View allAll Photos Tagged HolidayDreams
Ahh, there she is—the Isle of Inisheer, a proud vessel of Irish Ferries, basking in the summer sun as she prepares for another season of adventures on the Irish Sea! This beauty, with her sleek white hull and green accents, has quite the story to tell. Once a familiar sight shuttling holidaymakers on the Dover-Calais route, she’s now found her new summer home in 2025 as the "second boat" on the Dublin-Cherbourg route, after a stint on the Dublin-Holyhead line. Irish Ferries sure knows how to keep their fleet on the move, ferrying families and their cars to dreamy destinations across the UK and France.
Picture this: it’s the height of summer, the kids are buzzing with excitement in the backseat, and you’ve packed the car to the brim with beach towels, picnic hampers, and maybe a sneaky bottle of sunscreen you’ll forget to use. Thanks to Irish Ferries and the Isle of Inisheer, your holiday dreams are just a scenic sail away. Whether you’re headed to the charming streets of Cherbourg for a French getaway or crossing over to Holyhead to explore the UK, this ferry makes the journey as much a part of the fun as the destination. There’s something magical about watching the coastline fade away while sipping a coffee on deck, the sea breeze in your hair, and the promise of new memories on the horizon.
Irish Ferries has been connecting families to their summer escapades for years, and with the Isle of Inisheer now splitting her time between routes, there’s even more opportunity to hop aboard. The Dublin-Cherbourg route is perfect for those craving a taste of France—think fresh croissants, quaint villages, and maybe a little vineyard tour—while the Dublin-Holyhead trip opens up the wonders of the UK, from the rolling Welsh hills to bustling English cities. So, load up the car, book your spot with Irish Ferries, and let the Isle of Inisheer whisk you away for a summer holiday that’s as smooth as the Irish Sea on a sunny day!
For Active Assignment Weekly: Holiday Dreams
WIT: A couple of silly ideas, and I went hiking with a stuffed lion in my backpack. This is hour and a half north of New York, but this meadow turned out like a pretty nice savannah. Not sure about the branches in the top left, so I tried different framing, but I still like this one. In post I turned up temp just slightly.
Winner of the Weekly Assignment Holiday Dreams
Active Assignment Weekly: June 14-21:Holiday Dreams
Unfortunately I'm not going on holiday this week (though I would love to be), but I was on Bournemouth Beach (Dorset, UK) having a BBQ with some friends and I thought to myself that for some people this would be a holiday, and I am lucky to have this on my door step :-)
When I was young the beach and a tennis ball was all me and my friends need to have a whale of time!
Unfulfilled dreams of sunshine.......
Thanks to Travis for the music :)
And thanks to Tristan from Canada for the fantastic background picture of raining London. See the excellent original here, and other lovely pictures of his:
Trizzz01.deviantart.com/art/Raining-London-157543038?q=ga...
Taken for the Active Assignment Weekly! group. This week's assignment: Holiday Dreams
My wife has extended her sewing capabilities to housing in the meantime. As soon as the tipi was ready our two little Indians insisted on camping in the hot dry plains of the Middle West (of Kaiseraugst). Concerning hot and dry summer: well one can dream...
What it took: I just had like two minutes before it started to rain so I could not optimize much. In post-processing I cleaned up the background a little to enhance the contrast between urbanity and nature.
Arriving at the Cruise terminal in Singapore, Hapag Lloyd's Europa of 1982 (33,819grt).
Once the highest rated cruise ship of her day, seen here, Europa had already been sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia the previous year but she was chartered back to her original owners (Hapag-Lloyd) until June 1999. Later on, in 2012, she was acquired by Saga Cruises and renamed Saga Sapphire.
Crazy-golf on Deck 12 forward, in what was originally the nude sun-bathing deck back in the 80's! Today, it has been renamed "St Andrews" (with tongue in cheek, I hope!)
Keppel Harbour and another view of Hapag Lloyd's Europa of 1982 (33,819grt).
Once the highest rated cruise ship of her day, seen here, Europa had already been sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia the previous year but she was chartered back to her original owners (Hapag-Lloyd) until June 1999. Later on, in 2012, she was acquired by Saga Cruises and renamed Saga Sapphire.
Behind Europa, you can see the funnel of P&O's Arcadia.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in July 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Also in shot is Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 (67,139 grt) at the QEII Terminal, seen here prior to her 1987 refit in which she was re-engined and given her "fat" funnel.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Welcome Menu from the 2nd night (First Formal Night) aboard.
The same menu is also served in the Verandah Grill on deck 9.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Arriving at the Cruise terminal in Singapore, Hapag Lloyd's Europa of 1982 (33,819grt).
Once the highest rated cruise ship of her day, seen here, Europa had already been sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia the previous year but she was chartered back to her original owners (Hapag-Lloyd) until June 1999. Later on, in 2012, she was acquired by Saga Cruises and renamed Saga Sapphire.
Also in the background is Leisure World of 1993 (ex-Skyward of 1969).
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
French Dinner Menu from the 3rd night aboard.
The same menu is also served in the Verandah Grill on deck 9.
The Verandah Cafe & Grill, Deck 9.
In the evenings, this restaurant acts as an alternative dining venue, although the menu is exactly the same as in the main Pole to Pole Restaurant.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Europa (33,819grt) arriving in Southampton in 1986.
Built for Hapag-Lloyd in 1981, she was one of the largest new cruise ships of her time and was one of the highest-rated cruise ships for 17 years.
Sold to Star Cruises of Malaysia in 1999 as SuperStar Europe (later SuperStar Aries), she became Holiday Dreaam in 2004 and Bleu de France in 2008 before being bought by Saga Cruises in 2012 as their new Saga Sapphire.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
I have been planning my dream holiday for awhile. I want to go to Orcas Island in Washington State, USA and stay at the Turtleback Farm Inn. Used various pieces from Kimeric to create the page. Then I want to visit the other Islands in the San Juan Islands and explore the rest of Washington State, Oregon and California.
The new Atrium Lobby, decks 5,6 & 7 midships, with fish sculpture by Dominic & Frances Bromley of the Scabetti Studio, UK.
This is one of the major alterations made by Saga, completely opening-up what were all seperate lobbies on 3 decks.
Dreaming of holidays... amidst the wellington boots (gumboots), kindling (wood) and the gas cylinder. (sigh). When will the sun arrive?
K8
Summertime, everybody - well, mostly everybody - is getting ready for their few days of summer vacation. So, show me: how are your holiday dreams look like? Love to hike in the mountains, scuba in the caribeans, skiing, laying lazily in the sun, do you even want to fly to mars, or... or...? Be creative, crazy, wild. The funnier the better! Don't show the actual destination, just the general idea, if you understand what I mean?
WIT
A 'candid' picture of my front porch. When the sun comes out - I will dash outside and sit on the chair. lol!
exif
Camera: Nikon D300S
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 60 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
This was taken for AAW groups "Holiday Dreams" The dare was to include yourself in the photo. I am wondering if my hand, counts as myself?
WIT:
At the lake with the family and a few extra kids. Before hand I had this idea, and today the clouds were fluffy. So before I left, I dumped my sons hot wheels out all over his room (did not pick them up either, bad mama) I was looking for a gray plane he has, but could only find this one. So I made do.
Held the plane up near a patch of puffy clouds over the lake and wished, so very hard I was on it going someplace, anyplace away from work, stress, bills and maybe even the kids (?) for a little while.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.
Active Assignment Weekly: June 14-21:Holiday Dreams
Unfortunately I'm not going on holiday this week (though I would love to be), but I was on Bournemouth Beach (Dorset, UK) having a BBQ with some friends and I thought to myself that for some people this would be a holiday, and I am lucky to have this on my door step :-)
This shot is similar to one that I posted before, so appoligise for that
The new Atrium Lobby, decks 5,6 & 7 midships, with fish sculpture by Dominic & Frances Bromley of the Scabetti Studio, UK.
This is one of the major alterations made by Saga, completely opening-up what were all seperate lobbies on 3 decks.
Saga Sapphire (37,301grt) in Dover, 4 months after her abortive maiden cruise as the most recent addition to the fleet.
Originally built as Europa for Hapag-Lloyd in 1982.