(Small Group) Shore Tour from Belfast

Overview

The price of this tour will increase shortly for season 2025. Book any date for 2025 / 2026 at current pricing now while you can. With a free cancellation option up to 24 hours before departure you can pre- book with confidence.

This small group shore excursion follows exactly the same route as our popular group coach shore excursion from Belfast.

Operated by our 5 star sister company Elegant Irish Tours, the small group vans seat no more than 25 passengers and allow for a particularly intimate day on shore.

Our tour begins at the Belfast Cruise Terminal. We drive to the north coast and visit the Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage site. The area consists of approximately 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, some believe to be formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago. However, many of us Irish people believe that it was built by our Celtic warrior giant Finn MacCool as a walkway to Scotland.

NB: Your (small group) ticket includes the £8 Giants Causeway Visitor Centre entrance fee (lunch may be had at the Visitor Centre or in a number of different towns depending on our departure time from the boat).

Afterwards we will return to Belfast City, where we will enjoy a panoramic tour of this fine city, seeing highlights such as the City Hall, Queens College, Titanic Quarter, and Belfast Cathedral. If time allows there will be time for shopping and sightseeing in the City Centre. We will adjust all the timings on the tour to suit your ships departure time, and will have you back in ample time for the ship's departure.

The list of all ships and dates will be published here once finalised by the Belfast Port Authority.

In the meantime, if your dates have been confirmed by your cruise operator you can go ahead and book at 2024 rates on the booking calendar on this page - all dates for the new season have been made live for your convenience.

Rates will be increased for 2025 shortly. Book now for any date at the current rate and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours prior to departure.

Arrivals confirmed by cruise lines and / or Port Authorities in Belfast so far:

16th April 2025 - Ambition

22nd April 2025 - Regal Princess

28th April 2025 - Ambition

2nd May 2025 - Msc Preziosa

3rd May 2025 - Celebrity Eclipse

7th May 2025 - Norwegian Prima

8th May 2025 - Spirit of Discovery

10th May 2025 - Nieuw Statendam

14th May 2025 - Norwegian Star

20th May 2025 - Carnival Miracle

25th May 2025 - Celebrity Eclipse

29th May 2025 - Oceania Vista

5th June 2025 - Aurora

6th June 2025 - Regal Princess

7th June 2025 - Nieuw Statendam

8th June 2025 - Bolette

10th June 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

12th June 2025 - Celebrity Eclipse

14th June 2025 - Britannia

15th June 2025 - Spirit of Adventure

17th June 2025 - Oceania Vista

18th June 2025 - Regal Princess

22nd June 2025 - Queen Anne

24th June 2025 - Carnival Miracle

28th June 2025 - Celebrity Eclipse

29th June 2025 - Arcadia

30th June 2025 - Regal Princess

1st July 2025 - Carnival Miracle

4th July 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

8th July 2025 - Emerald Princess

13th July 2025 - Regal Princess

15th July 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

17th July 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

24th July 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

5th August 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

7th August 2025 - Regal Princess

8th August 2025 - Carnival Miracle

9th August 2025 - Zuiderdam (Holland America)

10th August 2025 - Celebrity Eclipse

12th August 2025 - Oceania Vista

14th August 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

17th August 2025 - Regal Princess

18th August 2025 - Oceania Marina

18th August 2025 - Regal Princess

20th August 2025 - Oceania Vista

21st August 2025 - Aurora

24th August 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

26th August 2025 - Scarlet Lady

28th August 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

29th August 2025 - Regal Princess

30th August 2025 - Oceania Marina

31st August 2025 - Nieuw Statendam

1st September 2025 - Spirit of Adventure

4th September 2025 - Norwegian Dawn

7th September 2025 - Mein Schiff 3

9th September 2025 - Crystal Serenity

9th September 2025 - Norwegian Jewel

11th September 2025 - Regal Princess

13th September 2025 - Emerald Princess

15th September 2025 - Ambition

15th September 2025 - Ambience

17th September 2025 - Norwegian Prima

19th September 2025 - Msc Preziosa

20th September 2025 - Regal Princess

23rd September 2025 - Bolette

27th September 2025 - Ambition

1st October 2025 - Regal Princess

13th October 2025 - Artania

15th October 2025 - Ambition

22nd October 2025 - Norwegian Prima

6th November 2025 - Ambition

If you do not see a tour scheduled for the ship and date you are traveling upon - please contact us - and we may decide to schedule a tour if there is likely to be enough demand.

Itinerary

Departs Belfast Cruise Ship terminal at 8:00 am or should your ship dock later, 30 min after arrival

We will collect you in style in a luxury small group van (maximum 25 passengers). Your tour begins with a scenic drive up through the Glens of Antrim to the North Coast of Ireland.

Scenic North Coast Drive

We enjoy amazing sights as we take a panoramic drive along the North Coast of Antrim, - also known as the Causeway Coast. This area is recognized by the Government as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is truly breathtaking with rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and wonderful views of Scotland.

Giants Causeway

We allow ample time at the Giant's Causeway to make your way down to visit this famous World Heritage Site. It is a 20 minute walk from the Drop Off point to the amazing Causeway site, but there is a shuttle bus that operates for a small charge, ideal for those not comfortable walking up and down the steep gradient (hill) to the Causeway. The hexagonal basalt rocks really look like they were man made and this leads the people in Ireland to believe they were carved by Ireland's most famous Giant Warrior: the great Finn MacCoole. There is also a suggestion they may have been formed by Volcanic activity 60 million years ago.

Dunluce Castle: Photo Stop.

We will stop for one of the most impressive photo opportunities in Ireland, the magnificent Dunluce Castle. Part of this impressive ruin crumbled into the sea in the 1600's. This castle is connected to the mainland by a bridge and was once the stronghold of the McDonnell clan. The backdrop of the ocean and North Coast make this a really dramatic photo stop!

Belfast City

In the afternoon we return to Belfast City for a panoramic sightseeing tour. We will show you the highlights of this vibrant City, including City Hall, the River Lagan, Queens University, St Anne's cathedral and Prince Albert memorial Clock. After the panoramic tour, we will allow free time for more sightseeing and shopping if your departure time allows. PLEASE NOTE: If your ship is leaving earlier than normal we will have to alter the itinerary as necessary.

Return To Cruise Ship

We structure each tour to make sure you are back on board in ample time for departure. The service ends back at the dockside after approximately 8 hours on tour. If the boat is leaving earlier we will amend the itinerary as necessary.

Additional Info

Language

This tour is exclusively in English.

Ticket

You will receive your ticket (featuring your booking number) via email immediately at time of booking. There is no need to print the ticket. If you wish, you can simply show it on your phone or tablet.

When to Book?

Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities. You can book up to 60 minutes before departure if there are still places available.

Free Cancellation

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour's start time.

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour's start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour's start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the local time in Ireland.

Learn more about cancellations