WE WILL BE ADDING SOME OF OUR NUMEROUS PAST MUSIC TOURS, BUT HERE IS OUR RECENTLY CANCELED (WOULD HAVE BEEN OFF THE CHARTS) MUSIC/GASTRONOMY TOUR OF:

Ireland/Scotland - July 3-12, 2009

Much to everyone's chagrin, the M/S Andrea has been taken out of operations for the year due to low bookings in the spring and winter. A sign of the present economy, no doubt, but hope springs eternal! We'll look for another opportunity to do this lovely itinerary, and, hopefully, with the same cast of characters...

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Ireland and the Inner Waterways of Scotland

A Cruise of Musical and Culinary Delights

July 3–12, 2009

Portsmouth, England to Edinburgh, Scotland

9 Nights and 10 Days Aboard the

M/S ANDREA

A beautiful ship on a beautiful sea,
Beauty’s home country for all to see,
The food, wine and music that only speak here
Make us friends ever after in this life so dear.*

For a wide-ranging, diverse experience of the British Isles, this cruise is second to none. Over ten days, you’ll enjoy the myriad landscapes, cultures, and accents of England, Ireland, the Hebrides, Orkneys and Scotland. Especially as we cruise toward the Hebrides, you will appreciate the incomparable pleasure of the British summertime, when delightful sunny days linger into evenings with just a touch of briskness in the air. We meet in Portsmouth, 70 miles southwest of London – the home of the British Navy and the Royal Naval Museum – and first set sail for the curious subtropical gardens of Scilly, then head north to the verdant landscapes and historic cities of Ireland. Ramble through gorgeous Skye, and the Hebrides (where Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse was set), onward to the Neolithic monuments of the Orkneys. You’ll have the opportunity to dine in a historic castle outside Aberdeen before arriving in Edinburgh, the neoclassical capital so filled with the witty and the literary.

Accompanying us on this majestic itinerary will be Irish and Scottish entertainers of the highest caliber. Tenor Brian Hunter sings perhaps the largest Irish and Scottish repertoire today, as well as a full palette of operatic and classical arias for any occasions. Accordionist and Band Leader Paddy Noonan is legendary for his flying fingers and his never ending well of happy Irish tunes and singalongs. Irish/Scottish Comedian Eddie Devine has performed in top shows for decades, headlining with the likes of Ingelbert Humperdink and Tom Jones. Food, wine and spirits expert David Rosengarten will make sure we taste and appreciate the uniquely fresh foods that the coldest of waters and deepest of green grasses produce; and he will not neglect the distinct fruits of the grains, for which this part of the world is rightly famous, from whiskey to scotch, and beer to ale…

Thursday, July 2, or earlier: Depart USA under own arrangements (we can help, if you like).

Friday, July 3: Portsmouth, England. Embark MS Andrea in the late afternoon and sail.

Saturday, July 4: Tresco, Isles of Scilly. Go ashore for an afternoon on the beautiful island of Tresco. On an optional excursion, walk from the beach, along pretty traffic-free lanes to the subtropical Abbey Gardens. There will be a distinctly American patriotic flavor to this evening’s onboard concert. There will be plenty of days ahead for raising the airs of Ireland and Scotland!

Sunday, July 5: Waterford/Tipperary/Kilkenny, Ireland. We have the pleasure of spending the day where three of Ireland’s most lovely counties intersect on the Suir River. An optional excursion takes us to Mount Congreve, a spectacular woodland garden on the banks of the River Suir, continue to Kilkenny, one of the most historic and attractive cities in all Ireland. Brian Hunter’s grandfather’s relatives own a local theater and pub where we’ll be treated to irrestible pub grub and a concert of local entertainers will join Brian and Paddy for an Irish show the likes of which will be talked about for generations! We’ll also visit another pub that is consistently voted in the top ten pubs in Ireland!!

Monday, July 6: Dublin. Stately and raffish, and now young and lively, Ireland’s capital remains thrillingly historic. Enjoy an optional tour of the old city centre including O’Connell Street, Trinity College, College Green, Leinster House, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin Castle and, of course, the obligatory pilgrimage to the Guinness Brewery & Storehouse.  David Rosengarten has picked out his favorite lunch spot – and he’ll convince you that gourmet thrives in Dublin! Later, drive to St. Patrick’s Cathedral where John McCormack sang as a youth, and Christchurch en route to Phoenix Park.


Tuesday, July 7: Iona/Isle of Mull. No fewer than 62 Kings of Scotland are buried on the Holy Isle of Iona, including Duncan, Macbeth’s victim. St. Columba came here from Ireland in 563 AD and early Christianity spread through northern Britain from this remote island community. Tour the Abbey on an optional excursion, then sail along the rugged west coast of Mull. Join David and Eddie Devine on an optional walking tour of the fishing village of Tobermory, with its interesting shops and excellent local single malt.

Wednesday, July 8: Rum/Isle of Skye. Spend the morning on Rum, which is now a nature reserve. On an optional excursion, visit eccentric Kinloch Castle and walk the nature trail, with its classic Scottish island scenery. This afternoon, sail with the song, “over the sea to Skye” and take an optional excursion to majestic Loch Scavaig and the Cuillins mountains.Isle of Skye with Rum in the distance.

Thursday, July 9: Poolewe/Summer Isles. Arrive this morning in Poolewe for an optional tour of Inverewe, one of the finest sited gardens in all of Scotland. Here exotic plants thrive in their northerly location warmed by the Gulf Stream and protected by the surrounding mountains. After lunch, sail to the beautiful Summer Isles. On an optional guided walk enjoy the stunning views; look out for otters and seals and the prolific bird life. Stop at the unique post office, whose own rare stamps are much sought after by collectors.

Friday, July 10: Stromness/Orkney Islands. Today berth in the centre of Stromness. From here explore Kirkwall on an optional excursion, including the Earl’s and Bishop’s Palace and the impressive 12th century St. Magnus Cathedral. Later, on an optional excursion, visit the excavated village of Skara Brae, which dates back 5000 years to the Neolithic Age.

Saturday, July 11: Aberdeen, Scotland. On an optional excursion, drive along the lovely Dee Valley; see Crathes Castle and its delightful gardens. For lunch, David will explain the true value of the (optional!) haggis, served traditionally here with "neeps and tatties". After lunch at the castle, continue to nearby Pitmedden where the formal gardens should be at their best with 30-40,000 annuals in bloom.

Sunday, July 12: Edinburgh. After breakfast, disembark M/S Andrea in the port district of Leith. You can be back in the States by the afternoon, or you may choose to make optional arrangements for an extended stay on land.

SHIP'S PORT SCHEDULE

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Click here to download the Registration Form for this tour.

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Click here to contact us – put Ireland/Scotland in the question/comment field.

 

Brian Hunter, Tenor

In addition to running Joseph H. Conlin Travel, Brian Hunter is a highly-acclaimed lyric and Irish tenor. In addition, through JHC Travel he has hired, and performed with, many stars of the operatic and concert world. He is the president of the Musicians Club of New York, one of the oldest nonprofit music organizations in New York City, founded in 1911. His responsibilities include organizing a series of concerts in New York, the annual Koussevitzky Young Artists Competition and  Koussevitzky International Recording Award. Previous presidents have included Walter Damrosch and Olga Koussevitzky and Joseph H. Conlin!

Paddy Noonan, Accordion

Renowned band leader, Paddy Noonan is an Irish institution. Besides having enthralled hundreds of thousands as an accomplished accordionist, with a keen eye for talent, he has introduced many of today’s top entertainers in Irish music with the Paddy Noonan Band. Perennially returning to the Emerald Isle of his childhood with groups and friends, Paddy will share with us his authentic experience as well as his talented friends from Mother Ireland to Bonnie Scotland. He says of Scotland, “there’s a place so much the same as Ireland, but yet so very, very different...” The natural beauty of this itinerary and the amazing MS ANDREA, make this return to the Irish Sea very different and special for Paddy, as well!

Eddie Devine, Comedian

Glasgow’s Eddie Devine is half Irish, half Scottish and 100% hilarious! Long a major entertainer in the British Isles, Eddie is no longer a secret to Irish-American audiences, since he burst onto the scene as a featured performer on Paddy Noonan’s 1999 “Musical Taste of Ireland Tour.” The response to his original brand of side-splitting, clean humor was overwhelming. Eddie’s performances from that American tour are captured on his CD, The Devine Comedy, available online. Find out why Eddie Devine is the preferred comedian of audiences everywhere he goes!

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David Rosengarten, Food and Wine Expert

David Rosengarten is one of the leading gastronomic authorities in the world. Not only is he an accomplished chef and cookbook author, he is a respected restaurant critic and a renowned food, wine and travel expert. To match these credentials, he has true passion and the ability to intelligently communicate the essence of what he experiences in a delightful, humorous and charming manner. He is equally interested in sharing his knowledge with everyone from beginning family chefs to the top professionals in the food world. This makes for an excellent travel guide and companion!