New Titanic Belfast Museum a Featured Attraction on 16 CIE Tours Vacation Adventures for 2012

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2012 centenary of the sinking of the S.S. Titanic has revived fascination with this historic tragedy, and to accommodate travelers flocking to visit the brand new $150 million Titanic Belfast Museum & Visitors Center opening this spring, CIE Tours International has expanded 16 of its Ireland and Britain vacation packages. The upgraded itineraries are part of the travel company's celebration of 80 years as the industry's standard-bearer for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

"2012 is shaping up as the year of everything Titanic, with the new museum opening in Belfast, the upcoming television mini-series, and the re-release of the epic movie. As the leading operator of escorted vacations to Ireland and Britain, CIE Tours gives travelers a broad array of affordable, all-inclusive tour packages featuring visits to the highly anticipated new museum and its revealing look at one of history's most momentous events," said CIE Tours International President Brian W. Stack.

The Titanic Belfast Museum & Visitors Center is scheduled to open to the public on March 31. Designed to replicate the original hull of the renowned ocean liner, the museum sits adjacent to the exact site where the ship was constructed. Four wings housing nine interactive galleries will showcase the city's rich history as a shipbuilding hub and tell the Titanic's fateful story, from its conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through its construction and launch, to its famous maiden voyage and tragic end. Visitors will be brought up to the present with the discovery of the wreck and into the future with live links to contemporary undersea exploration.

With 16 vacation options to choose from, CIE Tours makes the Titanic Museum accessible to every travel budget, vacation calendar and individual preference. Like all CIE Tours vacations, the company's  2012 Ireland and Ireland/Britain travel packages are all-inclusive, encompassing airport transfers, deluxe motorcoach transportation, quality hotel accommodations and all admission fees, as well as most meals, special attractions and evening entertainment.  Additionally, CIE Tours' expert tour directors and local guides help bring each destination to life, providing travelers aged eight to 88 with authentic travel experiences that continue to resonate long after their return home.

Among the many CIE Tours itineraries featuring Titanic Belfast, two of the most popular are:

• The Irish Classic – A 12-day tour that begins and ends in Dublin, visiting the scenic western regions of Mayo, Clare and Kerry, as well as Belfast, Derry, Waterford and Meath. In addition to the Titanic Belfast museum, travelers will enjoy a dinner and show at Taylor's Three Rock; a medieval banquet and show at Bunratty Castle; Giant's Causeway; Achill Island; historic Derry and Waterford walks, the Lakes of Killarney and more. Land-only rates, featuring superior first class hotels, begin at $1,898 per person.
• The Taste of Scotland & Ireland – A 10- or 11-day superior first class journey, beginning in Glasgow and ending in Dublin or Shannon. The trip takes visitors to the great Celtic cities and towns of Glasgow, Nairn and Edinburgh in Scotland; and Dublin, Killarney and Bunratty in Ireland. Fascinating attractions are plentiful and include adventures such as a dinner and ghost tour in Edinburgh, an evening at Taylor's Three Rock Pub; medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, a visit to the Culloden Battlefield and Cliffs of Moher, an open-top bus tour of Dublin, and much more.  Land-only rates begin at $1,768 per person.

Travelers reserving before February 29 will receive a savings of up to $600 per couple. For more information about itineraries and travel incentives, or to reserve a tour, call CIE Tours International at 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

About CIE Tours International
For 80 years, CIE Tours International has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This leading tour operator offers a broad selection of attractively priced itineraries of varying lengths to ensure unsurpassed vacation experiences with maximum value for every budget. All CIE Tours travel itineraries are protected by the company's $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

SOURCE CIE Tours International