16-night Ring Of Kerry Cruisetour #3A

Arrive in Shannon and transfer to Limerick. After checking into your hotel, you have free time to relax, use the hotel's amenities, or explore the city. You may wish to visit St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle or the Hunt Museum. Tonight, you'll enjoy an Irish Medieval Banquet. (D)

Depart by motorcoach for the Cliffs of Moher. Take in panoramic views of the Clare coastline passing through the sleepy villages of Kilkee and Kilrush before arriving in Killimer for the ferry crossing to Tarbert. Arrive in Killarney and enjoy a fun-filled horse-drawn Jaunting Car Ride to ancient Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane. Dinner is included this evening at your hotel. (B,D)

Follow the road known as the "Ring of Kerry" for a spectacular 100-mile panoramic drive around the island's south western tip and take photos of the vistas of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Here mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breath-taking beyond words. Lunch will be on your own in a local town. Continue on to Muckross House, situated close to the shores of Muckross Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of Killarney National Park. The house is a focal point within the park and is the ideal base from which to explore its terrain. Tonight, enjoy dinner with entertainment at a local pub. (B,D)

At picturesque Glengarriff board a private boat for the short crossing to Garinish Island, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the strong-scented flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden. Next, make your way to The Queenstown Story in Cobh, which explains the strong linkage between Ireland and America. From 1848 to 1950, more than 6 million adults and children emigrated from Ireland to America. More than 2.5 million departed from Cobh, making it the single most important port of emigration. Overnight in Cork, Ireland's second-largest city. (B,D)

After breakfast, transfer to Cork International airport for your flight to London (Heathrow). Upon arrival, transfer to Southampton to embark your ship. (B)

The Orkney Islands are different from mainland Britain and reflect the original 9th century Viking settlement. In addition to Norse heritage are remains of prehistoric monuments such as Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets winding around medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney artifacts is housed in 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions include Maes Howe, Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village Skara Brae. Rock circles, cairns, standing stones, ancient tombs and prehistoric villages are scattered about, gaining these islands international recognition. Only the walls and tower of the 12-century residence, Bishop's Palace, stand. The top of the tower affords a great view of the cathedral and across Kirkwall rooftops. Earl's Palace dates from 1600. Its style blends medieval fierceness with elements of French Renaissance architecture - featuring dungeons, massive fireplaces and magnificent central hall. A good mile south of town is Highland Park - the "most northerly legal distillery in Scotland."

The northern part of Scotland, known as the Highlands, ranks as one of the world’s most magnificent scenic spots. Among the main attractions is a landscape of dramatic mountains and forested hills. Invergordon is the port for Inverness and capital of the Highlands. The surrounding countryside offers such famous attractions as the Battlefield of Culloden, Loch Ness, the villages of Tain and Cromarty, numerous historic castles and old established whisky distilleries. Enjoy the picture-perfect scenery and an opportunity to chat with a Highlander eager to introduce you to his fabled land and its rich heritage. Inverness Castle is a predominantly 19th-century edifice perched high above the Ness River. Today’s remains house the Sheriff’s Office. The exhibits of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery may be worth viewing as they provide a good overview of the development of the Highlands. Located 14 miles southwest of Inverness the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition tell the legend of the monster from 565 A.D. to the present.

South Queensferry still offers an environment that can transport visitors back to an earlier time more readily than most places in Scotland. South Queensferry offers one of the most interesting collections of buildings anywhere. The oldest is St Mary's church, which dates from 1441. "Black Castle", built on the High Street in 1626 is the oldest house in South Queensferry, which was built for a sea captain who was lost with his ship. The nearby Tollbooth was built in the 1600s, though the tower dates back only to 1720. The High Street itself has an unusual stepped cross section designed to cope with the town's steeply sloping site above the shore. This has led to elevated pavements on the inland side of the street, which add to the atmosphere. For very obvious reasons, plus proximity to Edinburgh, South Queensferry is an extremely popular place. It is worth making an effort to try and catch it at a quiet time: that way visitors can still catch glimpses of the South Queensferry of the 1700s Robert Louis Stevenson featured in "Kidnapped".