The best things about a luxury cruise to Ireland

Combined with a luxury cruise, a visit to "the land of one hundred thousand welcomes" is something like heaven...

By Sue Bryant

"Céad Mile Fáilte" is the Gaelic expression that captures Ireland's warm hospitality – it means one hundred thousand welcomes.

Certainly, if you find yourself by the fireside in a traditional Irish pub, it's likely you'll be chatting to the locals before you even savour your first sip of creamy Guinness.

Ireland has a charm like no other and the friendly welcome feels like an extension of the ambience onboard Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery.

Both ships are sailing into the Emerald Isle this spring so you can combine the "craic" (fun) both ashore and on board with plenty of entertainment including music, craft sessions and deck games. Expect themed menus and destination talks, too. Spring is a wonderful time to appreciate Ireland's stirring wild beauty when the rugged west coast cliffs are cloaked in wildflowers and nesting seabird colonies are at their noisiest. You can spend your days on visits to castles, stately homes and gardens, wandering in pretty fishing villages and exploring vibrant cities, rich in ancient and modern history. So expect one hundred thousand welcomes onboard and ashore...

Ireland and the Cornish Coast

Galway, Ireland

Spirit of Adventure's eight-night sailing features Galway, the 2020 European City of Culture, where you can enjoy the welcome in one of the West End's pubs, shop in the Latin Quarter or head for the hills to see Connemara's rolling green scenery and the dramatic Cliffs of Moher on an optional tour.

Killybegs, Ireland

Your next call is to tiny Killybegs, home to one of Ireland's largest fishing fleets and the Maritime and Heritage Centre which is housed in the former Donegal carpet factory which supplied hand-knotted luxury carpets for properties including Buckingham Palace and the White House. You'll also discover a heritage trail leading to the medieval church and the ruined castle both named after the patron saint of seafaring, St Catherine. There's also an optional tour to Slieve League Cliffs on the Wild Atlantic Coast. These rugged natural wonders rise almost 2,000ft (598m) above the sea to give extraordinary views of Donegal Bay.

Blarney Castle, Ireland

From Ringaskiddy, explore Cork, the food capital of Ireland. The covered 18th-century English Market is rated as "the best covered market in the UK and Ireland" by chef and restaurateur Rick Stein. You can take an optional excursion to 600-year-old Blarney Castle, in County Cork. Here, at the top of the tower, the Blarney Stone is said to give "the gift of the gab" to those who kiss it.

Make the most of the ship

Pasta served in the Amalfi Restaurant on Spirit of Adventure

Two days at sea during the sailing allows plenty of time to enjoy everything available onboard so indulge in breakfast on your balcony or book to dine in the specialty restaurants– and all included of course. The Spirit of Adventure offers all-inclusive luxury dining with several high-end, free-to-dine specialty restaurants including Amalfi (Italian), Khukuri House (Nepalese), and The Supper Club (cabaret-style dining), alongside the main Dining Room. These restaurants feature locally sourced ingredients and refined service.

Check out your Today programme to plan how you can make the most of the entertainment between mealtimes – live music, theatre productions, recitals, craft classes and deck games are just the start. Learn to dance or practise your skills during the day because there's music and dancing every night in the Britannia Lounge.

To relax, simply wander along to the library which has its own coffee bar and find a quiet space around the ship to lose yourself in a good book. If the weather's good, head to The Lido to swim or lounge by the pool and treat yourself to fish and chips or a freshly whipped ice cream.

You can also look after your wellbeing by joining yoga and fitness classes or walk four laps round the Promenade deck – that equals one mile and perhaps you'll see some wildlife as you look out to sea.

Ireland's Coastal Gems

The Giant's Causeway

For a complete circumnavigation of the Emerald Isle, including calls to Northern Ireland's two largest cities, Belfast and Greencastle for Londonderry, Spirit of Discovery's 10-night itinerary mixes modern and ancient history with coastal and country tours.

With the stylings of a top London hotel, this ship was designed to be modern yet classic - every cabin on the ship has a balcony as standard, for private views of every destination you visit.

Her other world-class facilities include all-inclusive bars and lounges, including La Vie En Rose, a glamorous Parisian-style brasserie serving high-end French cuisine from a menu devised by celebrity chef Phil Vickery. It's a real treat. And a bonus for wildlife lovers – experts from ORCA, the whale and dolphin conservation charity, will be on board studying marine wildlife and helping you spot and identify whales, dolphins and seabirds.

From Dover, make the most of a day at sea before the ship docks in Killybegs.

A cruise highlight is the full day's visit to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, which amusingly has six quarters, so pack in as much as you can.

In the Titanic Quarter, the Titanic Belfast experience beside the Titanic Slipways and Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices tells the story of the White Star ocean liner from conception and construction to its tragic maiden voyage.

For a culture fix, the Cathedral Quarter is buzzing with music, bars and restaurants. Visit the Metropolitan Arts Centre (the MAC) and the Oh Yeah Music Centre or ask the ship's Explore Ashore team to book a Black Taxi tour covering the history of The Troubles, political murals and the Peace Wall. You can also opt for a full day's tour to the Giant's Causeway, where the extraordinary basalt geometric columns were created by an ancient volcanic eruption.

The Peace Bridge and Guildhall in Londonderry, Northern Ireland

The fishing port of Greencastle, in County Donegal, is the next call. Stay nearby to visit the castle, pubs and beach or head to Londonderry on an included tour, with its historic walls, cathedral and Guildhall. You can also consider an optional tour of the Inishowen Peninsula. It's a wild place, stirring in its beauty, where feathery grasses sway on the Culdaff Beach sand dunes and the Atlantic waves roll in.

After so many busy days ashore, enjoy another sea day. The hydrotherapy pool with heated loungers and steam room could be a temptation before afternoon tea served on beautiful china. Enjoy warm homemade scones, clotted cream and fruity jam before getting ready to join friends for drinks before dinner. Round up the day at a theatre show or watch the stars from the deck. Be sure to take a tour of the onboard artwork featuring British-based artists who were commissioned to create bespoke pieces for the ship. It is a delight to wander from deck to deck to view the works that take inspiration from the geography, landscapes and palette of the British Isles. There's also a dedicated art gallery next to The Playhouse theatre which features up-and-coming artists.

Bantry House in County Cork, Ireland

Spirit of Discovery's next call, Bantry Bay, offers garden lovers a particular treat. At stately Bantry House, which overlooks the bay, the formal gardens feature terraces, statues and a fountain within the parterre. Another option is to take the ferry to the Italian Gardens on Garnish Island, home to an extensive array of plants.

A view over Cobh, Ireland

Your last call before returning to Portsmouth is Cobh, once the embarkation point for 2.5 million people who emigrated to the US between 1848 and 1950. Choose to wander in the seaside town with its brightly coloured waterfront buildings or take an included tour into historic Cork. Blarney Castle is the optional tour with its 60-acre garden and parklands, including the poison garden, home to some of the world's most dangerous and toxic plants.

Find out more about British Isles and Ireland cruises with Saga.