British Isles Church History Tour and Cruise with Alan McKay – October 19-30, 2013
You start in Manchester, England where an incredible LDS Church History tour and cruise begin. See the sites of Preston, Liverpool, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Hertfordshire, Oxford, Cotswolds, Gloucester, and Stonehenge. Along with sightseeing, you will learn the Church History from expert Alan McKay. Following this, you will board a cruise on Royal Caribbean to Belgium, Paris and finally stopping back in London! This tour and cruise won’t last long!
Itinerary:
October 19 – Depart from the USA and fly to England!
October 20 – Arrive in Manchester - Transfer from the airport to our Preston hotel. Balance of the day free to rest and enjoy the city. Overnight in Preston.
October 21 – Preston – Preston is the cradle of the LDS Church in the British Isles. The first Mormon missionaries arrived here in July 1837 and felt prompted to journey to Preston. The first LDS sermon was preached here in the old Vauxhall Chapel on July 23, 1837. The first baptisms in Britain were performed here in the River Ribble where 9 converts were baptized in the presence of 1,800 onlookers, assisted by Heber C. Kimball. We also visit the Wilfred Street Lodgings, Aveham Park, the Market Street Square, Temperance Hall, and Pole Street; all important church history sites. An optional session at the Preston LDS Temple is available this afternoon. (B,L)
October 22 - Preston & Liverpool -The historic city of Liverpool lies at the mouth of the River Mersey. Liverpool was an embarkation port of one of the greatest migrations to people to the New World, including 100,000 LDS British converts immigrating to Zion. It was here, too, that the Beatles rose to music fame. We visit the Merseyside Maritime Museum and you can also visit the Beatles Story at Albert Dock. (B,L)
October 23 - Stratford-upon-Avon & Liverpool - Stratford sits on the banks of the Avon River and is a market town dating back to medieval times. Today, Stratford is best known as the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare. Even today, there are many buildings Shakespeare would recognize, including his 1564 birthplace. Just outside Stratford lies Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. We then visit the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried. (B,L)
October 24 - Stratford-upon-Avon & Hertfordshire - After leaving Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, we visit many sites of LDS church history, including Dymock, Ledbury, Castle Frome, Hawcross, & Hertfordshire Beacon. This area was the base of early missionaries, including Brigham Young and Willard Richards. We visit the Benbow Farm pond where many early converts were baptized. Overnight in Stratford. (B,L)
October 25 - Oxford, Cotswolds, & Gloucester - We drive to Oxford and tour Christ Church college, originally founded by Cardinal Wolsey during the reign of Henry VIII and was recently used in the filming of the Harry Potter movies. We continue on to Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill. This evening we visit Gadfield Elm Chapel. In 1840 Brigham Young preached in this chapel and is the first chapel owned by the church in the British Isles and is the oldest LDS meetinghouse in the world. Overnight in Gloucester. (B,L)
October 26 – Stonehenge & Southampton - Mysterious and magical Stonehenge is Europe’s most famous prehistoric monument, built in stages from 3000 BC. We also will stop at Bath, England after our Stonehenge experience. Following this, sit back as we transfer to Southampton where you will board the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas. (B, Cruise Meals)
October 27 – Bruges, Belgium - Zeebrugge is a port in northwestern Belgium, 10 miles north of Brugge and 60 miles from Brussels. Interestingly, it is actually an “artificial port,” built because the existing marine channel to Brugge at the time had become clogged with silt. Because of its strategic location, Belgium has often been targeted by opposing military forces, which has contributed to Zeebrugge’s rich history. In 1918, during World War I, British naval forces sank block ships in Zeebrugge’s harbor to block the entry of German submarines. In 1944, the entire port was destroyed by the retreating Germans. (Cruise Meals)
October 28 – Paris, France - Paris, the capital city of France, is a beautiful, artistic city, situated in the north-central part of France. The city lies on both banks of the River Seine. The north bank was historically the area where Royalty and the wealthy merchant-class lived, and today it is the government and commercial district. While the south bank, with its image of an intellectual and bohemian playground, is the site where the university was founded. (Cruise Meals)
October 29 – London, England - Our cruise ends this morning. Get ready for a day of sightseeing on our way to London. Enjoy a full tour of Windsor Castle and the changing of the guard. Upon arrival in London, tour Westminister Abbey. Evening free to enjoy the night life of London. Overnight in London. (Cruise Breakfast, L)
October 30 – Sit back during our relaxing flight back home!
Your Ship: Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
Meet Independence of the Seas, a marvel of maritime engineering, packed with all the phenomenal onboard experiences you’d expect from our Freedom class of ships—including the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock climbing wall, ice-skating rink, cantilevered whirlpools, Royal Promenade, mini golf course, and much more. It’s your most incredible vacation yet!
Your Host: Alan McKay
Alan started guiding tours when he was a senior in high school. Since that time, he has traveled with hundreds of groups all over the world, including tours to England, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, China, and Thailand. His degree in history from Utah State University adds richness to the tours that he leads. He and his wife, Ida Mae, live in Huntsville, Utah and are the proud parents of four sons. Alan’s love in life is to see the world with incredible people and to share his knowledge of travel with all of his groups. Come and become one of his “travel groupies” today.
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Inside Cabin, Tour & Airfare from Most US Cities – Double Occupancy - $3098 (includes cruise, tour and airfare for $2399 and taxes of $699)
Outside/Ocean View Cabin Upgrade – $100
Balcony Cabin Upgrade – $250
England Hotel and Sightseeing Package – Included
Optional Private Group Shore Excursions – Prices coming soon
Credit Card Fee – 3.5% (pay by check to avoid it)
Deposit Required for Reservation - $1400 ($300 can be put on a card with no fee – $1100 by check)
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*Trip cancellation and emergency insurance available *Passports are required *Full payment due 90 days before departure. *Cancellation charges: non-refundable after deposit and final payment is made Click Here For Terms and Conditions Click Here for Current Airline Baggage Fees