. Peter Port in Guernsey, before stopping at Falmouth. Here, guests can take a tour to the Eden Project, one of the UK’s top visitor attractions, featuring the world’s largest indoor rainforest; or to the ‘Lost Gardens of Heligan’.
This floral-themed cruisethen calls at Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire, Wales then Liverpool before a full day of scenic cruising, taking in the Firth of Lorn, Duart Castle – the ancestral home of the Clan Maclean – the Sound of Mull, the Point of Sleat and Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye.
Also included, calls in Kirkwall, Invergordon and Rosyth and Tyne with visit to The Duchess of Northumberland’s ‘Poison Garden’ at Alnwick Castle – the setting for the Harry Potter films.
Balmoral’s nine-night ‘Superbikes & Scenic Hikes’ cruise, ex Southampton on last day of May 2015. Calls St. Peter Port, Tobermory, Kirkwall and Douglas, on the Isle of Man - home of motorcycle road-racing to view the annual TT Race, before heading to Dublin.