Essential cruise - British Isles Discovery

Day 1 London Tilbury At London Tilbury Port, embark Columbus (3T) in preparation for late afternoon sailing. Day 2 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Charming and quirky, the aesthetically pleasing Dutch capital offers a thrilling metropolitan buzz dressed in a 17th century Golden Age façade. Gabled houses, quiet canals, and pretty brick bridges run wistfully through the city. Spend the day exploring the cobbled streets by foot or bicycle. Visit the world’s only floating flower market to see the famed Dutch tulips at Bloemenmarkt, visit the 17th century Royal Palace on Dam Square, still used for Royal events to this day; or soak up some culture at the famous Rijksmuseum, house of Anne Frank, or the Van Gogh Museum. Day 3 At sea Day 4 Invergordon, Scotland Gateway to the world-renowned Scottish Highlands, the small town of Invergordon is a fantastic base to explore the incredible scenery, romantic castles, and historic battlefields that grace this part of Scotland. Outside of the town, a trip to the legendary 23-mile-long Loch Ness is a must. Dsy 5 Portree, Isle of Skye The capital of Skye offers an assortment of simple pleasures; the picture-perfect harbour, decorated with pastel painted houses, is a nod to the fishing village of old. Surrounding the town, the soaring peaks of the Cuilins dominate the skyline and the landscape encompassing the town is scattered with iconic castles, small lochs, and streams. Just outside Portree, the Skye Heritage Centre and Aros Experience bring to life the history of the island and give an insight into the life these Highland communities. Ship to shore tender service. Day 6 Tobermory, Isle of Mull Scotland’s answer to Portofino, Tobermory is a picture of bobbing yachts, rainbow-painted buildings, and clear waters in the harbour; plus an abundance of cultural, historical and wildlife attractions. With a diverse mix of mountains and moorlands, sea cliffs and sandy beaches, there’s plenty to keep you occupied on this sleepy island. Ship to shore tender service. Day 7 Dublin, Ireland With its cobbled streets and classic pubs, Dublin is undoubtedly a city of unforgettable character. Bursting with heritage, history and legendary literature, must-sees in the city include Grafton Street and around Trinity College, Dublin Castle, the National Museum of Ireland and the Dublin City Gallery. Take a stroll around beautiful St Stephen’s Green, and then take in one of Dublin’s most famous landmarks - the high-arched Ha’penny Bridge. Day 8 Cobh Cobh was the last glimpse of Ireland for the tens of thousands, who fled the country for America during the Famine, and it’s known as the last point of call for RMS Titanic; a sobering museum is now positioned at the departure point. Despite its harrowing history, modern day Cobh is an attractive waterfront town that doubles as one of the largest harbours in the world. Wander past the brightly-coloured waterfront houses and up to the imposing St Coleman’s Cathedral, or take an optional excursion out to Ireland’s legendary Blarney Castle. Day 9 St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly The largest, and arguably the prettiest of the inhabited Scilly Islands, St Mary’s boasts secret coves of white sandy beaches and clear blue waters, while the pretty harbour ‘capital’ of the Scillies, Hugh Town, offers a warm and friendly welcome. Life trickles by at its own island pace, giving you plenty of time to explore some of the areas must-see gems. Rushy and Great Bay are some of the best beaches, while Tresco Abbey Garden is a subtropical estate home to more than 20,000 exotic species of plant. Ship to shore tender service. Day 10 St Peter Port, Guernsey For over 800 years Castle Cornet has stood guard over St Peter Port. The attractive town is a delight with cobbled streets, steep stairways and alleyways winding between houses to a picturesque waterfront of grey and white stone buildings. Guernsey is geographically closer to France, yet loyal to the British crown, and this is reflected in the wonderful Anglo-French ambience around the town. The second largest of the Channel Islands has a wonderful coastline with beautiful bays, and pastoral scenery that includes the handsome, much-prized Guernsey dairy cows. The tax-free haven is perfect for duty-free shopping. Ship to shore tender service. Day 11 Honfleur, France Recognisable from the artwork of great impressionists such as Claude Monet, the charming maritime town of Honfleur is popular among day-tripping couples and families from Paris. The city’s main draw is the postcard-perfect Vieux Bassin (old dock), which dates back to the 17th century and is now more likely to be filled with yachts than the fishing boats of old. St Catherine’s Church looks like an upside down boat, thanks to the boat builders who constructed it. Take a walk along the footpath from the harbour to the beach and through the town gardens along the way, with views to the Normandy Bridge, or explore the town’s many art galleries, artists’ studios, boutiques, restaurants, and cafés. Day 12 London Tilbury Arrive at London Tilbury.