Program Overview
Program HighlightsTo see more about day, click on any of the Day by Day buttons
Day by Day
Day 1
Depart Home CityDay 2
Paris, France/Honfleur/Embark Exploris OneDay 3
Caen for Arromanches and Omaha BeachDay 4
Caen/Cherbourg for Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc and Sainte-Mére-ÈgliseDay 5
Tresco, Isles of Scilly, EnglandDay 6
Dublin, IrelandDay 7
Holyhead, Wales, for CaernarfonDay 8
Isle of Iona, ScotlandDay 9
Kyle of Lochalsh, Isle of SkyeDay 10
Fairlie/Disembark/Return to Home CityTo see more about day, click on any of the Day by Day buttons
- Discover the Celtic legacy of France, Ireland, Wales and Scotland on a 9-day, 8-night cruise from Honfleur, France, to Fairlie, Scotland, aboard the deluxe small ship Exploris One.
- Two full-day Normandy excursions to visit historic Omaha and Utah Beaches, Sainte-Mére-Èglise and the American military cemetery.
- Special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage site Caernarfon Castle, Wales — plus the Book of Kells, inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
- Included meals | 2 receptions, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
- Paris and Giverny Pre-Tour Extension and Edinburgh and Glasgow Post-Tour Extension. (Available at additional cost.)
Transfer to Honfleur, and embark the Exploris One. Enjoy dinner on the ship, which departs Honfleur this evening.
Longues-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery. Travel to Longues‑sur‑Mer to see the well-preserved coastal German artillery battery positioned between Omaha and Gold landing beaches and ideally located for the Germans to fight Allied forces coming ashore. On D-Day, Allied ships traded fire with the German 150 mm and 120 mm guns, softening the German pillboxes. On the next day, British infantrymen captured the German fortification. Continue to Omaha Beach, the 6-mile stretch of beach assigned to U.S. troops, followed by Colleville-sur-Mer, where guest lecturer Professor Dwight D. Eisenhower II leads a guided walk through the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.
Lunch will be served at a restaurant during the excursion.
Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Welcome Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening.
Visit Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers on D-Day scaled a 100-foot promontory that the German army had fortified with concrete casements and gun pits. Hear how the Rangers captured this critical Nazi stronghold on D-Day. Break for lunch at the Normandy Victory Museum before continuing to the Church of Angoville au Plain, which two U.S. Army medics used to treat both American and German injured soldiers. The church has two stained-glass windows commemorating the medics and the other soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Next, visit the Utah Beach Landing Museum for a comprehensive look at the D-Day battle from planning to its execution. Wrap up the day at Sainte-Mère-Église, said to be the first town liberated by Allied troops on D-Day. Learn about the events of that day and see the key landmarks involved.
Meet the ship in Cherbourg.
Enjoy dinner on board as the ship cruises to England’s Scilly Isles.
Return to the ship for lunch.
Guest speaker: Join Dwight D. Eisenhower II for an insightful talk.
As you cruise this afternoon and evening, take advantage of the time at sea to enjoy the amenities of the ship. Pamper yourself with a massage or fit in a workout at the gym. Later, you might want to meet friends at the Grand Salon.
Return to the ship for lunch.
Explore Dublin at your leisure this afternoon.
Dinner is served on board. This evening, musicians and dancers will entertain you with traditional Irish music and dancing.
Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form on the portal.)
- Caernarfon Castle. Tour the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Caernarfon Castle, a fortress by Edward I of England between as a defense against the Welsh, who were resisting English rule. Completed in 1330, 47 years after construction began, the castle is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval architecture. (Moderate)
- Bodnant Gardens. With 80 acres of formal gardens, woodland, and meadows feature botanical collections from around the world, and exotic and rare plants and trees, Bodnant Gardens is world-renowned horticultural gem. Tour the gardens, which feature five Italianate terraces, wildflower meadows, two ponds and much more. (Moderate)
Visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s iconic fortresses. On a tidal island barely bigger than the castle itself, Eilean Donan sits at the confluence of Loch Alsh, Loch Long and Loch Duich. Cross the stone bridge to the island and admire the picture-perfect view. The original castle, built in the 13th century, lay in ruins after the Jacobite Rising of 1719 until a British army officer with family ties to the castle purchased it in 1911. He reopened it to visitors in 1932 after a yearslong restoration project. (Moderate)
Return to the ship for lunch.
This afternoon, enjoy a scenic tour of the Isle of Skye. As you make your way to Portree, see the Cuillin, a range of starkly beautiful mountains with jagged peaks. Upon arrival in Portree, enjoy some free time to explore the island’s charming main town. (Moderate) Return to the ship.
Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening amid views of the London skyline.
View Terms and Conditions here
These Special Savings consist of $500 Early Booking and $500 Pay‑in‑Full savings. The Special Savings rate is valid if you book by 9/6/25 and pay in full at the time of booking.
All suites and staterooms are ocean-view and feature: two twin beds or one queen bed; individual climate control; unlimited Wi-Fi; flat-screen TV; 110/220V sockets; 24-hour room service; luxury hotel-style amenities; minibar; bathrobes and slippers; and hair dryer.
Stateroom with two portholes; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 155 sq ft | Deck 3, mid.
Stateroom with picture window; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 190 sq ft | Deck 3, fwd.
Stateroom with picture window; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 190 sq ft | Deck 3, mid.
Stateroom with picture window; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 175 sq ft | Deck 4, fwd.
Stateroom with large picture window; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 190 sq ft | Deck 4, mid.
Stateroom with French balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower. 205 sq ft | Deck 5, mid & fwd.
Suite with two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors; separate living room with sitting area; dressing room; bathroom with shower & separate bathtub. 420 sq ft | Deck 5, mid & fwd.
Suite with large balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors; lounge area with desk; bathroom with shower & separate bathtub. 400 sq ft | Deck 7, fwd.
Suite with large balcony with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors; separate living room with sitting area; dressing room; bathroom with shower & separate bathtub. 615 sq ft | Deck 7, fwd.
Suite with large balcony with two floor-to-ceiling sliding doors; large, separate living room with sitting area; large dressing room; spacious bathroom with shower & separate bathtub. 725 sq ft | Deck 7, mid.
Paris and Giverny
Glasgow and Edinburgh
Dwight David Eisenhower II
Exploris One
Would you like us to contact you about this program?
Our Passenger Care Team is standing by to assist with your travel plans. Just fill out this form and someone will contact you directly to make your reservation and confirm your spot. We are here to streamline all the details for you so you can just relax and start packing for your next adventure. Start planning today with no obligation and no hassle.
Selected Program: Celtic Lands
"*" indicates required fields