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14-Day Wild British Isles: Belfast

14-Day Wild British Isles: Belfast

About This Cruise

Who Is This Cruise For?

  • Families

    5 kids’ and teens’ clubs on board Nieuw Statendam

  • Over 50s

    Holland America Line is a favourite with mature travellers

  • Groups & friends

    Nieuw Statendam is a big resort ship with plenty to do together

Type

Ocean, Resort

Ship

Nieuw Statendam

Departure Date

29 May 2027

Cruise Line

Holland America Line

Duration

14 Nights

Select Your Cabin Type
Select your cabin type
Call Us at (01) 554 1010

Itinerary

Netherlands

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.

Scotland

Queensferry

Queensferry, also called South Queensferry or simply "The Ferry", is a town to the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. Traditionally a royal burgh of West Lothian,[3] it is now administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. It lies ten miles to the north-west of Edinburgh city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing.

Scotland

Invergordon

The port of Invergordon is your gateway to the Great Glen, an area of Scotland that includes Loch Ness and the city of Inverness. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, has the flavor of a Lowland town, its winds blowing in a sea-salt air from the Moray Firth. The Great Glen is also home to one of the world's most famous monster myths: in 1933, during a quiet news week, the editor of a local paper decided to run a story about a strange sighting of something splashing about in Loch Ness. But there's more to look for here besides Nessie, including inland lochs, craggy and steep-sided mountains, rugged promontories, deep inlets, brilliant purple and emerald moorland, and forests filled with astonishingly varied wildlife, including mountain hares, red deer, golden eagles, and ospreys.

Scotland

Portree, Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye ranks near the top of most visitors' priority lists: the romance of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, combined with the misty Cuillin Hills and their proximity to the mainland all contribute to its popularity. Today Skye remains mysterious and mountainous, an island of sunsets that linger brilliantly until late at night and of beautiful, soft mists. Much photographed are the really old crofts, one or two of which are still inhabited, with their thick stone walls and thatch roofs. Orientation on Skye is easy: follow the only roads around the loops on the northern part of the island and enjoy the road running the length of the Sleat Peninsula in southern Skye, taking the loop roads that exit to the north and south as you please. There are some stretches of single-lane road, but none poses a problem.

Northern Ireland

Belfast

Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.

Scotland

Greenock

Trendy stores, a booming cultural life, fascinating architecture, and stylish restaurants reinforce Glasgow's claim to being Scotland's most exciting city. After decades of decline, it has experienced an urban renaissance uniquely its own. The city’s grand architecture reflects a prosperous past built on trade and shipbuilding. Today buildings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh hold pride of place along with the Zaha Hadid–designed Riverside Museum.Glasgow (the "dear green place," as it was known) was founded some 1,500 years ago. Legend has it that the king of Strathclyde, irate about his wife's infidelity, had a ring he had given her thrown into the river Clyde. (Apparently she had passed it on to an admirer.) When the king demanded to know where the ring had gone, the distraught queen asked the advice of her confessor, St. Mungo. He suggested fishing for it—and the first salmon to emerge had the ring in its mouth. The moment is commemorated on the city's coat of arms.The medieval city expanded when it was given a royal license to trade; the current High Street was the main thoroughfare at the time. The vast profits from American cotton and tobacco built the grand mansions of the Merchant City in the 18th century. In the 19th century the river Clyde became the center of a vibrant shipbuilding industry, fed by the city’s iron and steel works. The city grew again, but its internal divisions grew at the same time. The West End harbored the elegant homes of the newly rich shipyard owners. Down by the river, areas like the infamous Gorbals, with its crowded slums, sheltered the laborers who built the ships. They came from the Highlands, expelled to make way for sheep, or from Ireland, where the potato famines drove thousands from their homes.During the 19th century the population grew from 80,000 to more than a million. And the new prosperity gave Glasgow its grand neoclassical buildings, such as those built by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, as well as the adventurous visionary buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and others who produced Glasgow’s Arts and Crafts movement. The City Chambers, built in 1888, are a proud statement in marble and gold sandstone, a clear symbol of the wealthy and powerful Victorian industrialists' hopes for the future.The decline of shipbuilding and the closure of the factories led to much speculation as to what direction the city would take now. The curious thing is that, at least in part, the past gave the city a new lease of life. It was as if people looked at their city and saw Glasgow’s beauty for the first time: its extraordinarily rich architectural heritage, its leafy parks, its artistic heritage, and its complex social history. Today Glasgow is a vibrant cultural center and a commercial hub, as well as a launching pad from which to explore the rest of Scotland, which, as it turns out, is not so far away. In fact, it takes only 40 minutes to reach Loch Lomond, where the other Scotland begins.

Ireland

Killybegs

Killybegs The days start early in Killybegs, as this quiet fishing town rumbles to life, and ships with red and blue paint peeling from their hulls quietly depart, ready for a morning's hard work at sea. Located in a scenic part of County Donegal, Killybegs is Ireland's fishing capital, and the salty breeze and pretty streets serve as a revitalising medicine for visitors. The town is also your gateway to some of the country's most majestic coastal scenery, which is dotted with flashing white lighthouses, keeping watch over invigorating seascapes. Killybegs enjoys a privileged position on the coast of north west of Ireland, close to the spectacular Slieve League - a titanic mountain, which explodes upwards from frothing ocean. Walk as close as you dare to the coastline’s sheer drops, or admire the folding cliffs from the best vantage point, down on the water.

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Ireland

Galway

Galway is a city in the West of Ireland in the province of Connacht. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay and is surrounded by County Galway. It is the fourth most populous urban area in the Republic of Ireland and the sixth most populous city in the island of Ireland. It is both a picturesque and lively city with a wonderful avant-garde culture and a fascinating mixture of locally owned speciality shops, often featuring locally made crafts. Indeed local handcrafts are a feature of the entire region including hand knits, pottery, glass, jewellery and woodwork. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops, and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls. The city bears the nickname "The City of the Tribes" because "fourteen tribes" of merchant families led the city in its Hiberno-Norman period. The merchants would have seen themselves as Irish gentry and loyal to the King. They later adopted the term as a badge of honour and pride in defiance of the town's Cromwellian occupier.

Ireland

Cork

Cork City received its first charter in 1185 from Prince John of Norman England, and it takes its name from the Irish word corcaigh, meaning "marshy place." The original 6th-century settlement was spread over 13 small islands in the River Lee. Major development occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries with the expansion of the butter trade, and many attractive Georgian-design buildings with wide bowfront windows were constructed during this time. As late as 1770 Cork's present-day main streets—Grand Parade, Patrick Street, and the South Mall—were submerged under the Lee. Around 1800, when the Lee was partially dammed, the river divided into two streams that now flow through the city, leaving the main business and commercial center on an island, not unlike Paris's Île de la Cité. As a result, the city has a number of bridges and quays, which, although initially confusing, add greatly to the port's unique character. Cork can be very "Irish" (hurling, Gaelic football, televised plowing contests, music pubs, and peat smoke). But depending on what part of town you're in, Cork can also be distinctly un-Irish—the sort of place where hippies, gays, and farmers drink at the same pub.

Ireland

Dublin

Dublin is making a comeback. The decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era was quickly followed by the Great Recession, but The Recovery has finally taken a precarious hold. For visitors, this newer and wiser Dublin has become one of western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size.It is ironic and telling that James Joyce chose Dublin as the setting for his famous Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because it was a "center of paralysis" where nothing much ever changed. Which only proves that even the greats get it wrong sometimes. Indeed, if Joyce were to return to his once-genteel hometown today—disappointed with the city's provincial outlook, he left it in 1902 at the age of 20—and take a quasi-Homeric odyssey through the city (as he so famously does in Ulysses), would he even recognize Dublin as his "Dear Dirty Dumpling, foostherfather of fingalls and dotthergills"?For instance, what would he make of Temple Bar—the city's erstwhile down-at-the-heels neighborhood, now crammed with cafés and trendy hotels and suffused with a nonstop, international-party atmosphere? Or the simple sophistication of the open-air restaurants of the tiny Italian Quarter (named Quartier Bloom after his own creation), complete with sultry tango lessons? Or of the hot–cool Irishness, where every aspect of Celtic culture results in sold-out theaters, from Once, the cult indie movie and Broadway hit, to Riverdance, the old Irish mass-jig recast as a Las Vegas extravaganza? Plus, the resurrected Joyce might be stirred by the songs of Hozier, fired up by the sultry acting of Michael Fassbender, and moved by the award-winning novels of Colum McCann. As for Ireland's capital, it's packed with elegant shops and hotels, theaters, galleries, coffeehouses, and a stunning variety of new, creative little restaurants can be found on almost every street in Dublin, transforming the provincial city that suffocated Joyce into a place almost as cosmopolitan as the Paris to which he fled. And the locals are a hell of a lot more fun! Now that the economy has finally turned a corner, Dublin citizens can cast a cool eye over the last 20 crazy years. Some argue that the boomtown transformation of their heretofore-tranquil city has permanently affected its spirit and character. These skeptics (skepticism long being a favorite pastime in the capital city) await the outcome of "Dublin: The Sequel," and their greatest fear is the possibility that the tattered old lady on the Liffey has become a little less unique, a little more like everywhere else.Oh ye of little faith: the rare ole gem that is Dublin is far from buried. The fundamentals—the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square, the Norman drama of Christ Church Cathedral, the foamy pint at an atmospheric pub—are still on hand to gratify. Most of all, there are the locals themselves: the nod and grin when you catch their eye on the street, the eagerness to hear half your life story before they tell you all of theirs, and their paradoxically dark but warm sense of humor. It's expected that 2016 will be an extra-special year in the capital, as centenary celebrations of the fateful 1916 Easter Rising will dominate much of the cultural calendar.

England

Dover

Known as the gateway of England, Dover welcomes millions of visitors from all over the globe each year in its role as the ferry capital of the world and the second busiest cruise port in the UK. The White Cliffs Country has a rich heritage. Within the walls of the town’s iconic castle, over 2,000 years of history waits to be explored, whilst the town’s museum is home to the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world’s oldest known seagoing vessel. The town’s cliffs that are a welcome sight for today's cross-channel travellers also served as the control centre for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Netherlands

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a city that's a long way removed from most people's stereotypical notion of the Netherlands. There are few, if any, canals to be found here nor are there any quaint windmills. There is, however, a thriving modern city which is one of the busiest ports in the entire world.
Suite

Pinnacle Suite

Our premier 1,290 sq. ft. Pinnacle Suite features floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a large private verandahs, living, dining, and dressing rooms, and lush sleeping accommodations with luxurious Duxiana® king beds. These elegant suites sleep up to four guests and include a Whirlpool tub and an independent, full-size shower stall, dual-sink vanities, and guest toilets.

  • 1,290 sq. ft.
  • Exclusive access to the Neptune Lounge
  • Personal concierge
  • Priority check-in
  • Complimentary laundry service, pressing, and dry cleaning

Suite

Neptune Suite

Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass doors, spacious private verandah, expansive sitting areas, and comfortable sleeping accommodations with Mariner’s Dream™ beds, our 465–502 sq. ft. suite sleeps up to four guests and boasts a deep soaking tub and an independent, full-size shower stall, dual-sink vanities, premium bathrobes, pillow menus, fresh flowers, and binoculars. 

  • 465–502 sq. ft.
  • Exclusive use of Neptune Lounge
  • Personal concierge
  • Priority check-in
  • Complimentary laundry service, pressing, and dry cleaning

Suite

Neptune Spa Suite

Steps from the Spa & Salon, Neptune Spa Suites feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors, spacious private verandahs, expansive sitting areas, separate dressing rooms, and comfortable sleeping accommodations with Mariner’s Dream™ beds, our 465–502 sq. ft. suite sleeps up to 4 guests and boast a deep soaking tub and an independent, full-size shower stall, dual-sink vanities, premium bathrobes, pillow menus, fresh flowers, and binoculars.

  • 465–502 sq. ft.
  • Exclusive use of Neptune Lounge
  • Personal concierge
  • Priority check-in
  • Proximity to the Spa & Salon

Suite

Signature Suite

These elegant 393–400 sq. ft. suites feature a sitting area with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah. Signature Suites accommodate up to four guests with two beds that convert to a queen- or king-size bed — our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed, and a Murphy, Pullman, or sofa bed, depending on configuration.

  • 393–400 sq. ft.
  • Refrigerator
  • Set of binoculars

Suite

Vista Suite/Aft-View Vista Suite

Graced with a private verandah, floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and comfortable sitting areas, our 260–356 sq. ft. Vista Suites are filled with natural light. They include two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress.

  • Refrigerator
  • Set of binoculars

Balcony

Verandah/Aft-View Verandah/Obstructed Verandah

Floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead to your balcony, infusing these coveted 228–405 sq. ft. staterooms with natural light. Enjoy a private verandah overlooking the ocean, a spacious sitting area for unwinding, and our signature Mariner’s Dream™ bed that can convert from one queen to two beds.

Balcony

Spa Verandah

Steps from the Spa & Salon, these 228–405 sq. ft. staterooms are filled with light from floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private balcony. Verandah staterooms include a sitting area and two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress.

Outside

Family Ocean View Staterooms

These expansive 222–231 sq. ft. Family Ocean View staterooms sleep up to 5 guests with two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress — plus an additional bed and a sofa bed. They include a sitting area, full bath, and 3/4 bath (additional bath, shower, and sink).

Outside

Spa Ocean View

Steps from the Spa & Salon, these 175–282 sq. ft. staterooms include a sitting area, two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress — and premium massage showerheads.

Outside

Ocean View Staterooms

With a view of the ocean through a window or porthole, these expansive staterooms include a sitting area, two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress — premium massage showerheads, and a host of amenities.

Outside

Single Ocean View

Designed specially for solo travelers, these 127–172 sq. ft. Single Ocean View staterooms include a full-size signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress and a host of amenities.

Inside

Spa Inside

Steps from the Spa & Salon, our 143–225 sq. ft. Interior staterooms offer exceptional value with two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress — and premium massage showerheads.

Inside

Interior

Big on comfort, our 143–225 sq. ft. Inside staterooms offer exceptional value with two beds that convert to one queen-size bed — our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush euro-top mattress — premium massage showerheads and a host of amenities. 

american

Pinnacle Grill

Welcome to Pinnacle Grill, our signature chophouse featuring Wagyu, seafood, regional specialties, sides, wines & desserts.

varies

The Dining Room

Multi-course dining with fresh seafood, global flavors, and flexible options daily, all included in your cruise fare.

italian

Canaletto

In Italy, there’s nothing more important than coming together to celebrate the joy of great food. Canaletto's crafted menu is inspired by the simplicity of Italian food and its rich, robust flavors. And at Canaletto, our pasta is made from scratch each and every day. Buon Appetito!

Meals at Canaletto are half price for kids 12 years old or under, or free when they order from the kids’ menu.

asian

Tamarind

Savor vibrant Asian flavors at this specialty restaurant on select ships. Additional charge applies.

french

Sel de Mer

Sel de Mer is an intimate Mediterranean Bistro featuring the flavors of France, Spain and Greece with a focus on fresh fish and authentically prepared recipes.

buffet

Lido Market

Enjoy food stations featuring classic favorites, regional specialties, and made-to-order entrées.

american

Dive-In

Dive-In offers a variety of casual culinary classics, using the highest quality ingredients. Enjoy a burger, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted brioche with our own trade-marked secret sauce. Savor a succulent Nathan’s Famous gourmet hot dog with golden French fries. Or choose a grilled chicken breast sandwich or juicy portabella mushroom stack. Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea.

pizzeria

New York Pizza

At New York Pizza, choose from a variety of scrumptious, 9-inch, thin-crust pies. Named for New York’s famed five boroughs, our signature pizzas are made to order and topped with only the finest ingredients. Enjoy your pizza by day while overlooking the Lido pool, and into the night.

sushi

Morimoto by Sea Sushi Bar

Watch as expert chefs prepare fresh, à la carte sushi right before your eyes, alongside a curated selection of tempting hot appetizers and entrées to complement your meal perfectly.

room

24-Hour In-Room Dining

Freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night favorites delivered right to your door.

ice_cream

Gelato

At “G” Gelato, you can indulge your sweet tooth with a classic European gelato (ice cream), made fresh on board each day by chefs trained at the Carpigiani Gelato University. Choose from among 12 delightful flavors, two of which are rotated daily. Smooth, creamy and refreshing, this tasty treat is served in a variety of ways, including gelato popsicles and the flavors of G, composed shots with layers of caramel, nuts and gelato. Love pistachio? Select ingredients like Sicilian pistachios make our pistachio gelato out of this world!

Lounge

B.B King's Blues Club

Step into our Memphis-style venue and feel the soul of live Rhythm & Blues direct from Beale Street to Nieuw Statendam, performed by our All-Star Band.

Bar

Rolling Stone Lounge

Celebrate 60 years of chart-topping hits, including rock, pop, and country classics that are sure to keep you dancing and reliving unforgettable musical moments.

Theatre

World Stage

Bold visuals, dynamic choreography, dazzling costumes, and unforgettable music unite in spectacular shows spanning genres and generations.

Casino

Casino Action

Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options. Whether you prefer slot machines or want to try your hand at blackjack or poker, our dealers and staff are available to provide complimentary instruction — and we offer many engaging tournament options. The Casino is only open at sea.

Bar

Ocean Bar

Taste handcrafted cocktails and dance the night away at Ocean Bar - a lively lounge perched above the atrium.

Bar

Tamarind Bar

Pairing artful cocktails with wraparound ocean views, chic lounges, and inviting spaces - your spot for socializing in style.

Bar

Sea View Bar


Enjoy your favorite drink while soaking up the sun and taking in panoramic ocean vistas from the comfort of our deck chairs.

Bar

Crow's Nest

Holland America Line offers you a wide selection of lounges onboard. The panoramic view takes center stage in The Crow's Nest at the top of the ship, where you can relax just about any time of day and enjoy your favorite drink.

Bar, Activity, Lounge, Theatre, Musicians

Billboard Onboard

Join the biggest sing-along at sea, test your music knowledge at themed trivia events, and enjoy “All Request” performances featuring classics, and crowd favorites.

Shop

Holland America Shops

Shop duty-free for designer watches and Effy jewelry, then capture memories with expertly crafted photo keepsakes.

Spa

Greenhouse Spa & Salon

Spa and Wellness Facilities

Experience rejuvenation with hydrotherapy pools, heated loungers, serene steam and sauna rooms, tranquil massage spaces, and a fully equipped fitness center for energizing, instructor‑led workouts. Amenities and facilities vary by ship.

Gym, Sports Court

Fitness Centre

Stay Active at Sea

Keeping fit is easy with a fully equipped Fitness Center — cardio, strength equipment, and complimentary wellness classes. Elevate your routine with paid personal training or instructor-led classes.

Sports Court

Pickleball At Sea

Whether you're new to the game or a pro, each Holland America ship offers one or two ocean-view courts, so you can serve, volley, and score while sailing the world.

Kids Programs (Ages 3-6)

A world of supervised fun awaits — arts & crafts, sports, and games — all designed to spark creativity and help kids build real friendships at sea.

Tweens Programs (Ages 7-11)

From arts & crafts and sporting events to video gaming tournaments and movie nights, there's plenty to keep tweens engaged.

Teens Programs (Ages 12-17)

Teens connect through sports, group games, movie nights, and dedicated hangouts, plus exclusive evening events like video game tournaments.

Special Needs

Children with special needs are welcome in Kids Club by age. Some activities may require parental support — please share needs at booking.

Port Day Activities

Kids Club activities are available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on port days*. Lunch is not offered as part of this service. Children must be registered and signed into and out of programming by a parent or guardian.

*Hours of operation may change to better serve our guests.