Emerald Isle Cruise

Join alumni and friends from September 11 – 20, 2025 on a wonderfully enriching, 8-night cruise that circumnavigates the Emerald Isle. Revel in a carefree voyage defined by luxurious comfort, sophisticated style and top-notch service aboard the deluxe World Voyager and enjoy ports of call in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

From windswept coastal beauty to authentic culture and irresistible cuisine, you’ll be captivated by the magic of Ireland. Along the Wild Atlantic Way, gaze over the starkly splendid Aran Island of Inishmore and soak up the Dingle Peninsula’s spectacular scenery. Encounter two arresting landmarks, Skellig Michael and Giant’s Causeway, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, and explore Belfast’s mural-lined streets in a black taxi on a compelling tour about “The Troubles.”

Throughout your cruise, you’ll enjoy a choice of engaging, included excursions featuring historic houses and acclaimed gardens, celebrated sites such as the Cliffs of Moher and Blarney Castle, and scrumptious food and local specialties such as whiskey and mead.

You can also bookend your cruise with optional extensions— a pre-tour extension that reveals the cosmopolitan flair of Dublin and a post-tour extension to experience the countryside charms of County Kilkenny.

This culturally immersive itinerary includes expert guided excursions in each port. Reserve your spot now while early booking savings and space are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details and to confirm your place today.

Dates and Prices:

Dates: September 11 – 20, 2025

Countries: Ireland, UK

Rates: from $7,190 to $18,890 per person based on double occupancy

Traveling solo? A limited number of staterooms may be reserved by single travelers in Categories 6, 7 , and 8* at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options.

Terms/Deposits/Payments:

Early Booking Savings of $1000 are available when you book by 11/19/24 and pay in full at time of booking. If you pay only your $1,000 per person deposit by early booking date, you still save $500 per person. (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions)

Trip Type: Cruise

Trip Status: Open for Reservations. Request a reservation today!

 Itinerary:

Day 1, September 11 | Depart Home City
Depart your home city on an overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided Gohagan & Company luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: DUB.

Day 2, September 12 | Dublin, Ireland/Embark Ship | D
Arrive at Dublin International Airport. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening transfer to a hospitality room at an ideally located hotel. Find a place for lunch on your own and explore the city at leisure. Later this afternoon, transfer to the port to embark the deluxe World Voyager.

Enjoy dinner on board this evening as we set sail to Cobh.

Day 3, September 13 | Cobh | B, L, R, D
Arrive in picturesque Cobh this morning, where after breakfast you will embark on your choice of included excursions. Cobh. Located in County Cork, Cobh was the main Irish port for ships to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was also a historically important hub for Irish people emigrating throughout the world during this time. The Titanic made its last port of call here before sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions.
Cobh & Blarney Castle: Begin with a walking tour through town, and then visit the Cobh Heritage Center to enjoy “Queenstown Story,” an engaging experience that delves into the compelling stories of those who left from these shores. Enjoy lunch in Cobh before departing for Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone and tour the grounds. During your excursion, there will be a stop at one of Ireland’s famed woolen mills.

Kinsale: Ireland’s Gourmet Capital. Spectacular scenery unfolds as you journey from Cobh toKinsale, which is renowned for its exceptional cuisine, brightly painted buildings and welcoming ambiance. Visit the Kinsale Mead Co., a modern, family-run producer of this ancient, honey-based drink. Discover how the family has refocused attention on traditional recipes and refreshed them with new twists. After learning about the production process, relish a tasting of different varieties. Your time in colorful Kinsale includes a delectable “foodie” tour, visiting three locations for appetizer tastings, main entree tastings and finishing with a local sweet tasting. Meet the local producers and chefs and drive by two 17th-century fortresses on your way back to Cobh. Ballymaloe & Shanagarry. Savor the splendor of the Irish countryside as you head to Shanagarry to visit the Stephen Pearce Pottery Shop. Continue to the Ballymaloe Cookery School, located on a beautiful property with an organic farm and gardens. Enjoy an informative, guided tour through the well-tended herb garden. Enjoy lunch at Ballymaloe House. Afterward, travel to Midleton Distillery for a whiskey tasting.
Captain’s Welcome Reception: Join your fellow passengers for a Captain’s Welcome Reception, followed by dinner on board this evening.

Day 4, September 14 | Bantry Bay | B, L, D
Enjoy breakfast on board as the ship arrives in Bantry Bay, a stunning harbor town in County Cork near the Wild Atlantic Way. Disembark for a day of discovery. Garinish Island & Beara Peninsula. Embark on a short ferry ride to tiny Garinish Island set within a small harbor near Glengarriff. The island’s spectacularly landscaped gardens are the result of a collaboration between the former owners, Annan and Violet Bryce, who purchased the island in 1910, and Harold Peto, a prominent architect and garden designer of the time. Employing Italianate architectural elements, Peto created a serene environment that capitalized on the many splendid sea and mountain vistas. Delight in its many enchanting facets, including the sunken Italian Garden, the Grecian Temple and the Martello Tower. After ferrying back to the mainland, savor Beara Peninsula’s wild grandeur on a panoramic drive. Bantry House & Gardens. Enjoy lunch in the private dining room of Bantry House. Afterward, take a guided tour of Bantry House and Gardens along the gorgeous bay. Owned by the White family since the mid-18th century, this elegant home boasts terraced gardens planned by Richard White, the second Earl of Bantry, and his wife that were inspired by their travels throughout Europe. Inside, the period rooms feature family heirlooms, artwork and fine furnishings. Conclude your tour with a stroll through the lovely
gardens.

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 5, September 15 | Skellig Michael/Dingle Peninsula | B, L, D
The ship arrives at the Skellig Islands this morning, which you will be able to see as you savor breakfast on board. Cruise by the islands to behold Skellig Michael, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Atop this austere, brooding rock lies St. Fionan’s Monastery, where a group of monks lived in clocháin, beehive- shaped stone huts, from the sixth to 13th centuries.

More recently, this ancient Celtic site has been the backdrop of modern films such as “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The islands are also renowned as a habitat for puffins and gannets. Learn more about these fascinating landmarks as a guide shares insights on board. After lunch on board, disembark for a tour of the Dingle Peninsula.

Set off on a winding ride along Slea Head Drive, a highlight on Ireland’s untamed Wild Atlantic Way and one of Europe’s most captivating coastal roads. During a guided visit to the Fahan Beehive Huts, get a closer look at a cluster of weathered, medieval clocháin, which were constructed without any mortar. Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 6, September 16 | Galway | B, L, D
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as we arrive in Galway for a choice of included excursions.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions.

Cliffs of Moher & The Burren. These stunning natural wonders along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way have together been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Start with a walk across the Burren’s arresting limestone terrain led by Tony Kirby, a local expert who will share his vast knowledge about its geology, archaeological monuments, and animal and plant life. After lunch at a family restaurant, learn about the sport of hurling, a centuries-old Irish field game, at a museum in the former home of the founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Next, stop to view the iconic Poulnabrone Dolmen, a portal tomb that dates from 2000-2500 B.C. Finally, continue to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher to gaze over the sweeping coastline and watch the waves crashing 700 feet below.

The Castles of Connemara. Appreciate Connemara’s brooding scenery of rugged mountains and windswept bogs as you explore some of its remarkable castles. Travel to captivating Kylemore Abbey, overlooking a tranquil lake. In the 1840s, Mitchell Henry, the son of a wealthy English cotton merchant with Irish origins, built this magnificent castle for his wife. In 1920, Benedictine nuns purchased the castle and established a convent, as well as a girls’ school, which educated local and international students until 2010. Tour the restored rooms and the Victorian walled gardens. Continue to Ballynahinch Castle and enjoy a lunch of local specialties at its popular Fisherman’s Pub. Learn the history of the castle during a brief guided tour and enjoy some free time.

Return to the ship for dinner this evening. Tonight, a local traditional Irish band will be performing on board the ship.

Day 7, September 17 | Kilronan, Inishmore | B, L, D
The ship arrives in remote Inishmore, an Aran Island that has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Step into a setting that’s seemingly untouched by time as you explore the island’s sweeping limestone terrain crisscrossed by stone walls and dotted with ancient ruins. Learn more about daily life in this striking locale, where Gaelic is the first language. Then, delight in a visit to a goat cheese farm, where you’ll meet the owner and his adorable goats, learn how the cheese is made and savor a tasting of their fresh offerings. Head next to see Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus), the largest of the islands’ prehistoric stone forts, dramatically perched on a cliff over the Atlantic Ocean. Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 8, September 18 | Portrush, Northern Ireland/Giant’s Causeway | B, L, D
After docking in Portrush and enjoying breakfast on board, head out for today’s excursion. Dunluce Castle. This striking castle, perched on a rocky outcrop over the North Atlantic, is one of the most famous in Ireland. There is evidence of a settlement here dating from A.D. 1000, but the main castle ruins date from the 16th and 17th centuries. (Interesting fact: Dunluce may look familiar to “Game of Thrones” fans as the seat of House Greyjoy.) From here, travel to the renowned Giant’s Causeway. Giant’s Causeway. An intriguing geological wonder and UNESCO World Heritage site, Giant’s Causeway is comprised of more than 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that jut up along the shoreline like a miniature city of skyscrapers. While science tells us that these otherworldly stones were formed by ancient volcanic activity, legend has it that the giant Finn McCool placed them there to cross the water to fight a Scottish giant. Learn about the origin of this site, see unique formations such as Giant’s Boot and the Wishing Chair, and observe the many seabirds, including the Northern Gannet, Northern Wheatear and the Eurasian Oystercatcher.

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 9, September 19 | Belfast | B, L, R, D
Today we arrive in Northern Ireland’s capital city of Belfast. Disembark after breakfast for a day of excursions. Belfast Black Taxi. Begin your exploration of Belfast’s storied past with a tour of the Shankill and Falls Roads area, the site of brutal sectarian violence during “The Troubles,” from the late 1960s to 1998. View bold, vivid murals commemorating individuals and events on both sides of the conflict, and get in- depth and personal insights about this turbulent period from your driver on a compelling Belfast Black Taxi tour.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, a driving tour takes you to the impressive Titanic Belfast Museum, where you will enjoy a visit. Built on the site where the infamous vessel was designed, constructed and launched, the museum features an engrossing “Titanic Experience.” Delve into the complete story of the Titanic as well as Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage on this memorable tour.

Return to the ship as it begins sailing back to Dublin.

Captain’s Farewell Reception, Gather with your fellow passengers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception, followed by dinner on board this evening.

Day 10, September 20 | Dublin, Ireland/Return to Home City | B
After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Dublin International Airport for your return flight home. You may go through U.S. customs and immigration at the Dublin airport.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Journey around the Emerald Isle, with a choice of included excursions that allow you to explore your own interests.
• Access to ports unavailable to larger vessels and an included excursion in each port.
• Specially arranged Belfast Black Taxi tour, exploring the city’s mural-lined streets with in-depth and personal insights from your driver about “The Troubles.”
• Two UNESCO World Heritage sites — Skellig Michael, Ireland, and Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland.
• Dublin Pre-Tour Extension and Kilkenny Post-Tour Extension.

Program Features

• Eight-night round-trip cruise from Dublin, Ireland.
• Elegantly appointed, deluxe suite or stateroom.
• All transfers during the Cruise Program: boats and deluxe motor coaches.
• Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions.
• Complimentary non-premium liquor, house wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages and minibar service throughout the cruise.
• All meals | 2 receptions, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners.
• Complimentary Wi-Fi access (conditions permitting).
• Delight in the bucolic scenery of the Dingle Peninsula as you travel along the coastal road.
• Get to know the rugged island of Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the first language.
• Admire the sweeping ocean views from the clifftop ruins of Dún Aonghasa, an ancient stone fort.
• Explore Belfast and delve into the city’s shipbuilding history during a visit to the Titanic Quarter before touring the city center.
• Learn about Belfast’s turbulent history and see its famous murals during a tour in an iconic Belfast Black Taxi.

Traveler’s Choice

Elevate your experience with a selection of included excursions. Join the excursion of your choice in the following locations:

· Cobh: Cobh, Cork and Blarney Castle tour; Kinsale and mead tour; or Ballymaloe Cookery School tour with lunch and whiskey distillery tour and tasting.

· Galway: Walking tour of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren with lunch and hurling lecture; or a tour of the castles of Connemara with lunch.

UNESCO

Visit this World Heritage site:

· Giant’s Causeway, the County Antrim shoreline made of polygonal basalt columns.

See this World Heritage site:

· Sceilg Mhichíl, or Skellig Michael, the monastic island off the coast of County Kerry.

Not included:
Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed in the “terms and conditions” at https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms/ ; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed as included; and all other services not specifically mentioned.