Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
As an ode to strength and collective resilience of our community over the past few years, we've coined our third ship, "Resilient Lady". Setting sail from her homeport of Piraeus (Athens), Greece in 2023 - she'll be spending her winters in both the Caribbean and down in Australia.
Cruise ID: 24422
The Vitamin Sea ethos focuses on well-being that delivers rejuvenation and transformation for all sailors. Our entire voyage employs elements of both detox and retox, depending on how a sailor might want to curate their time. We embrace self-care while feeding our mischievous.
curiosities at the same time, recognising that a complete experience makes room for both.
We've already taken care of taking care of the crew. So, don't worry, the tips are on us.
Date | Time | Price * | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
23 August 2024 | 18:00 | €746 | Call us to book |
30 August 2024 | 18:00 | €735 | Call us to book |
19 September 2024 | 18:00 | €589 | Call us to book |
* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
Relaxing is truly an art form in this suite. The terrace hammock here is the perfect spot to enjoy a nightcap while watching the moon flirt with the sea.
Once inside, Sailors can lose themselves in the massive European king bed while drifting off to the sounds of the waves (or the vinyl record player).
Complemented perfectly by brass nautical finishings throughout, there's also a fully stocked, in-room bar, an indoor Peek-a-Boo shower with an iridescent dichroic glass window for a peek into the room and an outdoor Peek-a-View shower facing the sea, near the terrace Champagne table.
and sun lounger. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
For Sailors who prefer to be mid ship, this cabin has all the comforts and amenities of The Sea Terrace, but is positioned closer to the action.
Featuring nautically inspired brass and leather finishings, this sensory and responsive clever cabin has it all from the personal.
tablet, intuitive mood lighting, music controls, movie streaming, one-touch room service, European queen, transitional Seabed, handwoven terrace hammock and upgraded bathroom experience with a Roomy Rainshower. Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
With endless back-of-the-ship, ocean eye candy, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite. Sailors can kick back here (the highest and biggest terrace of the Sweet Afts) while lounging in the hand-woven hammock chair or relaxing around the Champagne table.
After freshening up and soaking in the sunlight provided by the indoor Peek-a-Boo shower the fully.
stocked, in-room bar and record player are the only things needed to get the party started. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Just picture everything The Sea Terrace has, with more room space and a way bigger bathroom. Our biggest of all cabins actually. Perfect for those who make getting ready.
a serious art.
A sensory and responsive clever cabin, nautically inspired brass and leather finishings, a personal tablet, intuitive mood lighting, music controls, movie streaming, one-touch room service and a supremely comfy European queen, transitional Seabed. Plus the large, perfectly partitioned, upgraded walk-in bathroom has enough space for two. Even the Roomier Rainshower boasts just the right amount of space for some “we” time. Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Views on views minus the messy hair. This cabin has all the amenities of cabin life with a window seat that's the closest Sailors can get to the ocean without getting wet (save that for the pool party). Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Uniquie Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Nightlife type who prefers to catch Z's without the morning sun peeking through the blinds? Then this window-free cabin will be perfect. Add in all the amenities of other cabins, just subtract the pesky glare. Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
With endless back-of-the-ship, ocean eye candy, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite. Sailors can kick back here (the highest and biggest terrace of the Sweet Afts) while lounging in the hand-woven hammock chair or relaxing around the Champagne table.
After freshening up and soaking in the sunlight provided by the indoor Peek-a-Boo shower.
the fully stocked, in-room bar and record player are the only things needed to get the party started. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Full stocked, in-room bar. Check. Record player.
ready to spin favorite tunes. Double check. This suite is ideal for those who are serious about living life to the fullest.
With plenty of room to take in the mesmerizing ocean views from any corner, luxury and self-care become serious art forms here. From the hand-woven hammock on the terrace to the outdoor champagne table and indoor Peek-a-Boo shower, this suite is the perfect place for bottle poppin' and voyage rockin'. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
With endless back-of-the-ship, ocean eye candy, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite. Sailors.
can kick back here (the highest and biggest terrace of the Sweet Afts) while lounging in the hand-woven hammock chair or relaxing around the Champagne table.
After freshening up and soaking in the sunlight provided by the indoor Peek-a-Boo shower the fully stocked, in-room bar and record player are the only things needed to get the party started. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Built for groups of Sailors, what happens inside this cabin, stays inside (because it's sans windows). The bunk beds go from sleep.
to sit in no time while the amenities in this sensory and responsive clever cabin match that of all other cabins, except the way bigger TV. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Unique Call-Outs:
Nightlife type who prefers to catch Z's without the morning sun peeking through the blinds? Then this window-free cabin will be perfect. Add in all the amenities of other cabins, just subtract the pesky glare. Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Views on views minus the messy hair. This cabin has all the amenities of cabin life with a window seat that's the closest Sailors can get to the ocean without getting wet (save that for the pool party). Sleeps up to three.
Heroes:
Uniquie Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
With endless back-of-the-ship, ocean eye candy, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite. Sailors can kick back here (the highest and biggest terrace of the Sweet Afts) while lounging in the hand-woven hammock chair or relaxing around the Champagne table.
After freshening up and soaking in the sunlight provided by the indoor Peek-a-Boo shower the fully.
stocked, in-room bar and record player are the only things needed to get the party started. Sleeps up to two.
Epic ocean views, whether Sailors are inside on the European queen, transitional Seabed or dangling from the sustainable sourced, hand-woven terrace hammock.
Complete with nautically inspired brass and leather finishings, Sailors will enjoy this sensory and responsive.
clever cabin. Just pick up the personal tablet to adjust the mood lighting, music controls, movie streaming or even one-touch room service.
Sea gaze outside or head in to freshen up under the Roomy Rainshower in the upgraded bathroom experience. Sleeps up to four
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Views on views minus the messy hair. Sailors will enjoy all the amenities of cabin life while watching the waves.
from a personal hideaway. It's the closest Sailors can get to the ocean without getting wet (save that for the pool party). Sleeps one.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Epic ocean views, whether Sailors are inside on the European queen, transitional Seabed or dangling from the sustainable sourced, hand-woven terrace hammock.
Complete with nautically inspired brass and leather finishings, Sailors will enjoy this sensory and responsive.
clever cabin. Just pick up the personal tablet to adjust the mood lighting, music controls, movie streaming or even one-touch room service.
Sea gaze outside or head in to freshen up under the Roomy Rainshower in the upgraded bathroom experience. Sleeps up to four
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
All the comforts and amenities of The Sea Terrace with a slightly limited view because, well, shippy stuff. Otherwise, this sensory and responsive clever cabin has it all from nautically inspired brass.
and leather finishings to the personal tablet, intuitive mood lighting, music controls, movie streaming and one-touch room service.
Sailors will relax on the European queen, transitional Seabed or the sustainably sourced, hand-woven terrace hammock. Not in the outdoor mood? No problem, refresh and relax under the Roomy Rainshower in the upgraded bathroom experience. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by design choices in these suites. Enjoy custom interior carbon fiber chairs on this terrace, meant to maximize sea views - in this case, the wake view. Sailors will gaze at the sea while relaxing near the gorgeous outdoor Champagne table or kicking back in the hand-woven hammock chair.
After they've finished soaking in the views, Sailors can indulge in some classics with their vinyl record player.
and a personalized, fully stocked, in-room bar. Then they'll freshen up in the expansive top to bottom marble bathroom featuring the Roomiest Rainshower. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Relaxing is truly an art form in this suite. The terrace hammock here is the perfect spot to enjoy a nightcap while watching the moon flirt with the sea.
Once inside, Sailors can lose themselves in the massive European king bed while drifting off to the sounds of the waves (or the vinyl record player).
Complemented perfectly by brass nautical finishings throughout, there's also a fully stocked, in-room bar, an indoor Peek-a-Boo shower with an iridescent dichroic glass window for a peek into the room and an outdoor Peek-a-View shower facing the sea, near the terrace Champagne table.
and sun lounger. Sleeps up to four.
This cocoon-like cabin is perfect for fans of late nights and sleeping in until after lunch. It's super cozy and ideal for solo travelers.
Standard cabin amenities, check. No window, no problem. Sleeps one.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by design choices in these suites. Enjoy custom interior carbon fiber chairs on this terrace, meant to maximize sea views - in this case, the wake view. Sailors will gaze at the sea while relaxing near the gorgeous outdoor Champagne table or kicking back in the hand-woven hammock chair.
After they've finished soaking in the views, Sailors can indulge in some classics with their vinyl record player and a personalized, fully stocked, in-room bar. Then they'll freshen up in the expansive top to bottom marble.
bathroom featuring the Roomiest Rainshower. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by design choices in these suites. Enjoy custom interior carbon fiber chairs on this terrace, meant to maximize sea views - in this case, the wake view. Sailors will gaze at the sea while relaxing near the gorgeous outdoor Champagne table or kicking back in the hand-woven hammock chair.
After they've finished soaking in the views, Sailors can indulge in some classics with their vinyl record player and a personalized, fully stocked, in-room bar. Then they'll freshen up in the expansive.
top to bottom marble bathroom featuring the Roomiest Rainshower. Sleeps up to two.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Whether a Sailor's rider specifies 1000 candy bars, a rare-aged gin, or 1 penguin (try us), inner rockers will come alive in this suite. With a view of the European king bed from the indoor Peek-a-Boo indoor shower through a dichroic glass window, the only sensual rival is the ocean itself.
Sailors can crank up the tunes from the record player, serve up some drinks from the fully stocked in-room bar, then take the party to the terrace to enjoy more stunning sea views while relaxing.
around the Champagne table. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Positioned at the front of the ship for unparalleled views, this most tricked out, most extra, unreal three room suite at sea is fit for rock & roll royalty. Complete with a private music room that doubles as a second bedroom, it's all legend-style here, down to the brass and leather nautical.
finishings.
Step outside to find things like sun loungers, a standing hot tub and an open air Peeka-View shower onto the sea. The expansive top to bottom marble clad bathroom features an indoor Peek-a-Boo shower with an iridescent, dichroic glass window onto the European king bed.
Sailors can debate the latest musical hits while sipping some bubbly at the Champagne bucket-style table on the terrace, lounging on the full length hammock, sitting in the conversation pit bar area or stretching out in the suite's private lookout point. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Unique Call-Outs:
Whether a Sailor prefers sunshine yoga on the terrace, or serving up negronis at the fully stocked, in-room bar, this suite is perfect for those who love to host.
When here alone, they'll be tasked with the age-old problem of relaxing in the fully marbled bathroom with an indoor dichroic glass enclosed Peek-a-Boo shower or rinsing off on the terrace in the suite's outdoor Peeka-View shower under the moonlight.
With brass nautical finishings throughout, Sailors can relax on the European king bed while cranking some tunes on the vinyl record player or head outside to the three-seater lounger then pop some bubbly.
at the Champagne table on the terrace. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Brilliant Basics:
Unique Call-Outs:
Not to be outdone by the (slightly) larger Massive and Fab suites, our Posh Suites are designed to make Sailors feel like royalty so they can live their most posh and glamorous life here.
Complete with brass nautical finishings throughout, Sailors will enjoy the European king bed, while sipping a cocktail from the fully stocked, in-room bar and listening to tunes from the vinyl record player.
Sailors can relax on the sun lounger next to the Champagne bucket style table overlooking the waves or rinse off with the open-air outdoor, Peek-a-View shower on the terrace. Head inside for the indoor Peek-a-Boo.
shower with an iridescent dichroic glass window, situated in the top to bottom marble encased bathroom. Sleeps up to four.
Heroes:
Unique Call-Outs:
Brilliant Basics:
Day 1 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 4 Cruising
Day 5 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
Day 1 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 4 Cruising
Day 5 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
Day 1 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam combines the unrivaled beauty of the 17th-century Golden Age city center with plenty of museums and art of the highest order, not to mention a remarkably laid-back atmosphere. It all comes together to make this one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of concentric canals like an aquatic rainbow, Amsterdam is known as the City of Canals—but it's no Venice, content to live on moonlight serenades and former glory. Quite the contrary: on nearly every street here you'll find old and new side by side—quiet corners where time seems to be holding its breath next to streets like neon-lit Kalverstraat, and Red Light ladies strutting by the city's oldest church. Indeed, Amsterdam has as many lovely facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city's gem cutters. It's certainly a metropolis, but a rather small and very accessible one. Locals tend to refer to it as a big village, albeit one that happens to pack the cultural wallop of a major world destination. There are scores of concerts every day, numerous museums, summertime festivals, and, of course, a legendary year-round party scene. It's pretty much impossible to resist Amsterdam's charms. With 7,000 registered monuments, most of which began as the residences and warehouses of humble merchants, set on 160 man-made canals, and traversed by 1,500 or so bridges, Amsterdam has the largest historical inner city in Europe. Its famous circle of waterways, the grachtengordel, was a 17th-century urban expansion plan for the rich and is a lasting testament to the city's Golden Age. This town is endearing because of its kinder, gentler nature—but a reputation for championing sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll does not alone account for Amsterdam's being one of the most popular destinations in Europe: consider that within a single square mile the city harbors some of the greatest achievements in Western art, from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Not to mention that this is one of Europe's great walking cities, with so many of its treasures in the untouted details: tiny alleyways barely visible on the map, hidden garden courtyards, shop windows, floating houseboats, hidden hofjes(courtyards with almshouses), sudden vistas of church spires, and gabled roofs that look like so many unframed paintings. And don't forget that the joy lies in details: elaborate gables and witty gable stones denoting the trade of a previous owner. Keep in mind that those XXX symbols you see all over town are not a mark of the city's triple-X reputation. They're part of Amsterdam's official coat of arms—three St. Andrew's crosses, believed to represent the three dangers that have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The coat's motto ("Valiant, determined, compassionate") was introduced in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina in remembrance of the 1941 February Strike in Amsterdam—the first time in Europe that non-Jewish people protested against the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime.
Day 4 Cruising
Day 5 Portsmouth, England
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world's oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom's tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has up-to-date advice for Irish citizens on staying safe and healthy abroad. For more security, local laws, health, passport and visa information see https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/ and follow dfatravelwise