Riviera Travel has announced plans for British Isles cruises in July this year.

The eight-day itineraries mark the first time that the operator has offered Britain and Ireland-based voyages. Four sailings are on offer, two to Scotland and two around Ireland, on the 158-guest Seaventure, which was refurbished in 2019.

The Cruising Scotland’s Highlands & Islands itinerary will depart from Edinburgh and take in Aberdeen and Balmoral Castle, before heading to Inverness, Orkney, Oban, the Outer Hebrides and County Donegal in Ireland.

Tours on offer include trips to Loch Ness, the Neolithic Ring of Brodgar henge and stone circle, and the Callanish Standing Stones.

The Cruising the Emerald Isle voyage will depart from Greenock and call at Belfast, Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway, County Donegal and Cork. Tours on offer include Kilkenny Castle, Kylemore Abbey, a guided walking tour of Belfast with entry to the Titanic Visitor Centre, access to Trinity College, and a visit to Connemara, the largest Irish-speaking region.

Guests can also take in the Slieve League Cliffs, the tallest sea cliffs in Europe, and the Cliffs of Moher.

Both cruises can be booked back-to-back for an extended 15-day voyage. Prices start from £1,999pp, based on two people sharing a cabin, including full board, tours, visits as per the itinerary and all port taxes. Cabins are also available for sole occupancy without a supplement.

Riviera Travel head of product cruise & worldwide Katja Hildebrandt said: “We’re thrilled to be able to offer British Isles cruises for the first time ever, and to give guests the chance to enjoy the best of Ireland or Scotland by sea.

“Both cruises offer a unique insight into these countries, as passengers can explore ports inaccessible to larger ships for a much more authentic experience.

“We’ve made our name offering premium river and yacht cruise experiences, so we’re very excited to be taking this knowhow to the ocean, and can’t wait to hear feedback from agents and guests.

“Places are limited, so if you’re looking to offer customers an exclusive cruise close to home, now is the ideal time [to] book up.”

Riviera Travel recently celebrated its best day of trade bookings for nearly a year. The operator saw agent sales almost double month-on-month, and hit their highest level since March 2020.