HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the perfect way to explore the UK coastline
- Take in stunning wildlife and historic legends
- Visit the destinations that conjure up images of a storied maritime history, pretty seaside towns and close-knit communities
- Enjoy an incredible 13-day Legendary History and Wild Nature cruise on board the intimate Sea Spirit
- The ship has room for just 114 guests, who are looked after by 72 crew and 14 expedition team members, a ratio which rivals the most luxurious ships
- The cruise rate already includes all scheduled landings, no hidden excursion costs will be another pleasant surprise
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Classic | Main Deck Suite | Classic Suite | Superior Suite | Deluxe Suite | Premium Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 19, 2024 | May 30, 2024 | 5,395 | 7,495 | 7,995 | 8,195 | 9,195 | 10,095 | 12,895 |
Rates are listed per person in USD. Promotional offers are not reflected in the rates below.
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Classic | (Mid-range)
Superior Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 19, 2024 | May 30, 2024 | 5,395 | 8,195 | 12,895 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland (hotel night)
Welcome
to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our
expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this metropolis rich
in history and culture, we’ve arranged pre-cruise hotel
accommodations. Relax and take a stroll through town, enjoying both
medieval and classic 18th-century architecture. The famous Edinburgh
Castle rises majestically above it all.
Day
2: Welcome Aboard!
Enjoy
the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Each corner of
Edinburgh’s old streets opens beautiful unexpected vistas of
green hills or a blue flash of the distant sea. In the afternoon, you
will be transferred from the hotel to the ship in the nearby Port of
Leith. Before dinner, there’s time to explore the Sea Spirit,
your home-away-from home for the next days.
Day
3: Kirkwall
Kirkwall
is a small, quiet town, with a gentle pace of life. The town is the
capital of the remote and amazing Orkney archipelago. Kirkwall is first
mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046. Such a long history has left a
rich heritage that we explore today. The most famous are the sandstone
St Magnus Cathedral, considered the finest medieval building in the
north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the
Earl’s Palace.
Included
tour “Ancient treasures of Orkney with St Magnus
Cathedral.” Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of
Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. This tour passes through
the gentle rolling landscape of Orkney and into the Neolithic Heartland
of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its
wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of
Stenness, we will stop at the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle
of stones dating back almost 5000 years. We then continue on to the
5000-year-old village of Skara Brae, beautifully interpreted in the
visitor centre. See the remarkable dwellings revealed from beneath the
sand dunes by storms only 150 years ago.
Hear
some of the stories from your guide today en route back to Kirkwall.
Once back in the island capital we will take a tour of St Magnus
Cathedral, built by the Vikings during their 500 year reign over the
islands.
Day
4: Fair Isle, Shetland Islands
On
Fair Isle—an isolated island of rolling moorlands and rugged
coastlines—one is easily enchanted by historic crofts,
picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals.The island is famous among
birders for its abundance of British birds and for its numerous records
of eastern rarities and migrants. Fair Isle is also one of
Europe’s best places to watch seabirds, especially puffins,
at close range. Additionally, the island is notable for the abundance
and diversity of its wildflowers. Seals are also commonly seen in its
bays. Finally, during our visit it will be possible to see and purchase
articles hand-knitted in the intricate and distinctive style for which
Fair Isle has been celebrated for hundreds of years.
Day
5: Lerwick
We
come alongside at the port of Lerwick; on Mainland, the largest of the
Shetland Islands. On a walking tour of this historic town we visit the
award-winning Shetland Museum to learn all about Shetland’s
fascinating heritage and culture. From here we take a scenic overland
coach ride through the fertile countryside of Dunrossness to discover
Shetland’s best destinations. Birders will relish the
opportunity to visit the historic lighthouse at Sumburgh Head, the
southernmost point of Mainland Shetland. These rugged cliffs attract
thousands of seabirds and the grassy slopes above are particularly
great for enjoying close encounters with puffins amongst beautiful
wildflowers. Also on the itinerary is Jarlshof, one of the most
remarkable archaeological sites in the British Isles. Here we discover
beautifully preserved stone structures spanning 5,000 years of human
settlement, including Bronze Age oval houses, Pictish wheelhouses, an
Iron Age broch, a Viking longhouse and a mediaeval farmhouse.
Day
6: Papa Stour & Foula
Lost
in the Atlantic Ocean, Foula, one of the Shetland Islands, is a perfect
destination for birdwatching. Foula cliffs are home to numerous
seabirds, including the largest colony of great skuas in Great Britain.
However, birds are not the only treasure of the island. Foula is rich
with folklore and history.
Another
item on our bucket list today is Papa Stour, another island, which
forms part of the Shetland islands.
Erosion
of Papa Stour’s soft volcanic rocks has sculptured an
extraordinary cliff scenery including a variety of caves, stacks,
arches and blowholes, all supporting a range of marine flora and fauna.
Day
7-10: Faroe Islands
National
Geographic Traveler had designated Faroe Islands as
“authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”. It
seems that the Nature spares no colours in
“painting” the islands. Deep-green hills, bright
blue sea, colourful houses and boats, orange-red puffins’
beaks make the sceneries unforgettable, meanwhile traditional wooden
dwellings with turf roofs look like they belong in a fairy tale.
The
rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and their love of the
sea. We will explore the archipelago including Tórshavn, the
capital and largest city of Faroe Islands. This would include a visit
to Kirkjubøur, the ecclesiastical and cultural center of the
Faroes in the Middle Ages. It was the site of the Bishop’s
residence until the Reformation, when the Faroese diocese was
abolished. The imposing Gothic ruin of the late 13th-century Saint
Magnus Cathedral still dominates the site. The Roykstovan, standing on
the wide, stone foundation of a portion of the Bishop’s
palace, has been the home of farmers in Kirkjubøur for
centuries and occupied by the same Faroese family for 17 generations.
Our
expedition team will earch for remote areas of the archipelago to visit
or pause, where we can take advantage of the ship and possibly Zodiacs
to see bird cliffs and other natural wonders that are otherwise
difficult to access.
Day
11: At Sea
Do
not lose your time aboard! Learn more about the unique flora and fauna
of the British Isles. Become a real expert in no time with our onboard
lectures and briefings!
Day
12: Disembarkation in Edinburgh, Scotland
After
breakfast on board Sea Spirit we say farewell in Leith,
Edinburgh’s vibrant port district. We provide transfers to
the airport or to Edinburgh city center if you wish to spend more time
in the wonderful capital of Scotland.
Sea Spirit (Luxury Expedition, 114-guests)
The ice-strengthened small all-suite expedition ship Sea Spirit (originally Renaissance V) was built in 1991 in Italy. From that time she has changed several operators and regions of navigation, cruising in Singapore, Alaska, Pacific Basin, Arctic and Antarctica. The vessel was modified in late 2010. Providing spacious suites for accommodation of maximum of 114 passengers (the smallest suite is 20 sq. meters) the Sea Spirit at the same time features maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of small ships. All suites have private facilities and exterior views. Some of the suites feature private balconies for enjoying fantastic landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- 1
pre-voyage night on Day 1 in Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre;
- Group
transfer to the ship on day of embarkation;
- Group
transfer to airport or central location upon disembarkation;
- Shipboard
accommodation;
- All
scheduled landings/excursions;
- Leadership
throughout the voyage by our Expedition Leader & Expedition
Team;
- Wi-Fi
on board;
- All
meals on board throughout the voyage;
- Tea
and coffee station 24 hours daily;
- Branded
Poseidon Expeditions parka;
- Rubber
boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise;
- Welcome
and Farewell cocktails;
- All
port fees;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log.
RATES
DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare;
- Visa
and passport fees (if applicable);
- Luggage
and trip cancellation insurance;
- Soft
drinks and alcoholic beverages other than those for special events and
celebrations;
- Fuel
surcharge may be applied for all bookings;
- Personal
expenses such as laundry and telecommunication charges;
- Mandatory
Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a minimum benefit of US$ 200,000 per
person;
- The
cost of any applicable medical tests (such as COVID-19) or vaccinations
required either by a national government or Poseidon Expeditions
before, during or after the cruise;
- Staff
gratuities.
ADVENTURE
OPTIONS
- Photography
Workshop: Free
