British Isles and Icelandic Cruises

Onboard Enrichment

Experience sights, sounds and flavors of a Celtic Festival and even Northern Europe's Oktoberfest right on board the cruise ship with our "Festivals of the World" celebrations. Sample a variety of ales and lagers and enjoy "Ye Olde Pub Night," our latest full-scale production show, or relax with an authentic British Pub lunch that includes favorites like Bangers & Mash and Shepherd's Pie. Learn more about the famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo during a port lecture, and enjoy regional musical performances of Irish folk jigs, highland dancing and pipe music, bringing the spirit of the British Isles on board.

See it like a local

Let Princess introduce you to the next port on the horizon like no one else can. On board, hear from speakers who offer personal knowledge of the destination’s history and culture. Get an insider’s guide to essential experiences and distinctive treasures. Explore on immersive shore excursions designed to satisfy every interest. We’ve partnered with a trusted team of local experts who will help you make the most of your experience.

Lifestyle and Culture

Immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of the British Isles, Iceland, and Northern Europe. Sample local treats in the food hall of Harrods department store in London. Shop for traditional Irish tweeds in Blarney Woollen Mills Shop in Cork. Soak in the Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik’s mineral-rich hot springs. Tap your toes at the Beatles Story, an interactive experience in Liverpool. Lean the secrets of distilling Scotland’s famous single malt whiskeys in Glasgow, and spend the day on a family farm in the heart of Ireland’s grasslands.

Natural Wonders and Landscapes

Traverse the picturesque Channel Islands, view the gardens of Powerscourt in Dublin, and take a scenic boat cruise through Scotland’s Loch Ness, which is home to the legendary Nessie. Stand in awe at the sight of Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, which had a starring role as the "Cliffs of Insanity" in the beloved movie Princess Bride. Delight in the mineral-rich steam that rises from Reykjavik’s incredible Blue Lagoon, and explore Wales’ Snowdonia Mountains on a picturesque drive from Holyhead on a British Isles shore excursion.

In-Depth Land and Sea (Cruisetour) Vacations and Cruise Plus® Hotel Packages

See even more with a Northern Land & Sea Cruise Vacation that combines an incredible British Isles cruise with a multiple-night land tour exploring some of the most fascinating places in the world, sampling the culture, seeing the sights and of course, savoring local cuisine! Or, you can add extra days at the beginning or end of your cruise and get to know a magnificent city like Rome or Copenhagen better with a Cruise Plus Hotel® Package.

Architecture

Gaze upon the arches and crowning dome of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, or visit the majestic Tower of London and stoic Big Ben. Ride to the top of the iconic Eiffel Tower, or say hi to the gargoyles that guard Notre Dame in Paris. Visit the castles of Edinburgh and Cork, or watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Cruise to Rotterdam and learn how the curves of the Erasmus Bridge inspire its nickname, "The Swan," and marvel at Reykjavik’s unmistakable Hallgrimskirkja Church or the Pearl, a 10-story modern architectural masterpiece.

Art and Museums

Peruse a fascinating 5000 years of art in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Delve deeper into European art from the 16th and 19th centuries at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, or see Dublin’s revered Book of Kells, an illuminated Gospel manuscript dating to 800 A.D. In Cork, view the Victorian appointments of Muckross House, and at Iceland’s Laufas Folk Museum, enter a traditional farmhouse and explore a collection of Icelandic artifacts. Cruise to Paris, the City of Lights, and marvel at the collection of Impressionists in Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre with such world famous works as Venus de Milo and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Unesco World Heritage Sites

From Belfast, visit Giant’s Causeway, both a natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise to Reykjavik, and travel to Thingvellir National Park, an open-air museum of an ancient assembly site with 50 parliament booths. France’s crowning address is the Palace of Versailles, the principal home of kings Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Walk along Edinburgh’s medieval Royal Mile, or photograph the towering Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

What Can You Do and See?

Visit the bucolic Irish countryside and monastic ruins of Glendalough in Dublin. Explore the jagged ruins of Urquhart Castle and the mysterious waters of Loch Ness, home to the legendary monster "Nessie." Stand in awe of the 60-foot Strokkur geyser in Reykjavik, and behold Scotland's most popular festival, the Military Tattoo, performed outside of Edinburgh Castle. On itineraries with More Ashore Late Night calls, we stay until at least 9 p.m. in port so you can also experience some of the fabulous nightlife.And with Discovery Recommended and Exclusive excursions available only through Princess, you will see the British Isles in a whole new way.

Ring of Kerry

The best of land and sea

Begin your 16-day British Isles cruisetour in Limerick and spend the first four days ashore exploring Killarney, Cork and Southampton. Expert guides, hotel stays and daily meals are included in the land portion of your trip. Enjoy seamless transportation from land to ship before visiting classical cities like Cork, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Enjoy the best of land and sea on a cruisetour with Princess.