Journeys stopping off in Belfast

Exploring the coast of Britain and Ireland by ship is a wonderful immersion in history, culture and nature. Even to Brits themselves, the historical contrasts are a delight, from Edinburgh Castle to the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney, the Beatles trail in Liverpool and the literary scene in Dublin.

The coastal scenery is dazzling; white beaches and aquamarine shallows in the Isles of Scilly, or the basalt formations of Fingal’s Cave on Staffa. The sea passage around the north of Scotland and the Irish Sea is extraordinarily rich in wildlife, with excellent chances of spotting whales and porpoises.

While the majority of people attracted to this kind of cruise are more mature, it’s also possible to turn a round-Britain voyage into a family holiday and some of the bigger ships are well geared up to entertain kids and teens on the days at sea.