Excursion Mid-voyage land adventure: quintessential kent tour at Cobh

Indulge your senses with the exquisite garden beauty for which Kent is renowned during this bespoke, two-night overland journey. Travel to the exquisite RHS Wisley Gardens for an introductory discussion and a guided, or self-guided, tour of these beautiful and vivid gardens. Explore vivid and diverse collections and flora species at the spectacular Glasshouse, then enjoy lunch at a traditional English pub. The next day, travel to the historic Balfour Winery and Hush Heath Manor. Take a private, guided tour of this state-of-the-art winery with tastings, and stroll through the estate’s vineyards, orchards, and woodlands. Afterwards, relax in the comfort of the Tasting Room for six tastings of wine, cider, or beer with experts, then proceed for a themed lunch within the grounds of this lovely estate. The final stop on your visit to Kent is at the wonderful Sissinghurt Castle Gardens, nestled within the ruins of a great Elizabethan house, and framed by a rich Kentish landscape of woods, farmland, lakes, and streams. After a welcome dinner and overnight stay, take a Eurostar train-ride from London to Rouen, then transfer to the pier and your awaiting ship.

02MIDSOU-A Quintessential Kent

Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights

Departs from: Southampton at approximately 9.00am

Re-join ship: Rouen at approximately 6.00pm

Reserve by: At least 90 days prior to sailing

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Shore Mid-Land Adventure requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

All Land Adventure fares are subject to change, and not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. All Land Adventures are non-transferable, and non-refundable, within 120 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors, and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.

VISA INFORMATION:

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for the United Kingdom. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising.

LOCAL CURRENCY:

The local currency for the United Kingdom is the British Pound. Local ATMs are available in some locations visited, and credit cards are accepted in most larger shops and hotels (a shopping stop is not planned during this programme).

Indulge your senses with the exquisite garden beauty for which Kent is renowned during this bespoke, two-night overland excursion.

DAY ONE – Saturday, April 12, 2025 – Southampton/Kent

After disembarking the ship in Southampton, meet your guide and drive to the RHS Wisley Gardens

After disembarking the ship, meet your guide and depart for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour drive to the RHS Wisley Gardens. Upon arrival, your visit to the flagship garden of RHS Wisley begins with an introductory talk from a passionate member of the RHS Garden team. Afterward, join an RHS guide for a visit to this beautiful and vivid garden.

Explore vivid and diverse collections and flora species at the spectacular Glasshouse

If you would prefer to explore at your own pace, one area of the garden not to be missed is the splendid Glasshouse, opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. The huge, cathedral-like Glasshouse covers the area of 10 tennis courts and rises to a height of approximately 40 feet (about 12 metres). It features a world-class tender plant collection, tropical plantings, cacti, succulents, and a temperate zone. Orchids and many other unusual plant collections also thrive in this vividly-coloured and captivating environment.

Enjoy lunch at a traditional English pub

Following your visit, re-board your coach for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour drive back towards Kent, and stop at a traditional English pub for lunch.  

Transfer to your hotel for check-in, and the afternoon and evening at leisure

After lunch, transfer to your hotel for check-in, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Dinner is on your own.

Overnight accommodations in a Deluxe Room at The Spa Hotel – Kent  

DAY TWO – Sunday, April 13, 2025 – Kent

After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to the early-16th-century Balfour Winery

After breakfast, meet your guide and depart for the scenic, approximately one-hour drive to the Balfour Winery, a hidden gem in the wine gardens of England. The Balfour Estate produces one of England's most iconic and exclusive sparkling wines utilising traditional, centuries-old methods.

About the Hush Heath Manor

Built in 1503, Hush Heath Manor initially served as a pair of wealthy weavers' cottages. By the time the Balfour-Lynns purchased Hush Heath Manor as a family home in the 1980s, it required extensive restoration. The following four years entailed a full restitution of the roof, gardens, and interior period features and the label, Balfour 1503, was born. The names ‘Balfour 1503 Classic Cuvee’ and ‘Balfour 1503 Rose’ relate back to the wines' provenance, and tie them into the rich heritage of the estate. Today, the hillside on which Hush Heath Manor is situated overlooks the vineyards, apple orchards, and winery, and is at the heart of Hush Heath Estate.

Take a private tour of the state-of-the-art winery, vineyards, orchards, woodlands, and tastings

Upon arrival, take a bespoke private tour with your own dedicated guide. Visit the state-of-the-art winery to discover how they make their award-winning still and sparkling wines. Explore the vibrant flora and fauna whilst strolling through the estate’s beautiful vineyards, apple orchards, and ancient oak woodlands.

Relax in the comfort of the Tasting Room for six tastings of wine, cider, or beer with experts

Following the tour, relax in the comfort of the tasting room whilst experts guide you through six tastings of wine, cider, or beer.

Enjoy a themed lunch within the grounds of the estate

Following the tour, tastings, and a short interlude, enjoy a local themed lunch within the grounds of the estate.

Explore the Sissinghurt Castle Garden and its woods, farmland, lakes, streams, and famous garden

This afternoon, transfer to Sissinghurst Castle Garden, which is nestled in the Weald of Kent, set within the ruins of a great Elizabethan house, and framed by a rich Kentish landscape of woods, farmland, lakes, and streams. This famous garden, with its romantic, pink-brick tower, is the result of creative tension between the formal design of Harold Nicolson and abundant planting of his wife, Vita Sackville-West. The layers of colour, intimacy of different garden rooms, and rich herbaceous borders are the epitome of an English garden, and provide an exquisite, ever-changing landscape throughout the seasons.

Transfer to your hotel for some free time to freshen-up before dinner

Following a wonderfully scenic visit to the Sissinghurt Castle Garden, re-board your coach and transfer back to your hotel for some free time to freshen-up before dinner.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Overnight accommodations in a Deluxe Room at The Spa Hotel – Kent  

DAY THREE – Monday, April 14, 2025 – Kent/Rouen

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, transfer to St. Pancras Station for a Eurostar-ride to Paris

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, meet your guide depart for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour drive to St. Pancras Station in London. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in and board the Eurostar for your scheduled, approximately three-hour, 20-minute train-ride to the Gare du Nord (Paris Nord). Upon arrival in Paris, meet your guide and board a coach for the transfer to Rouen.   

Transfer to the pier and ship

Upon arrival at the port of Rouen, transfer to the pier and embark the ship.

Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure requires an extensive amount of walking for approximately 3.4 miles (about 5.5 kilometres), at times over uneven, gravel, cobblestone, grassy, slippery, and natural surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and board/de-board the Eurostar train, and many steps at the sites visited; lifts are available at most venues. This tour is recommended for active guests in good physical condition. This tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, guests with back and/or neck problems, guests with heart and/or respiratory conditions, guests prone to motion sickness, guests with a fear of heights, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing in layers with flat, non-slip, sturdy, and closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers, and bring sun protection, insect repellent, sunglasses with a strap, a weatherproof jacket, raingear, an umbrella, a small backpack for land visits (for cameras, bottled water, etc.), camera, medications, binoculars, and British Pounds or credit cards for purchases from the ship; bring some casual-elegant attire for hotel dinners. Guests must be at least 18 years old to be served alcoholic beverages. Guests must carry their passports and ship’s ID at all times. The tour sequence, timings and itinerary may vary. Space on this tour is extremely limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Programme Includes:

Two-night stay in a Deluxe Room at The Spa Hotel – Kent  

Two breakfasts, two lunches, and one dinner

Scheduled Eurostar train-ride: London-Paris

All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary

Not Included:

Any meals and drinks not specified above, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance and other personal items.