BELFAST – BEES KNEES OF A PORT

Our final port of call on our holiday with Fred Olsen – Belfast – brings up all sorts of comments and thoughts, who would have thought a cruise ship calling in to Northern Ireland would be on peoples bucket list of places to visit?   The journey from the port to the city didn’t take very long and Fred Olsen provided a free shuttle too.  We started at the tourist information office and yet again we were met by welcoming staff who couldn’t do enough for us. We explained how we wanted to go to the Titanic Museum and they booked us in… no queuing which they said we would get as the schools tend to send hordes of kids there and you could queue for hours. What a smart and brilliant service from the staff they even booked us a cab to get there.

Our visit to the Museum was the best attraction I have seen, doesn’t really sound appropriate to call it an attraction does it? – The tour starts with;

• Boomtown Belfast- the story of Harland & Wolff.
• Arrol Gantry & Shipyard Ride – gives you an idea of the heat, smells & sounds of the shipyard.
• The Launch – the excitement of all who watched.
• The Fit-Out from the luxury of first class to engine room.
• The Maiden Voyage – Get to know the crew, passengers & their stories
• The Sinking – Relive those hours through a dramatic sensory experience.
• The Aftermath – experience how the world reacts.
• Myths & Legends – Lights, Camera, Action interactive touch screen galleries.
• Titanic Beneath – See exclusive footage from 1985.

Belfast isnt just about Titanic it was also a chance to visit CRUMLIN ROAD JAIL. Opened in 1846 and closed in 1996, during which time it housed murderers, suffragettes, loyalists and republican prisioners. It has witnessed births, marriages, deaths, executions, escapes, hunger-strikes and riots.

Our tour lasted about 75 minutes and were taken through the jail through the years and got a good idea of what life was like imprisioned in ” THE CRUM” visiting the 4 wings including C wing. The tour included a journey that connected us from the Jail and courthouse. The condemned man’s cell and the execution chamber & then the grave site where many of the executed men still remain today.

We had a brilliant day in Belfast it wasn’t all doom and gloom we finished off our day with a lovely walk around the town and  time to get some shopping in and we both agreed a return visit is on the cards for us.