Iceland – Cruise – 2023
London
Cotswold
York, England
London
Celebrity – Silhouette
Port Location
Southampton, England
Cork (COBH), Ireland
At Sea
At Sea
Isafjordur, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Akureyri, Iceland
At Sea
Kirkwall, Scotland
At Sea
Southampton, England
THINGS TO DO:
Port Of Cork & The Piers of Cobh – Ireland
We arrive at 2:30pm and hire a wonderful private taxi to take us to Blarney Castle. John, our driver, was full of information and his son was a professional rugby player who is 6’5″ tall. John told us a story of Michael Jackson’s visit to Cork. MJ wanted to see a leprechaun! Therefore, John’s little friend David was paid a lot of money to dress up and paint his face so MJ could see an Irish leprechaun. LOL.
The Blarney Castle and Gardens – Dating back to 1446. Owned by an Irish Lord, the world famous Blarney Stone is at the top. Be prepared to climb the 100 steps!
My Review – A stop worth considering.
Pro Tip: Firstly, arrive early to avoid the crowds, especially cruise ship tour buses! Be sure you do not hire someone to drop you off and expect you can get a ride back to town. Furthermore, our driver who stayed during our visit was approached numerous times by people wanting a ride back to town. My wife and I hired him at an hourly rate for a private tour.
The Blarney Stone Isn’t in the Wall – It’s actually part of the castle’s battlements, and kissing it requires leaning backward over a sheer drop
The Poison Garden – A fascinating (and slightly eerie) collection of toxic plants like wolfsbane, mandrake, and ricin. All are clearly labeled, with cautionary notes — it’s a mix of science, history, and a dash of danger.
Originally constructed around 1830, this unassuming pier once stood at the center of transatlantic travel during the golden age of ocean liners.
Its most haunting claim to fame came in April 1912, when it became the final port of call for the ill-fated RMS Titanic.
From this pier in 1912, 123 hopeful passengers boarded tenders to meet the RMS Titanic at her final port of call. Only 44 survived.
Belfast – Birthplace of the Titanic (Click link & watch video)
Titanic survivor recalls harrowing moment ship sank | BBC Global (Click link & watch video)
Kirkwall, Scotland
St. Magnus Cathedral, often called the “Light of the North,” stands as one of Scotland’s most remarkable medieval landmarks. Built in 1137 by Earl Rögnvald in memory of his martyred uncle, St. Magnus, this Romanesque and Gothic masterpiece is both a spiritual sanctuary and a cultural heart of Orkney.
- Historical Roots: Dedicated to St. Magnus Erlendsson, a Norse earl martyred in 1117, whose relics rest inside the cathedral.
- Architecture: Constructed from striking red and yellow sandstone, blending Norse Romanesque with later Gothic additions.
- WWII Memory: The bell from HMS Royal Oak, sunk in Scapa Flow in 1939, is displayed as a tribute.
Goodbye from Kirkwall, Scotland
Dockside entertainment as we leave the port.
