Ancient Isles: England, Ireland and Scotland

Arrive in London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, and transfer to Portsmouth to embark the ship on your journey around the British and Irish Isles.

London is an ancient city whose history greets you at every turn. If the city contained only its famous landmarks—the Tower of London or Big Ben—it would still rank as one of the world's top cities. But London is so much more. The foundations of London's character and tradition endure. The British bobby is alive and well. The tall, red, double-decker buses (in an updated model) still lumber from stop to stop. Then there's that greatest living link with the past—the Royal Family with all its attendant pageantry. To ice the cake, swinging-again London is today one of the coolest cities on the planet. The city's art, style, and fashion make headlines around the world, and London's chefs have become superstars.

Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in Southern England, and is unusual as most of its built-up area occupies Portsea Island, linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. Although there is a Roman fort at nearby Portchester, occupied later by the Saxons and Normans, there was no settlement on the site of Portsmouth at the time of the 1086 Domesday Book. The town developed in medieval times and received its first charter in 1194 from King Richard I; soon afterwards it became a major naval base. It has the world’s oldest dry dock, and is home to several famous ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, raised from the Solent in 1982. Portsmouth remains an important naval base and is home to a large proportion of the British service fleet. The waterfront area is now dominated by the Spinnaker Tower, 560 feet high, the United Kingdom’s tallest building outside London. Other things to see in the city include the house where Charles Dickens was born, and the City Museum, which contains a permanent exhibition devoted to another famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who lived in the town.

Arrive in the Cornish port of Fowey (pronounced “Foy”) in the afternoon. Hike a Cornish coastal trail or enjoy a guided walk through the village of Fowey with a local. Alternatively, venture into the countryside to a family farm. See how traditional practices are being combined with contemporary development of local crops, and enjoy a tasting of their most recent "crop."

Nestled in the mouth of a wooded estuary, Fowey (pronounced Foy) is still very much a working china-clay port as well as a focal point for the sailing fraternity. Increasingly, it's also a favored home of the rich and famous. Good and varied dining and lodging options abound; these are most in demand during Regatta Week in mid- to late August and the annual Fowey Festival of Words and Music in mid-May. The Bodinnick and Polruan ferries take cars as well as foot passengers across the river for the coast road on to Looe.A few miles west of Fowey are a pair of very different gardens: the Eden Project, a futuristic display of plants from around the world, and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a revitalized reminder of the Victorian age.

The Isles of Scilly can trace its roots back to prehistoric times. More than 140 different islands make up this designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Take the time to explore one of England's most pristine beaches, and watch for migrating birds that frequent the islands. Weather permitting, enjoy a Zodiac ride among some of the most popular residents of the islands: the local seal colony.

St Mary’s is the Isle of Scilly’s largest island with a population of 1800 residents and an area of 6.58 square Kilometres; this is the gateway to the rest of the magnificent islands. Hugh town -a beautiful Old town with its own beach, nature reserve and church is the main attractions of St Mary’s, with tiny streets brimming with shops to pick up the perfect souvenir. St Mary’s is a hidden gem, with long stretches of white sandy beaches and a breath-taking untouched landscape. The coastline holds many archaeological sites along with miles of splendid walks along the coastal and country paths.

Arrive in this colorful port city on one of the world’s largest natural harbors, intimately tied to maritime history and the great Irish Emigration. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre and learn about the momentous events that took place here—from the 1912 departure of the Titanic to the successful rescue of passengers from the torpedoed Lusitania and the millions of Irish who departed these shores in search of a better life. Immerse yourself in an afternoon of Irish traditions at a local hurling club: learn about and try your hand at hurling—an ancient Gaelic Irish team sport played with a wooden stick and a small ball—enjoy time at the clubhouse that doubles as a bar, listen to live Gaelic music and chat with locals.

Cork City's nearby harbor district has seen plenty of history. Cork Harbour's draws include Fota Island—with an arboretum, a wildlife park, and the Fota House ancestral estate—and the fishing port of Cobh.

Over the next two days, enjoy the windswept landscapes of the Dingle peninsula and surrounding islands. Get photo tips from a National Geographic Photography Expert as you sail past the uninhabited Blasket Islands, on which you’ll observe a wide array of birds including storm petrels, shearwaters, terns and gulls. Keep an eye out for recently fledged jumping auks—still downy and unable to fly—as they make their way out to sea accompanied by their dads. You may also be able to spot pods of dolphins that call these waters home.

The exploration continues on land through the southern corner of Ireland with its cozy local pubs, cultural centers and country walks. Choose from a few delve into the heart of Irish culture, language and history at the Blasket visitor center, where you’ll learn about the islands’ 1953 evacuation; hit the road on one most scenic drives on Ireland’s west coast—part of the Atlantic Way; or set out on a hike boasting incredible views over Dingle’s bay and peninsula.

Visit the sacred island of Iona and its 13th-century abbey, long revered as a Christian pilgrimage site and believed to be where the Book of Kells originated. Several Scottish kings, including the actual Macbeth, are buried in the royal graveyard here. This afternoon, explore uninhabited and windswept Staffa Island. Weather permitting, board Zodiacs and cruise through the dramatic Fingal’s Cave, land on the exposed beach, walk amongst the famed six-sided volcanic basalt columns and photograph the island’s puffin colony.

Head up to the Scottish Isles and find Iona, a small island off the southwest coal of Mill in the Inner Hebrides. With just 130 inhabitants, Iona is famed for Iona Abbey, which was once the centre of Gaelic monasticism. The tranquil lands are typical of Hebridean beauty and the approach is particularly spectacular when the weather is sunny.

As you sail south along the northern coast of Scotland, admire the Outer Hebrides rising out of the North Atlantic. Conditions permitting, embark Zodiacs to land on the Isle of Lewis. There, visit the striking Callanish Standing Stones, a 5,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site that predates Stonehenge. Explore by foot across multiple sites that served as locations for rituals for 2,000 years.

The Shetlands are characterized by deep-seated cultural traditions and dramatic landscapes. Far north and near enough to Norway for some locals to speak Scottish with a Scandinavian accent, this 100-island archipelago has never been fully tamed by those who live here. Explore these rural islands with their mix of cliffside lighthouses, ancient ruins throughout the ages, windswept pastures and harbors that have been gathering the bounties of the sea for ages. Take in the cliffs of Noss’ large bird colony from the ship as you sail by.

Morning options in the rugged Orkney Islands include a visit to renowned Scapa Flow, one of the world’s great natural harbors and a key historical World War I and II site. Alternatively, discover the Stone Age megaliths of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old stone slab village of Skara Brae. This afternoon, take a walking tour of Kirkwall—Orkney’s capital and a showplace of ancient Viking history thanks to its proximity to Norway—and step inside the majestic St. Magnus Cathedral, a sandstone landmark that took three centuries to build.

Start the day with a panoramic drive through “the Granite City” before exploring Aberdeenshire’s countryside. Choose to visit a local Highland cattle farm, where you’ll learn about its award-winning products and practices. Or, dive into the complicated history of the Gordon Highlanders by visiting the local museum. Transfer back to the ship later this afternoon, and enjoy your last evening at sea. Keep an eye out for the resident group of bottlenose dolphins.

With close to 220,000 inhabitants, Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city. Locally quarried grey granite was used during the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries for many of Aberdeen's buildings, and hence the nicknames it has earned as the Granite City, or the Grey City. Aberdeen granite was also used to build the terraces of the Houses of Parliament and Waterloo Bridge in London. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, Aberdeen has also been called the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe. It is no wonder that because of the oil fields in the North Sea, Aberdeen's seaport is very important. The Heliport with its flights to the oil fields is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world.

Disembark in Edinburgh and transfer to the airport for flights home or choose to explore the Scottish Highlands on a post-voyage extension.

Departure Time: Depart anytime after 11:00 a.m.
Departure City: Edinburgh, U.K.

Edinburgh is to London as poetry is to prose, as Charlotte Brontë once wrote. One of the world's stateliest cities and proudest capitals, it's built—like Rome—on seven hills, making it a striking backdrop for the ancient pageant of history. In a skyline of sheer drama, Edinburgh Castle watches over the capital city, frowning down on Princes Street’s glamour and glitz. But despite its rich past, the city’s famous festivals, excellent museums and galleries, as well as the modern Scottish Parliament, are reminders that Edinburgh has its feet firmly in the 21st century.Nearly everywhere in Edinburgh (the burgh is always pronounced burra in Scotland) there are spectacular buildings, whose Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian pillars add touches of neoclassical grandeur to the largely Presbyterian backdrop. Large gardens are a strong feature of central Edinburgh, where the city council is one of the most stridently conservationist in Europe. Arthur's Seat, a mountain of bright green and yellow furze, rears up behind the spires of the Old Town. This child-size mountain jutting 822 feet above its surroundings has steep slopes and little crags, like a miniature Highlands set down in the middle of the busy city. Appropriately, these theatrical elements match Edinburgh's character—after all, the city has been a stage that has seen its fair share of romance, violence, tragedy, and triumph.Modern Edinburgh has become a cultural capital, staging the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival in every possible venue each August. The stunning Museum of Scotland complements the city’s wealth of galleries and artsy hangouts. Add Edinburgh’s growing reputation for food and nightlife and you have one of the world’s most beguiling cities.Today the city is the second most important financial center in the United Kingdom, and the fifth most important in Europe. The city regularly is ranked near the top in quality-of-life surveys. Accordingly, New Town apartments on fashionable streets sell for considerable sums. In some senses the city is showy and materialistic, but Edinburgh still supports learned societies, some of which have their roots in the Scottish Enlightenment. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, for example, established in 1783 "for the advancement of learning and useful knowledge," remains an important forum for interdisciplinary activities.Even as Edinburgh moves through the 21st century, its tall guardian castle remains the focal point of the city and its venerable history. Take time to explore the streets—peopled by the spirits of Mary, Queen of Scots; Sir Walter Scott; and Robert Louis Stevenson—and pay your respects to the world's best-loved terrier, Greyfriars Bobby. In the evenings you can enjoy candlelit restaurants or a folk ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, a traditional Scottish dance with music), though you should remember that you haven't earned your porridge until you've climbed Arthur's Seat. Should you wander around a corner, say, on George Street, you might see not an endless cityscape, but blue sea and a patchwork of fields. This is the county of Fife, beyond the inlet of the North Sea called the Firth of Forth—a reminder, like the mountains to the northwest that can be glimpsed from Edinburgh's highest points, that the rest of Scotland lies within easy reach.