Board Magellan in Liverpool today, and settle in to your cabin as she prepares to set sail.
Magellan's first stop is Dublin. This great city of culture, once home to Joyce, Yeats, Wilde and Swift, is one of Europe's most engaging capitals. Grafton and O'Connell Streets are popular with visitors, as are the city's famous bars and pubs, cafes and coffee shops.
At 46,000-tonnes and with a passenger complement of around 1100, spacious Magellan retains a sense of traditional cruising and small-ship intimacy, thanks to the beautiful layout and tasteful contemporary style of her public areas, and of course the presence of her friendly, welcoming crew and cruise staff. A major refit in 2010 has ensured her position as a thoroughly modern, bright and supremely comfortable floating home, and she is a hugely welcome addition to the fleet.
Magellan s 15 categories of cabin and suite are graded according to size and position. Each cabin is air-conditioned, and has ample storage space, a safe, a TV, a hairdryer and private facilities with a shower. All ocean-view cabins have picture windows apart from eight Cat 6 cabins and 10 Cat 7 cabins, towards the front of the ship, which have portholes. Suites offer the added comforts of baths, seating areas and private balconies.
Two beautifully appointed dining rooms, the Waldorf and the Kensington, as well as a less formal buffet-style bistro that offers indoor and outdoor dining, will tempt you at mealtimes, and there are three lounge bars and three deck bars where you can while away a convivial hour or two.
The Cruise Director and the team will provide a full programme of entertainment during your cruise. There ll be light-hearted quizzes, port lectures, exercise classes and even dance instruction. Full details will delivered to your cabin each day. And, as always, there s the ever-changing view to savour, and new ports of call to explore.