Dover, England 

Approaching the coast, ships are greeted by the ethereal White Cliffs of Dover. This iconic strip of milky-white land serves as England's welcoming beacon, its stark beauty becoming more apparent as you draw closer. The coastline unfurls like a grand tapestry, its white chalk cliffs streaked with black flint, rising majestically 350 feet straight from the sea's embrace.

At Sea 

Fishguard, Wales

Fishguard’s name in Welsh is Abergwaun, meaning the mouth of the River Gwaun. The English name comes from an Old Norse word for a fish trap, and indeed the community has profited from catching and drying herring for centuries. It has remained remarkably unchanged physically over the years. The waterfront has a traditional feel like many others in Pembrokeshire. At first glance, nothing would indicate that this is the site of the last invasion of Britain by a foreign power. But a bicentenary stone recalls the day in 1797 when 1400 French revolutionary troops landed here, only to be routed by the local folk, including a heroic woman shoemaker named Jemima Nicholas, who rounded up more than a dozen dismayed invaders while armed with a pitchfork.

Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland 

Rothesay, standing along the Firth of Clyde, presents the visitor with a combination of illustrious gardens and grand architecture. The magnificent ruins of Rothesay Castle, which date from the 13th century, are what most people visualize when they think of a medieval castle. With a drawbridge, encircling moat, immense circular curtain wall and tall stone towers, Rothesay is unique in Scotland for its circular plan. The ruins of St Blane's Chapel, a 6^th century monastery, sit atop a hill with views over the Sound of Bute. For true elegance, visit the country estate of Mount Stuart House with its colonnaded Marble Hall and extraordinary Marble Chapel. Built in the late 1870’s in the Gothic Revivalist style, it was constructed of reddish-brown stone and houses a library of 25,000 books.

Belfast, Northern Ireland 

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s fun-loving and cosmopolitan capital. Its seat of government is Stormont Castle, a beautiful baronial mansion. There is something of interest here for everyone: Victorian architecture, a glittering waterfront, modern art, and over 90 Irish pubs. The Giant's Ring, a 5,000-year- old stone ‘henge’ shows occupation here since the Bronze Age. The magnificent copper dome of Belfast City Hall dominates the city centre. Belfast is also the site of the memorial statue for R.M.S Titanic, because it was here that the ship was built in 1909. Mixing the traditional with the ultra-modern, the Titanic Belfast Museum commemorates the fate of Titanic in its architecture. Shaped like the great prow of the ocean liner, the museum’s exhibits tell the story of the ill-fated vessel.

At Sea

Newcastle upon Tyne, England 

Newcastle upon Tyne, clinging to the north bank of the River Tyne, grew around the Roman settlement Pons Aelius and was named after the castle built here in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert Curthose. The port developed in the 16th century, quickly becoming one of the world's largest shipbuilding centers. Newcastle harbors a spirited mix of heritage and urban sophistication.

Dover (London), England 

The echoes of ancient times resonate from every corner of Dover. Archaeological treasures hint at the presence of human life during the Stone Age, painting a vivid picture of the region's rich history. However, it was the Romans who first recorded Dover's significance, drawn by its strategic location just 21 miles from the French mainland. Dover is home to remarkable Roman remnants, including the tallest Roman-built lighthouse still standing in Britain, as well as the only preserved Roman wall mural outside Italy.