Soulful Nishi

I recently returned from a 12-night cruise of the British Isles (August 3 to August 15, 2025), which began from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

From that vibrant city, our ship sailed to explore the coasts and history of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, and I would like to share my experience of being in this part of the world.

Before I describe what I experienced, let me explain a bit of geography I learned along the way.

Great Britain, also simply called Britain, is made up of three regions: England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom includes all of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. Then there is the Republic of Ireland, which is a completely independent country.

Technically, the term “British Isles” refers to all of these islands together, but people in the Republic of Ireland generally dislike having that term associated with their country.

Nevertheless, that was the official name of our cruise, which visited ports in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

Exploring this small nation of Britain was unforgettable. It is astonishing to think that this tiny country, home to only a fistful of people, once ruled and controlled hundreds of millions across vast parts of the world: India, much of Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and far-off Pacific islands.

Not millions, but only tens of thousands left Britain, yet they sailed across oceans and took control of lands far from home.

What kind of determination, ambition, and perhaps stubbornness did that take? What kind of DNA drove them to keep going for centuries? They divided, ruled, and shaped cultures worldwide. Good or bad, they did it.

Today, the empire’s glory has faded, but walking the streets and standing in places that once commanded the world was both eye-opening and profound.

We visited eight cities along the coasts of these lands. In England, we visited Dover and Liverpool, with Liverpool being the home of the Beatles.

In Scotland, we explored Glasgow and Inverness.

(In front of Urquhart Castle in Inverness, Scotland)

Wales welcomed us at HolyHead. In Northern Ireland, we visited Belfast, where the Titanic was built in 1912. In the Republic of Ireland, we enjoyed the cities of Waterford and Cork.

(In front of Rock of Cashel in Republic of Ireland)

One thing tied all these places together was the presence of castles.

The scenery throughout the trip was breathtaking. We were surrounded by water in all its forms: oceans, rivers, and lakes, along with rolling green hills, mountain ranges, dramatic coastal views, farmland, and even the occasional waterfall.

We were fortunate with the weather as well. The days we spent in port were filled with sunshine, making every excursion even more enjoyable.

The experience of this journey is imprinted in my mind and will remain a lasting part of my life. It was the feeling of walking in the very places from which this small group of people once set out to rule much of the world that stayed with me, before returning to Amsterdam where the journey had begun.