Ireland Cruise from Dublin to Bordeaux — 19 Days

18 nights · Ireland · Departs Dublin (Ireland) · Visiting Belfast, Greencastle-Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, Cobh-Cork, Tresco Island England, Rouen, Honfleur, Caen-Ouistreham, Saint-Malo, Guernsey Island, Royan, Bordeaux · Aboard Quark Expeditions on the World Explorer

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World Explorer
Dublin Cruise Port Guide: Shore Excursions & Expert Advice Belfast Cruise Port Guide: Expert Shore Excursion Advice cityscape bridge river dusk Killybegs Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Cruise lineQuark Expeditions
ShipWorld Explorer
Duration18 nights
Port calls15
Departures1 sailings
Year built2019
Guests200
Cabins112
Crew130
Length126 m
Beam19 m
Cruising speed16.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    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.

  2. Day 2

    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.

  3. Day 3

    Greencastle-Londonderry

    Greencastle, on Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula, is a small harbour town at the mouth of Lough Foyle. Across the water lies Northern Ireland; inland, Derry/Londonderry rewards a visit with remarkably complete seventeenth-century walls and a complex history. Walk the ramparts for river views, then explore the Guildhall and Bogside murals, which record the city’s recent past. At Greencastle, the Inishowen Maritime Museum explores local fishing heritage, and the shore offers wide views across the lough.

  4. Day 4

    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.

  5. Day 5

    Galway, Ireland

    Galway rewards a day on foot. The compact centre opens onto the River Corrib, medieval lanes and the Spanish Arch. Stop for oysters or browse independent shops before hearing traditional music in a pub. Galway Cathedral stands beside the river, while the Latin Quarter keeps the streets lively. For a wider view, follow the seafront walk to Salthill, where the Atlantic comes within easy reach.

  6. Day 6

    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.

  7. Day 7

    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.

  8. Day 9

    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.

  9. Day 10

    Rouen, France

    Rouen rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk straight into its history. Half-timbered houses line narrow streets, while the soaring cathedral once drew Claude Monet back to paint its changing façade. At the old marketplace, Joan of Arc was executed in 1431; today, a church commemorates her. Pause for Normandy’s butter-rich cuisine, then follow the Seine-side quays for a quieter view of this working port.

  10. Day 13

    Honfleur, France

    Honfleur’s old harbour is one of Normandy’s most distinctive waterfronts, framed by narrow, slate-fronted houses. Walk its quays, then step into Sainte-Catherine, France’s largest wooden church, built by local shipwrights. Art belongs here: painter Eugène Boudin was born in Honfleur, and its light helped inspire the Impressionists. Beside the Seine estuary, this compact port invites an unhurried visit, with excellent seafood and Normandy’s rich local produce.

  11. Day 14

    Caen-Ouistreham, France

    Caen, in the heart of Normandy, pairs medieval landmarks with the region’s defining wartime history. William the Conqueror founded the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and built Caen’s castle. Its ramparts still overlook the old town. The Caen Memorial traces the Second World War and the road to peace, while the D-Day beaches lie within reach. Normandy’s cider and cheeses reward a pause at the market.

  12. Day 15

    Saint-Malo, France

    St-Malo rises from the Breton coast in granite, its old town enclosed by formidable seventeenth-century ramparts. Walk the walls for sea views, then enter Intra-Muros, where narrow lanes lead to cafés, shops and the cathedral. Privateers once sailed under royal authority; their story gives the city a character beyond its handsome stones. St-Malo’s tides rank among Europe’s highest, lending each visit a changing edge; save time for oysters and Breton crêpes.

  13. Day 16

    Guernsey Island

    Guernsey rewards travellers who look beyond its handsome harbour. St Peter Port rises from the waterfront, its lanes climbing past Georgian houses and independent shops. At the harbour entrance, Castle Cornet has guarded the island for centuries. Beyond town, cliff paths, sheltered coves and country lanes reveal a landscape shaped by sea and history. Guernsey is a self-governing Crown Dependency, not part of the United Kingdom. It uses sterling, and issues its own banknotes and coins.

  14. Day 18

    Royan, France

    Royan sits where the Gironde estuary meets the Atlantic, with broad beaches and a lively seafront. After wartime destruction, the town was rebuilt in a confident 1950s style. Its landmarks include the sweeping Notre-Dame church and shell-shaped central market. Stroll the waterfront and sample oysters with local wine. Boat trips reach Cordouan Lighthouse, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the estuary. Sheltered coves and villas recall Royan’s long life as a seaside resort.

  15. Day 19

    Bordeaux, France

    Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.

World Explorer Cruises

Published August 6, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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