HIGHLIGHTS
- Take a guided walk over the fascinating basalt columns that make up the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland
- Explore Skara Brae, northern Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village predating Stonehenge
- Visit the cosiest capital on Earth, the Faroe Islands’ Tórshavn, with turf-covered churches and rainbow-coloured homes
- Tour Lake Mývatn, the most geologically active area in Iceland, with boiling mud pools and a roaring waterfall
- Keep watch for spouting and breaching orca and humpback whales
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
DAY 1
DUBLIN
Your cruise begins today in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland’s
capital. It’s at times gritty and in places, gorgeous
– Georgian squares, hidden parks and tree-lined canals.
It’s lively, complex, cosmopolitan and eminently walkable. So
make time to explore before you board Vega II. Visit The Long Room in
the Old Library in stately Trinity College to inspect the Book of
Kells. The illuminated manuscript was produced on Iona, which
you’ll visit on Day 4. The Long Room itself is much lauded
for its beauty – it’s a stunning, two-storey,
barrel-vaulted space that houses 200,000 of Trinity’s oldest
books and manuscripts. Elsewhere the new Museum of Literature Ireland,
the National Museum of Ireland, Christ Church and St
Patrick’s Cathedrals, the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham
Gaol, Glasnevin Cemetery entice visitors – just be sure to
stop into a snug somewhere for a pint.
DAY 2
PORTRUSH
Disembark in the small Northern Ireland town of Portrush (Port Rois),
which is located in County Antrim. It’s one of the island of
Ireland’s most popular staycation destinations –
indeed, generations have happy memories of visiting this peninsula,
with its family-friendly amusements, attractions and beaches. It is
also the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s
Causeway and Causeway Coast. Flanked by the Atlantic and towering
cliffs, the Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s
number-one attraction. Visit and decide for yourself if the basalt
formations are the handiwork of prehistoric volcanic activity
– or two legendary Celtic giants.
DAY 2
PORT ELLEN, ISLAY ISLAND
Set sail to the whisky coast found in the west coast of Scotland. Islay
is the fifth-largest of the Scottish islands and home to nine working
distilleries. Your trip wouldn’t be complete without tasting
their whisky crafted with peat from the mosslands to give it a unique
smoky flavour you won’t find anywhere else. Being on the
coast the seafood is fresh and abundant, but the exquisite tastes are
not all this island has to offer. Be surrounded by stunning clear
waters and spot otters, seals, dolphins and deer as you trek through
the lush scenery.
DAY 3
DUNVEGAN, SKYE ISLAND, SCOTLAND
Located on the west coast of the Isle of Skye, Dunvegan and Dunvegan
Castle have historically been the seat of the Clan MacLeod. The castle
sprawls out on top of a beautiful rocky outcrop and is home to some
fascinating artefacts. These include the Fairy Flag (a silk banner
sacred to the clan that dates back to the 4th century), Bonnie Prince
Charlie’s waistcoat and a lock of his hair. The oldest parts
of the castle date back to the 14th century, with most of it
constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries.
DAY 4
ULLAPOOL
As dramatic as they come, this village on Scotland’s west
coast sits on fjord-like Loch Broom, the narrow waters curling away
into the distance below the misty mountains. The countryside is packed
with wonders: Carrieshalloch Gorge, steep, narrow and with the roar of
rushing water; Achmelvich Beach, a perfect crescent of pure white sand
with turquoise waters protected by rocky outcrops; and the Bone Caves,
excavations where bones of reindeer and polar bear that once roamed
here have been found.
DAY 5
LERWICK
Lerwick is the capital – and only real town – of
the Shetland Islands, a subarctic archipelago of some 100 islands that
is closer to Bergen than Inverness. The Shetlands were Viking ruled
until the 15th century, and despite the Norseman ceding control, the
culture remained notably Norse-tinged as can be seen at the Shetland
Museum and Archives in Lerwick. More history awaits at Fort Charlotte,
a five-sided artillery, and the Bod of Gremista, an 18th-century
fishing booth-turned textile museum. If time allows, head for Jarlshof,
an hour’s drive from Lerwick. This Iron Age broch and Norse
settlement have more than 4,000 years of human activity on one site. If
venturing outside of Lerwick to Jarlshof for example, be sure to keep
an eye out for world-famous tiny Shetland ponies. Around 1,500 of them
roam free throughout the archipelago.
DAY 6
STROMNESS
Romantically ramshackle, the appealing grey-stone town of Stromness may
not be as big as the Orkney’s capital Kirkwall, but what it
lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character. The
long-established seaport, with its Norse language-derived name, has
changed little since the 18th century. Captain Cook’s ships
stopped here in 1780 en route back from Hawaii, and Cook’s
companions would have explored a place not dissimilar to
today’s Stromness. Walk the narrow, flagstone-paved main
street, dive down the tiny alleyways which entice you to explore
further. The Stromness Museum is excellent and full of maritime
tchotchke. The Pier Arts Centre and its towering collection of modern
art have been described as a ‘little seaside Tate’.
Just 12 kilometres north of the harbour lies extraordinary Skara Brae,
one of the world’s most evocative prehistoric sites.
Predating Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza, it is northern
Europe’s best-preserved Neolithic village.
DAY 7
THORSHAVN
Disembark in Tórshavn, the port capital of the Faroe
Islands. Cut adrift in the Atlantic, halfway between Scotland and
Iceland, the Faroes are a self-governing archipelago within the Kingdom
of Denmark. Off the radar for most travellers, the Faroes are becoming
increasingly well known for their scenic splendour (think New Zealand
crossed with Iceland), and the unique cultural heritage. Thanks to a
melange of influences, the Faroes has its own flag, saga, dances,
traditions and language. Sited on the southern tip of Streymoy, the
largest of the 18 islands, the lively little capital,
‘Thor’s Harbour’ will charm with its
rainbow-hued clapboard warehouses, grass-roofed wooden churches and the
quaint old quarter, Tinganes. You might opt to explore the twin-sited
Føroya Fornminnissavn, an excellent museum; the Skansin
Fort; the church of Havnar Kirkja, with its distinctive clock tower. Or
the shops might tempt you, the fabulous concept store,
Öström, or renowned knitwear designer Gudrun
& Gudrun is an obvious choice in a place where sheep outnumber
people nearly two to one.
DAY 8
HOFN
Southeast Iceland’s staging post, Höfn is a small
town perched on a narrow neck of land, and an ideal base for exploring
Vatnajökull National Park. The town itself is well known for
its lobster catch, particularly high-value species like the Norway
lobster. The town hosts an annual Lobster Festival in celebration of
its reputation as Iceland’s lobster capital.
Vatnajökull National Park is Europe’s largest and
covers 14% of Iceland. This vast area encompasses massive ice caps,
thundering waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, craters and volcanoes. The
park’s Jökulsárlón Lagoon is
within easy reach of Höfn and is Iceland’s deepest
lake. Icebergs float on the surface of the water all year long,
offering resting spots for passing seals.
DAY 9
ESKIFJORDUR
Experience life in a small fishing settlement as it has been for
centuries in Eskifjordur. The port town is home to just over 1,000
people, and fishing is as central to the economy here as it was back in
the 1700s. Overlooking the town's red and white wooden houses is the
985-metre Hólmatindur Mountain – a popular skiing
spot in winter. Dive into the region's history at the local maritime
museum or explore the striking landscapes at the
Borgarfjörður estuary and Hengifoss waterfall.
DAY 10
GRIMSEY ISLAND
Grímsey is a remote island located 40km off
Iceland’s north coast. Many people travel here for the
purpose of setting foot in the Arctic Circle, the only place in Iceland
where you can do so. The island is also home to fewer than 100 people,
but over one million seabirds. Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack
of egg predation (there are no rats or mice on the island) and the
rich, well-stocked surrounding seas. Grímsey has one of
Iceland’s largest tern nesting sites and largest puffin
colonies.
DAY 11
AKUREYRI
In northern Iceland on Eyjafjördur, Akureyri is known for its
colourful old town, heart-shaped traffic lights and woodlands. Nearby
tours of Lake Mývatn, the most geologically active area in
Iceland, include lava formations, hot springs, caves and rifts, boiling
mud pools, volcanic craters, the roaring Godafoss waterfall and Game of
Thrones locations. Puffins nest on the inhabited island of Grimsey that
crosses the Arctic Circle, while Hrísey island is said to
have powerful healing energies.
DAY 12
ISAFJORDUR
Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region,
Ísafjördur is a bustling fishing town in northwest
Iceland with colourful wooden 18th- and 19th-century houses in the old
town of Neskaupstadur. Ísafjördur was one of the
largest fisheries in Iceland, but tourism has now taken over. Nearby is
Sudavik, home to the Arctic Fox Centre. Iceland’s only
mammal, the arctic fox lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature
Reserve - the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of
Europe’s largest bird cliffs.
DAY 12
VIGUR ISLAND
Island of Vigur is a real pearl of the Western Fjords. The
second-largest island in the fjord, measuring two kilometres by 400
metres, it’s a significant seabird colony, which is home to
arctic terns, puffins, black guillemots and eider ducks. As one of only
two inhabited islands in the fjord, Vigur is also the site of a single
farm, which has been in the same family for generations. During your
time on the island, you might see Iceland’s only windmill,
the country’s smallest post office and oldest boat, which was
built more than 200 years ago and in regular use until relatively
recently.
DAY 13
REYKJAVIK
In the centre of Iceland’s sprawling capital city, the modern
organ-pipe-shaped Hallgrimskirkja church dominates the top of town.
Cosy bars, cafes and shops line the surrounding streets heated by
Iceland's geothermal waters. The regenerated harbour is home to a
striking modern concert hall. Popular trips include to the Blue Lagoon,
a geothermal spa near the village of Grindavik, and the Golden Circle
tour taking in Gullfoss Waterfall and the mighty Strokkur geyser in
Thingvellir National Park.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
- One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
- All meals onboard
- Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
- Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call
- Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Standard WiFi
- Onboard gratuities & port taxes
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