British Isles Cruise/Jewel of the Seas
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Jewel of the Seas

British Isles Cruise - 12 night cruise



Cruise only from €1,334

Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.


Description

Gratuities

Dates and Prices

Cabins

Royal Caribbean® is charting one-of-a-kind adventures from Cyprus for the first time ever — onboard Jewel of the Seas®.

The Greek isles make for the ultimate summer getaway — and Jewel of the Seas is the perfect ship to experience them from. Whether you're chasing beach vibes in Mykonos or roaming ancient ruins in Athens, this ship offers endless ways to make memories onboard in between onshore adventures — like Broadway-style shows, palate-pleasing dining, and activities the whole family can get behind.

Cruise ID: 3410

The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.

In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard and will be able to do so until the morning of their departure. Guests who have pre-paid their gratuity will not see a daily charge during their cruise.

The automatic daily gratuity is based on customary industry standards. Applying this charge automatically helps streamline the recognition process for the crew members that work to enhance your cruise. We hope you find the gratuity to be an accurate reflection of your satisfaction and thank you for your generous recognition of our staff.

A 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases.

Guests can pre-pay gratuities by calling (UK) 0344 493 4005 / (Ireland) 1800 555 604 or logging into www.royalcaribbean.co.uk before* their sailing. For guests booked through travel advisors, their advisor may add pre-paid gratuities to the guests' booking prior to sailing*. If gratuities are not prepaid prior to sailing, they will be automatically added to the guests' folios once onboard.

*Pre-paid gratuities can be added to an individual reservation at any time outside of 48 hours of the sail date.

Date Time Price * Booking
11 June 2024 16:00 €1,334 Call us to book

* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.

Cabins on Jewel of the Seas

Ocean View Stateroom Guarantee
3-4

Our Ocean View staterooms offer a gorgeous view, two twin beds and a private bathroom.

  • 2 twin beds (can convert to a Royal King, measuring 184 cm (72.5 in) wide by 208 cm (82 in) long)
  • Select rooms include Pullman beds
  • 3-4 guests
  • Size: Varies by ship

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Connecting Ocean View
1-2

Experience a spectacular view for a memorable holiday.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • Up to 2 guests
  • Ocean View
  • Bedroom area
  • Sitting area with sofa
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Spacious Sunset Ocean View Balcony
1-5

  • Larger room with dramatic aft-facing views
  • Extra stateroom square footage
  • Private balcony at the back of the ship

Size

  • Stateroom: 204 sq. ft.
  • Balcony: 41 sq. ft.

Beds

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One single sofa bed or one pullman bed in staterooms with up to 3 guests
  • One double sofa bed or one single sofa bed and one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to 4 guests
  • One double sofa bed and one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to 5 guests

Occupancy

  • Up to 5 guests

Views

  • Ocean view
  • Some staterooms have an obstructed view

Living Spaces

  • Room with bed, vanity and sitting area with sofa
  • Private balcony

Bathrooms

  • One bathroom

What's Included?

  • Dedicated stateroom attendant
  • Daily cleaning service
  • Exclusive bedding collection
  • Stateroom climate control
  • Ample closet and storage
  • In-room HD-TV
  • In-room safe for valuables
  • Hair dryer
  • Deluxe toiletries: shampoo, conditioner & body wash

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Vanity Area
  • Shower
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk
  • Air Conditioning

Ocean View Balcony
1-4

Experience a spectacular view for a memorable holiday.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One single sofa bed or one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to three guests
  • One double sofa bed in staterooms with up to 4 guests
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view (Some staterooms have an obstructed view)
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area

Royal Suite - 1 Bedroom
1-4

Relish an extraordinary holiday in this luxurious suite.

  • One queen-size bed
  • One double sofa bed
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Bedroom
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom with tub
Exclusive for Suites
  • Priority check-in and departure lounge
  • Concierge Services
  • Priority tender tickets
  • Complimentary luggage valet service
  • Luxury spa bathrobes to use onboard

Facilities

  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Dining Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Owner's Suite - 2 Bedroom
1-8

Enjoy the ultimate suite for a perfect holiday with family and friends.

  • Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed.
  • One double sofa bed
  • Two Pullman beds
  • Up to 8 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Two bedrooms
  • Living area
  • Private balcony
  • Two bathrooms (master bathroom with tub)
Exclusive for Suites
  • Priority check-in and departure lounge
  • Concierge Services
  • Priority tender tickets
  • Complimentary luggage valet service
  • Luxury spa bathrobes to use onboard

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Second Bedroom
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed x2
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • Butler Service
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Owner's Suite - 1 Bedroom
1-4

Enjoy the ultimate suite for a perfect holiday.

  • One queen-size bed
  • One double sofa bed
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Room with bed and dresser
  • Living area with double sofa bed
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom with whirlpool tub, double sink and bidet
Exclusive for Suites
  • Priority check-in and departure lounge
  • Concierge Services
  • Priority tender tickets
  • Complimentary luggage valet service
  • Luxury spa bathrobes to use onboard

Facilities

  • Queen or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Whirlpool Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom
1-4

Enjoy a comfortable suite and the extra perks.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One double sofa bed
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view (Note: Some staterooms have an obstructed view)
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom with a tub and double sink
Exclusive for Suites
  • Priority check-in and departure lounge
  • Concierge Services
  • Priority tender tickets
  • Complimentary luggage valet service
  • Luxury spa bathrobes to use onboard

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Ocean View Suite - 2 Bedroom (No Balcony)
1-8

Enjoy this incrediblely spacious suite with your family.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King
  • One double sofa bed
  • Four Pullman beds
  • Up to 8 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • Separate area with bunk beds
  • One bathroom
Suite Facilities:
  • Dedicated check-in queues
  • Reserved VIP seating
  • Priority Departure
  • Dedicated Suite Attendant
  • Luxury spa bathrobes to use onboard

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed x4
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Junior Suite
1-4

An incredible intimate suite with a great view.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One double sofa bed
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Some staterooms have an obstructed view
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom with tub

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Bath
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Junior Suite Guarantee
3-4

These suites offer a comfortable bedroom, a small sitting area and a private balcony.

  • 2 twin beds (can convert to a Royal King, measuring 184 cm (72.5 in) wide by 208 cm (82 in) long)
  • Sofa bed
  • 3-4 guests
  • Size: Varies by ship

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • Suite Benefits
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Spacious Ocean View Balcony
1-5

Immerse yourself in a gorgeous view for a memorable holiday.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One singe sofa bed in staterooms with up to three guests
  • One double sofa bed in staterooms with up to 4 guests
  • One double sofa bed or one single sofa bed and one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to 5 guests
  • Up to 5 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Some staterooms have an obstructed view
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • Private balcony
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Spacious Ocean View
1-2

Have a spectacular view for a memorable holiday.

  • Stateroom: 170 sq. ft. or 15.79 sq. m.
  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • Up to 2 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Some staterooms on Deck 2 have a porthole instead of a window
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Interior
1-4

Enjoy your holiday in the perfect space.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One single sofa bed or one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to three guests
  • One double sofa bed or two Pullman beds in staterooms with up to 4 guests
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Interior Stateroom Guarantee
2-4

This standard stateroom offers two twin beds, a private bathroom and all the facilities of our standard staterooms.

  • 2 twin beds (can convert to a Royal King, measuring 184 cm (72.5 in) wide by 208 cm (82 in) long)
  • Pullman beds
  • 2-4 guests
  • Size: Varies by ship

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Ocean View
1-4

Gaze at the beautiful views from your cosy room.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • One single sofa bed or one Pullman bed in staterooms with up to three guests
  • One double sofa bed or two Pullman beds in staterooms with up to 4 guests
  • Up to 4 guests
  • Ocean view
  • Some staterooms on Deck 2 have a porthole instead of a window
  • Room with bed, dresser and sitting area with sofa
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Sofa Bed
  • Pullman Bed
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Connecting Ocean View Balcony
1-2

Experience a spectacular view for a memorable holiday.

  • Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King bed
  • Up to 2 guests
  • Ocean View
  • Bedroom area
  • Sitting area with sofa
  • Bathrooms
  • One bathroom

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony Guarantee
2-4

Vast views of the landscapes, seascapes and skies are yours to enjoy from your private balcony.

  • 2 twin beds (can convert to a Royal King, measuring 184 cm (72.5 in) wide by 208 cm (82 in) long)
  • 2-4 guests
  • Size: Varies by ship

Facilities

  • King or Twin Configuration
  • Lounge Area
  • Shower
  • Toiletries Provided
  • Room Service Available
  • TV
  • Wi-Fi (Additional Cost)
  • Safe
  • Hair Dryer
  • Telephone
  • Desk

View Itinerary By Date



Day 1 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 2  Cruising

Day 3 Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is to London as poetry is to prose, as Charlotte Brontë once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities and proudest capitals, it's built—like Rome—on seven hills, making it a striking backdrop for the ancient pageant of history. In a skyline of sheer drama, Edinburgh Castle watches over the capital city, frowning down on Princes Street's glamour and glitz. But despite its rich past, the city's famous festivals, excellent museums and galleries, as well as the modern Scottish Parliament, are reminders that Edinburgh has its feet firmly in the 21st century.Nearly everywhere in Edinburgh (the burgh is always pronounced burra in Scotland) there are spectacular buildings, whose Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian pillars add touches of neoclassical grandeur to the largely Presbyterian backdrop. Large gardens are a strong feature of central Edinburgh, where the city council is one of the most stridently conservationist in Europe. Arthur's Seat, a mountain of bright green and yellow furze, rears up behind the spires of the Old Town. This child-size mountain jutting 822 feet above its surroundings has steep slopes and little crags, like a miniature Highlands set down in the middle of the busy city. Appropriately, these theatrical elements match Edinburgh's character—after all, the city has been a stage that has seen its fair share of romance, violence, tragedy, and triumph.Modern Edinburgh has become a cultural capital, staging the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival in every possible venue each August. The stunning Museum of Scotland complements the city's wealth of galleries and artsy hangouts. Add Edinburgh's growing reputation for food and nightlife and you have one of the world's most beguiling cities.Today the city is the second most important financial center in the United Kingdom, and the fifth most important in Europe. The city regularly is ranked near the top in quality-of-life surveys. Accordingly, New Town apartments on fashionable streets sell for considerable sums. In some senses the city is showy and materialistic, but Edinburgh still supports learned societies, some of which have their roots in the Scottish Enlightenment. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, for example, established in 1783 "for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge," remains an important forum for interdisciplinary activities.Even as Edinburgh moves through the 21st century, its tall guardian castle remains the focal point of the city and its venerable history. Take time to explore the streets—peopled by the spirits of Mary, Queen of Scots; Sir Walter Scott; and Robert Louis Stevenson—and pay your respects to the world's best-loved terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. In the evenings you can enjoy candlelit restaurants or a folk ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, a traditional Scottish dance with music), though you should remember that you haven't earned your porridge until you've climbed Arthur's Seat. Should you wander around a corner, say, on George Street, you might see not an endless cityscape, but blue sea and a patchwork of fields. This is the county of Fife, beyond the inlet of the North Sea called the Firth of Forth—a reminder, like the mountains to the northwest that can be glimpsed from Edinburgh's highest points, that the rest of Scotland lies within easy reach.

Day 4 Loch Ness, Scotland

Day 5  Cruising

Day 6 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.

Day 7 Greenock, Scotland

Trendy stores, a booming cultural life, fascinating architecture, and stylish restaurants reinforce Glasgow's claim to being Scotland's most exciting city. After decades of decline, it has experienced an urban renaissance uniquely its own. The city's grand architecture reflects a prosperous past built on trade and shipbuilding. Today buildings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh hold pride of place along with the Zaha Hadid–designed Riverside Museum.Glasgow (the "dear green place," as it was known) was founded some 1,500 years ago. Legend has it that the king of Strathclyde, irate about his wife's infidelity, had a ring he had given her thrown into the river Clyde. (Apparently she had passed it on to an admirer.) When the king demanded to know where the ring had gone, the distraught queen asked the advice of her confessor, St. Mungo. He suggested fishing for it—and the first salmon to emerge had the ring in its mouth. The moment is commemorated on the city's coat of arms.The medieval city expanded when it was given a royal license to trade; the current High Street was the main thoroughfare at the time. The vast profits from American cotton and tobacco built the grand mansions of the Merchant City in the 18th century. In the 19th century the river Clyde became the center of a vibrant shipbuilding industry, fed by the city's iron and steel works. The city grew again, but its internal divisions grew at the same time. The West End harbored the elegant homes of the newly rich shipyard owners. Down by the river, areas like the infamous Gorbals, with its crowded slums, sheltered the laborers who built the ships. They came from the Highlands, expelled to make way for sheep, or from Ireland, where the potato famines drove thousands from their homes.During the 19th century the population grew from 80,000 to more than a million. And the new prosperity gave Glasgow its grand neoclassical buildings, such as those built by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, as well as the adventurous visionary buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and others who produced Glasgow's Arts and Crafts movement. The City Chambers, built in 1888, are a proud statement in marble and gold sandstone, a clear symbol of the wealthy and powerful Victorian industrialists' hopes for the future.The decline of shipbuilding and the closure of the factories led to much speculation as to what direction the city would take now. The curious thing is that, at least in part, the past gave the city a new lease of life. It was as if people looked at their city and saw Glasgow's beauty for the first time: its extraordinarily rich architectural heritage, its leafy parks, its artistic heritage, and its complex social history. Today Glasgow is a vibrant cultural center and a commercial hub, as well as a launching pad from which to explore the rest of Scotland, which, as it turns out, is not so far away. In fact, it takes only 40 minutes to reach Loch Lomond, where the other Scotland begins.

Day 8 Liverpool, England

From world-class attractions and sports to legendary music, Liverpool offers old-world charm with modern sophistication, underpinned by a rich cultural history.

Day 9 Holyhead, Wales

Once a northern defense post against Irish raiders, Holyhead later became best known as a ferry port for Ireland. The dockside bustle is not matched by the town, however, which maintains just a small population. Nonetheless, thousands of years of settlement have given Holyhead rich historical ruins to explore, with more in the surrounding hiking friendly landscape.

Day 10  Cruising

Day 11 Saint Peter Port, Guernsey

Cobblestone streets, blooming floral displays, and tiny churches welcome you to this wonderfully pretty harbour. The town of St Peter Port is as pretty as they come, with glowing flower displays painting practically every street corner and window-ledge with colour. As the capital, and main port of Guernsey, St Peter Port puts all of the island's gorgeous beaches, wonderful history and inspiring stories at your fingertips. Feel the gut punch of the midday gun firing at Castle Cornet, which stands guard over one of the world's prettiest ports. This 800-year-old, Medieval castle offers staggering views of the harbour from its imposing, craggy island location, and you can look out across to the looming shorelines of the other Channel Islands from its weathered battlements. With four well-tended gardens, and five museums offering a rich overview of Guernsey's history, you'll want to leave a few hours aside to explore the many treasures that lie within the castle's walls.

Day 12 Dover, England

Known as the gateway of England, Dover welcomes millions of visitors from all over the globe each year in its role as the ferry capital of the world and the second busiest cruise port in the UK. The White Cliffs Country has a rich heritage. Within the walls of the town's iconic castle, over 2,000 years of history waits to be explored, whilst the town's museum is home to the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world's oldest known seagoing vessel. The town's cliffs that are a welcome sight for today's cross-channel travellers also served as the control centre for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Day 13 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.

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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