See the British Isles BY SEA
Hopping aboard a cruise ship is the ideal way to enjoy everything our own amazing coastline has to offer, as travel editor David Wickers explains
Having such a strong maritime tradition, the British Isles offer an incredibly diverse mix of highlights located either right on their shores, or just a short detour inland. So one of the best ways to appreciate our coasts, from both a scenic and historic perspective, is to take a cruise. As you sail mostly by night, you can relax with a cocktail in the ship’s bars, choose which restaurant to dine in, enjoy a show in a West End-style theatre, have a flutter at the casino or take a twirl on the dance floor – then enjoy a good night’s sleep, waking as your ship noses into the next destination. And you don’t even need to repack until it’s time to return home.
Even if you have just a week, it’ll make a remarkable coastal voyage. Take just one example – a Crown Princess cruise from Southampton.
Her first port of call is Portland. From its 500-year-old, man-made harbour, you’ll be able to enjoy access to a number of attractions, including Salisbury, with its mighty cathedral housing the Magna Carta; prehistoric Stonehenge; Corfe Castle, built by William the Conqueror; and the nearby Abbotsbury Swannery.
Still officially in the British Isles, but not part of the United Kingdom, her next destination is Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. The pretty harbour capital of St Peter Port is guarded by the 800-year-old Castle Cornet – from here, you should definitely visit the German Occupation Museum and Underground Hospital.
Across the Irish Sea to Cork, which stands astride the River Lee. After seeing the 18th-century glass, wood and wrought-iron English Market, you might want to take a side trip to nearby Cobh, the main port of emigration for thousands of impoverished countrymen bound for America and the last port of call for the Titanic. There are also excursions to Ireland’s foodie capital Kinsale and Blarney Castle, where you can acquire the gift of the gab by kissing the Blarney Stone.
Heading north, the next Irish stop is Dublin, home to Trinity College, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Book of Kells and, of course, one of the most globally recognised brews, Guinness.
A change of country follows as Crown Princess noses her way along the Clyde in Scotland, docking at Greenock for easy transfers to Glasgow, a city of fascinating museums. You could then take a side trip to Edinburgh. Or maybe you’d prefer a jaunt to Balloch on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, with time for a boat trip, or a visit to a whisky distillery.
Heading south, the last stop before returning to Southampton will be Liverpool, with its handsome buildings lining the Mersey shores – a testimony to the city’s maritime heritage. An even better-known legacy, to most visitors, are the Beatles, with tours to their old haunts readily available. But don’t miss the regenerated Albert Dock area, location of the Tate Gallery. You could even leave the city, if you prefer, and head for the splendid scenery of the Lake District.
• A 12-night British Isles cruise departing 21 May, costs from £999 per person (princess.com). There’s also a choice of longer cruises of the British Isles, which include Ireland’s Antrim coast, the Scottish Isles including Orkney and Shetland, and Newcastle.
SETTING SAIL FROM BRITAIN
Next year, more than 600 cruises will cast off from home ports. Popular destinations from Southampton for Princess Cruises include the Baltic capitals and St Petersburg, the Mediterranean and the Canaries. Some of the long-haul cruises also depart from Dover; see princess.com for details.
The big plus about sailing from the UK is that you can simply load up the car, drive to the port, step on board and get straight into your holiday without all the hassles associated with flying, a convenience that will be especially appealing to multigenerational families.