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Cabine Deluxe
25% Ponant Bonus
19 m2
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Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys
Londres - Glasgow, Écosse
Date :
5/05/2023
à
13/05/2023
jours
nuits à bord
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially tailored for English-speaking travellers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
Join us for this 9-day cruise aboard Le Dumont-d'Urville exploring the rich history and culture that thrives on either side of the Irish Sea.
Begin with a night aboard ship docked near London Bridge, then set sail in the early morning down the Thames to discover historic Dover Castle, perched high on the emblematic White Cliffs, and perhaps visit the nearby UNESCO Heritage site of Canterbury Cathedral.
Enjoy a morning on the Isle of Wight visiting Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favourite residence, before a relaxing afternoon cruising along the shores of the English Channel. Arrive the following day some 30 miles off the southwest coast of Cornwall in the Isles of Scilly, where you visit the world-famous Tresco Gardens.
Crossing the Irish Sea, you call in Kinsale, Ireland, your gateway to proudly Irish Cork and its iconic Jameson Distillery. Holyhead, Wales, on the Isle of Anglesey, is where you may visit medieval Caernarfon Castle, built in the late 13th century by Edward I as the architectural capstone to the English conquest of Wales, or you may choose to explore the National Trust's Bodnant Garden.
Belfast, Northern Ireland's dynamic capital, is home to Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art museum on the site of the yard where the ill-fated ship was built. It is also your opportunity to experience the spectacular unspoiled scenery of the Antrim Coast and the famed Giant’s Causeway of over 40,000 interlocking, hexagonal columns, formed by the cooling of molten lava some six million years ago.
Your final full day is spent exploring the fabled Hebrides, beginning with the mystical abbey of the Isle of Iona, home to the first Christian settlement in Scotland. Next, you will proceed to Duart Castle, ancestral home of Clan Maclean on the Isle of Mull, and ending in the charming fishing port of Tobermory, whose distillery produces a renowned single malt scotch whisky.
Your voyage comes to an end in Glasgow, Scotland's modern cultural capital.
Ref : LG0945US - EU050523
Découvrez votre itinéraire
A voyage specially tailored for English-speaking travellers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call. Engaging discussions...
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Votre voyage en détail
Vos cabines
Vos cabines
Complétez votre voyage
Complétez votre voyage
Inclus dans votre croisière
Pour plus de sérénité, PONANT organise votre voyage en avant ou en après croisière. Ce package est compris dans le tarif de votre croisière.
Prestations complémentaires
Pour plus de sérénité, PONANT sélectionne des vols et assure la prise en charge de vos transferts pour votre voyage ainsi que les visites à terre avant et après le débarquement .
Vous aimerez aussi...
Vous aimerez aussi...
LE JACQUES-CARTIER
LE SOLEAL
21/10/2022 au 1/11/2022
- Inédit
LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
L'AUSTRAL
4/11/2022 au 20/11/2022
- Inédit
LE LAPEROUSE
9/11/2022 au 23/11/2022
*Tarif minimum par passager, en base occupation double. La catégorie de cabine correspondant à ce tarif peut n’être plus disponible.
Prestation(s)
- Room service 24h/24
- Wi-Fi illimité inclus (réception satellite aléatoire en fonction de la navigation et de la latitude)
- Climatisation individuelle
- Dressing avec étagères et espace penderie
- Coiffeuse et sèche-cheveux
- Produits de bain haut-de-gamme Hermès
- Mini bar inclus
- Machine à café Nespresso et bouilloire
- Coffre-fort électronique
- Ligne téléphonique directe par satellite
- Enceinte Bluetooth Bose
- TV écran plat, chaînes internationales (aléatoire suivant votre navigation) et vidéos à la demande
- Installation 110/220 volts
- Deux cabines PMR
Choisissez votre catégorie de cabine
Tenue idéale pour la vie à bord :
Durant les journées passées à bord, il vous est conseillé de porter des vêtements confortables ou des tenues décontractées. L’ensemble du navire étant climatisé, un pull fin, une veste légère ou un châle peuvent vous être nécessaires. Pour vos déplacements dans les espaces publics et sur les ponts du navire, privilégiez des chaussures légères mais confortables.
Soirée informelle :
Le soir, il vous est conseillé de porter une tenue de ville élégante, en particulier lors des dîners dans nos restaurants où le port de short et tee-shirt n’est pas autorisé.
Pour les femmes :
- Robe simple
- Jupe ou pantalon
- Chemisier ou blouse
- Polo
Pour les hommes :
- Pantalon à pinces ou « chino »
- Veste sport
- Chemise
- Polo
Soirée des officiers :
En fonction de l’itinéraire et du programme de votre croisière, une Soirée des Officiers sur le thème « Soirée Blanche » pourra être organisée. Par conséquent, nous vous incitons à prévoir pour l’occasion une tenue de ville élégante blanche (à défaut noire et blanche).
Soirée de gala :
Lors de nos croisières, deux soirées de gala sont organisées à bord. Aussi, nous vous recommandons de prévoir une ou deux tenues plus formelles.
Pour les femmes :
- Tenue de cocktail
- Robe longue de soirée (si vous le souhaitez)
Pour les hommes :
- Costume foncé
- Cravate conseillée, éventuellement nœud papillon
- Smoking (si vous le souhaitez)
BOUTIQUE :
Une boutique est ouverte durant les moments de navigation proposant une large gamme de tenues, bijoux, maroquinerie et de nombreux accessoires.
Nous vous informons qu’un service de blanchisserie (nettoyage - repassage) existe à bord, mais il n’est pas en mesure de vous proposer un nettoyage à sec. Pour des raisons de sécurité, votre cabine n’est pas équipée d’un fer à repasser.
ACCESSOIRES :
- Lunettes de soleil
- Maillot de bain (pour la piscine ou le spa à bord)
- Tenue de gymnastique (fitness)
- Chargeur de batterie et cartes mémoire pour appareil photo ou caméra numériques
- Chargeur de téléphone portable
- Chapeau / casquette
SOINS – SANTÉ :
- Crème solaire et après-solaire
- Médicaments et ordonnances
TENUES À BORD :
- Tenues décontractées pour la journée
- Tenues élégantes pour les dîners
- Tenues pour les soirées de Gala
- Tenue blanche ou noire et blanche
PRÉCAUTIONS :
Dans le sac qui ne vous quittera pas, pensez à emporter les médicaments dont vous avez besoin, et éventuellement un petit nécessaire de toilette et de rechange (en cas de retard dans la livraison de votre bagage par la compagnie aérienne). Assurez-vous d’avoir toujours avec vous les documents de voyage dont vous pourriez avoir besoin : voucher d’hôtel, voucher de croisière, billets de vol retour… Ne les laissez jamais dans vos bagages enregistrés en soute.
Toutes nos cabines disposent d’un coffre. Nous vous recommandons de ne pas descendre à terre avec vos bijoux de valeur.
Activités PONANT
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys is the travel programme of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, consisting of 21 museums, the National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, cultural centers, and libraries. Drawing on Smithsonian's resources dating back 175 years, these sailings will feature notable experts and experiences that embrace local cultures and dive deeper into a destination’s history, cuisine, language, environment, and wildlife. For more than 50 years, Smithsonian Journeys has been rooted in and focused on cultural immersion and discovery – with a goal of inspiring guests to become global citizens through travel.
Sous réserve de désistement en cas de force majeure
Temps forts
- A voyage specially tailored for English-speaking travellers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.
- Engaging discussions onboard with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts.
- Experience UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way: Canterbury Cathedral, Edward I's Caernarfon Castle, and the Giant's Causeway on the Antrim Coast.
- Cruise the River Thames from London Bridge to the White Cliffs of Dover.
- Explore Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favourite residence, designed by Prince Albert.
- Wander through award-winning Tresco Gardens and Bodnant Garden at the height of the spring bloom.
- Discover the vibrant Celtic culture of Cork.
- Delve into the misty past of the Hebridean Isles of Iona and Mull.
Escales & excursions
5 mai 2023 - Londres
Embarquement 5/05/2023 de 16:00 à 17:00
Départ 5/05/2023 à 23:59
Résidence principale de la monarchie britannique, place financière mondiale et siège du gouvernement, Londres est le cœur économique et culturel du pays. Ville de tous les contrastes, à la fois attachée aux traditions et vibrante de modernité, la capitale du Royaume-Uni se découvre à travers la multiplicité de ses quartiers et de ses sites remarquables : de Hyde Park à la City en passant par Westminster et Trafalgar Square, apprêtez-vous à adopter le rythme de vie frénétique des Londoniens. Mais entre une visite à la National Gallery, une virée à Covent Garden et la traversée du Tower Bridge, vous pourrez faire une pause au cœur de la nature dans l’un des innombrables espaces verts londoniens...
6 mai 2023 - Douvres
Arrivée 6/05/2023 en milieu de journée
Départ 6/05/2023 en début de soirée
Située au bord de la Manche, à 35 km des côtes françaises et du cap Gris-Nez, dans le comté de Kent, Douvres est la ville du Royaume-Uni la plus proche de la France. Principal port de transit entre les deux rives de la Manche, et « Porte de l'Angleterre », Douvres est célèbre pour ses impressionnantes falaises blanches qui ont tant inspiré poètes et dramaturges. Se dressant majestueusement face au continent, elles vous offrent la possibilité d’une promenade spectaculaire à leur sommet. Le château de Douvres, sur une colline dominant la Manche au nord-est de la ville, imprenable, domine la ville avec son réseau de galeries souterraines qui saura vous intéresser.
7 mai 2023 - Cowes
Arrivée 7/05/2023 en début de matinée
Départ 7/05/2023 en début d'après-midi
Située sur la côte nord de l’île de Wight, face aux rivages des villes portuaires de Portsmouth et Southampton, Cowes vous séduira par sa douceur de vivre, son patrimoine et ses paysages verdoyants, entre falaises escarpées et eaux cristallines du Solent, bras de mer qui sépare l’île de l’Angleterre. Nombreux sont ceux qui sont tombés sous le charme de ce joyaux préservé. Entre autres la reine Victoria, séduite par ce cadre naturel et authentique y fit construire, en 1847, sa résidence d’été : Osborne House, bijou architectural devenu l’un des symboles de la ville. Centre de construction navale et berceau de la voile, Cowes accueille chaque année l’une des plus grandes régates au monde lors de la Semaine de Cowes, événement réunissant près de 10 000 skippers et plus d’un millier d’embarcations.
8 mai 2023 - Îles Scilly
Arrivée 8/05/2023 en milieu de journée
Départ 8/05/2023 en fin d'après-midi
Nichées dans les eaux claires de l’océan Atlantique, à la pointe sud-ouest des Cornouailles, les îles Scilly, ou Sorlingues, forment un petit archipel britannique, dont le climat, les paysages et le mode de vie ne ressemblent à nul autre et semblent tout droit sortis d’un livre d’Enid Blyton. Ici, tout a des allures de paradis tropical. Les longues plages de sable côtoient les prairies verdoyantes et les nombreuses fleurs presque exotiques, tandis que les ruines d’anciens châteaux trônent au sommet des collines. Véritable havre de paix ayant inspiré le légendaire Avalon du roi Arthur, elles sont aujourd’hui classées site de beauté naturelle remarquable et accueillent sur leurs côtes escarpées une faune aussi variée qu’exceptionnelle.
9 mai 2023 - Kinsale
Arrivée 9/05/2023 en début de matinée
Départ 9/05/2023 en début d'après-midi
Considéré comme le plus beau village d’Irlande, Kinsale vous séduira grâce à ses sublimes paysages naturels et son riche patrimoine culturel. Blotti au fond de l’estuaire du Bandon dans le comté de Cork, ce charmant petit port abrite de pittoresques ruelles bordées de maisons colorées, des galeries d’art, des théâtres, mais aussi un château fort du XVIIe siècle. Non loin, juché sur un promontoire rocheux, se dresse le phare de Kinsale : encore en activité aujourd’hui, il permet de profiter de magnifiques points de vue sur l’océan Atlantique.
10 mai 2023 - Holyhead, Pays de Galles
Arrivée 10/05/2023 en début de matinée
Départ 10/05/2023 en début de soirée
Au nord du Pays de Galles et à l’ouest de la captivante île d’Anglesey, laissez-vous séduire par le cadre enchanteur de la petite ville portuaire de Holyhead. Souvent appelée « la mère du Pays de Galles » en raison de son importance dans l’histoire, Holyhead est un véritable paradis pour les passionnés de paysages naturels et de patrimoine qui adoreront, entre autres, explorer les nombreux sites historiques de la ville. Parmi eux, son église Saint-Cybi, datant du XIIIe siècle, nichée au beau milieu de la citadelle romaine. Enfin, vous pourrez admirer l’un des symboles de la ville : le phare South Stack, bâti en 1809. Dès votre passage aux abords du phare, vous aurez possiblement l’occasion de vous émerveiller devant de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux marins, par lesquels le guillemot ou encore le Petit Pingouin.
11 mai 2023 - Belfast, Irlande du Nord
Arrivée 11/05/2023 en début de matinée
Départ 11/05/2023 en fin d'après-midi
La capitale de l’Irlande du Nord occupe l’extrémité du loch de Belfast, au nord-est de l’île d’Émeraude. Sur les quais, vous ne manquerez pas de repérer un édifice en forme de paquebot fragmenté : le Titanic Belfast est dédié au célèbre transatlantique, dont les intérieurs reconstitués vous inviteront à embarquer pour une croisière de la Belle Époque. Dans le centre historique, vous pourrez aussi remonter le fil du temps, des majestueuses colonnes édouardiennes de l’hôtel de ville aux impressionnantes tours néogothiques de Queen’s University. Et les façades en bois sculpté des pubs victoriens vous donneront certainement envie de pousser la porte pour y savourer une pinte de bière ou de cidre bien frais.
12 mai 2023 - Iona, îles Hébrides
Arrivée 12/05/2023 en début de matinée
Départ 12/05/2023 en fin de matinée
De toutes les îles qui composent les Hébrides intérieures, Iona est de loin celle qui incite le plus au recueillement et à la méditation. Et pour cause... C’est en effet sur cette terre, depuis lors sacrée, que saint Colomba, débarquant d’Irlande vers 563, entreprit d’évangéliser l'Écosse. Aujourd’hui une abbaye, véritable centre spirituel de l’île, occupe l’emplacement de l’ancien monastère fondé par le missionnaire irlandais. De nombreux rois d’Écosse, dont le légendaire Macbeth, seraient enterrés dans le cimetière voisin. Si le soleil est de la partie, l’arrivée sur l’île d’Iona offre un spectacle de toute beauté.
12 mai 2023 - Tobermory, île de Mull
Arrivée 12/05/2023 en début d'après-midi
Départ 12/05/2023 en fin d'après-midi
Situé tout au nord de la séduisante île de Mull, Tobermory est certainement l’un des plus beaux ports naturels de la côte ouest de l’Écosse. Fondé en 1788, cet ancien village de pêcheurs a été reconverti en un port de plaisance, aujourd’hui très apprécié pour son cadre et le charme tranquille qui s’en dégage. Nul doute que vous serez conquis par le chapelet de maisons étagées à flanc de colline, dont les couleurs éclatantes illuminent le port. Même si le spectacle est à l’extérieur, la collection du Mull Museum consacrée à l’histoire locale ainsi que les expositions de la galerie d’art An Tobar ne sont pas moins intéressantes.
13 mai 2023 - Glasgow, Écosse
Arrivée 13/05/2023 en début de matinée
Débarquement 13/05/2023 à 08:00
Au cœur de la vallée de la Clyde, la trépidante cité de Glasgow contraste avec la beauté sauvage des paysages environnants. La plus citadine des villes écossaises regorge de multiples attraits issus de son important héritage artistique et de son exceptionnel patrimoine architectural. Le plan en damier de la ville facilitera vos déambulations à travers les grandes artères piétonnes : vous vous laisserez porter par l’animation de ses rues jalonnées de beaux monuments victoriens et ne manquerez pas d’aller admirer les collections des nombreux musées et galeries d’art. Le Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum est, à cet égard, exemplaire. Vous pourrez achever votre périple par un peu de... Car, oui, Glasgow est aussi le temple du shopping !
The White Cliffs & The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, in the summer and fall of 1940, was the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air. It is also the battle that changed the course of World War II.
This excursion begins with a short drive along the coast to the small village of Capel-le-Ferne, site of the Battle of Britain Memorial, for a guided tour of this monument to the heroism and sacrifice of the pilots and support staff of the Royal Air Force who crippled the Luftwaffe's efforts to bomb Britain into submission. You will see the memorial itself, dedicated by the Queen Mother in 1993, and the Wall, which contains the names of all the aircrew who flew at least one sortie during the battle. You will also visit the Wing, which houses an interactive experience creating a sense of what life was like during the campaign and its aftermath.
Leaving the memorial site, you drive past Dover Castle, a massive fortress much of which is hidden deep within the chalk of the cliffs, on your way to the White Cliffs Visitor Center. From here you set off on a 2 mile walk along perhaps the most famous cliffs in the world to reach the South Foreland Lighthouse. This Victorian era structure was built to guide mariners through the treacherous shifting sands of the Strait of Dover and was the first lighthouse anywhere in the world to make use of electric light.
Your motorcoach will meet you at the lighthouse for the short drive back to the pier.
- This is an active excursion with total walking distance of approximately 3 miles. The cliff walk includes stretches of unsure footing and can be slippery at times. It is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended, as well as a waterproof jacket and bottled water.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Dover Castle
Given its strategic location at the shortest distance between Britain and the continent, it is not at all surprising that Dover Castle is one of the most fortified castles in England. Begun by Henry II and completed under Henry III in the mid 13th century, the castle has undergone many substantial renovations, one of the most important occurring at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when a tunnel complex was dug into the chalk beneath the castle.
Your exploration of the massive fortress begins with a guided tour of those tunnels as they were during World War II, when they served as the headquarters from which the evacuation of Dunkirk was directed. Here you will be able relive the drama of "Operation Dynamo" from May 26 – June 4, 1940, when, against enormous odds, more than 100,000 English and French troops were rescued.
After your introduction to these tunnels, you will have ample time to discover other parts of Dover Castle at your leisure. You might extend your stay beneath the surface to tour the underground hospital created by digging additional tunnels to serve as triage, operating rooms, and wards for treating the wounded before they were transferred further inland. Or you may want to focus on the fortress itself, with its Inner Bailey and Henry II's Great Tower.
You may explore the wider castle grounds to get a sense of the long history of the place, including an ancient Roman lighthouse, one of the oldest in the world, and an Anglo-Saxon church. Or you may decide to stretch your legs and walk the battlements to enjoy remarkable views over the English Channel.
Whatever you choose, you are sure to come away from the experience with a clearer sense of the importance of this remarkable monument in the history of England, and of the modern world.
- This is a moderate excursion. The guided tour of the wartime tunnels involves standing for about an hour and some walking. Additional walking is largely at your discretion. A typical visit involves a total of 1.5 miles, over mixed terrain and steps. No special clothing is needed—comfortable shoes and a light jacket in case of rain should suffice.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Canterbury and its Cathedral
A short journey from Dover through the heart of the county of Kent, known as the ‘Garden of England’, brings you to the historic and picturesque city of Canterbury – home to one of England's most famous cathedrals, setting of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Canterbury's wealth originated with the pilgrims who, like Chaucer's travelers, flocked to the city to visit the shrine of Archbishop Thomas Becket, who was murdered in his cathedral in 1170. The Norman cathedral still dominates Canterbury's skyline, inspiring the same sense of awe as it did in the Middle Ages. Explore this magnificent building, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican community, at your own pace, perhaps pausing at the site of Becket's martyrdom, marveling at the workmanship of the ancient stained-glass windows, or admiring the architecture of the Quire, the first Gothic building in England. You will also have time to wander among the labyrinth of streets and lanes lined with quaint shops, many of which date to the time of Chaucer.
- Total walking distance on this excursion is at your discretion. The ground around the cathedral has some cobblestones and is uneven in places, which may make walking difficult. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes. Appropriate dress (shoulders and knees covered) is requested to enter religious sites.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Royal Osborne House
Once an independent kingdom, the Isle of Wight so charmed Queen Victoria that after her first visit she is quoted as saying “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.”
You will get a sense of what she meant as you sail into the harbor at Cowes, once known as the "yachting capital of the world," and set off on a panoramic drive around this small island, much of which is managed as an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. A brief stop in the picturesque village of Godshill is followed by a drive to Osborne House.
Queen Victoria had Osborne House built as a summer residence for the royal family in the mid-19th century. Designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance country villa, it is a grand palace, but it functioned essentially as a family holiday home and is filled with many personal and family mementos. Highlights include the majestic State Rooms, for entertaining visiting dignitaries, Queen Victoria’s bedroom, where she died in 1901, the Swiss Cottage, a playhouse for the royal children, and the magnificent Gardens, designed, like the house, by Prince Albert.
After exploring this charming window into the personal lives of the royals, you return to Cowes and to your waiting ship.
- This is an easy excursion. There are only a few steps at Osborne House, chairs and benches are available throughout the house and gardens, and the amount of walking is entirely at your discretion. Wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing for the changeable weather.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Wildlife Cruise & St. Martins Vineyard
Located about 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are a cluster of low-lying islands, only five of which are inhabited. The entire archipelago is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, dotted with Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Marine Conservation Zones. The clear waters surrounding the islands support an abundance of marine life, and migratory birds are drawn by the temperate climate, winds and ocean current.
Your discovery of some of the natural beauty that Scilly has to offer begins with a cruise aboard a local boat around the eastern isles. The rugged coastlines of the islands are a haven for wildlife and you may spot gannets, cormorants, shearwaters, and Atlantic grey seals. From about mid-April, puffins return to breed here, making the Isles of Scilly a hugely important habitat for this popular seabird.
Disembark on St. Martin’s, a quiet island offering spectacular views and a wealth of life’s simpler pleasures. Its rich natural beauty has attracted an enterprising group of residents, a few of whom you will meet, including the owners of St. Martin’s Vineyard. Established in 1996 on the site of a former flower farm, the tiny vineyard's first vintage in 2000 yielded only 120 bottles. Today it produces much more, while maintaining a focus on biodiversity and sustainability, including a move towards organic production. You are invited to enjoy a self-guided tour of the grounds at your own pace, and of course, taste several of the wines.
From the vineyard, walk along the island’s only concrete road to Highertown, home to a gallery showcasing local artists, a flower farm, and a thriving artisanal bakery. Browse these shops at leisure before walking back to the pier for the transfer to your ship.
- This excursion is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. There is no transport on the island of St. Martin's, so all touring is on foot, and could amount to a total of 3 miles. We recommend sturdy walking shoes, layered clothing, and sunscreen.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco is the second largest of the Isles of Scilly, located some 30 miles off the southwest coast of Cornwall in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to the world-class Tresco Abbey Gardens, an incredible botanical paradise planted in the ruins of a Benedictine priory.
Founded by Augustus Smith, a wealthy banker, in 1834, the gardens today are home to an impressive collection of 20,000 plant species heralding from as far away as New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. The mild climate in Scilly, combined with plenty of sunshine, allows sub-tropical plants to flourish here in latitudes that seem impossible. A walled enclosure around the priory ruins acts as a wind-break, providing shelter from the ferocity of Atlantic weather during the winter months when, even then, more than 300 plants are in bloom.
You will be visiting in the spring, when the garden is at its loveliest, and when red squirrels, one of Britain's most endangered species, dart about the grounds in the safety of this verdant sanctuary. Stroll the gardens at leisure to discover its many treasures, including the collection of figureheads and decorative carvings from ships that sank off Scilly's shores — another of Augustus Smith's passions.
- This is an easy excursion with only as much walking as you wish in the gardens. Comfortable shoes, layered clothing, and sunscreen are recommended.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Cork City and Spike Island
Cork, Ireland's second city (or the "real capital of Ireland," as its inhabitants like to say), was founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement on an island in Cork harbor. Today the Lee flows through the city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges, a feature that gives Cork its distinctively continental air. The city has become the shopping and commercial capital of the south. It is a university city—a city of jazz, film, opera, and theater. And yet, despite offering the amenities of a large city, it still manages to retain the charm and friendliness of a country town. Among the sights you will see on your panoramic tour are the spires of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Old Courthouse, City Hall, and the renowned Bells of Shandon.
Leaving the city, you travel to the village of Cobh, where you board a ferry to nearby Spike Island, which commands a central position within Cork Harbor, making it an ideal spot for an array of different purposes. Over the past 1300 years, the island hosted a 7th-century monastery and a 17th-century fortress, served as a refuge for smugglers for much of the 18th-century, and was the site of the world's largest prison during the Victorian era. Your guided tour of this multi-faceted place will introduce you to the island's key features, including the star-shaped Fort Mitchel, which dominates the site, and will include stories of various characters who have added their own chapters to the legends of the island, from prisoners like James Grey, the thief known as 'Jack in the Box', to Ellen Organ, "little Nellie of Holy God," whose precocious spirituality persuaded Pope Pius X to admit children as young as 7 to Holy Communion. Following your tour, you will have some time at leisure to explore independently before reboarding the ferry for the return trip.
- This moderate excursion includes approximately a mile of walking on flat, but occasionally uneven, surfaces. We recommend comfortable, waterproof clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Cork City and the Jameson Distellery
Cork, Ireland's second city (or the "real capital of Ireland," as its inhabitants like to say), was founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement on an island in the estuary of the River Lee, just upstream from Cork harbor. Today the Lee flows through the city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges. In fact, it is this feature of the city that gives Cork its distinctively continental air. The city has become the shopping and commercial capital of the south. It is a university city—a city of jazz, film, opera and theater. And yet, despite offering the amenities of a large city, it still manages to retain the charm and friendliness of a country town. Among the sights you will see on your panoramic tour are the spires of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Old Courthouse, City Hall, and the renowned Bells of Shandon.
Leaving the city, you will travel eastwards to the village of Midleton, the town from which the famous rare Irish whiskey gets its name. A visit to the Old Jameson Distillery will take you into the heart of the cherished whiskey making tradition. Join a 60-minute guided tour of this beautifully restored 18th-century self-contained industrial complex and learn the history of Irish whiskey as you observe the fully operational water wheel and marvel at the 32,000-gallon copper still, the largest in the world.
After the history comes the tasting, where you are invited to relax in the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub and sample Ireland's finest whiskey. Afterwards, visit the craft shop or coffee shop at Jameson Heritage Centre where you can lose yourself in the charm of another age.
- This moderate excursion includes approximately 0.25 miles of walking on flat surfaces with cobblestones and some steps at the distillery. Wear warm and comfortable waterproof clothing and walking shoes. Please note that the order of the visits may be reversed. Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate. This tour is limited to 80 participants.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Center of Cork City
This walking tour of Cork is designed to introduce you to Ireland's second city through a variety of its neighborhoods and monuments. A 45-minute drive from the pier brings you to the South Mall, lined with businesses housed in buildings that were once boathouses along the River Lee. Across Parnell Bridge, your guide will lead you on a leisurely stroll along the quays of the south shore, where you will encounter a variety of architectural styles—the classical lines of Cork's elegant limestone City Hall, the modern design of the College of Commerce, and the Gothic façade of Holy Trinity Church. Pause for a moment to admire the graceful arch of Parliament Bridge before continuing on to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Designed and built by William Burgess in 1879, this Gothic Revival church is renowned for the exuberant style of its ornamentation, particularly the ornately decorated interior.
After your visit to the interior of Saint Fin Barre's, resume your exploration of Cork on the north side of river, where you enter the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares of the city. Along North Main and Castle Streets you are in a very cosmopolitan part of the city, full of pedestrian lanes, cafes, bookshops, and antique stores and surrounded by the people of Cork, gregariously going about their business. It is in this part of the city that you will find the famous English Market, a veritable festival of meats, fruits and vegetables, fish, cheeses from Italy, France, and Ireland, fresh breads, and more. Take some time to browse the many stalls and do a bit of shopping before returning to the ship.
- This moderate excursion involves slightly more than a mile of walking over flat, occasionally uneven, surfaces. We recommend comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Bodnant Garden
From the small port of Holyhead your motorcoach transports you on a scenic drive across the Isle of Anglesey, over the Menai Strait to the mainland of North Wales, and along the coast to the village of Conwy, home to the world-class Bodnant Garden.
Nestled in the Snowdonian foothills, Bodnant Garden was established in 1874 by scientist, businessman, and politician Henry Pochin, whose vision it was to create here in Wales a garden that would showcase plants from around the world. He and his descendants began the work of collecting and made Bodnant home to the earliest laburnum arch in Britain, to the earliest Chinese magnolias in the country, and to unique rhododendron hybrids.
In 1949 the Garden was gifted to the National Trust, who now maintain it and carry on its traditions. Bodnant is home to exotic plants like the Blue Poppy of the Himalayas and the Fire Bush of the Andes, as well as boasting Wales’ largest collection of UK Champion Trees. During your visit, the flowers of spring — daffodils, camellias, magnolias, and rhododendrons —should still be in bloom, while the rose beds, lily ponds, herbaceous plantings and wildflower meadows of summer will be beginning to make their presence known.
You will enjoy a guided walk in the garden followed by time at leisure to explore further at your own pace.
- The amount of walking during this excursion is largely at the guest's discretion. The guided tour of the garden is about 45 minutes over mostly flat or gently sloping terrain. Adventurous visitors should be prepared for a mix of gravel and grass footing and some older pathways with steps and exposed tree roots.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Highlights of Welsh History and Culture
This full day of activity is designed to introduce you to three central aspects of Welsh culture—its language, its mining and industrial past, and its architectural history. The experience begins even before you disembark, with a lecture from a native Welsh speaker and linguist on the history of the Welsh language and on the importance of continuing to teach it to children in Welsh schools.
Once aboard your motorcoach, you will travel onto the mainland of North Wales, where your first stop will be at the National Slate Museum on the shores of Llyn Padarn at the edge of Snowdonia National Park. Here you will learn about the Welsh slate industry's crucial contributions to the Industrial Revolution in Britain and at the same time gain insight into the arduous lives of the Victorian quarrymen who worked the mines to make it possible.
Pause in the town of Caernarfon for lunch before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Caernarfon Castle, designed by Edward I to drive home the message that Wales, after his conquest of the Principality, was subject to English rule. This point was underscored in 1284, when Edward made certain that his son was born in the castle and declared Prince of Wales. The current heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, was crowned here in 1969.
Leaving Caernarfon and the mainland, you return to the isle of Anglesey, where your final visit of the day is at Plas Newydd ("new mansion"), the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey. Feel free to wander through this elegant country house at your leisure and discover many treasures and fascinating artifacts, including a number of paintings by Rex Whistler and the world's first articulated wooden leg, made for the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
- This is a moderate excursion, involving as much as a mile and half of walking over mostly flat and groomed surfaces, but much of the walking is at your discretion. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing are recommended.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
City Tour and Titanic Belfast
Belfast is an elegant city boasting a rich and varied past. But Northern Ireland's largest city was built primarily in the modern period. This excursion focuses on the legacy of the 19th-century industrialists whose wealth is responsible for most of the monuments that grace the present.
Your tour begins with a drive past a host of popular sights — the stately Grand Opera House and Albert Memorial Clock Tower among them — before stopping at Queens University, founded by Queen Victoria in 1845. Here you will have an opportunity to walk the college grounds and enjoy a stroll through Belfast's celebrated Botanic Gardens, home to Palm House, a magnificent cast iron and glass structure enclosing a rainforest that was built before the similar structure of the same name in London's Kew Gardens.
Drive past Belfast City Hall, whose 300ft-long façade of Portland stone dominates Donegall Square, site of a statue of Queen Victoria and of the Titanic Memorial, before your final stop at one of Belfast's newest attractions, Titanic Belfast.
A monument to the city's maritime heritage on the site of the shipyard where the ill-fated ship was built, Titanic Belfast opened in 2012. This state-of-the-art experiential museum tells the stories of the men and women who labored at the Harland & Wolff yard to build what was the largest ship afloat at the time, and also tells the stories of the passengers and crew who were aboard on April 15, 1912. Using a variety of materials and media, including CGI, film and video, audio, archival materials, and scale models, the oft-told story of the Titanic is brought to life in a new and fascinating way, as Belfast remembers this important part of its legacy.
- The city tour is primarily via motorcoach, but walking at the university and the gardens totals approximately half a mile. Walking at Titanic Belfast is entirely at the guest's discretion.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Hospitality of Belfast
This excursion offers the chance to experience firsthand the festive spirit of Irish hospitality as it has been shared through the ages.
Begin with a guided walking tour of Belfast center, where you will learn something of the history of this elegant Victorian city as you discover iconic buildings and monuments, including the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, erected in memory of Queen Victoria's beloved husband; Ulster Hall, an imposing 19th-century music hall now used for concerts and recitals of all kinds; and the emblematic Belfast City Hall, whose magnificent 300-foot-long façade of Portland stone makes it impossible to mistake.
But the highlight of your tour is certain to be your stop in a local pub, where you will spend time in the company of world champion Irish dancers and musicians. Enjoy a pint as you are entertained with dancing, stories, songs and music played on harp, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, guitar, flute, fiddle, concertina, and whistles. You may even try your hand at sean-nós and céilí dancing as your entertainers sing and play melodies and street songs that would have been heard in the ship-yards, mills, and markets of old.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total walking distance of approximately a mile and a quarter of flat and even terrain. You should wear comfortable shoes and a waterproof jacket if weather conditions suggest it.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Giants Causeway
From the port of Belfast drive along the Antrim Coast. Some of the world's most unspoiled scenery is to be found here. From the rugged cliffs of the coast to the Glens, this is the best of what Northern Ireland has to offer.
Stop briefly at Dunluce Castle for the spectacular views from this 14th-century outpost at the edge of a magnificent cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean before you continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant's Causeway. A new Visitor Center, opened in 2012, provides information you can use to decide for yourself between competing theories of how the causeway came to be. One view is that the 40,000 basalt stones that form the causeway were deposited here as the result of a volcanic eruption 6 million years ago. Another story is that during the age of giants, the local giant, Finn McCool, tore up pieces of the coast and threw them into the sea in order to protect Ireland from other giants across the sea in Scotland.
For centuries, visitors have marvelled at the majesty and mystery of the unique rock formations that have stood for millions of years as a natural rampart against the ferocity of Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns never fails to intrigue and inspire. Your imagination will travel along these giant stepping-stones that lead either to the creative turbulence of a bygone volcanic age or into the realm of myth and legend.
- This excursion is mainly via motorcoach. There is some walking at Dunluce Castle to get the best views, but walking at the Giant's Causeway Visitor Center is entirely at your discretion. Those who wish to walk to the stones themselves will need to navigate a fairly steep incline. We recommend comfortable shoes and layered clothing.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Iona Abbey & Duart Castle
Disembark on the mystical Isle of Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement in Scotland, dating from 563, the year that St. Columba landed in this remote place. It enjoys a reputation as a seat of spiritual power and bears the distinction of harboring in its "Graves of the Kings" some 60 Scottish monarchs, including Macbeth and his victim Duncan. A guided walking tour includes a visit to the 13th-century Abbey, which is open all the year round to welcome pilgrims from every corner of the globe to this holy site.
After visiting the abbey, board a local ferry to the Isle of Mull. Disembark in Fionnphort, and travel across the island, taking in stunning scenery enroute to a local hotel where you will enjoy a relaxing lunch before continuing to Duart Castle. Perched on a rocky promontory jutting into the Sound of Mull, the castle is the ancestral home of Clan Maclean. Fully refurbished in 1911, it is a fascinating place, full of stories about the clan, their rivalries, and the role they have played in Scottish history. You can see the dungeons where Spanish prisoners were kept after the Macleans sank their galleon as it retreated from the defeat of the Armada in 1588. And those prepared to climb the ancient, worn steps, can take the turnpike stairs to the top of the 13th-century keep and the battlements, with views as far as Ben Nevis in the north and Jura in the south.
After touring the castle, transfer to Tobermory. Enjoy a brief stroll along the waterfront of this bustling fishing village before rejoining your ship, which has sailed during the day to meet you here.
- This tour involves 1.5 miles of walking, and we advise you to wear comfortable shoes. The walk from the Iona Abbey to the pier is fairly flat but exposed to the elements. There are about 50 steps to reach the top of the castle.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Le Dumont-d'Urville
Le Dumont-d’Urville fait partie d’une nouvelle génération de navires dotés d’équipements innovants et respectueux de l’environnement, de salons largement ouverts sur l’extérieur, une piscine extérieure et d’un Blue Eye, salon sous-marin multisensoriel. Le tout, pour une expérience de croisière hors du commun. Il est désormais possible de partir à l’aventure dans les endroits les plus reculés de la planète à bord d’un navire aux prestations luxueuses.
Jusqu'à 184 passagers
92 cabines & suites
118 membres d'équipage
Spa
2 restaurants
Les ponts
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
PONANT and Smithsonian Journeys have organised the following included programme for you, which starts the day of embarkation.
Included features:
- A programme of onboard enrichment provided by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts
- Transfers and luggage handling from the airport in London to the ship on the day of embarkation
- Comprehensive 8-night cruise aboard the deluxe Le Dumont-d’Urville, with all the amenities for which PONANT ships are famous
- One included shore excursion in each port of call (see “Itinerary” for more information and choice of excursions, if applicable)
- Transfer from the ship to the airport in Glasgow at the end of the cruise on the morning of disembarkation
Not included:
- Independent meals and beverages ashore
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, etc.)
Notes:
- This voyage is offered on a space available basis
- Programme is subject to change without notice
Conférencier
À bord de votre navire, un conférencier francophone vous propose un éclairage culturel et historique pour approfondir votre connaissance de la destination : origine des traditions locales, histoire des sites emblématiques, évocation de personnages célèbres et des grandes épopées historiques…. Lors de conférences à bord ou de vos sorties à terre, cet expert vous accompagnera tout au long de votre croisière PONANT pour partager avec vous son précieux savoir.
Nos prestations complémentaires
The White Cliffs & The Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, in the summer and fall of 1940, was the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air. It is also the battle that changed the course of World War II.
This excursion begins with a short drive along the coast to the small village of Capel-le-Ferne, site of the Battle of Britain Memorial, for a guided tour of this monument to the heroism and sacrifice of the pilots and support staff of the Royal Air Force who crippled the Luftwaffe's efforts to bomb Britain into submission. You will see the memorial itself, dedicated by the Queen Mother in 1993, and the Wall, which contains the names of all the aircrew who flew at least one sortie during the battle. You will also visit the Wing, which houses an interactive experience creating a sense of what life was like during the campaign and its aftermath.
Leaving the memorial site, you drive past Dover Castle, a massive fortress much of which is hidden deep within the chalk of the cliffs, on your way to the White Cliffs Visitor Center. From here you set off on a 2 mile walk along perhaps the most famous cliffs in the world to reach the South Foreland Lighthouse. This Victorian era structure was built to guide mariners through the treacherous shifting sands of the Strait of Dover and was the first lighthouse anywhere in the world to make use of electric light.
Your motorcoach will meet you at the lighthouse for the short drive back to the pier.
- This is an active excursion with total walking distance of approximately 3 miles. The cliff walk includes stretches of unsure footing and can be slippery at times. It is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended, as well as a waterproof jacket and bottled water.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Dover Castle
Given its strategic location at the shortest distance between Britain and the continent, it is not at all surprising that Dover Castle is one of the most fortified castles in England. Begun by Henry II and completed under Henry III in the mid 13th century, the castle has undergone many substantial renovations, one of the most important occurring at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when a tunnel complex was dug into the chalk beneath the castle.
Your exploration of the massive fortress begins with a guided tour of those tunnels as they were during World War II, when they served as the headquarters from which the evacuation of Dunkirk was directed. Here you will be able relive the drama of "Operation Dynamo" from May 26 – June 4, 1940, when, against enormous odds, more than 100,000 English and French troops were rescued.
After your introduction to these tunnels, you will have ample time to discover other parts of Dover Castle at your leisure. You might extend your stay beneath the surface to tour the underground hospital created by digging additional tunnels to serve as triage, operating rooms, and wards for treating the wounded before they were transferred further inland. Or you may want to focus on the fortress itself, with its Inner Bailey and Henry II's Great Tower.
You may explore the wider castle grounds to get a sense of the long history of the place, including an ancient Roman lighthouse, one of the oldest in the world, and an Anglo-Saxon church. Or you may decide to stretch your legs and walk the battlements to enjoy remarkable views over the English Channel.
Whatever you choose, you are sure to come away from the experience with a clearer sense of the importance of this remarkable monument in the history of England, and of the modern world.
- This is a moderate excursion. The guided tour of the wartime tunnels involves standing for about an hour and some walking. Additional walking is largely at your discretion. A typical visit involves a total of 1.5 miles, over mixed terrain and steps. No special clothing is needed—comfortable shoes and a light jacket in case of rain should suffice.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Canterbury and its Cathedral
A short journey from Dover through the heart of the county of Kent, known as the ‘Garden of England’, brings you to the historic and picturesque city of Canterbury – home to one of England's most famous cathedrals, setting of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Canterbury's wealth originated with the pilgrims who, like Chaucer's travelers, flocked to the city to visit the shrine of Archbishop Thomas Becket, who was murdered in his cathedral in 1170. The Norman cathedral still dominates Canterbury's skyline, inspiring the same sense of awe as it did in the Middle Ages. Explore this magnificent building, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican community, at your own pace, perhaps pausing at the site of Becket's martyrdom, marveling at the workmanship of the ancient stained-glass windows, or admiring the architecture of the Quire, the first Gothic building in England. You will also have time to wander among the labyrinth of streets and lanes lined with quaint shops, many of which date to the time of Chaucer.
- Total walking distance on this excursion is at your discretion. The ground around the cathedral has some cobblestones and is uneven in places, which may make walking difficult. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes. Appropriate dress (shoulders and knees covered) is requested to enter religious sites.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Royal Osborne House
Once an independent kingdom, the Isle of Wight so charmed Queen Victoria that after her first visit she is quoted as saying “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.”
You will get a sense of what she meant as you sail into the harbor at Cowes, once known as the "yachting capital of the world," and set off on a panoramic drive around this small island, much of which is managed as an Area of Outstanding National Beauty. A brief stop in the picturesque village of Godshill is followed by a drive to Osborne House.
Queen Victoria had Osborne House built as a summer residence for the royal family in the mid-19th century. Designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance country villa, it is a grand palace, but it functioned essentially as a family holiday home and is filled with many personal and family mementos. Highlights include the majestic State Rooms, for entertaining visiting dignitaries, Queen Victoria’s bedroom, where she died in 1901, the Swiss Cottage, a playhouse for the royal children, and the magnificent Gardens, designed, like the house, by Prince Albert.
After exploring this charming window into the personal lives of the royals, you return to Cowes and to your waiting ship.
- This is an easy excursion. There are only a few steps at Osborne House, chairs and benches are available throughout the house and gardens, and the amount of walking is entirely at your discretion. Wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing for the changeable weather.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Wildlife Cruise & St. Martins Vineyard
Located about 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are a cluster of low-lying islands, only five of which are inhabited. The entire archipelago is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, dotted with Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Marine Conservation Zones. The clear waters surrounding the islands support an abundance of marine life, and migratory birds are drawn by the temperate climate, winds and ocean current.
Your discovery of some of the natural beauty that Scilly has to offer begins with a cruise aboard a local boat around the eastern isles. The rugged coastlines of the islands are a haven for wildlife and you may spot gannets, cormorants, shearwaters, and Atlantic grey seals. From about mid-April, puffins return to breed here, making the Isles of Scilly a hugely important habitat for this popular seabird.
Disembark on St. Martin’s, a quiet island offering spectacular views and a wealth of life’s simpler pleasures. Its rich natural beauty has attracted an enterprising group of residents, a few of whom you will meet, including the owners of St. Martin’s Vineyard. Established in 1996 on the site of a former flower farm, the tiny vineyard's first vintage in 2000 yielded only 120 bottles. Today it produces much more, while maintaining a focus on biodiversity and sustainability, including a move towards organic production. You are invited to enjoy a self-guided tour of the grounds at your own pace, and of course, taste several of the wines.
From the vineyard, walk along the island’s only concrete road to Highertown, home to a gallery showcasing local artists, a flower farm, and a thriving artisanal bakery. Browse these shops at leisure before walking back to the pier for the transfer to your ship.
- This excursion is not suitable for guests with limited mobility. There is no transport on the island of St. Martin's, so all touring is on foot, and could amount to a total of 3 miles. We recommend sturdy walking shoes, layered clothing, and sunscreen.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco is the second largest of the Isles of Scilly, located some 30 miles off the southwest coast of Cornwall in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to the world-class Tresco Abbey Gardens, an incredible botanical paradise planted in the ruins of a Benedictine priory.
Founded by Augustus Smith, a wealthy banker, in 1834, the gardens today are home to an impressive collection of 20,000 plant species heralding from as far away as New Zealand, South America, and South Africa. The mild climate in Scilly, combined with plenty of sunshine, allows sub-tropical plants to flourish here in latitudes that seem impossible. A walled enclosure around the priory ruins acts as a wind-break, providing shelter from the ferocity of Atlantic weather during the winter months when, even then, more than 300 plants are in bloom.
You will be visiting in the spring, when the garden is at its loveliest, and when red squirrels, one of Britain's most endangered species, dart about the grounds in the safety of this verdant sanctuary. Stroll the gardens at leisure to discover its many treasures, including the collection of figureheads and decorative carvings from ships that sank off Scilly's shores — another of Augustus Smith's passions.
- This is an easy excursion with only as much walking as you wish in the gardens. Comfortable shoes, layered clothing, and sunscreen are recommended.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Cork City and Spike Island
Cork, Ireland's second city (or the "real capital of Ireland," as its inhabitants like to say), was founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement on an island in Cork harbor. Today the Lee flows through the city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges, a feature that gives Cork its distinctively continental air. The city has become the shopping and commercial capital of the south. It is a university city—a city of jazz, film, opera, and theater. And yet, despite offering the amenities of a large city, it still manages to retain the charm and friendliness of a country town. Among the sights you will see on your panoramic tour are the spires of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Old Courthouse, City Hall, and the renowned Bells of Shandon.
Leaving the city, you travel to the village of Cobh, where you board a ferry to nearby Spike Island, which commands a central position within Cork Harbor, making it an ideal spot for an array of different purposes. Over the past 1300 years, the island hosted a 7th-century monastery and a 17th-century fortress, served as a refuge for smugglers for much of the 18th-century, and was the site of the world's largest prison during the Victorian era. Your guided tour of this multi-faceted place will introduce you to the island's key features, including the star-shaped Fort Mitchel, which dominates the site, and will include stories of various characters who have added their own chapters to the legends of the island, from prisoners like James Grey, the thief known as 'Jack in the Box', to Ellen Organ, "little Nellie of Holy God," whose precocious spirituality persuaded Pope Pius X to admit children as young as 7 to Holy Communion. Following your tour, you will have some time at leisure to explore independently before reboarding the ferry for the return trip.
- This moderate excursion includes approximately a mile of walking on flat, but occasionally uneven, surfaces. We recommend comfortable, waterproof clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Cork City and the Jameson Distellery
Cork, Ireland's second city (or the "real capital of Ireland," as its inhabitants like to say), was founded in the 6th century as a monastic settlement on an island in the estuary of the River Lee, just upstream from Cork harbor. Today the Lee flows through the city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges. In fact, it is this feature of the city that gives Cork its distinctively continental air. The city has become the shopping and commercial capital of the south. It is a university city—a city of jazz, film, opera and theater. And yet, despite offering the amenities of a large city, it still manages to retain the charm and friendliness of a country town. Among the sights you will see on your panoramic tour are the spires of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, the Old Courthouse, City Hall, and the renowned Bells of Shandon.
Leaving the city, you will travel eastwards to the village of Midleton, the town from which the famous rare Irish whiskey gets its name. A visit to the Old Jameson Distillery will take you into the heart of the cherished whiskey making tradition. Join a 60-minute guided tour of this beautifully restored 18th-century self-contained industrial complex and learn the history of Irish whiskey as you observe the fully operational water wheel and marvel at the 32,000-gallon copper still, the largest in the world.
After the history comes the tasting, where you are invited to relax in the atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub and sample Ireland's finest whiskey. Afterwards, visit the craft shop or coffee shop at Jameson Heritage Centre where you can lose yourself in the charm of another age.
- This moderate excursion includes approximately 0.25 miles of walking on flat surfaces with cobblestones and some steps at the distillery. Wear warm and comfortable waterproof clothing and walking shoes. Please note that the order of the visits may be reversed. Participants must be at least 18 years old to participate. This tour is limited to 80 participants.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Center of Cork City
This walking tour of Cork is designed to introduce you to Ireland's second city through a variety of its neighborhoods and monuments. A 45-minute drive from the pier brings you to the South Mall, lined with businesses housed in buildings that were once boathouses along the River Lee. Across Parnell Bridge, your guide will lead you on a leisurely stroll along the quays of the south shore, where you will encounter a variety of architectural styles—the classical lines of Cork's elegant limestone City Hall, the modern design of the College of Commerce, and the Gothic façade of Holy Trinity Church. Pause for a moment to admire the graceful arch of Parliament Bridge before continuing on to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Designed and built by William Burgess in 1879, this Gothic Revival church is renowned for the exuberant style of its ornamentation, particularly the ornately decorated interior.
After your visit to the interior of Saint Fin Barre's, resume your exploration of Cork on the north side of river, where you enter the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares of the city. Along North Main and Castle Streets you are in a very cosmopolitan part of the city, full of pedestrian lanes, cafes, bookshops, and antique stores and surrounded by the people of Cork, gregariously going about their business. It is in this part of the city that you will find the famous English Market, a veritable festival of meats, fruits and vegetables, fish, cheeses from Italy, France, and Ireland, fresh breads, and more. Take some time to browse the many stalls and do a bit of shopping before returning to the ship.
- This moderate excursion involves slightly more than a mile of walking over flat, occasionally uneven, surfaces. We recommend comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Bodnant Garden
From the small port of Holyhead your motorcoach transports you on a scenic drive across the Isle of Anglesey, over the Menai Strait to the mainland of North Wales, and along the coast to the village of Conwy, home to the world-class Bodnant Garden.
Nestled in the Snowdonian foothills, Bodnant Garden was established in 1874 by scientist, businessman, and politician Henry Pochin, whose vision it was to create here in Wales a garden that would showcase plants from around the world. He and his descendants began the work of collecting and made Bodnant home to the earliest laburnum arch in Britain, to the earliest Chinese magnolias in the country, and to unique rhododendron hybrids.
In 1949 the Garden was gifted to the National Trust, who now maintain it and carry on its traditions. Bodnant is home to exotic plants like the Blue Poppy of the Himalayas and the Fire Bush of the Andes, as well as boasting Wales’ largest collection of UK Champion Trees. During your visit, the flowers of spring — daffodils, camellias, magnolias, and rhododendrons —should still be in bloom, while the rose beds, lily ponds, herbaceous plantings and wildflower meadows of summer will be beginning to make their presence known.
You will enjoy a guided walk in the garden followed by time at leisure to explore further at your own pace.
- The amount of walking during this excursion is largely at the guest's discretion. The guided tour of the garden is about 45 minutes over mostly flat or gently sloping terrain. Adventurous visitors should be prepared for a mix of gravel and grass footing and some older pathways with steps and exposed tree roots.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Highlights of Welsh History and Culture
This full day of activity is designed to introduce you to three central aspects of Welsh culture—its language, its mining and industrial past, and its architectural history. The experience begins even before you disembark, with a lecture from a native Welsh speaker and linguist on the history of the Welsh language and on the importance of continuing to teach it to children in Welsh schools.
Once aboard your motorcoach, you will travel onto the mainland of North Wales, where your first stop will be at the National Slate Museum on the shores of Llyn Padarn at the edge of Snowdonia National Park. Here you will learn about the Welsh slate industry's crucial contributions to the Industrial Revolution in Britain and at the same time gain insight into the arduous lives of the Victorian quarrymen who worked the mines to make it possible.
Pause in the town of Caernarfon for lunch before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Caernarfon Castle, designed by Edward I to drive home the message that Wales, after his conquest of the Principality, was subject to English rule. This point was underscored in 1284, when Edward made certain that his son was born in the castle and declared Prince of Wales. The current heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, was crowned here in 1969.
Leaving Caernarfon and the mainland, you return to the isle of Anglesey, where your final visit of the day is at Plas Newydd ("new mansion"), the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey. Feel free to wander through this elegant country house at your leisure and discover many treasures and fascinating artifacts, including a number of paintings by Rex Whistler and the world's first articulated wooden leg, made for the 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
- This is a moderate excursion, involving as much as a mile and half of walking over mostly flat and groomed surfaces, but much of the walking is at your discretion. Comfortable shoes and layered clothing are recommended.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
City Tour and Titanic Belfast
Belfast is an elegant city boasting a rich and varied past. But Northern Ireland's largest city was built primarily in the modern period. This excursion focuses on the legacy of the 19th-century industrialists whose wealth is responsible for most of the monuments that grace the present.
Your tour begins with a drive past a host of popular sights — the stately Grand Opera House and Albert Memorial Clock Tower among them — before stopping at Queens University, founded by Queen Victoria in 1845. Here you will have an opportunity to walk the college grounds and enjoy a stroll through Belfast's celebrated Botanic Gardens, home to Palm House, a magnificent cast iron and glass structure enclosing a rainforest that was built before the similar structure of the same name in London's Kew Gardens.
Drive past Belfast City Hall, whose 300ft-long façade of Portland stone dominates Donegall Square, site of a statue of Queen Victoria and of the Titanic Memorial, before your final stop at one of Belfast's newest attractions, Titanic Belfast.
A monument to the city's maritime heritage on the site of the shipyard where the ill-fated ship was built, Titanic Belfast opened in 2012. This state-of-the-art experiential museum tells the stories of the men and women who labored at the Harland & Wolff yard to build what was the largest ship afloat at the time, and also tells the stories of the passengers and crew who were aboard on April 15, 1912. Using a variety of materials and media, including CGI, film and video, audio, archival materials, and scale models, the oft-told story of the Titanic is brought to life in a new and fascinating way, as Belfast remembers this important part of its legacy.
- The city tour is primarily via motorcoach, but walking at the university and the gardens totals approximately half a mile. Walking at Titanic Belfast is entirely at the guest's discretion.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Hospitality of Belfast
This excursion offers the chance to experience firsthand the festive spirit of Irish hospitality as it has been shared through the ages.
Begin with a guided walking tour of Belfast center, where you will learn something of the history of this elegant Victorian city as you discover iconic buildings and monuments, including the Albert Memorial Clock Tower, erected in memory of Queen Victoria's beloved husband; Ulster Hall, an imposing 19th-century music hall now used for concerts and recitals of all kinds; and the emblematic Belfast City Hall, whose magnificent 300-foot-long façade of Portland stone makes it impossible to mistake.
But the highlight of your tour is certain to be your stop in a local pub, where you will spend time in the company of world champion Irish dancers and musicians. Enjoy a pint as you are entertained with dancing, stories, songs and music played on harp, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, guitar, flute, fiddle, concertina, and whistles. You may even try your hand at sean-nós and céilí dancing as your entertainers sing and play melodies and street songs that would have been heard in the ship-yards, mills, and markets of old.
- This is a moderate excursion with a total walking distance of approximately a mile and a quarter of flat and even terrain. You should wear comfortable shoes and a waterproof jacket if weather conditions suggest it.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
The Giants Causeway
From the port of Belfast drive along the Antrim Coast. Some of the world's most unspoiled scenery is to be found here. From the rugged cliffs of the coast to the Glens, this is the best of what Northern Ireland has to offer.
Stop briefly at Dunluce Castle for the spectacular views from this 14th-century outpost at the edge of a magnificent cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean before you continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant's Causeway. A new Visitor Center, opened in 2012, provides information you can use to decide for yourself between competing theories of how the causeway came to be. One view is that the 40,000 basalt stones that form the causeway were deposited here as the result of a volcanic eruption 6 million years ago. Another story is that during the age of giants, the local giant, Finn McCool, tore up pieces of the coast and threw them into the sea in order to protect Ireland from other giants across the sea in Scotland.
For centuries, visitors have marvelled at the majesty and mystery of the unique rock formations that have stood for millions of years as a natural rampart against the ferocity of Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns never fails to intrigue and inspire. Your imagination will travel along these giant stepping-stones that lead either to the creative turbulence of a bygone volcanic age or into the realm of myth and legend.
- This excursion is mainly via motorcoach. There is some walking at Dunluce Castle to get the best views, but walking at the Giant's Causeway Visitor Center is entirely at your discretion. Those who wish to walk to the stones themselves will need to navigate a fairly steep incline. We recommend comfortable shoes and layered clothing.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
Iona Abbey & Duart Castle
Disembark on the mystical Isle of Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement in Scotland, dating from 563, the year that St. Columba landed in this remote place. It enjoys a reputation as a seat of spiritual power and bears the distinction of harboring in its "Graves of the Kings" some 60 Scottish monarchs, including Macbeth and his victim Duncan. A guided walking tour includes a visit to the 13th-century Abbey, which is open all the year round to welcome pilgrims from every corner of the globe to this holy site.
After visiting the abbey, board a local ferry to the Isle of Mull. Disembark in Fionnphort, and travel across the island, taking in stunning scenery enroute to a local hotel where you will enjoy a relaxing lunch before continuing to Duart Castle. Perched on a rocky promontory jutting into the Sound of Mull, the castle is the ancestral home of Clan Maclean. Fully refurbished in 1911, it is a fascinating place, full of stories about the clan, their rivalries, and the role they have played in Scottish history. You can see the dungeons where Spanish prisoners were kept after the Macleans sank their galleon as it retreated from the defeat of the Armada in 1588. And those prepared to climb the ancient, worn steps, can take the turnpike stairs to the top of the 13th-century keep and the battlements, with views as far as Ben Nevis in the north and Jura in the south.
After touring the castle, transfer to Tobermory. Enjoy a brief stroll along the waterfront of this bustling fishing village before rejoining your ship, which has sailed during the day to meet you here.
- This tour involves 1.5 miles of walking, and we advise you to wear comfortable shoes. The walk from the Iona Abbey to the pier is fairly flat but exposed to the elements. There are about 50 steps to reach the top of the castle.
Inclus
Selon disponibilités, tarif par passager.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS (2 NIGHTS)
The Scottish Highlands encompass some of the most romantic and storied landscapes in the world. Famous for their rugged beauty, they are also home to a vigorous Gaelic pride and the site of many battles in the struggle for autonomy from England. This program provides an introduction to all of these aspects of Highland culture, as well as a tasting of local whisky, without which any visit to the region is incomplete.
Day 1 – Disembark | Glasgow, Scotland | Inverness
After breakfast aboard and disembarkation, board your motorcoach for a leisurely journey to Inverness. Begin with a panoramic tour of Glasgow, including Georgian Blythswood Square, the impressive façade of the University of Glasgow, the quiet residential area of Hyndland—home to several noted authors, poets and actors—and the Riverside Museum, where you can see ships plying their trade on the river Clyde as they have done for millennia.
Leave Glasgow and drive northwards through the beautiful scenery of Trossachs National Park to Loch Lomond, the largest freshwater lake in Britain, where your guide will regale you with stories of Rob Roy, the 17th-century Scottish outlaw made famous by Sir Walter Scott. Continue to picturesque Glencoe, situated in a steep-sided valley known for its waterfalls and impressive mountain peaks, where you pause for lunch, before visiting the award-winning Glencoe visitor center to learn more about the history and geology of this region.
As you continue northward through the wonderfully scenic Great Glen, you pass by Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, and stop briefly at the Commando Memorial, dedicated to the men of the British Commando Forces whose training depot the memorial overlooks. Follow the route of the Caledonian Canal, built in the early 19th-century to connect Scotland's east and west coasts, pausing at the small town of Fort Augustus, on the southern tip of Loch Ness, before continuing along the shores of this legendary home of the Loch Ness Monster to Inverness.
On arrival in Inverness, check-in to the Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel, your home for the next two nights. Dinner is independent and at your leisure.
Day 2 – Inverness
After breakfast at the hotel, a short drive across the Moray Firth and through the countryside brings you to the Glen Ord Distillery, where the famous Singleton single malt whisky is made. A guided tour of the facility and a nosing and tasting led by an experienced whisky sommelier is followed by time to explore the distillery's exhibition area or browse their gift shop.
Returning to Inverness, enjoy a guided walking tour of this 'capital of the Highlands'. Explore Inverness Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, and stroll along the River Ness toward the city center, for splendid views of Inverness Castle. Your guide will explain the legend of the encounter between a saint and a water monster that continues to attract visitors to the region, and as you walk up Church Street, lined with many grand buildings, you will also learn about the Jacobite uprising and its end in 1746 at the battle of nearby Culloden Moor.
Reaching the top of Castle Hill, you will enjoy a brilliant view of the River Ness and hear the history of the castle, of Mary Queen of Scot’s visit to Inverness, and of Flora MacDonald, the Highland heroine who saved the life of Bonnie Prince Charlie by disguising him as a maid.
Your walking tour ends at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, where you can discover more of the fascinating history and culture of the city of Inverness and the Scottish Highlands as you browse the museum's exhibits celebrating Highland life. The remainder of the day is at leisure, with independent lunch and dinner.
Day 3 – Inverness | Homeward
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, transfer to the airport for flights homeward.
Your hotel:
The Inverness Palace Hotel is Inverness’s newest 4-star hotel, combining the best of the past with the contemporary style of the present. The building was designed by Ross & MacBeth and opened in 1890. It is a Baronial-style three-story building, with two conical-roofed towers, connected by an arch. Each room is individually styled, combining traditional period features with the comfort of modern living. Elegant modern fabrics and sophisticated finishes decorate the rooms, which feature grand high ceilings and large windows offering fabulous views. There is a Spa and Wellness Center on the property, as well as two restaurants.
Your program includes:
- 2 nights at the Inverness Palace Hotel (or similar)
- Transfer and luggage handling from the ship to the hotel on disembarkation day
- Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the airport on Day 3
- Breakfast on Days 2 and 3
- Lunch on Day 1
- Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
- Local English-speaking guides
- Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
Your program does not include:
- Transfer from the hotel to the airport on any day other than the scheduled program departure day
- Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
- It is imperative that your flight departure details are communicated at least 30 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the hotel to the airport.
- Late check-out is available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
- The official currency is the British pound. Credit cards are largely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
- This post-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
- Program is offered on a space available basis.
- Program is subject to change without notice.
Hotel contact information:
Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa
8 Ness Walk
Inverness
IV3 5NG
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44.1463.222.3243
Total TTC : 900 €
Selon disponibilité, tarif par passager, en base occupation double.