Celtic Lands with Guest Speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II

Celtic Lands with Guest Speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II

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DETAILS

Discover the legacy of the Celts in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, England, and France on this carefully curated 9-night itinerary. Enjoy two full-day excursions to the hallowed beaches of Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day—each accompanied by acclaimed historians Dwight David Eisenhower II and Allen Packwood OBE. Your Celtic journey begins in Glasgow, Scotland, before continuing to the Tobermory, Isles of Iona and then onward to Wales. From there, you will cruise to Dublin, Ireland, and then on to England before arriving at the shore of France to visit Utah Beach in Cherbourg and Omaha Beach in Caen. Complimentary alcoholic & nonalcoholic beverages are included throughout the cruise!

Pricing from
$7,195

Reserve early & SAVE up to $3,860!

Trip Type
Group Travel Tour, International Ocean & Sea Voyages
Departure Dates
May 28, 2024 - Jun 7, 2024

EXTENSIONS

Pre-Program Glascow
Explore two of Scotland’s greatest cities and their histories of clans, medieval knights, and royal and religious intrigue on this 4‑day itinerary. Visit Edinburgh Castle and view the Crown Jewels of Scotland. See the sites of Trossachs and visit Stirling Castle, home of the Stuart kings. See Glasgow’s 12th‑century cathedral and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Accommodations are in the 5‑star Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa.

Price per person, based on double occupancy: $1,755
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $2,195

Post-Program London
Take an immersive, half-day London City Tour to see the iconic West End landmarks of London, including Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. Visit the Churchill Museum to
walk in his footsteps through the underground maze of rooms in the wartime bunker, such as the War Cabinet Room and the Map Room, which has remained intact as it was at war’s end. Accommodations are in the 5‑star InterContinental London Park Lane.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $1,865
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $2,965

TRANSFER INFORMATION

Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS

  • Grace Gary

    Grace Gary

    > Grace Gary’s relationship with the National Trust began when, while in graduate school, she was chosen as a National Trust Maritime Intern.  She’s hard to pin down on how many years ago that was, but she admits to having served as a lecturer on more-than fifty Trust tours over a span of more-than thirty years.  She is also the author of two titles in the Trust’s “Information” series and served as director of the Trust’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Office.  She also served as executive director of Preservation Pennsylvania, Longue Vue House and Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg’s Tourism Leadership Program, and Nemours Mansion and Gardens.  While at Nemours she oversaw an $80 million restoration program, which received the highest award from the AIA ever bestowed on a restoration project.  She and fellow National Trust Tours lecturer Dwight Young also co-authored “Nemours: A Portrait of Alfred I. DuPont’s Home,” which was published by Rizzoli.  She is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and has a Master’s in architectural history from the University of Virginia, where she had the privilege of living on the Range in one of the original, Thomas Jefferson-designed rooms.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions apply

TOUR MAP

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ITINERARY

  • day 1

    Depart the U.S.

    Depart home city for your flight to Glasgow, Scotland

  • day 2

    Arrive in Glasgow/Embark ship

    Arrive in Glasgow and transfer to Greenock to embark the 5-star Le Dumont d’Urville

  • day 3

    Fort William/Glencoe

    Travel to the ancient Highland landscape of Glencoe on one of Scotland’s greatest scenic drives, known for its high peaks and secluded glens. Explore the Visitor Center, nestled in a wooded glade. Relish dramatic views on a drive via the coastal district of Appin and the narrow mountain Pass of Brander. Enjoy a whiskey tasting at Ben Nevis Distillery and explore Fort William at leisure. Join your fellow travel companions for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner this evening.

  • day 4

    Isle of Iona

    Visit the tiny inner Hebridean Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland and burial place of Scottish kings. Tour its restored abbey with intricate Celtic crosses, and marvel at the island’s white sand beaches, romantic lochs, and spectacular views. Later, join Allen Packwood OBE as he discusses the complexity of the D‑Day operations and Winston Churchill’s role in its undertaking.

  • day 5

    Llandudno, Wales/Bodnant Garden/Caernarfon Castle

    Visit the world-class Bodnant Garden. Its 80 acres of formal gardens, woodland, and meadows feature botanical collections from around the world, and exotic and rare plants and trees. Venture farther into the Welsh countryside for lunch and an unforgettable Welsh Choir performance. Then, experience the grandeur of the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Caernarfon Castle, a 13th‑century fortress built by Edward I of England as a defense against the marauding Welsh.

  • day 6

    Dublin, Ireland

    Enjoy a guided panoramic tour of Dublin, featuring St. Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals, Trinity College, the Book of Kells, and grand O’Connell Street, lined with statues of Irish statesmen. Explore more of Dublin during free time and experience a traditional Irish music and dance presentation by the Merry Ploughboys.

  • day 7

    Day at Sea

    The ship sails from Dublin to Cherbourg, France. Join Professor David Eisenhower II, who shares personal stories from his grandfather and Operation Overlord—the Allies’ code name for the military campaign that launched the D‑Day invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944.

  • day 8

    Cherbourg, France/ Utah Beach/Sainte-MèreÉglise/ Point du Hoc

    Visit the Utah Beach D-Day Museum, built on the very beach where the first American troops landed on June 6, 1944. Immerse yourself in the chronological recounting of D-Day in ten sequences. In Sainte‑Mère‑Èglise, one of the first French villages to be liberated by American forces during World War II, see the town and its famous church, and hear the story of American soldier John Steele. After lunch, visit Pointe du Hoc, a promontory with a 100‑foot cliff overlooking the English Channel on the coast of Normandy. Hear how the U.S. Army Ranger Assault Group scaled the cliffs to capture this critical Nazi stronghold.

  • day 9

    Honfleur/Caen, France/ Omaha Beach/Normandy

    Travel to Longues‑sur‑Mer to see the coastal German artillery battery and historic monument. Visit Omaha Beach, the code name  for this section of the coast, where Allied forces landed, to walk the historic Normandy shores. At Colleville‑sur‑Mer, in the company of Professor, Eisenhower, contemplate the solemn commemorative crosses and Stars of David in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Canadian travelers can visit the Juno Beach Bény‑sur‑Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Conclude your evening with the Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner on board with your fellow travelers.

  • day 10

    Portsmouth, United Kingdom/Disembark ship

    After disembarking, take a guided visit to the Portsmouth D-Day Story museum. View the Overlord Embroidery, illustrating the history of Operation Overlord in 34 panels. Enjoy lunch at Portsmouth Guildhall with a lecture by Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny. Travel to Southwick House, a Georgian manor house, to explore General Eisenhower’s D-Day operation headquarters. Transfer to London and check in to the hotel.

  • day 11

    London/Return to home city

    Following breakfast, continue on the Post‑Program Option or transfer to the London for your
    return flight home.

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