At Cobh (Cork) we boarded a Celebrity coach trip to Kinsale. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a charming soft, Southern Irish accent. He kept us content with his commentary during the hour drive to a fortress above Kinsale. Wonderful views there and we were free for 90 minutes in the pretty town. Heaving with tourists in summer and short of real Irish atmosphere: the woman who fried our fish & chips was Asian and the bartender who served our pints of Murphy's stout hailed from Poland! However, the excursion immersed us in the region's history and we saw a lot of rolling Irish farmland.

Alas it rained in Dublin. We walked through Trinity College, up Grafton Street and enjoyed a capuchino at historic Davy Byrnes pub. Then the rain got heavy so we boarded a HOHO bus in Merrion Square. The right decision as the commentary was interesting and we got to see a lot of the city, even driving a mile or two out into Phoenix Park.

Based on our success in Dublin, we boarded a HOHO bus in Belfast. The commentator was a recent graduate of Queen's University. She gave us a very informative tour of the city, including the “Troubles” neighborhoods and way out to the impressive parliament building, Stormont. After Liverpool we were Titanic-ed out so didn't go into the magnificent new center.

As on a previous cruise we took Celebrity's “Bruges-on-your-own” bus. There are cheaper means of local transport but none gets you from ship to city as swiftly and comfortably. There was adequate time to shop for chocolates and summer sale bargains, as well as downing a plate of typical mussels and fries before returning on board.

The ship moored a 20 minutes tender ride from Leith, where a local shuttle drove us another 20 minutes into Edinburgh. We didn't book seats for the Tattoo so were spared the dismal tendering experience described by guests who went on the first evening. The highlight of our Edinburgh visit was Holyrood House Palace. We bought entrance tickets on line so avoided queues to get in. Fascinating historical artifacts (even a lock of Mary Queen of Scots' hair), spacious halls, art work and lovely gardens.

Liverpool was a total wash-out so we sheltered in the museums in the port near our dock and in the shopping mall near by. Interesting displays about the Titanic and about the slave trade. The Tate Gallery was disappointing --apart from the gift shop.