When I think of cruising, I generally have far-flung tropical destinations in mind. But that is very short-sighted of me, as there is actually so much to see and do in the British Isles. Also, if you travel during the Summer months, the weather and conditions at sea should be quite pleasant.

See More Of Great Britain

Born and raised in Great Britain and yet I have never visited Ireland. It seems quite an injustice when I have travelled further afield numerous times. I am actually planning my seventh trip to America this year. But what about the culture, history and heritage on our doorsteps. I really should focus more of my attention on the British Isles.

You can easily discover more of what Great Britian has to offer when booking cruises around the British isles. Then you can visit places such as the remote Orkney Isles and bustling Belfast. Then stop of at one of the most picturesque of the channel islands, Guernsey.

I really loved Scotland when I visited, so I think I would enjoy a return trip there too. We didn’t make it as far as the Orkney Isles or the Outer Hebrides, so it would be good to tick those off my list.

Make Memories

You really don’t have to travel far to make incredible memories. The British Isles have so much to offer.

Wildlife

The Orkney Isles has wildlife speedboat tours where you can go whale and dolphin watching and seal and seabird spotting. There is something quite magical about watching these majestic creatures in the wild. So, when you stop off at the seaport of Kirkwall check out OceanTrek Ltd and book a sea safari.

Speciality Museums

You can visit many speciality museums when you cruise the British Isles. When you stop at the Belfast port on your itinerary you must visit Titanic Belfast with reconstructions of the Titanic ill-fated journey. It is an interactive experience that will create a lasting impact on you as you immerse yourself in the “sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship”.

Close by you can hop aboard the SS Nomadic, created by the same people who made the Titanic. You can walk inside the boat and get a feel for what the Titanic would have been like, with the same luxurious finishes just on a smaller scale.

Other Attractions

In Cork, Ireland’s third largest city you can visit a castle and a jail. Blarney Castle is apparently made with stone that can give you the power of eloquence just by kissing it. Lots of visitors come to kiss the stone from all around the world. So, it’s something a little different to add to your travel experiences! People were so desperate to kiss the stone before safeguards were added they used to dangle dangerously.

Culinary Delights

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis is the largest island of the Outer Hebrides and here you can try lots of local delicences. The Outer Hebrides has an impressive reputation for seafood, you will be spoilt for choice with mussels, lobsters, clams and cockles all from the fresh water surrounding the island. They also have smokehouses with salmon, trout and scallops to tempt your tastebuds.

You can book Sunday afternoon tea in the Titanic suite (whilst in Belfast). Here you can appreciate the lavish surroundings with the replica of the Titanic staircase to admire whilst nibbling on finger sandwiches and scones. It costs £45 per adult or £15 for a child (up to 11 years of age).

In Guernsey make sure you sample the Guernsey Gâche. This is a traditional fruit loaf, best enjoyed with lots of Guernsey butter. It has nutmeg, mixed peel and sultanas.

Gardens

When in the Isles of Scilly try and visit the Tresco Abbey Gardens which is a short ferry ride from St Mary’s. Here you will 20,000 sub-tropical plants, lots of sculptures and even red squirrels.

It goes to show you don’t need to travel to an exotic destination you can see tropical flowers even on a cruise of the British Isles. Entrance for a family is £40 and you can expect to spend a couple of hours here.

In Conclusion

I have only touched on a few of the incredible things you can see and do when on a British Isles cruise. But what it has illustrated is that its well worth adding these destinations to your travel bucket lists. You don’t always have to travel far to have everything you could possibly need and more.