Monthly Archives: July 2025

After a much-needed night of real sleep (no plane seats or time zone confusion), we hit the ground running to make the most of our final day in Dublin before heading to the cruise port. With different cravings, we all split off to grab our ideal takeout breakfast and then met up for a visit to one of the city’s hidden gems: the Little Museum of Dublin.

This quirky and charming museum is tucked inside a Georgian townhouse right across from St. Stephen’s Green. Instead of dusty artifacts, it’s packed floor-to-ceiling with donated memorabilia, photos, and oddities that tell the story of Dublin’s 20th-century rise. Our guide, Cal, delivered an energetic and humorous storytelling experience that turned two small rooms into a surprisingly rich history lesson. Though the museum was warm (Ireland’s having a rare heat wave), we had a great time.

We then strolled through St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin’s beloved city park, and made our way to one of the city’s most iconic destinations: the Guinness Storehouse. Even though our timed tickets were later in the day, the staff kindly let us in early so we could enjoy lunch at one of the two on-site restaurants.

Karen opted to try a Black Velvet, a bold mix of Guinness and prosecco. Verdict? Probably not making the cocktail rotation at home, but she earned points for adventurous sipping! I went traditional and had a pint of the classic Guinness, even though our tickets included a free one at the end. When in Dublin!

The Guinness Storehouse is not just a museum – it’s a full-blown experience. Spread across seven levels, it covers everything from the unique brewing process (just four ingredients: water, barley, hops, and yeast) to the brand’s legendary global advertising. Fun facts: the yeast used today is a direct descendant of the 1903 strain, and about 38% of its origin remains a mystery. Also, each batch of Guinness contains 3.4 quadrillion yeast cells. That is some of the science that makes Guinness unique.

In the tasting room, we learned how to properly sip Guinness (yes, there’s a method!) and discovered that despite its deep hue, the beer is actually a dark ruby red, not black. Our final stop was the famous Gravity Bar, perched on the rooftop with panoramic views of Dublin. Even those in our group who weren’t beer fans tried a Guinness sweetened with blackcurrant syrup making it smooth without the roasty flavor.

We could’ve lingered longer, but time wasn’t on our side. We dashed through the Guinness store, flagged a taxi, and hustled back to the hotel to grab our bags. Despite thinking we were ahead of schedule, we ended up being among the last passengers to board our ship. A classic Hammond move – squeezing as much adventure as we can in each day.

We boarded the Azamara Quest, a mid-sized, 10-floor cruise ship that carries just 700 guests. Its size allows it to provide all the amenities you need while being able to dock in more off-the-beaten-path ports, perfect for our upcoming journey to the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

Our first night aboard was a mix of exploring the ship, enjoying a delicious dinner, and toasting the start of this next chapter with cocktails and dancing. With the sea ahead and some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes waiting for us, this trip is just getting started.