Ireland Cruise from Dublin to Porto — 13 Days

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city best explored on foot, where Georgian squares, lively lanes and centuries of history sit close together. From Dublin Port, the centre is a short drive away, making a day ashore easy to shape. See the Book of Kells at Trinity College, then trace the Liffey through the city centre. A pint in a traditional pub is an invitation to linger.

Belfast

Belfast pairs a proud maritime past with a lively, walkable centre. At Titanic Belfast, the story of the famous liner unfolds beside the shipyard where she was built. Nearby, grand City Hall and the Cathedral Quarter reveal different sides of the city, from civic confidence to café-lined lanes. Across west Belfast, political murals offer a vivid perspective on its recent history. With the Giant’s Causeway within reach, Belfast also makes a compelling starting point for Northern Ireland’s dramatic coast.

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island lies six miles off County Antrim, reached by ferry from Ballycastle. This small, inhabited island rewards visitors with rugged coastal walks, quiet lanes and broad views across the North Channel. At the RSPB’s West Light Seabird Centre, watch nesting seabirds, including puffins, from a dramatic cliff-top setting. The West Lighthouse is famously inverted, with its light housed near ground level.

Killybegs, Ireland

Killybegs is Ireland’s largest fishing port, a working harbour on Donegal’s rugged south coast. Watch trawlers unload their catch, then explore the town’s maritime story at the Killybegs Maritime and Heritage Centre. Beyond the quays, the road leads towards Slieve League, where immense Atlantic-facing cliffs rise above the sea. Come for a close view of Ireland’s fishing life; stay for Donegal’s wide horizons and fresh seafood.

Aran Islands Ireland, Ireland

At Ireland’s western edge, the Aran Islands meet the Atlantic in limestone, wind and open sea. Three islands—Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr—preserve Irish-language traditions and a landscape shaped by generations of farming. On Inis Mór, the prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa stands above sea cliffs, its stone ramparts facing the Atlantic. Walk or cycle quiet lanes past dry-stone walls, then pause for views that make the islands’ scale and isolation unmistakable.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Dingle, Ireland

Dingle rewards travellers who prefer a working harbour to a polished resort. In County Kerry, this small town faces Dingle Bay, with the Atlantic close beyond its quays. Its lively streets bring together fishing boats, independent shops, traditional pubs and cafés. Irish is still spoken across this Gaeltacht region. Beyond town, Slea Head Drive follows cliffs and beaches toward the Blasket Islands. It reveals a rugged coast best explored at an unhurried pace.

Skellig Islands Ireland (Scenic Stop)

Bantry (Ask Travel Agent)

Cobh-Cork, Ireland

Cork is Ireland’s most independent-minded city, built on islands in the River Lee and shaped by its maritime past. Most cruise ships berth at Cobh, a handsome harbour town about 15 miles from Cork. A direct railway connects the two. Browse the English Market, visit St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, or seek out the city’s cafés and pubs. Allow time for Blarney Castle, a short drive away.

Tresco Island England

Tresco is the Isles of Scilly at their most composed: white-sand coves, granite headlands and Atlantic light. Visit Tresco Abbey Garden, where subtropical plants thrive beside the ruins of a Benedictine priory. Inside, the Valhalla Museum displays ship figureheads recovered from the islands’ shores. Beyond the garden, walk quiet lanes to sheltered beaches, or watch seabirds over the rugged coast. Boat transfers connect Tresco with neighbouring islands; check local tides and schedules before you go.

St Mary's Island England

St Mary’s Island lies just off England’s northeast coast, reached from the mainland by a causeway exposed at low tide. The red-and-white lighthouse, completed in 1898 and decommissioned in 1984, remains the island’s defining landmark. Climb its tower for wide North Sea views, then explore rocky pools and the surrounding nature reserve. Check tide times before crossing, and save time for nearby Whitley Bay’s promenade, beaches and cafés.

At Sea (At Sea)

Gijon, Spain

Gijón is a working port on the Bay of Biscay and a fine introduction to Asturias. Behind it, the Cantabrian Mountains frame a coast shaped by sea and weather. Explore Cimavilla, the old fishing quarter, and San Pedro, its Romanesque church above the headland. Then follow the promenade beside San Lorenzo Beach and order Asturias’s famed cider in a local sidrería.

La Coruna, Spain

La Coruña rewards a shore day spent looking beyond the waterfront. In Galicia’s Atlantic capital, glass-fronted galerías brighten the marina. Old town lanes lead to quiet squares and the church of Santiago. Walk the headland to the Tower of Hercules, the world’s oldest working Roman lighthouse and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then settle over local seafood and Albariño, with the ocean never far from view.

Porto-Leixoes, Portugal

Porto is a city best approached on foot, where steep lanes descend towards the Douro and the Atlantic beyond. Across the river, Vila Nova de Gaia’s historic port-wine lodges offer tastings and views back to the old town. Between them, the Ribeira waterfront, tiled churches and iron bridges tell the story of a trading city shaped by water. Taste tawny port, then linger over market halls, intimate museums and unhurried meals.