Dublin’s fair city

Along with many of my colleagues from cruise.co.uk,  I recently attended our annual conference held on the Cruise and Maritime ship Marco Polo which has recently acquired notoriety for accommodating an elderly couple charged with drug smuggling!

Cruise and Maritime along with most Cruise Lines operate shorter cruises throughout the year, seemingly plugging gaps between the longer cruises and offering perhaps new potential clients the chance to ‘try out cruising’. However, a trip across the Irish Sea in December should perhaps only be reserved for the most hardy of sailors as many of us suffered from the rolling seas on both the outward and return crossings. An overnight stay in the most beautiful city of Dublin was the saviour for most.  A ‘must do’ is a tour of the Guinness Factory close to the city centre to learn all about the making of the black stuff and of course to drink a free pint on the top floor taking in magnificent views of the city itself!  Dublin’s Temple Bar area is a wonderful collection of Irish bars offering live music for a Euro or two extra cost per drink and although touristy it is well worth a visit.  Hotels in Dublin are notoriously expensive so to visit Dublin this way on a ship is the most cost effective way to spend some time in the Emerald Isle.

The Marco Polo is an older ship with cosy cabins offering good value for money with decent quality food and they pride themselves on interesting itineraries.  With their fleet of six ships they sail from ports all around the UK offering a good choice of cruises to lots of clients.

Most other short cruises tend to sail to France, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the Channel Islands so Ireland is a good alternative.  P&O, Cunard and Fred Olsen Cruises are the other cruise lines to offer shorter cruises but be aware that they do attract a fair amount of stag and hen do’s and as so are normally referred to ‘party cruises’.

Certainly a good time was had by all of us from cruise.co.uk – why not give it a try for yourself?

Merry Christmas from us all!