2013 VacationEngland, Channel Islands, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, & Normandy

Virgin Atlantic to Heathrow, London

Warner Bros. Studio Tour LondonStudio Tour DriveLeavesden

Wroxton House Wroxton, Banbury

ShrewsburyAbbey

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds

Caernarfon, Gwynedd

Gwynedd is an area in north-west Wales.

Harlech Castle with St.Daffyd’s Golf Course

This modern ship offers all the comforts of home and more, with space for 3,082 passengers and all of our signature features.

Average age: 70+

Guernsey (St. Peter Port), England• The British isle of Guernsey lies just eight miles

off the coast of France. The second largest of the Channel Islands, Guernsey possesses a mild climate, breathtaking scenery and a peaceful, unspoiled ambience. All these attributes combine to make it a popular destination for British and French vacationers. Once the haunt of sea dogs, smugglers, and pirates, St. Peter Port is one of the prettiest harbors in Europe.

Castles and forts dot the Guernsey coastline, including German fortifications from World War II. The Channel Islands were the only part of the United Kingdom to be occupied by the Nazis.

The streets of Guernsey look festive, but the shadow of the 5 year long Nazi occupation still haunts many of the population.

German Occupation Museum and Underground Hospital

• View a selection of musical instruments, uniforms, weapons and equipment. Continue on to the Underground Hospital. The complex contains a maze of tunnels which cover an area of about 75,000 square feet.

German Occupation Museum and Underground Hospital—St. Peter Port, Guernsey

Victor Hugo Wrote most of his major Works while on Guernsey.

Victoria and Albert stayed in Guernsey for a few hours in 1846. The Tower was built to commemorate their visit. The cemetery Is mostly above ground since the base of the island is pure rock.

Cork, Ireland (Cobh)

• Founded in the 7th century by St. Fin Barre, Cork is your gateway to romantic Ireland. Stroll down narrow country lanes or see the Lakes of Killarney. The intrepid visitor may scale the narrow passages of Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. The region around Cork is also home to one of the densest concentration of prehistoric monuments in Western Europe. And, in a land where fable and fact blend to become folklore, it was near Cork that the great Tuatha De Danaan, a race with magical powers, was driven underground by the conquering Celts.

Cobh was the single most important port of emigration from Ireland.

Annie Moore

Blarney Castle

Set in a sprawling park, this romantic ruin was the stronghold of the McCarthy clan, and features thick stone walls. Those who kiss the Blarney Stone are said to be gifted the power of eloquence.

Killarney National ParkKillarney National Park boasts stunning views of the countryside set against a backdrop of rugged mountain peaks, and covers 26,000 acres, while the lakes of Killarney are famous for their beauty.

•Muckross House•This delightful 19th-century manor house features a gorgeous sunken garden, folk museum and crafting workshop. The interior of the house features beautiful hand-made Victorian furnishings.

Muckross Abbey , Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry, Ireland

GlendaloughA monastery set in a spectacular natural setting, Glendalough is "truly one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and a highlight of any trip to the island."

Giant's CausewayAlong the Antrim Coast is the world-renowned Giant's Causeway. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant's Causeway is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The Legend of Finn McCool

Antrim Coast

The Antrim Coast in the north of Northern Ireland, is one of the most scenic coastlines in Britain and Ireland, with breathtaking landscapes dramatic cliff-side ruins.

Titanic MemorialThe Titanic Memorial, located on the east grounds of Belfast City Hall, honors those who died in the RMS Titanic disaster, and includes a list of all those who perished on April 15, 1912.

Belfast PubsBelfast Pubs have been the cornerstone of Belfast life for centuries. Some have music, many have good food and all offer a great pint or a comforting hot whiskey and loads of craic (the term for fun and conversation in Irish).

Belfast, Northern IrelandThe capital of Northern Ireland - part of the United Kingdom - Belfast has experienced a renaissance since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that promised an end to the decades-old "Troubles" between Catholics and Protestants.

The Peace line gate, Belfast

Dublin, IrelandDublin has experienced a renaissance. Today, this gracious and cosmopolitan city on the Liffey is one of Europe's premier destinations. The capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin is an intimate place that is easy to explore. Stroll past St. Stephen's Green or survey the gray, stone façades of Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university. The city is also remarkably well-preserved - every June 16, scholars retrace the paths of James Joyce's characters in the novel "Ulysses," set in Dublin on June 16, 1904.

Dublin possesses a storied history. A settlement has existed on the banks of the River Liffey for at least a millennium and a half. Succeeding waves of Gaelic, Viking, Norman and English invaders have left their mark on the city.

Trinity CollegeTrinity College is Ireland's oldest university and one of the great universities of the world. Trinity College Library is the home to the Book of Kells.

Glasgow (Greenock), ScotlandGlasgow was Scotland's great industrial center during the 19th century. Loch Lomond is nearby and Argyll.

Loch LomondThis stunningly beautiful and popular leisure destination has been featured in song and is Scotland's second largest freshwater lake, dotted with many islands.

Relics of Robert the Bruce

Inveraray Castle

Featuring four imposing conical spires, this 18th-century Scottish castle is the seat of the Duke of Argyll and houses a stunning collection of family portraits, artifacts and English china.

Downton Abbey’s summer in Scotland was filmed here.

Ring of BrodgarPerhaps, once used to study the stars, this perfect circle of immense standing stones is an impressive vision and one of Orkney's most a popular attractions.

Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), ScotlandJust north of Scotland lay the Orkney Islands. Washed by the furthest reach of the Gulf Stream, this chain of over 70 islands offers dramatic landscapes that range from sea cliffs rearing 1,000 feet above the waves to sweeping white sand beaches. Bird watchers flock to the Orkneys Islands, drawn by the multitudes of sea birds. Divers explore the wrecks lying in the clear waters of Scapa Flow, the Royal Navy's fleet anchorage in two world wars. And most fascinating of all, the Orkney Islands boast the greatest concentration of prehistoric sites in all Europe, including the mysterious Ring of Brodgar and 5,000-year-old Skara Brae.

Scapa FlowThis stretch of water links the North Sea to the Atlantic and is famous for its role in both World Wars as a natural harbor offering shelter for the British naval fleet.

Skara BraeThis Neolithic village dates back 5,000 years and has such well-preserved features, including beds and dressers in the houses. This monument is part of Orkney's World Heritage site, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

MaeshoweDating back to prehistoric times, this chambered tomb hidden beneath a grassy mound is a marvel of ancient architecture.

St. MagnusKnown as the "Light in the North," this cathedral was founded in 1137 by Viking Earl Rognvald in honor of his uncle St. Magnus.

Vikings - Norsemen - ruled the Orkneys Islands from the 9th to 13th centuries, leaving in their wake such monuments as St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. This hint of Scandinavian influence can be heard in the lilting accent with which Orcadians speak.

Inverness/Loch Ness (Invergordon), Scotland

Welcome to Invergordon, your gateway to Loch Ness and that area of the Highlands known as the "Great Glen.“In 1933, an enterprising editor in Inverness enlivened a slow news week with the story of an odd sighting in Loch Ness. The legend grew overnight - and today individuals still scan the dark waters of the Loch for a sight of Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Legend insists that the celebrated Loch Ness Monster inhabits a cave beneath the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle.

Urquhart CastleThe jagged ruins of Urquhart Castle, once one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, is an impressive structure overlooking Loch Ness.

Culloden MoorThe Culloden Visitor Centre recounts where the British troops defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Highland clans in 1746.

Edinburgh , ScotlandSouth Queensferry is the gateway to Edinburgh, the political, commercial and cultural heart of Scotland. Nestled between the Highlands and the Border Hills, Edinburgh is a gracious city noted for its superb skyline, its impressive collection of architecture and its beautiful parks. The streets of the elegant New Town are lined with graceful Georgian buildings, many designed by the great architect Robert Adam.

Edinburgh has also exerted a tremendous cultural force on Europe and the English-speaking world. The International Festival has been one of the premier European cultural events for over half a century. Among those who have called the city home are the writers, Robert Burns, James Boswell, and Sir Walter Scott and the philosophers, Adam Smith and David Hume. To take the Hoho bus through the streets of Edinburgh is to experience one of the world's great cities.

The HOHO Bus

EdinburghScotland's capital boasts 1,000 years of history, culture and tradition. Majestic Edinburgh Castle dominates the Royal Mile from atop its volcanic crag.

Royal Mile & Edinburgh CastleThis imposing castle dominates the cityscape from atop its rocky perch. Situated at the end of historic Royal Mile, its dramatic, medieval design remains largely unchanged since the 18th century.Princes StreetDelight in the lively atmosphere and scenic beauty of Edinburgh's most popular thoroughfare in the "New Town" area. Browse the colorful shops and fashionable boutiques and enjoy the many sidewalk cafes.

Holyrood Palace

Dominating the end of Edinburgh's famed Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace is the official home to the monarch while in Scotland. Its hallowed halls have witnessed some of the most turbulent times in Scotland's history.

St. AndrewsKnown worldwide as the birthplace of golf, this charming medieval town is home to the legendary Old Course, the venerable Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the exceptional British Golf Museum.

Glamis CastleA royal residence since 1372, the castle is thought to be haunted. Tour Duncan Hall, made famous in Shakespeare's Macbeth, view the medieval royal rooms, and look out for the legendary ghosts.

Cawdor CastleThis fine medieval tower house is still the seat of the Earls of Cawdor. Famous as the setting for Duncan's murder in Shakespeare's Macbeth, it offers elegant rooms and magnificent gardens.

The whole cruise was to celebrate our

40th Wedding Anniversary

Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), FrancePerhaps no other place in France holds more associations for English-speaking visitors than Normandy. The historic Allied landings on D-Day - 6 June, 1944 - live on in the memories of British and Americans alike. Nor has Le Havre forgotten the dark days of the war. The port was nearly completely destroyed during the Normandy campaign. Today, Le Havre is France's second largest port and the gateway to Paris, "City of Light," the Norman countryside, and the historic landing beaches.

D-Day Beaches/American CemeteryThe Normandy American Cemetery honors the soldiers who lost their lives in WWII, most of whom died in the D-Day landings on five beaches on the coast of Normandy.

The Airborne Museum of Sainte Mère Eglise show the history of one of the first and most well known battles that took place during the D-day operations in June 1944. During the night between the 5th and 6th of June thousands of allied paratroopers where dropped in the area near Sainte Mère Eglise to secure a vital road junction.

During the battle an American, Private John M. Steele, got stuck at the church tower in Sainte Mère Eglise - but he survived the battle

To honor the American paratroopers the church of Sainte Mère Eglise have this window.

The farmhouse filmed in “The Longest Day” with John Wayne.

Two stained glass windows commemorate the 101st Airborne Division, the first one is dedicated to the two medics of the 2nd Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (101st Airborne Division). The second one honors the American parachutists.

Angoville-au-Plain

Robert Wright and Ken Moore of the 101st Airborne

His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. Surname would be Mountbatten-Windsor