Crystal Cruises is offering new luxury cruises to and from Dublin, plus eight calls to the Emerald Isle in 2014. Crystal Symphony will visit Gaelic grounds during two seven-day British Isles voyages, the first departing from London on Aug. 17, and the second ending there after an Aug. 24 sailing. Crystal Serenity also visits Ireland during a 14-day Trans-Atlantic voyage that departs Sept. 5 and ends in Boston, Mass.
A total of six ports, including two maiden calls, are planned for the land of leprechauns:
Ireland:
· Dublin – Ireland’s literary and political capital, this metropolis combines the pubs and stone townhouses of yesteryear with modern architecture.
· Galway (maiden call) – Considered the “most Irish” of all cities, here one is surrounded by Gaelic language and traditions while strolling medieval streets, scenic shorelines and historic squares.
· Cork/Ringaskiddy – Gothic castles, the home of Irish whiskey and the Blarney Stone can all be found in County Cork.
Northern Ireland:
· Londonderry (maiden call) – “Derry,” as locals call it, is the only remaining walled city in the UK with its historic walls still intact.
· Belfast – Gentrified quaysides, hip hotels, and huge urban renewal have transformed this former battleground city into a place of Irish pride for visitors.
In addition to the Irish calls, Aug. 17’s itinerary provides an ideal overview of the entire United Kingdom, with visits to Wales (Holyhead), England (Liverpool), Scotland (Greenock and a maiden call in Oban) and the Channel Islands (Guernsey/St. Peter Port). “Explorer Combination” savings also make this voyage attractive to combine either with Aug. 24’s sailing, for a 14-day cruise round-trip from London, or with prior segments from Stockholm or St. Petersburg, for an added taste of the Baltic and Scandinavia. All-inclusive fares for the Irish cruises start at $3,405/person if booked by April 30.
For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com.