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Private day tours and shore excursions from Dublin

Escape Dublin for a truly memorable day tour

“If you’re looking for the epitome of rugged and romantic Ireland, you won’t do much better than Glendalough,” says Lonely Planet.

Crown jewel of Wicklow Mountains National Park

Glendalough (the name means glen or valley of two lakes) located in County Wicklow is naturally and spiritually spectacular. This majestic location was created during the Ice Age thousands of years ago. Enjoy mountain streams and alluvial deposits, which conspire to create the Upper and Lower lakes so beloved of walkers today.

Glendalough an ancient monastic settlement

St Kevin’s monastic settlement was a veritable city in its time, with a 30m round tower, a gateway building, several churches, a cathedral, farm, houses and a sizeable lay population all contributing to one of Ireland’s great ecclesiastical centres.

Viking raids

Glendalough was plundered by Vikings, ravaged by fire, and no doubt rocked by the same raw weather dropped onto the Wicklow Mountains today, before ultimately falling to the Normans in 1398.

Lights camera action

What really makes Glendalough sing to your soul is its location at the heart of Wicklow Mountains National Park. For years, Wicklow has been Hollywood’s movie location of choice in Ireland, with Powerscourt house and gardens, Kilruddery House and the mountains themselves forming the backdrop for productions including Braveheart, The Count of Monte Cristo and P.S. I Love You, starring Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler.

“There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,” as Irish poet Thomas Moore once wrote of the area.

Danny Boy Ireland

Meath - A guide to the attractions in County Meath Ireland

Small group and shore excursions from Dublin to Wicklow and Newgrange

Cruise ships April 2014	Cruise Ship	Arrival Dublin port
01/04/2014	DISCOVERY	0830
09/04/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
29/04/2014	ISLAND SKY	0730
29/04/2014	EMERALD PRINCESS	0930
Cruise ships May 2014	Cruise Ship
02/05/2014	FUNCHAL	1000
08/05/2014	THOMSON SPIRIT	0930
11/05/2014	DISCOVERY	0830
15/05/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0900
16/05/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	1000
16/05/2014	MEIN SCHIFF I	1030
17/05/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0400
17/05/2014	HAMBURG	0600
20/05/2014	ISLAND SKY	0530
22/05/2014	SILVER EXPLORER	0630
24/05/2014	DELPHIN	0600
25/05/2014	FUNCHAL	0600
26/05/2014	MINERVA	0700
26/05/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0730
27/05/2014	ISLAND SKY	0500
29/05/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0830
29/05/2014	MARCO POLO	0930
29/05/2014	ASTOR	1100
Cruise ships June 2014	Cruise Ship
01/06/2014	QUEEN VICTORIA	0330
01/06/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	1159
02/06/2014	AMADEA	1159
03/06/2014	LE BOREAL	0600
05/06/2014	MARINA	0700
07/06/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
09/06/2014	LE BOREAL	0700
11/06/2014	SAGA SAPPHIRE	0700
18/06/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0600
25/06/2014	BLACK WATCH	0800
28/06/2014	LOUIS AURA	0600
Cruise ships July 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
01/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0400
08/07/2014	NAUTICA	0700
09/07/2014	CLUB MED 2	0730
09/07/2014	EXPLORER	1200
12/07/2014	WIND SURF	0700
13/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	1000
14/07/2014	DAWN PRINCESS	0315
17/07/2014	PRINSENDAM	0700
18/07/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0645
25/07/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
25/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0800
30/07/2014	MARINA	0700
31/07/2014	NAUTICA	0700
Cruise ships August 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
02/08/2014	VOYAGER	0630
04/08/2014	FTI BERLIN	1330
06/08/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
06/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
09/08/2014	AIDACARA	0730
09/08/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0930
09/08/2014	EUROPA	1200
10/08/2014	SEABOURN QUEST	0700
11/08/2014	VISION OF THE SEAS	0930
16/08/2014	AZAMARA JOURNEY	0700
16/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
17/08/2014	AMADEA	1900
18/08/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
19/08/2014	ROTTERDAM	0700
20/08/2014	SEA CLOUD II	0530
20/08/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0700
20/08/2014	THOMSON SPIRIT	0700
22/08/2014	AIDACARA	0630
22/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
22/08/2014	SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER	0700
22/08/2014	OCEAN MAJESTY	1330
24/08/2014	CRYSTAL SYMPHONY	0300
28/08/2014	SAGA SAPPHIRE	0345
29/08/2014	DELPHIN	0600
29/08/2014	SILVER CLOUD	0700
30/08/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0300
31/08/2014	HAMBURG	0600
31/08/2014	SEABOURN LEGEND	0700
Cruise ships Sept 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
02/09/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
04/09/2014	WIND SURF	0700
05/09/2014	CLUB MED 2	0600
07/09/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
08/09/2014	CRYSTAL SERENITY	0200
09/09/2014	AZORES	0830
09/09/2014	MEIN SCHIFF I	0930
12/09/2014	SILVER WHISPER	0700
13/09/2014	ALBATROS	1159
19/09/2014	HANSEATIC	1100
23/09/2014	EXPLORER	0700
24/09/2014	INSIGNIA	0700
Cruise ships Oct 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
03/10/2014	NORWEGIAN STAR	0700
05/10/2014	INSIGNIA	0700
Cruise ships Vov 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
10/12/2014	BOUDICCA	1830
18/12/2014	BOUDICCA	1500
20/12/2014	BOUDICCA	0830

Private Shore excursions from Dublin Ireland

1. Private shore excursion visiting Powerscourt house and gardens which is located close to Dublin in County Wicklow, on route from Dublin port, on this private shore excursion we will take a short Dublin city tour passing many of the highlights. Why not include a visit to the Guinness store house. We can also allow free time in Dublin city for you to explore for yourself before returning to your cruise ship, perhaps stroll through Saint Stephen’s Green one of Dublin's spectacular Georgian squares. You could indulge in a little retail therapy with a stroll down Dublin's Grafton Street, grab a coffee in Beweley’s coffee, or lunch in Dublin's oldest pub the Brazen head.

2. Tara of the Kings.. A royal acropolis in ancient times. The Hill of Tara was the center fo the old civilization in Ireland, where kings were crowned and battles fought and won and tribes made merry. It’s in County Meath, just twenty miles or so from Dublin , take a giant step back into the past.

3. Trim Castle ah a Castle sure its the largest Anglo Norman Castle in all of Ireland. On the approach to Trim cattle and horses abound as you are among some of the best grazing land in all of Ireland. The countryside is spectacular. The Castle used in the movie Brave Heart is a striking reminder to the Norman power in Ireland. The Castle keep stands 75 feet tall and has 16 separate sides. Built 1190 - 1200 it was occupied by King John from 1210 to 1215. Trim is a heritage town and has many other medieval buildings to explore.

4. You take the high road.. to the Wicklow Mountains National park. Discover remote mountain bogs, spectacular scenery along the entire route. Travel through the sally gap along the military road to Loch Tay or Guinness Lake. You have seen these areas so many times, as they have been used for many films - PS I Love you, Braveheart, Excalibur, Saving Private Ryan, Michael Collins to name but a few.

5. Glendalough 6th century monastic settlement located deep within the Wicklow National park is a must see on your visit to Ireland. Saint Kevin established one of Irelands most important monasteries, in the "valley of two lakes" this location impossibly remote and almost inaccessible, in the 6th century. With its towering mountains on three sides wild, and gorgeous scenery, perhaps this is one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets.

6. Newgrange dating back to Neolithic times is 5000 years old. A passage tomb for the Kings of Ireland. this unique UNESCO World heritage site is suitable for cruise ship passengers looking for a private shore excursion from Dublin. Newgrange is 1000 years older than the pyramids in Egypt, and older than Stone Henge. You can enter into the passage tomb only on a guided tour. Located on the river Boyne in Co Meath, this is a must see on your visit to Ireland.

Cruise ships April 2014	Cruise Ship	Arrival Dublin port
01/04/2014	DISCOVERY	0830
09/04/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
29/04/2014	ISLAND SKY	0730
29/04/2014	EMERALD PRINCESS	0930
Cruise ships May 2014	Cruise Ship
02/05/2014	FUNCHAL	1000
08/05/2014	THOMSON SPIRIT	0930
11/05/2014	DISCOVERY	0830
15/05/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0900
16/05/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	1000
16/05/2014	MEIN SCHIFF I	1030
17/05/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0400
17/05/2014	HAMBURG	0600
20/05/2014	ISLAND SKY	0530
22/05/2014	SILVER EXPLORER	0630
24/05/2014	DELPHIN	0600
25/05/2014	FUNCHAL	0600
26/05/2014	MINERVA	0700
26/05/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0730
27/05/2014	ISLAND SKY	0500
29/05/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0830
29/05/2014	MARCO POLO	0930
29/05/2014	ASTOR	1100
Cruise ships June 2014	Cruise Ship
01/06/2014	QUEEN VICTORIA	0330
01/06/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	1159
02/06/2014	AMADEA	1159
03/06/2014	LE BOREAL	0600
05/06/2014	MARINA	0700
07/06/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
09/06/2014	LE BOREAL	0700
11/06/2014	SAGA SAPPHIRE	0700
18/06/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0600
25/06/2014	BLACK WATCH	0800
28/06/2014	LOUIS AURA	0600
Cruise ships July 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
01/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0400
08/07/2014	NAUTICA	0700
09/07/2014	CLUB MED 2	0730
09/07/2014	EXPLORER	1200
12/07/2014	WIND SURF	0700
13/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	1000
14/07/2014	DAWN PRINCESS	0315
17/07/2014	PRINSENDAM	0700
18/07/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0645
25/07/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
25/07/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0800
30/07/2014	MARINA	0700
31/07/2014	NAUTICA	0700
Cruise ships August 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
02/08/2014	VOYAGER	0630
04/08/2014	FTI BERLIN	1330
06/08/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
06/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
09/08/2014	AIDACARA	0730
09/08/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0930
09/08/2014	EUROPA	1200
10/08/2014	SEABOURN QUEST	0700
11/08/2014	VISION OF THE SEAS	0930
16/08/2014	AZAMARA JOURNEY	0700
16/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
17/08/2014	AMADEA	1900
18/08/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
19/08/2014	ROTTERDAM	0700
20/08/2014	SEA CLOUD II	0530
20/08/2014	MSC MAGNIFICA	0700
20/08/2014	THOMSON SPIRIT	0700
22/08/2014	AIDACARA	0630
22/08/2014	OCEAN PRINCESS	0700
22/08/2014	SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER	0700
22/08/2014	OCEAN MAJESTY	1330
24/08/2014	CRYSTAL SYMPHONY	0300
28/08/2014	SAGA SAPPHIRE	0345
29/08/2014	DELPHIN	0600
29/08/2014	SILVER CLOUD	0700
30/08/2014	CELEBRITY INFINITY	0300
31/08/2014	HAMBURG	0600
31/08/2014	SEABOURN LEGEND	0700
Cruise ships Sept 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
02/09/2014	RUBY PRINCESS	0600
04/09/2014	WIND SURF	0700
05/09/2014	CLUB MED 2	0600
07/09/2014	MARCO POLO	0700
08/09/2014	CRYSTAL SERENITY	0200
09/09/2014	AZORES	0830
09/09/2014	MEIN SCHIFF I	0930
12/09/2014	SILVER WHISPER	0700
13/09/2014	ALBATROS	1159
19/09/2014	HANSEATIC	1100
23/09/2014	EXPLORER	0700
24/09/2014	INSIGNIA	0700
Cruise ships Oct 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
03/10/2014	NORWEGIAN STAR	0700
05/10/2014	INSIGNIA	0700
Cruise ships Vov 2014	Cruise Ship Visiting Dublin Port
10/12/2014	BOUDICCA	1830
18/12/2014	BOUDICCA	1500
20/12/2014	BOUDICCA	0830

Animated short tells history of Ireland in six minutes

Animated short tells history of Ireland in six minutes