8-night Celtic Voyage: The Hebrides and the Irish Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys Cruise

London is undoubtedly one of the world's finest cities. In addition to numerous monuments from its more glorious past, London is equally well-known for its pageantry and tradition. London has something for everyone - wide boulevards buzzing with excitement far into the night, quiet squares and explorable alleyways. Visit this famous city's parks, museums, galleries, monuments, abbeys and churches, skyscrapers and ruins, Georgian squares. Take in such events as the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower, or the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, or even one of the many theatrical productions. Some of the most exclusive shops are found along Oxford, Bond and Regent Streets. An old favorite and one of the world's premier institutions is Harrods - offering everything from Chanel suits and sliced salmon to caviar and even pets.

The white cliffs of Dover are famous in song and story. From Dover you can visit nearby Canterbury or take a full-day excursion to see the sights of London, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and more.

"Stop, look and listen" takes on a whole new meaning in Scilly. Relax and take time to discover the islands' flora and fauna and listen to the timeless whisperings of the ocean all around under wide Atlantic skies. But don't think timeless islands need to be behind the times. All the inhabited island offer excellent, modern accommodation and amenities, safe sandy beaches, pubs and opportunities for outdoor sport. There are many sites of historical interest throughout the islands and the birdwatching and scuba diving are renowned and, most importantly, Scilly is virtually crime-free, making it one of the safest environments in the world. Spring and autumn are especially good times to visit the islands. Enjoy the peace and the tranquillity of one of the world's most beautiful archipelagos.

The quaint little settlement of Kinsale sits around a small picturesque harbour. Located south west of Cork, this characteristicaly 18th century town with its bow fronted shops and slate hung houses are best viewed from Compass Hill. Also explore the star shaped formal naval station, Charles Fort, with its finely detailed and roofless 18th century barracks. Kinsale was the scene of the Spanish invasions in support of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel against Mountjoy and Carew and the site of the last decisive battle in 1602.

Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey and a busy ferry port. The town has a number of interesting attractions and is a bustling shopping and visitors area. Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and,of course, sailing facilities. Couple this with wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and you can easily lose yourself and relax for a few days. A day trip by ferry to sample the wonderful Dublin is easily achievable. Anglesey has a number of both historic and prehistoric sites close-by. The maritime museum in Holyhead is well worth a visit with exhibits on 100 or so shipwrecks that have taken place in the vicinity. Stroll' down to South Stack Lighthouse.

Belfast is popular with travelers who come to discover the city’s physical beauty and renewed tranquility. Enjoy performances at the Grand Opera House, shopping along trendy Donegall Place and visiting numerous pubs along The Golden Mile. St. Anne’s Cathedral, also known as Belfast Cathedral, is the principal church of the Anglican Church of Ireland and contains stones from every county in Ireland. Located next to Europa Hotel, the Grand Opera House boasts an impressive mix of large productions of opera, ballet, musicals and drama. Known as the Big Ben of Belfast, the Albert Memorial Clock Tower was built in 1869 to commemorate the Prince Consort. Built in 1849 as one of Queen Victoria’s colleges, Queens University is one of the foremost universities in the British Isles. The classical-style building of Stormont, erected in 1928-32 to house the Parliament of Northern Ireland, stands 3.5 miles outside the city. The Prince of Wales Avenue is exactly one mile long and is bordered by rose beds containing 600 of the famous Korona roses noted for their scarlet blooms.

Tobermory, the primary town on the Isle of Mull, began as a fishing port during the latter part of the 18th century. However, in recent times the area has become an excellent destination for those interested in marine wildlife watching. The waters surrounding Mull are popular feeding grounds for dolphins, basking sharks and wales, Lucky visitors may also catch a glimpse of rare White-Tail and Golden Eagles that call the island home. Other popular sights in Tobermory include the Baliscate Standing Stones that still remain from one of the earliest settlements in the village, The Mull Museum and Aros Park.

Iona is a remote, low-lying, and treeless green island with high cliffs and rolling meadows. It lies off the southwestern coast of Mull across the Sound of Iona. It's only 1 mile by 3 1/2 miles. Staffa, with its famous musical cave, is a 75 acre island in the Inner Hebrides, lying to the west of Mull.