St. Patrick’s Day has become a worldwide festival of all things Irish, and Holland America Line brings the celebration on board with green decorations and Master Chef Rudi Sodamin’s delicious corned beef and cabbage in the Dining Room.

In addition to the onboard celebrations, Holland America Line offers shore excursions in Dublin — the capital and most recognizable Irish city — to enhance our guests’ appreciation of Irish food and culture. In anticipation of St. Patty’s Day on Sunday, here are four tours that will get you dancing the jig and enjoying boxty.

A Taste of Dublin: The Guinness Experience

On this tour, guests take a panoramic drive to see Dublin’s main sites before moving to the Guinness Storehouse Museum to enjoy the Guinness Experience. This tour shares the dramatic story of Guinness that began more than 250 years ago. Move through the Storehouse Museum and discover what goes into making the ‘black stuff’ — the ingredients, the process and the passion. The tour ends at Gravity — the sky bar where a pint of Guinness awaits. Sláinte mhaith!

A Taste of Dublin: The Trail of Fabulous Food

Welcome to Dublin — a city steeped in ancient history and youthful energy. During this walking tour, guests take in the history and culture as they sample delicious foods in historic neighborhoods within a stone’s throw of the city center. The tour will shoecase the families that have traded here for generations and have introduced entirely new products to Dublin — all contributing to the modern Irish table. Along the way, guests will encounter the places Dubliners like to frequent and stop at one of these spots for a beverage.

A Taste Of Ireland: Whiskey In The Jar

Discover Ireland’s “water of life” at the Jameson Distillery Bow St!

If whiskey is more your fancy, embark on a tour to discover the ‘water of life’ at the Jameson Distillery Bow Street. This facility is located on the site of the original Jameson Distillery, dating back to 1780. The tour shares the origins of whiskey making and the history of John Jameson & Sons whiskey. Guests discover how the principal ingredients of Irish whiskey (Irish barley and pure, soft Irish water) are involved in the process of malting, milling, fermenting, distilling and maturing — eventually leading to the finished product. A highlight is a tutored tasting followed by a challenge to compare select Irish whiskeys against Scotch and Bourbon. No visit to the Old Jameson Distillery would be complete without a glass of John Jameson’s Irish Whiskey at the Jameson Bar.

Dublin City Sightseeing & Boxty Tasting

Head to Temple Bar — a vibrant area full of bars and restaurants!

Combine sightseeing with a unique culinary experience on this shore excursion. Depart on a panoramic tour of Dublin that ends at Dublin Castle where guests continue on foot to Temple Bar — a vibrant area full of bars and restaurants. Guests will head to the Boxty House to try boxty, a traditional Irish potato pancake dish. Pádraic Óg Gallagher, owner of the Boxty House, has transformed old recipes into culinary delights, serving boxtys filled with homegrown Irish produce and creating new contemporary dishes. Observe the making of the traditional Irish Boxty, hear the history of the humble potato and marvel at the taste of the unique creations before you.

Interested celebrating St. Patrick’s Day like never before? Learn more about all of our immersive Dublin shore excursions while planning your next Holland America Line cruise to the Emerald Isle.

If you want to visit Dublin on a Holland America Line cruise, set your sights on 18-Day Voyage Of The Vikings, 14-Day British Isles Explorer, 14-Day British and Irish Explorer and more!