British Isles
A feast for the heart and mind, this trip has in-depth study, local cuisines, and lush landscapes. The Sea Cloud Spirit, our home on the sea, is a three-masted beauty.
Overview
A new way to experience the British Isles
Spend time in London and West Sussex before boarding the luxurious, three-masted Sea Cloud Spirit and setting sail for Ireland. Visit beautiful coastal towns, cross the English Channel to spend a day on the island of Guernsey, call on the maritime mecca of Dartmouth, and cruise the Irish Sea to Belfast.
We’ll marvel at stunning coastal landscapes and gardens in full bloom including Devon’s moorlands, Isles of Scilly’s world-famous sub-tropical Tresco Abbey Garden, Cornwall’s iconic Land’s End, and Arundel Castle’s gardens, considered one of the top gardens in the U.K. Throughout our voyage, savor the local flavors—English cheese in West Sussex, Devonshire cream tea in Dartmouth, and Irish whiskey at Bushmill’s Distillery.
Dates
June 10–19, 2024Duration
10 daysPrice
From $12,995 per person
Trip size
40 participantsMinimum age
18 yearsFaculty leader
A different kind of classroom
With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.
Rush Rehm
Theater and Performance Studies
The founder and artistic director of Stanford Repertory Theater, Rush is also professor of classics and of theater and performance studies at Stanford and the author of several books on Greek tragedy.
Itinerary
A cruise through the waterways of Great Britain and Ireland
Spend two nights in London before embarking the three-masted Sea Cloud Spirit for a cruise from Portsmouth to Dublin. Cross the English Channel and sail the Irish Sea, taking in wild countryside, verdant gardens, ancient castles, military monuments, and lively coastal towns. Spend a day on the island of Guernsey, visit the remote Isles of Scilly, and delve into Northern Ireland’s turbulent past in Belfast.
London, England
Upon arrival in London, transfer to the five-star Horseguards Hotel, a historic property located in the heart of London on the banks of the River Thames. The evening is free to relax and rest from travel.
Accommodations:Horseguards Hotel
London, England
We travel back in time to 16th-century London this morning with a private tour of the famed Globe Theatre, a faithful recreation of William Shakespeare’s iconic open-air Globe Theatre. Following a festive pub lunch, embark on a walking tour that takes us inside Westminster Abbey. Celebrate our first full day together with a lavish welcome dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants.
Accommodations:Horseguards Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerPortsmouth, England
Depart London for the countryside of West Sussex, known for its royal heritage and grand estates. Visit Arundel Castle, home of the Duke of Norfolk, reflecting nearly 1,000 years of history and surrounded by one of the top gardens in the U.K. Continue to the historic market town of Arundel for lunch and free time before heading to Portsmouth to embark the Sea Cloud Spirit. Enjoy cocktails on the bow as we set sail around the British Isles.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast and dinnerGuernsey
Spend the morning under sail to the Channel Islands, an archipelago in the English Channel. We go ashore this afternoon on Guernsey, the ‘Island of Flowers’ that inspired Auguste Renoir to produce a whole series of paintings. Wander the narrow and picturesque streets of St Peter Port and visit the Castle Cornet, a 12th-century battlement. Alternatively, learn about the WWII German occupation of Guernsey with visits to the Guernsey Underground Hospital and German Occupation Museum.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerDartmouth, England
Succumb to the charms of Dartmouth, set on the banks of the River Dart’s estuary, making it a mecca for tall ships. Making our way through the winding streets of this traditional seafaring town, stop at the impressive Britannia Naval College, founded in 1863, for a private tour. This afternoon, enjoy free time in Dartmouth or choose to head into the Devon countryside for stunning views across the rugged and picturesque landscape of Dartmoor National Park.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerPenzance, England
Spend the morning under sail as our lecture series continues. Arrive this afternoon in Penzance, one of Cornwall’s gems nestled in glorious Mount’s Bay. Soak up the old-world atmosphere during an exploration of the town’s cobbled alleyways, winding streets, subtropical gardens, and dockside tavern. Enjoy free time in town or choose to travel by coach to Cornwall’s iconic and stunning Land’s End, England’s westernmost point at the end of the Cornish peninsula.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerTresco, Isles of Scilly
Wake up in the Isles of Scilly and come ashore on Tresco, known as the “island in bloom” thanks to the mild Gulf Stream climate. Walk along the idyllic lanes of this traffic-free island to marvel at the world-renowned subtropical Tresco Abbey Gardens. Planted in the 19th century around the ruins of a Benedictine abbey, this miracle of a garden has matured into a priceless botanical sanctuary with more than 20,000 species of plants from more than 80 countries. Later, spend time exploring the island on our own, perhaps visiting the Valhalla collection of ship figureheads from ships wrecked on the island or relaxing at a café. Reboard the Sea Cloud Spirit for lunch and an afternoon of sailing.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerAt Sea
Spend a full day cruising the Irish Sea with time to relax, attend a lecture, and enjoy the ship’s many wellness amenities.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerBangor, Northern Ireland / Belfast or Giant’s Causeway
Dock in Bangor this morning for an excursion to Belfast. See some of the peace walls that shape the urban landscape and visit Titanic Belfast, a state-of-the-art museum on the site of the yard where the ill-fated ship was built. Alternatively, choose to travel along the spectacular unspoiled scenery of the Antrim Coast to reach Giant’s Causeway, a geologic wonder of over 40,000 interlocking, hexagonal columns, formed by the cooling of molten lava some six million years ago. Celebrate our journey tonight during the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner on board as we make our way to Dublin.
Accommodations:Sea Cloud Spirit
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerDublin, Ireland / Home
After breakfast, transfer to the Dublin Airport for flights home.
Included meal: Breakfast
Make the most of your trip
Want more time to explore? Get the most out of your stay in this region when you sign up for an optional trip extension.
Post-trip Extension: Galway and Dublin
Venture to the west coast of Ireland and marvel at its stunning landscapes, from the dramatic rocky Burren, which has captivated creatives from Tolkien to Spielberg, to the Cliffs of Moher, and the 1,000-acre setting of Kylemore Abbey. Wander the cobblestone streets of lively Galway and spend two days exploring the sights of Dublin.
Dates
June 19–23, 2024Duration
5 daysDublin / Galway
After disembarking the Sea Cloud Spirit, take a scenic drive through the Burren region on Ireland’s west coast. Stop at Doolin Music House to enjoy a traditional Irish music experience followed by a light lunch. Then continue to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, towering over 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Galway and check in to our hotel in the heart of the city at popular Eyre Square. Enjoy an evening at leisure to wander the charming streets of the Latin Quarter, known for its colorful buildings, lively pubs, street performers, local artisan shops, and numerous restaurants.
Accommodations:Park House Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast and lunchGalway
Depart this morning for a trip to Kylemore Abbey and its beautiful Victorian walled garden, located in the heart of Connemara National Park. One of Ireland’s most famous castles, Kylemore has been home to a community of Benedictine nuns since 1920, after their abbey in Ypres, Belgium was destroyed in World War I. Meet with the head of the Benedictine nuns and learn how the Order restored the grounds to their former glory and opened a world-renowned boarding school for girls. Return to Galway for a walking tour along its cobblestone streets.
Accommodations:Park House Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast and lunchGalway / Dublin
After breakfast and a leisurely morning, return to Dublin for lunch and a panoramic tour of the capital. Afterward, take a guided tour through EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum. Marvel at the high-tech, interactive exhibits that explore emigration and its effect in Ireland and the 70 million or so people spread throughout the world who claim Irish ancestry. Tonight is free to enjoy dinner independently at one of Dublin’s many fine restaurants, steps away from our hotel in the heart of the renown Temple Bar entertainment quarter.
Accommodations:The Morgan Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast and lunchDublin
After a full Irish breakfast, begin the day with a privately led exploration of Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. View the legendary Book of Kells, one of the finest illuminated medieval manuscripts in existence. Then venture to spectacular St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland. Gather this evening for a final dinner at a local pub showcasing Irish music and dancing.
Accommodations:The Morgan Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinnerDublin / Home
After breakfast, transfer to Dublin International Airport for return flights home.
Included meal: Breakfast
Trip details
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Pricing
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The price of your trip covers a comprehensive educational program in addition to meals, accommodations, tours and excursions. Continue reading for a full list of what’s included.
Category E
Superior Cabins on the Cabin Deck with porthole windows, queen bed and shower (177–204 sq. ft.)
Double: $12,995 per person
Single: $17,495 per person
Category D
Deluxe Cabins on the Cabin Deck with porthole windows, queen bed and shower (215 sq. ft.)
Double: $14,595 per person
Single: $20,595 per person
Category C
Deluxe Cabins on the Lido Deck with panorama windows that you can open, queen bed and shower (177–215 sq. ft.)
Double: $16,195 per person
Category B
Junior Balcony on the Veranda Deck with a queen bed or two single beds, walk-in closet and bathtub, and a private 65-sq.-ft. balcony (280–323 sq. ft.)
Double: $18,295 per person
Category A
Owner’s Balcony Suites on the Veranda Deck with a king bed or two single beds, walk-in closet, bathtub and separate WC room, and a private 85-sq.-ft. balcony (320–330 sq. ft.)
Double: $20,395 per person
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