The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Cork is Ireland‘s second largest city. Here you can visit St Finbarr‘s Cathedral, Cork City Museum and the 19th Century Cork Jail. Don‘t miss your opportunity to visit Blarney Castle, a short ride away, to kiss the Blarney Stone!

Holyhead is a town in Wales and a major Irish Sea port serving Ireland. It is also a community and the largest town in the Isle of Anglesey county, with a population of 13,659 at the 2011 census

Killybegs is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the largest fishing port in the country and on the island of Ireland. It is located on the south coast of the county, north of Donegal Bay, near Donegal Town. Its Irish name Na Cealla Beaga means ‘little cells‘, a reference to early monastic settlements

The 70 or so Orkney Islands lie at the north west tip of Scotland, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea. Kirkwall, the capital of the archipelago, is a Viking town founded in 1035 by Earl Rognvald Brusason. You’ll find that the original ancient Norse town has been beautifully preserved and provides an intriguing place to while away your time.

Bustling Lerwick is the capital, and only town, of Scotland’s Shetland Islands. Founded in the 17th century to service Dutch herring fleets, a number of its oldest structures, including the fort, were burnt to the ground many years ago. Today most of its historical architecture can be seen along the waterfront, including sandstone buildings, which date from the 18th century.

Stornoway is the main town of the Western Isles and the capital of Lewis and Harris in Scotland. The town‘s population is around 8,000, making it by far the largest town in the Hebrides, as well as the second largest island town in Scotland after Kirkwall in Orkney.

Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland‘s western Lowlands. It‘s famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city‘s 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it‘s a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene

Founded in the 17th century, the city was one of the world‘s leading industrial names, home to Harland and Wolff – the shipbuilders who built the ill-fated Titanic. Despite its more recent political troubles, Belfast is today an alluring destination. Amidst its majestic Victorian buildings, shop in stylish boutiques, sip a Guinness, or take a scenic stroll in Barnett Demesne park. The city‘s centrepiece is the City Hall, completed in 1906, with its domed roof and grand Italian marble staircase. Must-sees include the Crown Bar. Owned by the National Trust, it‘s still a vibrant drinking venue, with an amazingly rich and ornate interior of brightly coloured tiles, carvings, stained and etched glass, period gas lighting and cosy snugs.

If you’re looking for a place in Northern England that is the most reminiscent of the exciting city of London, then Liverpool is your answer. Full of history and culture, Liverpool is second only to London for the highest number of museums, theaters, and art galleries in England. But Liverpool isn’t just an alternative to London. Liverpool has an energy and vibe all its own. Liverpool has a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and was even named the European Capital of Culture in 2008. Beyond the monuments, you’ll find beloved soccer teams like Liverpool FC and Everton FC. (Don’t forget it’s football, not soccer, in England!) Clubs pay homage to one of Liverpool’s most famous exports, the Beatles. European cruise passengers sailing to Liverpool dock right in the city center and can spend the day learning more about the city where the Beatles got their start, touring old English heritage sites, and walking along the historic waterfront.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.