Speak with an experienced advisor
Speak with an experienced advisor
CIE Tours
OFFER ID 1542502
2025 - 12 Day Irish Odyssey
CIE Tours Exclusive
Enjoy a flight of locally-brewed craft beers with your dinner at the Walled City Brewery, a family-owned establishment located in a former army barracks in the heart of Derry city.
Authentic Local Experiences:
Visit two pubs belonging to the families of late Irish luminaries: Páidí Ó Sé, a great Kerry GAA footballer, and John B. Keane, one of Ireland’s finest playwrights.
Trip Highlights:
Long Meadow Cider Orchard
Ballintubber Abbey
Belleek Pottery
Giant’s Causeway
Kilmainham Gaol
Kylemore Abbey
Páidí Ó Sé’s Pub Dinner
Titanic Belfast
Walled City Brewery – A CIE Tours Exclusive
Dining Experiences:
11 Breakfasts (B) 1 Lunch (L) 8 Dinners (LD)
Hotels:
Herbert Park Hotel | Dublin (2)
The River Lee Hotel (Friday Departures) or Clayton Hotel (Sunday Departures) | Cork (1)
Killarney Plaza Hotel | Killarney (2)
Radisson Red Hotel | Galway (2)
City Hotel | Derry (2)
5-Star Grand Central Hotel | Belfast (1)
Cabra Castle Hotel | Kingscourt (1)
11 nights from $3,845 per person
CIE Tours: 2025 - 12 Day Irish Odyssey
Day 1 Dublin City Tour & Kilmainham Gaol
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from your hotel on a panoramic tour of the city's highlights, viewing Trinity College, St Patrick's Cathedral, and the GPO. Tour Kilmainham Gaol, built in 1796, and hear stories of Ireland's revolutionary leaders. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dining independently.(D)
Day 2 EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum & Taylors Three Rock Pub
Visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and discover the story of the 10 million people who have left Ireland over the last 1,500 years – and their impact on the world. Your afternoon is free to explore Dublin. Later, enjoy dinner and entertainment at Taylors Three Rock Pub.(B, D)
Day 3 Farmhouse Visit & House of Waterford Crystal
Visit a traditional farmhouse and learn about country life while enjoying tea and scones. At the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, watch skilled artisans cut crystal into sparkling masterpieces. Continue along the coast to Cork city for dinner at your hotel.(B, D)
Day 4 Cork, Blarney Castle & Killarney
Take a brief walking tour of Cork city with a local guide. Stroll through the English Market, where vendors have been selling local and artisanal foods since 1788. Visit Blarney Castle to climb the winding stairs and kiss its famed stone or stroll the gardens. Enjoy the scenery as you head to colorful Kenmare. Stop at Moll's Gap for marvelous views on your way to Killarney.(B, D)
Day 5 Jaunting Car Ride, Dingle Peninsula & Sheepdog Demonstration
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle and Kenmare Estate and see Lough Leane, the largest of Killarney's lakes. Visit Moriarty's, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the Gap of Dunloe. Travel to the scenic Dingle Peninsula for views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. Enjoy a demonstration of highly skilled sheepdogs herding sheep at a local farm. Enjoy dinner at Páidí Ó Sé's pub in Ventry while you hear a fun talk on Gaelic sports.(B, D)
Day 6 Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Visit the family pub of the famed playwright, John B. Keane for tea and scones. One of Ireland's most beloved writers, he wrote many works in a room behind the bar. Embark on a ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary and drive along the coast of County Clare. Visit the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic, and enjoy views of Connemara and the Aran Islands. In vibrant Galway, join a local guide for a walking tour of the city's historic heart.(B, D)
Day 7 Lough Corrib Cruise, Kylemore Abbey & Galway
Travel through Connemara for sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. Take a scenic cruise on Lough Corrib and sip creamy Irish coffee (seasonal). Tour Kylemore Abbey, an elegant mansion set beside a tranquil lake. Return to Galway, where the rest of your day is free for independent sightseeing and dining.(B)
Day 8 Ballintubber Abbey, Belleek Pottery & Derry
Travel north to Claremorris to visit Ballintubber Abbey, Ireland's only royal Abbey. Known as "the Abbey that refused to die", it has been in continuous use for more than 800 years. Visit Belleek Pottery, then follow the Atlantic Shore to Donegal town, where you'll visit CIE Tours preferred shopping partner Triona Design. Continue on through the majestic Barnesmore Gap to Derry.(B, D)
Day 9 Giant's Causeway, Derry Walking Tour & Walled City Brewery
Explore the Giant's Causeway, huge hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Back in Derry, join a local guide for a walk around this historic city's medieval walls; take a walk across the Peace Bridge and complete your tour at the Walled City Brewery Restaurant. In a CIE Tours exclusive, enjoy a flight of the brewery's craft beers with your dinner.(B, D)
Day 10 Belfast Walking Tour
Visit the historic city of Belfast, taking a panoramic tour to see grand government buildings, the peace wall, and the docks where the RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Take a walking tour of the city with a local guide to learn an insider's perspective. Then, the rest of the day will be yours to explore this fascinating city as you wish. Stay in the five-star Grand Central Hotel, centrally located near the pubs and restaurants of the city's trendy Cathedral Quarter.(B)
Day 11 Titanic Belfast, Long Meadow Cider & Farewell Dinner
Visit the magnificent Titanic Belfast, a high-tech attraction that will immerse you in the story of the doomed liner. At Long Meadow Cider, an award-winning family orchard, enjoy a tour and tasting followed by a picnic lunch. Travel to Kingscourt and relax with free time in your luxury castle hotel, built in 1760 and set on 100 acres of gardens and parklands. In the evening, share a farewell dinner with your group.(B, L, D)
Day 12 Tour Ends in Kingscourt
Your tour ends after breakfast.(B)B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner>
Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day
On the very edge of Europe, is an Island rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early Christians. This is an island of great peace and tranquility, but it is also an island of great fun and activity. A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and a welcoming island people.
This morning we will depart from Galway and take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands, the other islands being Inishmaan and Inisheer. The Islands are located off the West Coast of Galway about 18km out from Rossaveal Harbour in Connemara. Inishmore is approx. 13km long, and contains 3,092 ha. with a native population of about 900. Kilronan the chief center and port.
Landing in Kilronan on Inishmore, you are met by your driver in a horse drawn buggy for a guided tour of the Island and visiting one of its more impressive stone forts called Dun Aonghasa. It is semi-circular structure, resting on the edge of a perpendicular cliff rising 100 meters out of the ocean. The fort consists of an inner court 50 meters across surrounded by a wall six meters high and five meters thick at the base.
Visit the Aran Islands Interpretative Centre which highlights the unique history, spirit and landscapes of the Aran Islands. The center details the geology, history and present lifestyle of the islands. See how the legendary currachs, those open-topped, often tar-coated, boats that skim over the waves, are made. Also on display are details of the fish species off the islands and how the islanders have long used seaweed to create patches of soil that could be cultivated for crops, in between the dry stone walls that crisscross the islands and divide its tiny fields. The islands' other craft traditions, including weaving of the famous Aran sweaters, are also documented.
Duration: 8 hours
Included:
Enjoy a pub lunch on Inishmore
Departing the island by ferry you return to Galway City.
Note: it is also possible to fly to Inishmore.
Pricing: Please inquire
Belfast: Cultural Belfast - 8 hours
Belfast may be a small city, but it has a wealth of culture and excitement on offer for you to discover! Firstly, visit the purpose-built iconic ‘Titanic Belfast’. With over nine galleries, the Titanic story is brought to life for you with exhibitions, rides, full-scale reconstructions and lots
of interactive fun.
After a hearty Irish lunch (payable locally) head into Belfast city where your guide unravels stories related to “the troubles” of Northern Ireland. You cannot miss the murals across Belfast that offer a fascinating history in pictures. Although huge strides have been made in the fight to combat sectarianism in the city, the marks of the past can still be witnessed across the city, adorning the sides of buildings and walls. A tour of Belfast wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a pint of Guinness at the famous Crown Bar in the city centre. This 19th-century bar is an experience that is unique to Northern Ireland. You are privately transferred back to board your cruise after your tour.
Highlights:
Belfast: Highlights of Belfast - 6 hours
Today you are met by your expert local guide for a sightseeing in Belfast and the surrounding area. Spend the morning on a panoramic tour of the city centre, where you see the impressive City Hall in Donegall Square, St. Anne’s Cathedral and the buildings of Queen’s University. During this tour, your guide talks to you about the sectarian divisions that have been so prominent in Belfast in recent years. You also visit the Titanic Quarter, so-called as it was here that the ill-fated liner was being constructed a century ago. Your guide shows you where the ship was constructed and the Thomson Dock where it had its final fit-out.
Highlights:
Belfast - Tour of Antrim Coast - Full Day Tour
Cork's Fabulous Food Trail - Half Day Tour
Meet with your driver and enjoy the short scenic drive along the banks of the River Lee to the Food Capital of Ireland, Cork City where your Fabulous Food Trail begins.
On arrival meet your local food guide and embark on a gentle 2.5 hour culinary walk of the best this city has to offer. During your tour you will enjoy frequent stops and lots of generous tastings of local cheeses, pastries and savoury delights. In this particular corner of Ireland, no self-respecting foodie would begin a culinary trail without first visiting the iconic English Market in the heart of Cork city. This Victorian gem has been faithfully serving food to the people of Cork for more than a century.
A morning at the English Market immerses you in the unique cadence of life in Cork and caters for just about all culinary tastes and eating occasions. Amongst its many appetizing edible delights are chocolates and cakes, cheeses and pastas. There is time to chat with locals and food producers alike as Cork people have a wonderful sense of humour and simply love to chat!.
As you stroll through the city your guide will point out Cork’s more interesting architectural features and recount some of it’s history.
After your walk there is some free time to explore this wonderful city on your own before meeting with your driver for transfer back to your ship.
Inclusions
Cork - Blarney & Kinsale - Full Day Tour
Today you will have the opportunity to visit the world famous Blarney Castle, Charles Fort, as well as Ireland’s Gourmet Restaurants Capital, the town of Kinsale.
After your whistle-stop tour of Cork City, visit Blarney Castle (situated just north of Cork City). This castle was completed in 1446 by Cormac Mc Carthy, and is famous the world over for the Blarney Stone, which upon kissing, bestows the eternal gift of eloquence on those lucky enough to do so.
About Kinsale:
Kinsale in County Cork is one of the most picturesque, popular and fashionable resorts of the south-west coast of Ireland and famous for its beautiful yachting, sea angling, gourmet restaurants and golf. Art galleries in Kinsale can easily claim its place amongst Ireland's most historic locations for this has been a centre of population, commerce, trade and fishing far beyond memory and record.
In its earliest days the estuary of the Bandon River gave Kinsale great importance as the river is tidal and water transport was dominant until the 18th Century. The estuary also provided excellent anchorage for ancient shipping which went in peril of the vagaries of the weather. The Town nestles between the hills and the shoreline, it is a maze of narrow streets and is never far from the water - little has changed in many hundreds of years. Amongst buildings of later periods are those of another age with historical links to the French, Spanish, British and Americans.
Charles Fort, Kinsale
Perhaps the best-known historical attraction in Kinsale, Charles Fort, is on the road just beyond Summercove. It is open all year, and regular guided tours are available. Charles Fort is one of the finest surviving examples of a 17th Century star-shaped fort, and much of the construction begun in 1678 remains. The fort has two enormous bastions overlooking the estuary, and three facing inland. Within its walls were all the barracks and ancillary facilities to support the fort’s garrison. The fort continued in military use until 1922.
Lunch included at Blarney Woollen Mills or Kinsale
Inclusions
Cork - Guided Sightseeing Tour (4 hours) (Provided by Moloney & Kelly)
Guided Sightseeing Option: Please see below for details on this option.
Enjoy a private chauffeur driven luxury sedan for “Guided Sightseeing” touring.
Cork
Meet your expert local driver/guide for the drive to Cork.
Your first stop of the day is a visit to the Cobh Heritage Centre a dramatic exhibition of the origins, history and legacy of Cobh. Known previously as Queenstown this was the main port for Irish emigrants to Canada and the United States. The famine resulted as a consequence of widespread potato crop failure. In 1846, the potato crop failed completely and in the years 1847-1849, escape was seen by many as the only chance for survival - between 1845 and 1851 over 1,500,000 people emigrated from Ireland.
On April 11, 1912, the newly built Titanic called to the port of Queenstown (now known as Cobh) on her maiden voyage. Titanic had set out from Southampton and called to Cherbourg before her final call to Queenstown (Cobh). The story of the Titanic and the White Star line is also told at the Cobh Heritage Centre.
Leaving Cobh behind drive to Midleton. Visit The Jameson Old Midleton Distillery which is a wonderful, worthwhile excursion. Tour the distillery and learn how the world famous Irish whiskey is made. Here you will have the opportunity to taste the sample some of Ireland’s finest whiskies.
Return to the ship.
Included:
Excluded:
*Gratuities have been prepaid. Additional gratuities are at guest’s discretion.
Cork - Guided Sightseeing Tour - 4 Hours (Provided by Moloney & Kelly)
Guided Sightseeing Option: Please see below for details on this option.
Meet your expert local guide for the drive to Cork.
Your first stop of the day is a visit to the Cobh Heritage Centre, a dramatic exhibition of the origins, history and legacy of Cobh. Known previously as Queenstown, this was the main port for Irish emigrants to Canada and the United States. In 1846, the potato crop failed completely and in the years 1847-1849, escape was seen by many as the only chance for survival - between 1845 and 1851 over 1,500,000 people emigrated from Ireland.
On the 11th April 1912, the newly built Titanic called to the port of Queenstown (now known as Cobh) on her maiden voyage. Titanic had set out from Southampton and called to Cherbourg before her final call to Queenstown (Cobh). The story of the Titanic and the White Star line is also told at the Cobh Heritage Centre.
Then, leaving Cobh behind, enjoy the drive to Midleton. Here, you will visit The Jameson Old Midleton Distillery. You will tour the distillery and learn how the world famous Irish whiskey is made. You will have the opportunity to sample some of Ireland’s finest whiskies.
Return to your ship.
Included:
Excluded:
Cork - Guided Sightseeing Tour - 8 Hours (Provided by Moloney & Kelly)
Guided Sightseeing Option: Please see below for details on this option.
Meet your expert local guide for the drive to Cork.
Enjoy the drive through the attractive City of Cork which hosts some fine Georgian architecture, the imposing St Finbarr’s Cathedral, great shopping and many pubs. You will continue your journey into the Irish countryside to the pretty town of Blarney.
In Blarney, you will visit the 15th Century Blarney Castle, famous for its stone, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all those who kiss it. The stone itself is set in the wall below the battlements and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk.
Then, enjoy some free time in the Blarney Woollen Mills store that sells Irish gifts including Waterford Crystal, Beleek China, Lladro, Aran Sweaters, Irish Crystal, Irish Linen, Irish Jewelry, and Celtic Gifts.
You will have time for lunch on your own.
Following lunch, you will visit the Cork City Gaol. Here you can step back in time to see what 19th Century life was like in Cork – inside and outside prison walls. Amazingly life-like figures, furnished cells, sound effects, and fascinating exhibitions are to be seen.
Return to your ship.
Included:
Excluded:
Cork’s Culture and Heritage – full day tour
This morning we visit to the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, one of the most historic buildings in Cork, parts of which date back to the early eighteenth century. The gallery has an interesting frontage of red brick dressed with limestone and was built in 1724 as the Custom House. The permanent collection comprises over 2500 works, ranging from eighteenth century Irish and European painting and sculpture, through to contemporary video installations. At the heart of the collection is a collection of Greek and Roman sculpture casts, brought to Cork in 1818 from the Vatican Museum in Rome. We also visit Cork Museum, which houses very fine collections of Cork silver and glass as well as Youghal Needlepoint Lace.
Continuing on to Glanmire on the outskirts of Cork and visit Riverstown House, which was rebuilt in 1745 and is home to some fine plasterwork by the Francini brothers, of particular interest is the dining room ceiling which is adorned with allegorical figures and the Green Drawing Room which is notable for its exceptionally fine timber carved fireplace.
We conclude our Cork City tour with a visit to nearby Lakemount Gardens, a privately owned garden on acid soil overlooking Cork Harbour. It has many flourishing ericaceous plants, including the more tender rhododendrons. Retaining walls and raised beds built from local stone provide a home for rock plants, choice dwarf shrubs and a collection of primulas. Hydrangeas are particularly good in late summer, whilst the many Japanese acers throughout the garden produce brilliant autumn colour. Unusual climbers can be seen on the walls of the conservatory, which shelters exotic varieties.
Your driver with then transfer you back to your ship.
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.
Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.
Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.
Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.
Highlights:
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Disembark for a city adventure this morning accompanied by your expert guide and driver. Your tour of Dublin begins with the impressive Trinity College; Ireland's oldest university. Explore the Old Library, which houses 200,000 antiquarian texts and the oldest surviving harp in Ireland. Here you will see the world-famous Book of Kells; a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination. Hand-crafted by monks, it contains the four gospels and has been resident at Trinity College since the 17th century. Continue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, where you have the opportunity to see a memorial to Jonathan Swift, the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', who became Dean of St. Patrick's in 1713. Afterwards you are transferred back to port.
Highlights:
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Upon arrival in Dublin Port, you will meet with your private driver/guide and transfer directly to Powerscourt House & Gardens in Co. Wicklow
This stunning 18th Century Stately home comprises 
extensive gardens, which are open to the public; as is the Main House. There is a lovely restaurant in the house, overlooking the gardens and Wicklow Mountains, which offers the finest in Irish artisan, home cooked cuisine. The 34,000 acres of this estate extend along both shores of the River Dargle . Powerscourt is one of the finest properties in Europe, designed and laid out by Daniel Robertson between 1745 and 1767. This property is filled with splendid Greek and Italian-inspired statuary, decorative ironwork, a petrified-moss grotto, lovely herbaceous borders, a Japanese garden, a circular pond and fountain with statues of winged horses, and an occasional herd of deer. Opportunity for shopping at Avoca Handweavers now located in Powerscourt House. Enjoy lunch here at Powerscourt or at a traditional Irish pub in the city centre.
Upon your return from Powerscourt Estate, your private driver guide will take you on your tour of Dublin City.
Whilst Dublin is a vibrant and bustling city, by European standards it is a small city with a population of just over 1 million people. Much of Dublin’s streetscapes are adorned with beautiful 18th century townhouses and a
number of city parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green and indeed Merrion Square. The highlights of any tour in Dublin may include a visit to Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse… and –if time permits –St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Following the city tour, your driver will return you to your ship.
Inclusions
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.