Cruise · 7 nights · with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Scenic Shores of Ireland
A seven-night voyage on Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral, sailing from Portsmouth to Ireland’s west coast cliffs and southern harbours, with time in Bangor, Galway and Cobh along the way.
- Duration
- 7 nights
- Departs
- 27 May 2028
- Sails from
- Portsmouth
- Returns to the same port
- Ship
- Balmoral
- From
- £899
- per person, sharing
Highlights
What makes this one worth it
Slieve League Cliffs, among Europe’s highest sea cliffs
Cliffs of Moher viewed from the ship
Calls at Bangor, Northern Ireland's quieter harbour town
Ports of Galway and Killybegs on Ireland’s west coast
Visit to Cobh, former Titanic departure point
About the trip
Fred. Olsen’s Balmoral sets off from Portsmouth, a familiar southern English port, before a day at sea brings you to Bangor in Northern Ireland. This lesser-known town offers a quieter contrast to Belfast not far away, and the ship then passes the sharply rising Slieve League Cliffs, among Europe’s highest sea cliffs.
After calling at Killybegs and Galway, the cruise skirts the base of the Cliffs of Moher. These sheer limestone cliffs, dropping almost 200 metres into the Atlantic, are among Ireland’s best visited natural landmarks for their scale if not for quietness. The journey ends with a call at Cobh, the departure point for the Titanic and gateway to Cork, where visits to Blarney Castle are a local tradition. Balmoral is a vessel compact enough to thread these coastal waters with a pace that affords time to look out from deck without rush.
This cruise settles into a rhythm of coastal charm and widely spaced ports, making space for the landscape between the calls at towns and cliffs. It returns to Portsmouth after a week, a neat circle of Ireland’s more accessible edges and one distinct corner of the UK.
- 1 Portsmouth
- 2 Bangor
- 3 Slieve League
- 4 Killybegs
- 5 Galway
- 6 Cliffs of Moher
- 7 Cobh
Itinerary
The route, day by day
Day 1
Portsmouth, England
Day 2
At sea
Day 3
Bangor, UK
Day 4
Pass Slieve League Cliffs, Ireland
Day 5
Killybegs, Ireland
Day 6
Galway, Ireland
Day 7
by Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Scenic cruising
Day 8
Cobh, Ireland
When to go
Departures and prices
Lowest price each month, per person.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirms exact dates, availability and prices when you book.
Need to know
Before you book
- Price based on
- Two people sharing a cabinThe operator confirms the exact basis when you book.
- Travelling alone
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Flights
- Not needed if you join at Portsmouth
- What’s included
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Accessibility
- Check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Cabin
- Interior Room
For full details of what’s included, check with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. See the full details on their site
Questions people ask
- How long is Scenic Shores of Ireland?
- Scenic Shores of Ireland is a 7 nights cruise holiday.
- Where does Scenic Shores of Ireland depart from?
- Scenic Shores of Ireland departs from Portsmouth.
- Who operates Scenic Shores of Ireland?
- Scenic Shores of Ireland is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines aboard Balmoral.
- How much does Scenic Shores of Ireland cost?
- Prices for Scenic Shores of Ireland start from £899, subject to availability.
The operator
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Smaller-ship cruises, many from UK ports
A Norwegian family name in shipping since the nineteenth century, known for smaller ships that can reach the narrower fjords and harbours.
You book with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines directly. They confirm your place, take payment, and look after you from the moment you leave home; Atlas & Passage’s part ends when you click through.
New to United Kingdom? Our United Kingdom guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.
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