Day 1:  Depart Palm Springs or LAX.  
Your exciting journey to Europe begins on your overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Day 2:  Amsterdam, Netherlands. 
Morning arrival in Holland’s capital.  Transfer to your luxury floating hotel, MSC Cruises’ Lirica, and unpack once for the next 11 nights.  Rest of the day at leisure.  Set sail at 3:00 p.m.

Day 3:  Hamburg, Germany. 
1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.  Enjoy a day in cosmopolitan Hamburg, or travel to an enchanted region of medieval villages.  A tour of the charming Old Town of Lubeck, an UNESCO World Heritge Site, is also offered. 

Day 4: Helgoland, Germany. 
7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.  Sample local drinks at the colorful waterfront on this popular North Sea beach resort, or take any number of guided excursions showcasing the natural wildlife of the island.

Day 5:  South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland, U.K.. 
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  Perched on an extinct volcano, the brooding Edinburgh Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots once lived, keeps a watchful eye over Scotland’s capital.  Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 6:  Invergordon, Scotland. 
9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.  Venture across the beautiful Scottish Highlands to lovely Loch Ness and look for the fabled Loch Ness Monster, or visit Macbeth’s vast Cawdor Castle.

Day 7: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland 
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  Kirkwall is a Viking town that was founded around 1035, and is one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town.  With a population of approx. 7600 people, Kirkwall offers the magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral, quirky craft shops, great pubs, and cozy cafes.

Dublin, Ireland

Day 8: Oban, Scotland. 
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  Explore the ruins of the Dunstaffnage Castle, built in 1263.  Or visit the shops of Argyll Square, where you can find kilts and tartan plaids of nearly every clan in Scotland.

Day 9:  Dublin, Ireland. 
9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  Dublin’s rich history can be seen in its medieval walls, castles and cathedrals.  The birthplace of writers such as James Joyce and Oscar Wilde, Dublin has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature and is home to the Book of Kells illuminated manuscript from 800 A.D., on view at Trinity College.

Cork, Ireland

Day 10:   Cork, Ireland. 
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Kiss the Blarney Stone for the gift of eloquence, or simply visit  ancient Blarney Castle.  Admire the Georgian style buildings of Cork and duck into a pub for some Irish music.

Day 11: Day at Sea. 
Sail the English Channel, and enjoy the many amenities of your cruise ship.

Day 12:   Amsterdam/Palm Springs. 
8:00 a.m.  Disembark the Lirica this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Palm Springs.  Same day arrival.