Dublin, Ireland

Oh what to do in Dublin? I’m so excited to visit Ireland again!  One of my favorite book series is based in Ireland, and in particular Dublin. Celebrity Silhouette will dock in Dublin.  Large cruise ships typically dock at Alexandra Quay, an industrial area.  The port is about two miles from the city center. Here's a map of the city centre.

Everything that you've heard about the beauty of Ireland is true!  I am such a wannabe photographer!

For this trip to Dublin, I have booked a small private group tour with Denny's Dublin Tours.  His motto:  Don't just see Dublin; be a part of it!  Click here for more information on this tour.  It sounds like the perfect combination of what I want to experience in Dublin:  history, culture, beer, pubs, and Irish  music and dancing!  I can't wait! 

On our last British Isles cruise, we took the ship's "Dublin On Your Own" excursion and then took the HOHO Dublin bus tour; click here for details... just be sure to hop off at points of interest! The tours generally begin around 9:00 am and have live commentary. You can also get a discount by booking online. If you get to the city centre before the HOHO tour starts, then head to Bewley's Grafton Street Cafe for the best coffee in Ireland! Here's a photo that I took of a Dublin pub sign.

The Guinness Storehouse gets rave reviews so be sure to visit this excellent museum about Guinness beer. At the end you get to enjoy a pint at the top the glassed Skybar with 180 degree views of the city!

How about some good ole Irish whiskey? Then you will want to visit the Old Jameson Distillery for an exciting and engaging experience, guaranteed to enlighten and entertain any visitor. You will learn about John Jameson & Son through the history, the atmosphere, and above all the taste. "You will discover the time honored secret of how three simple ingredients- water, barley and yeast - are transformed into the smooth golden spirit that has always been and continues to be Jameson Irish Whiskey." After the Tour, all visitors are rewarded with a Jameson signature drink and lucky volunteers are selected to participate in a tutored whiskey comparison and earn a coveted personalized Whiskey Taster Certificate.

For lunch and a pint, head to the Brazen Head Pub, the oldest pub in Dublin - it dates back to 1198. It's good fun especially on a nice day as they have a great beer garden. It is very close to Christchurch/Dublinia. You can then tell your friends that you drank in the same pub as James Joyce and Michael Collins to name a few!

See the Book of Kells and its well-done accompanying exhibit on Irish monastic life at the Old Trinity College Library. The book of Kells was written around 800AD by Irish monks. When you leave Trinity College, turn left and you'll soon be at the head of Grafton street, a pedestrianized shopping area. Look for the statue of Molly Malone and her cart nearby & take a photo.We saw this group of Orange Men strolling through Dublin... sort of interesting!

Walk through the Temple Bar area (a cross between Greenwich Village and Soho) to the Liffey's south bank, cross over at the lacy pedestrian bridge called the Ha'penny Bridge and look for the statue of women shoppers nearby (locals call it The Hags With the Bags). Go back along the Liffey a few blocks to O'Connell Street, turn left and take a look at the General Post Office (big building with columns) which still has bullet holes from the Easter Rising. While walking along the river, make sure to go to the Custom House Quay and see the famine memorial.

We will have great fun in Dublin!