NEW! British Isles & Viking Shores

Discover some of cosmopolitan Liverpool’s most impressive architectural and cultural sights. Explore the city by motor coach as you learn about Liverpool’s maritime heritage as the home port of RMS Titanic. View the Liverpool Cathedral, dominating the city’s skyline from atop St. James’s Mount, and admire its impressive Gothic arches; it is the largest Anglican cathedral in the UK. In stark architectural contrast, admire the striking style and multicolored glass lantern tower of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest Catholic cathedral in the UK. Pass through St. George’s Quarter, which boasts some of the country’s finest examples of Victorian architecture, including the imposing St. George’s Hall. As you return to the port, pass the iconic “Three Graces,” Albion House, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and the rejuvenated Royal Albert Dock.

Explore the historic house, gardens and art collections of Chatsworth during a Privileged Access visit. Drive by motor coach to Chatsworth, where your journey begins at the stables. Your guide will welcome you with refreshments and an introductory talk on the house, home to the Devonshire family for 17 generations. Explore the garden by buggy, passing by glasshouses, a maze with over 1,000 English yews and the Emperor Fountain, once the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world. Return to the stables for lunch featuring ingredients fresh from the estate, followed by a guided tour of the house. View its impressive art collection and step inside the Sculpture Gallery—home to neoclassical works by Antonio Canova. After, head to Belvedere Tower, where you will enjoy views over the estate and light refreshments before returning to your ship.

Walk your way through the heart of metropolitan Liverpool to discover the city’s sights. Coming ashore, you will have a view of Pier Head and its trio of magnificent buildings, the “Three Graces.” Continue across the road to the Church of Our Lady and St. Nicholas, the Liverpool Parish Church also known as the Sailors’ Church. Stroll along Water Street, one of Liverpool’s oldest, where many law-related buildings are found. Pass the magnificent 18th-century Town Hall and stroll along Mathew Street—the location of the famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles played on numerous occasions early in their career. View the Queen Anne splendor of the Bluecoat, the oldest surviving building in the city center. See the iconic Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the memorial at the historic Pier Head, dedicated to those who lost their lives on the RMS Titanic.

Come together for a “Magical Mystery Tour” of the city that produced the Beatles: Liverpool. To develop a true sense of the Beatles’ home, you will have the chance to visit places that inspired their songwriting, such as Penny Lane, as well as other well-known spots associated with the band’s formative years. Stop by Strawberry Field, immortalized by the 1967 classic “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Stroll through the Peace Garden and view exhibits that offer insight into John Lennon’s childhood and the Beatles’ early years. Learn about the on-site training and work placement center for at-risk youths. Then, make your way to the Beatles Story exhibition for an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of four young men from Liverpool—John, Paul, George and Ringo—who were propelled to dizzying heights of worldwide fame and fortune to become arguably the greatest band of all time.

Explore the rich history of one of the best-preserved walled cities in the British Isles. Chester is a classic, contemporary city bursting with treasures and 2,000 years’ worth of history. Journey by motor coach to the city as your knowledgeable local guide provides commentary along the way. Founded as a Roman fortress in the 1st century AD, Chester is known for its extensive Roman walls made of local red sandstone. You will have the chance to explore the city’s unique Tudor-style, half-timbered galleried streets and signature black-and-white buildings. Next, visit Chester Cathedral, the most complete medieval monastic complex still standing in the UK. A place of worship for over 1,000 years, parts of the Norman church dating back to 1092 can still be seen in the present structure. You will have time to explore charming Chester at your leisure before boarding your motor coach and returning to your ship.

Discover delightful Port Sunlight, founded by “Soap King” W. H. Lever in 1888 and set amid stunning parklands. This charming Victorian village was built by Lever for the workers in his soap factory. Even today, it is still occupied by descendants of the workers or their families. During a panoramic drive, see the old hospital and school and the delightful Christ Church—Lever’s most personal gift to his cherished workforce—as you learn more about his vision for the community. Continue your excursion to the Ness Botanic Gardens, created by Arthur Kilpin Bulley, a wealthy cotton merchant with a passion for plants. After his death in 1942, his daughter followed his aspiration to make the gardens available to all and established a partnership with the University of Liverpool and the Royal Horticultural Society to maintain their upkeep. This agreement is honored to this day; in turn, the facility is used as an approved center for education.

Explore some of Liverpool’s most historic sites on foot and enjoy a traditional dinner at a local pub. Take a stroll to the waterfront district as you hear tales of the city and its famous residents. See the Titanic Memorial, dedicated to the heroes of the Marine Engine Room who perished on the fateful voyage, and see the iconic Three Graces, before reaching the Royal Albert Dock. Today, it is home to many of the city’s cultural institutions, including the Beatles Story, the Tate and the Maritime Museum. Explore streets lined with historic buildings, some of which date back to the 13th century, and view the Town Hall. After working up an appetite, stop at a traditional pub where you will mingle with friendly locals and sit to enjoy a hearty “Scouse”—a tasty dish of slow-cooked beef and vegetables, accompanied by a glass of beer or wine. Later, return to your ship on foot.

Celebrate Great Britain’s musical legacy during an exclusive visit to the British Music Experience Museum. Meet your guide and walk to the historic Cunard Building—the company’s headquarters until the late 1960s. Here, you will step inside the only museum in the UK dedicated to British popular music, housed in the former first-class passenger lounge of the famed Cunard Line. Your experience begins with a brief introduction to the Cunard Building. After, wander freely through immersive galleries showcasing memorabilia, instruments, stage costumes and exhibits that trace the journey of British music from 1945 to today. Get hands-on in the interactive studio where you can try your hand at electric and acoustic guitars, Roland drums, keyboards and synthesizers. Then, step into the Dance the Decades booth and groove through 70 years of iconic dance styles—from rock ‘n’ roll to pop.

Visit one of England’s most picturesque regions to view its green valleys, serene lakes and mountain peaks. Journey by motor coach, heading north to Cumbria and England’s beloved Lake District—a region that has inspired poets and painters for centuries. You will arrive at Haverthwaite to board a heritage steam train for a leisurely ride, passing rugged fells and valleys, through a landscape dotted by grazing sheep and stone farm houses. Stop at Lakeside Station and board a boat to begin a cruise along the tranquil waters of Lake Windermere. Sail past wooden jetties and enjoy the tranquil vistas of the park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Bowness-on-Windermere, a charming town of quaint streets and local shops, where you will enjoy free time to explore and lunch at a local hotel . After, you will return by coach to Liverpool and your awaiting ship.

Visit a 17th-century country house and take a serene canal cruise across a monumental aqueduct. Embark on a scenic drive to the Erddig estate for a guided tour of its fascinating working house, complete with original workshops, stables and service buildings showcasing the established connection that the household and its servants once enjoyed. Continue to Llangollen, a picturesque riverside town, where you will have lunch before boarding a boat for a tranquil cruise along the Llangollen canal. This historic stretch of water was once an important industrial waterway, ferrying goods on canal barges pulled by horses. Your vessel will cross the UNESCO-listed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct; at 125 feet, this remarkable structure is one of the most impressive feats of engineering in Britain. Take in the views of the valley below before disembarking and driving back to your ship.