Celtic Lands

Cruise for eight nights aboard the Five-Star small ship Le Bellot from France to England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Meet Dwight David Eisenhower II and Allen Packwood, who will provide exclusive lectures. Enjoy guided excursions in each port of call, including the beaches of Normandy. Paris/Giverny and Edinburgh/Glasgow optional extensions.

Dates
May 20 - May 29, 2022  (10 Days)
Cost

from $5,995 per person, double occupancy 

For more Information
travel@commonwealthclub.org

(415) 597-6720

    Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21
    U.S./Paris, France/Honfleur

    Depart the U.S. for Glasgow. On arrival, embark the Five-Star Le Bellot.

    On board the ship Saturday, Professor David Eisenhower will share captivating personal insights about his grandfather and Operation Overlord, the Allies’ code name for the military campaign that launched the D‑Day airborne and amphibious invasion at Normandy. Enjoy dinner on board the ship Wednesday evening. Le Belott (1D)

    Sunday, May 22
    Caen for Omaha Beach and Arromanches

    Drive to Longues‑sur‑Mer, where the coastal German artillery battery remains intact. Continue to Omaha Beach, where Allied forces landed on June 6, 1944, and walk this historic Normandy shore. In the company of Professor Eisenhower, contemplate the solemn commemorative crosses and Stars of David in the American Military Cemetery at Colleville‑sur‑Mer. Following lunch, view a wraparound short film documenting the D‑Day campaign at the Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema or choose to see the world’s most famous embroidery, the 230-foot‑long Bayeux Tapestry, a graphic chronicle of the Norman Conquest of 1066. Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Dinner and Reception on board the ship this evening. Le Bellot (B,L,R,D) 

    Monday, May 23
    Caen/Pointe du Hoc for Utah Beach, Sainte‑Mère‑Èglise and Cherbourg

    Visit Pointe du Hoc to envision the heroic U.S. Army Second Ranger Battalion scaling this cliff promontory, and survey the serene English Channel. Nearby, visit Utah Beach, the westernmost shore of the five landing areas of the Normandy invasion, and the Utah Beach D‑Day Museum for a chronological account of the landing retold through an immersive curation of artifacts and oral histories. From Utah Beach, drive to Sainte‑Mère‑Èglise, one of the first French villages to be liberated by American forces during World War II. Sainte‑Mère‑Èglise occupied a key location in the line of defense along the road to Omaha Beach. The town is famous for its church, where American soldier John Steele caught his parachute on the steeple and “played dead” for two hours before being taken prisoner. Continue to the Church of Angoville‑au‑Plain, an emergency aid station on D‑Day, and view its modern stained‑glass rendition of the American Airborne parachute drop. Le Bellot (B,L,D)

    Tuesday, May 24
    Tresco, Isles of Scilly, England

    After lunch, visit the family-owned island of Tresco, famed for its magical 19th‑century Tresco Abbey Garden. This subtropical landscape is booming with more than 6,000 exotic plant species and was built around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey. Walk among spires of indigo viper’s bugloss, broad‑leafed tree ferns, flourishing aloes, and bright pink South African suikerbos. Visit the garden’s Valhalla Museum, home to an eclectic collection of 60 shipwrecked figureheads recovered from across the Isles of Scilly. Le Bellot (B,L,D)

    Wednesday, May 25
    Dublin, Ireland

    Built astride the River Liffey, Ireland’s historic capital has retained its rich heritage of Georgian architecture. The panoramic tour of the city highlights the landmark St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals and grand O’Connell Street, lined with bronze and marble statues of Irish statesmen. bronze and marble statues of Irish statesmen. Stroll through the stately quadrangles of Trinity College, founded in 1592, and view the ninth‑century Book of Kells, the world’s most famous medieval manuscript.

    The afternoon is at leisure to walk along colorful Grafton Street, savor a pint of Guinness in a neighborhood pub or visit the National Gallery of Ireland, one of the best repositories of Celtic treasures in the world. On board the ship this evening, enjoy specially arranged, traditional Irish music and dance performance. Le Bellot (B,L,D) 

    Thursday, May 26
    Holyhead, Wales

    From Holyhead, transfer across the Isle of Anglesey and over the Menai Strait to North Wales, the cradle of Celtic culture, where Welsh remains the mother tongue. Visit beautiful Bodnant Garden, one of the finest examples of 19th‑century Victorian landscape artistry, framed by the magnificent peaks of the Snowdonia Mountains. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant followed by a private choir performance of Welsh hymns. Experience the grandeur of the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Caernarfon Castle, an impenetrable 13th‑century fortress built by Edward I of England as a defense against the marauding Welsh. Le Bellot (B,L,D)

    Friday, May 27
    Isle of Iona/Tobermory, Isle of Mull

    This morning, cruise to the neighboring Hebridean Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland. In A.D. 563, the Irish monk Columba founded a monastery here where scribes would spend their lives painstakingly copying religious tracts and transcribing ancient Celtic sagas. Stroll through the serene, restored abbey and see the churchyard’s intricate Celtic crosses. Steeped in Viking myth and Celtic lore, the Isle of Mull is a land of extraordinary beauty with pink granite cliffs, white-sand beaches and clear blue waters. Occupied since the Ice Age and known to the classical Greeks, the island’s mysterious moors are studded with Iron‑Age duns, brochs and menhirs that recall the Hebridean Island’s rich prehistory.

    Go ashore at the picturesque port of Tobermory, the island’s capital, where brightly painted houses are nestled between woodland‑fringed hills and the boat‑filled harbor. Enjoy time at leisure. Later, join Allen Packwood on board the ship as he discusses the complexity of the D‑Day operation and Sir Winston Churchill’s role in its undertaking. Le Bellot (B,L,D)

    Saturday, May 28
    Kyle of Lochalsh

    Enjoy sweeping views of the Black and Red Cuillin mountain ranges at Sligachan and the heather‑woven hills and rocky shorelines of Sleat, the “Garden of Skye.” Visit the 13th‑century Eilean Donan Castle, named for a sixth‑century Irish saint. Magnificently sited at the entrance to Loch Duich, the castle was built in 1214 to defend against attack from the Danes. Today, the castle is home to a small museum that displays Jacobite relics. This evening, attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception on board the ship.Le Bellot (B,L,R,D)

    Sunday, May 29
    Glasgow, Scotland/U.S.

    Following breakfast, disembark the ship and continue on to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Post‑Program Option or transfer to the airport for your return flight to the U.S.  (B)

    Map
    Monet's Garden
    Paris & Giverny: May 18-21

    Experience the “City of Light” and Monet’s cherished gardens in Giverny. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Paris, renowned for its historical and aesthetic influence, and a walking tour at fascinating Montemartre. Enjoy a visit to Monet’s Gardens—an exquisite living canvas—in charming Giverny. Tour the Impressionist Master’s house and admire his lily pond and iconic Japanese bridge. Spend two nights in the Five‑Star InterContinental Paris Le Grand.

     

    Edinburgh
    Edinburgh & Glasgow: May 29-31

    Explore two of Scotland’s greatest cities and their histories of fascinating clans, medieval knights and royal and religious intrigue. Visit Glasgow’s 12th‑century cathedral, the only medieval church in mainland Scotland to survive the reformation of 1560, and historical Edinburgh Castle. Spend two nights in the Five‑Star Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh The Caledonian.  

    Cabin Categories (Prices are per person, double occupancy)

    • 8 - $5,995 Ocean-view, picture window and single door onto private, partial wall balcony. Deck 3, forward  (limited availability)
    • 7 - $6,495 Ocean-view, picture window and single door onto private, partial wall balcony. Deck 3, midship
    • 6 - $6,995 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 4, forward.
    • 5 - $7,495 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 4, midship
    • 4 - $7,995 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 5 and 6, aft (limited availability)
    • 3 - $8,495 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 5, forward (limited availability)
    • 2 - $8,995 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 5, midship
    • 1 - $9,595 Ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door, private balcony. Deck 6, midship
    • Deluxe Suite - $10,995 Suite with ocean view, expansive floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, large private balcony, sitting area with sofa. Deck 3, 4, 5, and 6 (limited availability)
    • Prestige Suite - $11,995 Two-room suite with ocean view, expansive sliding glass door, larger private balcony, two bathrooms, large sitting area with sofa, two closets. Deck 5. (limited availability)
      Prestige Suite - Privilege Suite - $12,695 Large suite with ocean view, expansive sliding glass door, larger private balcony, large sitting area with sofa. Deck 5 & 6. (limited availability)
    • Grand Deluxe Suite - $13,795 Extra-large one-bedroom Suite, ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door onto a spacious private terrace, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, large sitting area with sofa. Deck 6, aft.  (limited availability)
    • Owner’s Suite - $14,795 Extra-large one-bedroom Suite, ocean-view, expansive sliding glass door onto a spacious private terrace with outdoor jacuzzi, full bathroom with tub and separate shower, additional half bath, large sitting area with sofa. Deck 5, aft.  (limited availability)

    Single occupancy cabins are available in all categories at 160% of the per person double price.

    Prices above reflect the Welcome Back Savings noted in the brochure.

    Taxes are an additional $496 per person and are subject to change.

    Le Bellot has been specially contracted for this program, and the applicable deck plan is available on request from Gohagan & Company and reflects the only valid cabin categorization of the vessel.

    Included
    Exclusive lectures and presentations by David Eisenhower, Allen Packwood and study leaders; Eight nights aboard the exclusively chartered, Five‑Star Le Bellot; Cruise from Honfleur, France, to Glasgow, Scotland, featuring port calls at Caen, France, for the Normandy beaches; Dublin, Ireland; Holyhead, Wales; and the Hebridean Islands: Skye, Mull for Tobermory, and Iona; Meals as specified in the itinerary; Complimentary alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available throughout the cruise; Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship; Captain’s Welcome and Farewell Receptions and Welcome Dinner; All entrance fees and tours as described in the itinerary; Transfers and luggage handling abroad if your arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s); Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers; Hospitality desk on board ship; Experienced Gohagan & Company Travel Directors throughout the program; Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions; Pre‑departure materials, including a reading list; Automatic $250,000 flight insurance policy for each participant ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company

    Not Included
    International airfare; Taxes of $496 per person (subject to change); Gratuities to ship personnel ($15 per person, per day); Hotel staff gratuities for extensions ($1-2 per person, per day) and gratuities for activities on your own; Passport and visa fees; Covid-19 related fees; Meals and alcoholic beverages not listed as included; Transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); Any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and Internet access; Accident/sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; Baggage charges on aircraft; airfare and associated local taxes not listed as included; Airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed as included; All other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included” section

    Optional Pre-Tour: Paris & Giverny
    $995 per person, double occupancy
    $1,695 single occupancy

    Optional Post-Tour: Edinburgh & Glasgow 
    $995 per person, double occupancy
    $1,495 single occupancy

     

    What to Expect

    This trip is moderately active. Many of the cities and towns being visited were founded centuries ago, and the terrain is rugged. Therefore, a fair amount of walking along narrow cobblestone streets, stone floors or uneven and/or slippery terrain and climbing several flights of stairs (some without railings) is to be expected. Walking excursions often cover distances of at least one mile and are approximately three hours in length. Please be advised that the ship may either dock in port or tender ashore by small boat. Tenders involve a dry landing (participants step from the tender vessel directly onto land or a dock).

    Trip Educators
    Dwight David Eisenhower II
    Dwight David Eisenhower II

    Grandson of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, David Eisenhower is a noted historian of World War II and the Cold War. His 1986 bestseller, Eisenhower at War 1943-1945, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history. Eisenhower is Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a Public Policy Fellow at the Annenberg School of Communication and the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches “Communication and the Presidency.” His lectures will feature:

    • Operation Overlord—the concept, planning and personalities behind the D-Day invasion;
    and
    • Triumph and Tragedy—big-picture consequences of the Allied Forces Normandy landings

    Allen Packwood
    Allen Packwood

    Director of the Churchill Archives Centre and a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, England, Allen Packwood, B.A., M.Phil. (Cantab), F.R.Hist.S., was co curator of “Churchill and the Great Republic,” a Library of Congress exhibition, and of “Churchill: The Power of Words,” a display at the Morgan Library in New York. He has lectured extensively on Sir Winston Churchill in the U.K. and the U.S. and organized several events, including the 2009 conference entitled “The Cold War and its Legacy,” attended by senior representatives from China, Germany, Romania, the Russian Federation and the U.S. His lectures will feature:

    • Churchill and D-Day—Churchill’s role in the high-risk complexity of the D-Day operations;
    and
    • Churchill and the Two Republics: France and the U.S.— Churchill’s worldview as a leader and how it was influenced by both the United States and France.

    Cancellations
    Cancellations for all or any part of the trip including Pre/Post Program(s) reservation(s) will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of The Commonwealth Club. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:

    • From the time of booking through 96 days prior to departure: Full refund
    • From 95 to 61 days prior to departure: 50% of program price
    • From 60 to 45 days prior to departure: 75% of program price
    • 44 days or less prior to departure: 100% of program price. No refund

    A “no-show” or early return from the trip will result in forfeiture of 100% of the published full regular tariffs.

    In addition, any applicable airline cancellation fees, optional excursion cancellation fees and administrative fees may apply. 

    *All cancellations must be submitted in writing to The Commonwealth Club. In the event of a cancellation between 45 and 95 days prior to departure, the refund will be by credit, usable on a future Gohagan & Company trip which commences on or before December 31, 2023. In addition, for all bookings, any applicable airline cancellation fees, optional excursion cancellation fees and administrative fees may apply.

    Discounted Reservations
    Discounts apply only to those reservations received in the offices of The Commonwealth Club. In the event a “discounted” reservation must be canceled, no “replacement” reservation can be substituted at the discounted rate. A “replacement” reservation is a new reservation and can be substituted only at the full-fare tariff. Cancellation penalties may apply.  

    Trip Insurance
    We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. Information will be sent upon registration and can be viewed Travel Insurance Services website.

    Eligibility
    We require membership to the Commonwealth Club to travel with us. People who live outside of the Bay Area may purchase a worldwide membership. To learn about membership types and to purchase a membership, visit our membership page or call (415)597-6720.

    Airfare
    Airfare is subject to change and availability and, depending on the fare basis, likely is nonrefundable. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between you and the airline, even if purchased through Gohagan.

    Luggage
    Luggage allowance policies are set by the airlines and may change without notice.

    Physical Accessibility
    All programs require physical independence and mobility. Any physical or mental condition that may require special medical attention or physical assistance (for example, the need for a wheelchair) must be reported in writing when you make your reservation. Travelers must be able to embark or disembark motorcoaches alone or with minimal assistance from your traveling companion and climb stairs and step over raised thresholds without assistance. Travelers requiring assistance must travel with a companion who will be responsible for handling equipment.

    COVID-19
    The safety and well-being of our travelers remain our highest priority. Cruise lines and some other providers of services (as well as, potentially, some countries) require all passengers traveling to present confirmation of full COVID-19 vaccination, and, as well, passengers may have to produce evidence of a recent negative COVID test. All our staff are committed to adhering to all health and safety protocols from the start of your trip to the end as directed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overseas health officials as well as those protocols mandated by your cruise company (if applicable) and other suppliers of services. Detailed protocol information tailored to your travel program will be mailed to you along with additional pre-departure information.

    Rates
    Prices quoted are based on fares in effect at the time of printing and are subject to change at any time. On land and/or cruise programs, even after full payment, Gohagan reserves the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in supplier costs, currency fluctuations, or fuel or energy surcharges and all such increases are to be paid to Gohagan upon notice to the tour participant of such increases. On programs which include Gohagan purchased interstate or international air (which originates or returns to the United States), no increased costs will be passed on after final payment except for subsequently imposed governmental tax increases.

    Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk  
    The Commonwealth Club and Thomas P. Gohagan & Company and its and their employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors or trustees, successors, and assigns (collectively “Gohagan”), do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, guides or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Gohagan is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity or of any other third party. In addition and without limitation, Gohagan is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure, acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, bites from or attacks by animals, insects or pests, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind or the threat thereof, sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, the lack of availability of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of airplanes, vessels, or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner’s risk. The right is reserved to decline to accept as a trip participant, or remove from a trip, without refund, any person Gohagan judges to be incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the activities, or who is abusive to other trip participants, leaders or third parties, or who Gohagan determines to detract from the enjoyment of the trip by others. Specific room/cabin assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel or cruise line. Gohagan reserves the right to change the itinerary or trip features at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and Gohagan shall not be liable for any loss of any kind as a result of any such changes. Ship schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, sightseeing events, special programs and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change or cancellation. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute motorcoach transportation using hotels, inns or lodges for cruise accommodations if necessary due to weather, water conditions or levels, other events of force majeure, mechanical or other conditions beyond the control of Gohagan. Gohagan is not responsible therefor and is not required to compensate passengers under these circumstances. Gohagan may cancel a trip (or an option) for any reason whatsoever; if so, its sole responsibility is to refund monies paid by the participant to it. Gohagan, however, is not required under these circumstances to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. Gohagan is not required to cancel any trip for any reason including without limitation, United States Department of State, World Health Organization or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. Gohagan is not responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if Gohagan makes the flight arrangements or cancels the trip. Gohagan reserves the right to substitute vessels, hotels or attractions of a similar category for those listed in this brochure.

    Binding Arbitration
    Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to this Agreement, the brochure or any other literature concerning the trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sections 1-16, either according to the then existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or pursuant to the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) Illinois law and will take place in Chicago, IL. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionably, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, the participant and Gohagan are waiving the right to a trial by jury.

    Acceptance of Contract
    By forwarding of deposit, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants and accepts the terms contained in this Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Agreement.

    Registration 
    Commonwealth Club CST#: 2096889-40; Gohagan CST#: 2031868-40, WST#: 601 767 666, OST#: TA 0905.