Southampton (London) to Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) Cruise

Day 1 - Southampton

Arrive: Wed 27 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 27 May 2026

Standing on a triangular peninsula formed at the place where the rivers Itchen and Test flow into an eight-mile inlet from the Solent, Southampton has figured in numerous stirring events and for centuries has been of strategic maritime importance. It was from here that the Pilgrim Fathers departed for America in the tiny Mayflower in 1620 and many great ocean liners, such as the Queen Mary and the Titanic have followed since. The image of the thousand-year-old city was greatly blemished by the bombing during World War II and postwar planning caused changes almost beyond recognition.

Day 2 - Portland, Dorset, UK

Arrive: Thu 28 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 28 May 2026 at 19:00

Day 3 - Falmouth Harbour,Antigua

Arrive: Fri 29 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 29 May 2026 at 18:00

With 365 beaches to choose from, it's said that Antigua has a sandy escape for every day of the year. The sheltered twin bays of English Harbour hold an ever-alluring appeal and draw a beauty-seeking flotilla of yachts to drop anchor in their calm waters. Strap on scuba gear, crunch through paths of dense jungle, or soar up above to volcanic peaks in a helicopter - the choice is yours. Whether you seek adventure, or simply want to take it easy with a paperback and the song of the waves – a beautiful island of sun, sea, and sand lies before you. As the name implies, there's an unrestrained British Colonial influence here, and Horatio Nelson's name is imprinted deep into Falmouth's story. Walk in his footsteps at Nelson's Dockyards - the gorgeously restored, working Georgian dockyard. The colonial spirit is an evocative throwback to this important 17th-century Royal Navy base. Museums tell the story of the British exploits in the West Indies, and the life of Nelson - who lived here for three years. Clarence House is also close by, and the 200-year-old residence continues to draw visits from British royals to this day. This being Antigua, there's no shortage of jaw-dropping beaches and bathing opportunities. Take to pearly-white sands or explore the Pillars of Hercules – a set of smooth, rounded columns of rock that plunge dramatically into the waters below. Pigeon Point Beach is a ravishing amalgam of blues and pristine white sands, where turtles and stingrays glide through patches of coral reefs. Enjoy the best views of the naturally coddled bays of English Harbour by rising to Shirley Heights. Sunset is thrilling from this elevated vantage point, as reds and pinks spill across the skies.

Day 4 - Fishguard(Wales)

Arrive: Sat 30 May 2026 at 08:30 / Depart: Sat 30 May 2026 at 18:30

Perched on a clifftop and stunningly picturesque, Fishguard is considered the very heart of North Pembrokeshire. A small market town that almost seems untouched by time, you’ll find clusters of quayside cottages, family businesses selling local produce and plenty of Gaelic charm! Market day falls on a Saturday and although principally food, there are some stalls selling local arts and crafts too. If you are not lucky enough to be visiting on market day, the pretty high street has some lovely shops where you can easily while away a couple of hours. Known internationally as the place of the last invasion of Britain when the French landed in 1797, the village heaves with history. Historians will of course already know that the two-day invasion soon failed and the peace treaty was signed in the Royal Oak pub in the market square. Over 200 years later the pub still stands and is perhaps one of the best places to soak up the local charm! The real stars of the show here however are the lovely surroundings. The calm waters are perfect for kayaking while walkers will love the national parks that are filled with signposted trails for all levels of ability. Cyclist of all levels will also be pleased; Fishguard and its surroundings do have a few hills, but also lots of straight roads that offer a gentle visit of the stunning landscape. If staying on the water is more your style, then boat trips to see the rest of the lovely coastline can be easily organised in port. If all the activity gets too much for you then why not enjoy a delicious local welsh cake in one of the pretty cafes or head to the town hall and have a look at the 100 foot long Last Invasion Tapestry, a humorous and entertaining story in a Bayeux tapestry style of the 1797 invasion of mainland Britain.

Day 5 - Belfast

Arrive: Sun 31 May 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 31 May 2026 at 19:00

Reborn as a cool, modern city, Belfast has successfully left its troubles behind, emerging as a hotbed of culture and architecture, where the comfort of a cosy pub is never far away. Take a voyage of discovery in its maritime quarter, home to a celebrated museum dedicated to the most famous ship ever built, which was constructed right here in the city’s shipyards. A walk across the Lagan Weir Footbridge brings you to Belfast’s fascinating Titanic District – an area of the city devoted to its rich ship-building heritage. The state-of-the-art Titanic Museum brings the story of the doomed vessel to life, and is the largest museum dedicated to the infamously ‘unsinkable’ ship. Wind up a nautical-themed ramble along the Maritime Mile with a visit to SS Nomadic, the smaller cousin of the Titanic, and a ship which serves as a fascinating time capsule back to the pomp and grandeur of the Titanic, while also telling its own stories of service in both World Wars. There’s just enough time to give the 10-metre long Salmon of Knowledge sculpture a quick peck for luck, before continuing to explore. A stark barbed wire and graffitied sheet metal barrier marks an abrupt scar through the city’s residential areas. The Peace Line was constructed during the height of the Troubles, when Belfast was plagued by sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics. Nowadays, you can jump in a black taxi tour to see the colourful murals and living history of the walls, which stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace. After exploring the city’s historic divisions, a reminder of Belfast’s uniting creativity can be found at the Metropolitan Arts Centre – a seven-storey tall building, which invites light to gloriously cascade inside. The Cathedral Quarter is a cobbled blend of flower-adorned pubs, restaurants and theatres, and venues where music spills out onto the streets at night, and many a pint is cheerily shared.

Day 6 - Liverpool

Arrive: Mon 01 June 2026 / Depart: Mon 01 June 2026

Who can say Liverpool without thinking of The Beatles? Home to the fab four, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and the Cavern Club, this northern English city is undoubtedly one of the most important places on the 20th-century music scene. Even UNESCO agrees - Liverpool became a City of Music (one of only 19 in the world) in 2015. So understandably, it’s bursting with pride. View less Not only for its most famous former residents but also its football team, its maritime heritage and its thriving cultural scene (it was Capital of Culture in 2008). A huge regeneration project over the past two decades has seen Liverpool blossom from being a below-par northern English city to a somewhere buzzing with charm. The arrival of the Tate Liverpool paved the way – quickly followed by the restoration of some 2,500 plus listed buildings (that’s more than any English city outside London). The waterfront revitalisation came next with bars, clubs, galleries and independent boutiques, giving Liverpool some of the best dining and shopping there is. Don’t leave here without tasting Scouse – a traditional beef stew – and from where Liverpudlians draw their nickname “Scousers”. Culturally speaking, Liverpool is “bang on” as Scousers would say. The three Graces (named after the Greek goddesses of charm, beauty and creativity) line the waterfront and are responsible in part for Liverpool’s second UNESCO gong as a World Heritage Site. Further afield, the lovely parks and Crosby Beach offer a welcome respite from the urban hub.

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Lerwick, Scotland

Arrive: Wed 03 June 2026 / Depart: Wed 03 June 2026

Adrift between the Scottish and Norwegian coasts, the craggy Shetland Islands form the most northerly point of the British Isles. Sprawling across 100 islands, connected by sandy bridges and crisscrossing ferries, explore the highlights of this scenic archipelago outpost. With incredible Neolithic history, spanning 5,000 years of human heritage, these islands, which sit just shy of the Arctic Circle, are an isolated and immense treasure trove of history and thrilling scenery. Look out over dramatic coastline from atmospheric Iron Age towers.

Day 9 - Invergordon

Arrive: Thu 04 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 04 June 2026 at 18:00

Invergordon is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen.

Day 10 - Edinburgh

Arrive: Fri 05 June 2026 / Depart: Fri 05 June 2026

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 12 - Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam)

Arrive: Sun 07 June 2026 / Depart: Sun 07 June 2026

IJmuiden is a small port city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is the main town in the municipality of Velsen which lies mainly to the south-east.