CME Cruises Visiting Dublin (Dun Laoghaire), Ireland

Your port of arrival, Dún Laoghaire, is a charming Victorian seaside town, but the main event is Dublin, a short and scenic DART train ride away. Dublin is a city that wears its immense history and literary soul with a casual, welcoming grace. It’s a capital that feels more like a collection of villages, eminently walkable and filled with discoveries. The essential first stop for many is Trinity College, an oasis of cobblestone squares and scholarly calm in the city center. The main draw is the 9th-century Book of Kells, a masterpiece of medieval art. However, the true spectacle is the Long Room library that houses it—a breathtaking, two-story cathedral of books that seems to hold the collective memory of the nation. From there, Dublin unfolds. You can trace the country’s turbulent path to independence at sites like Dublin Castle and the GPO on O’Connell Street, the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising. For a taste of modern Dublin, the energy of Grafton Street, with its high-end shops and talented buskers, is infectious. While the Temple Bar district is famous, its pubs can be crowded; we recommend wandering a few blocks away to find more traditional pubs where conversation and live music flow as freely as the stout. No visit is complete without acknowledging the city’s most famous export. The Guinness Storehouse is less a brewery tour and more a multi-story, interactive museum dedicated to the 'black stuff.' The experience culminates in the Gravity Bar, offering a complimentary pint and what is arguably the best panoramic view of the Dublin skyline. Given the limited time in port, it’s wise to choose two or three key interests and explore them well rather than rushing to see everything. The city’s true character is found not just in its landmarks, but in the warmth and wit of its people.