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Belfast ,United Kingdom

Belfast ,United Kingdom

Belem stands at the mouth of the Amazon and has always been an important entrepôt for trade with Europe. Today it is the largest port on the Amazon, an important centre for craft activities and tourism.

United Kingdom

Belfast

Excursions

Excursions that bring the spirit of travel to life

BELFAST CITY TOUR

Focusing on the social history of Belfast, this fascinating panoramic tour lets you get a real feel for how the city boomed during the industrial revolution and became a major shipbuilding centre. The best-known product of this era is undoubtedly the unfortunate Titanic and the tour includes a stop at the place the ship was built. But the tour also gives you an idea of how the so-called "Troubles" affected the city for 30 years prior to the ceasefire in 1994. The impressive murals you will see at Falls Road and Shankhill Road form a starkly fascinating reminder of this dark period of political strife. Along with your English-speaking guide, you will also pass the former security gates that once served to keep warring communities apart before continuing on to the Harland and Wolff shipyard, which rose to dubious fame as the place where the Titanic was constructed. During the panoramic tour, you will also pass several churches, various important buildings dating back to the industrial revolution and the parliament building in Stormont, the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. Replete with fresh memories, you will then be returned to the pier and your ship at the end of the tour.

BELFAST CITY TOUR FOR ANNIVERSARY

CITY DRIVE & TITANIC EXPERIENCE

After boarding your coach at the quayside with your English-speaking guide, you will first be taken on a drive around the city centre, focusing on city hall and the Titanic Memorial that stands in its grounds, before heading for the totally immersive "Titanic Belfast Experience". This dramatic, innovative, and exciting exhibition fills a total of nine viewing galleries and serves to give a blow-by-blow account of how the story of the Titanic really happened. From the moment the grand idea of the ship was conceived in the early 1900s, through her construction, launch and ultimate untimely end, right up to the discovery of the wreck and attempts at salvage, the "TBE" creates a sense of encounter with the past and breathes new life into the story of the iconic ship. The multi-faceted exhibition draws on a whole host of unusual ways to illustrate and explore the Titanic theme in new and insightful ways. This informative and entertaining tour ends with your return to your ship.

GIANT S CAUSEWAY

Give yourself a chance to see one of the most incredible phenomena of the natural world: the so-called Giant s Causeway situated along the craggy northern coastline of County Antrim. After boarding a modern coach at the quayside with your English-speaking guide, your journey first takes you through the lovely Antrim countryside before reaching your spectacular destination. On the way, a short stop at a viewpoint will allow you to admire Carrick-a-Rede, an approximately 18-metre-long death-defying rope bridge suspended 80 feet (25 metres) above the sea, which connects the mainland with the islet of Carrickarede, a small salmon fishery. The last few miles up to the Causeway will give you just enough time to get your camera ready to capture what certainly numbers among the world s natural wonders. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, the area encompasses around 40.000 mainly hexagonal interlocking basalt columns - the result of violent volcanic activity many millions of years ago - on an outcrop of land in the Atlantic Ocean. In geological terms, the Giant s Causeway is the counterpart to Fingal s Cave on the uninhabited Scottish island of Staffa, which also consists of tightly packed hexagonal basalt columns of volcanic origin. From the Giant s Causeway Visitors Centre, a short walk will then take you down to the causeway itself, with time to explore the area. The tour ends with your scenic return drive to Belfast and your ship.

Important Information: there is uneven terrain, hills, slopes, and gravel paths along the walking route to the Giants Causeway. The stones at the causeway can become slippery when wet. Guests must be able to walk over various surfaces with some steep inclines and a few steps. This tour is unsuitable for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair. The cost of the lunch (optional) is not included in the price of the tour.<-p>

ARDS PENINSULA & MOUNT STEWART HOUSE

Situated a leisurely drive to the south from the port of Belfast, the Ards Peninsula in County Down is one of the most beautiful areas of Northern Ireland, with the Irish Sea to the east and Strangford Lough to the west. Meet your English-speaking guide and board your coach. The route out through the city s southern suburbs will first take you past Stormont, the grand seat of the devolved government and legislative of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and then the mid-19th-century Scrabo Tower, which makes a dramatic statement in the countryside surrounding the town of Newtownards. As you travel along the shores of Strangford Lough, you can enjoy more superb views en route to Mount Stewart House, a place that is truly steeped in history and the former home of a fascinating circle of political leaders. After viewing the wonderful house, complete with its fine furnishings and celebrated paintings, there will also be time to explore the magnificent gardens on your own and at leisure, which were originally planted in the 1920s and in which many rare plants continue to thrive in the mild climate of the Ards Peninsula. Enjoy the return journey to the port of Belfast via the pretty towns of Ballywater and Donaghadee.

THE QUEEN OF THE GLENS IN COUNTY ANTRIM

After boarding a coach at the pier with your English-speaking guide, you will first head north of Belfast along the lovely coastline of Northern Ireland s County Antrim. As you make your way to the Glenariff Forest Park - located in the beautiful "Queen of the Glens" - the winding road dips and turns, affording arresting views of the Irish Sea, the upper moorland and then of small villages at sea level. After rounding Garron Point, the route takes you inland to the Forest Park itself, which is mainly given over to woodland, but also includes several small lakes, recreation areas and open spaces. Thanks to the lovely Rivers Inver and Glenariff that run through the park, you can also expect to see tumbling waterfalls, tranquil pools and white-water rapids gushing through rocky gorges. A chance to enjoy further splendid views of the Glen then follows as you have tea or coffee with scones, cream and jam at the Glenariff Tea House, after which a route through rolling countryside via Ballymena will return you to the ship.

Please note: this tour is unsuitable for guests with walking difficulties. Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call.<-p>

THE TITANIC QUARTER AND IRISH COFFEE ON A TOUR OF BELFAST

Gain an insider¿s view of Northern Ireland¿s capital on a guided tour lasting three hours and 45 minutes. Sprawled across the banks of the tidal Lagan River, the dynamic city of Belfast will reveal itself during this excursion which begins with a 30-minute drive, followed by a 90-minute sightseeing drive, which passes Shankill Road and Falls Road, to view the murals and Peace wall as you pass by. During the journey, you¿ll learn about the area and the extended period of conflict known as `The Troubles¿, which lasted for around 30 years until ceasefires were called during the late 1990s. Afterwards, spend 45 minutes discovering various Belfast essentials, including City Hall, Albert Memorial Clock, Queen¿s University and other well-known sights. This will be followed by a stop at the Titanic Quarter. Exploring the tragic history of the world¿s most infamous shipwreck, which cost 1,517 lives, this port area is where Titanic sailed out for a `sea trial¿ test voyage on April 2, 1912, after being constructed in Belfast over several years. The final stop of the excursion is a chance to sample a traditional Irish coffee in a cosy downtown pub over 45 minutes. As well as enjoying a professionally crafted version of this rich, creamy concoction, there¿s the chance to learn how to make one yourself. Finally, a 15-minute transfer returns to port.

Important Information: this excursion is available for MSC Yacht Club Guests only. Guests with any type of food intolerance are required to communicate it to the Shore Excursions Office at least two days before the call. A non-alcoholic drink will be served to those under 18 years of age.<-p>

NORTHERN IRELAND S SCENERY AND HISTORY BY BIKE

Get to know the best of Belfast from the saddle of bike, on a tour that blends nature, culture, and history. Your bike leader will first guide you from the port to the main attractions in downtown Belfast. Here you ll see the City Hall, Queens University, and the Botanic Gardens, before a brief photo stop at the famous Crown Liquor Saloon. This lavishly restored building is considered a jewel of Victorian architecture, and is one of Northern Ireland s best-known pubs. Next, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while cycling along the Lagan River, which takes you to the Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, with its famous Rose Garden. Your route back includes a stop at the modern Titanic Museum, where you can enjoy time on your own for independent visit. Then there will still be time for an extended and well-deserved break in Belfast city centre before you return to the ship.

Please note: the distance covered on this biking tour totals approx. 35 km. Children who are at least 155 cm tall are welcome to take part in this tour with the parent s-guardian s written consent. The entrance to the Titanic Museum is at the guests charge.<-p>

ON THE TRAIL OF THE TITANIC BY E-BIKE

History meets modernity on this scenic tour of Belfast by pedelec - an electrically powered bicycle which supports you up to 25 km-h while pedalling. After meeting your bike leader, you ll ride straight from the port to downtown Belfast, passing the City Hall, Queens University, the Botanical Gardens, and other famous sights. Then, after a break at Donegall Square and the legendary Crown Liquor Saloon, your route will take you along the Lagan River, passing through beautiful countryside on your way to the Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park for another break. On your way back, you ll cross the Victoria Park with its many different bird species, before continuing to the Titanic Museum. At this historic site you ll learn about the construction of the Titanic before heading back to the port.

Please note: the distance covered on this biking tour totals approx. 40 km. Children who are at least 155 cm tall are welcome to take part in this tour with the parent s-guardian s written consent. The entrance to the Titanic Museum is at the guests charge.<-p>

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