HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit
the famous Edinburgh Castle which rises majestically above all the
surrounding buildings
- In
Kirkwall, capital of the Orkney Archipelago, visit the sandstone St.
Magnus Cathedral, considered to be the finest medieval building in the
north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the
Earl’s Palace.
- In
the Orkney islands visit the Ring of Brodgar – a huge
ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5,000 years
- Continue
on to the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, with remarkable
dwellings first revealed beneath the sand dunes by storms just 150
years ago
- Head
to Fair Isle, a real paradise for birdwatchers, with lush grasslands
and spectacular cliffs inhabited by huge number of birds (345 species
have been recorded here – more than anywhere else in Britain)
- Visit
the newly refurbished observatory and see thousands of northern
fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic
skuas.
- Journey
onto Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, a small town of 4,200 inhabitants as well
as the 15-island archipelago that is located off the south coast of
Iceland, home to the Eldfell volcano, which forced the evacuation of
the entire population. It has a unique microclimate, and more than 30
species of birds nest in the millions in the high cliffs and
grassy ledges.
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Triple Classic | Main Deck Suite | Classic Suite | Superior Suite | Deluxe Suite | Premium Suite | Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 19, 2022 | May 28, 2022 | 4,395 | 5,995 | 6,395 | 6,495 | 7,295 | 7,995 | 10,195 |
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Triple Classic | (Mid-range)
Superior Suite | (High-end)
Owner's Suite |
|---|
| May 19, 2022 | May 28, 2022 | 4,395 | 6,495 | 10,195 |
ITINERARY
Day
1: Arrival in Edinburgh, Scotland (hotel night)
Welcome
to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and starting point of our
trans-Atlantic expedition. To provide you with more time to enjoy this
metropolis rich in history and culture, we’ve arranged
pre-cruise hotel accommodations near the city center. 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 nine days.
Day
3: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Kirkwall,
capital of the Orkney Archipelago, is a small, quiet town, with a
gentle pace of life. It was first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in 1046.
Such a long history has left a rich heritage which we explore today on
an included tour. The most famous sites in town are the sandstone St.
Magnus Cathedral, considered to be the finest medieval building in the
north of Scotland, the Bishop’s Palace and the
Earl’s Palace.
We
leave town and head west, passing through the gentle rolling landscape
of the Orkney’s largest island, Mainland, and into the
Neolithic heartland, 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 5,000 years. We then
continue on to the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae, with
remarkable dwellings first revealed beneath the sand dunes by storms
just 150 years ago. Return to the ship for dinner and a late evening
departure.
Day
4: North Ronaldsay, Orkney Islands; Fair Isle, Shetland Islands,
Scotland
You
can expect a physically more active day, as the places we visit become
more remote with less tourism infrastructure. This morning, we land at
North Ronaldsay, the most distant isle of the Orkneys, with a
population of about 70 people. The isle supports an extremely rich and
diverse population of wild flowers, birdlife and flocks of the unusual
seaweed-eating North Ronaldsay sheep. Many migrating species of birds
stop here in spring and autumn, while there are also many breeding
species which spend the spring and summer at the island. Escorted by
our knowledgeable expedition staff, we’ll plan to hike and
birdwatching in this picturesque landscape.
During
lunch on board, we head to Fair Isle, a real paradise for birdwatchers.
The lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs are inhabited by huge number
of birds. Over 345 species have been recorded here – more
than anywhere else in Britain. The variety of bird life inspired the
ornithologist George Waterston to build a bird observatory here in
1948. Enjoy a pleasant afternoon walk across the island, visit the
newly refurbished observatory and see thousands of northern fulmars,
kittiwakes, northern gannets, puffins, and great and arctic skuas.
Days 5-7: Exploring the
Faroe Islands
National
Geographic Traveler had designated the Faroe Islands as
“authentic, unspoiled and likely to remain so”.
Nature has spared no colors in painting the islands: deep-green hills,
bright blue sea, colorful houses and boats, and puffins’
orange-red beaks make the landscape unforgettable.
The
rugged Faroese are proud of their Viking heritage and their love of the
sea. We will explore the archipelago with possible stops in:
Tórshavn.
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. There are magnificent views to the west and
the islands of Koltur, Hestur, Sandoy, and Vágar.
Klaksvík,
the second-largest town in the Faroes and an important fishing and
shipping port. Charcoal gray, snow-dusted mountains create a
spectacular backdrop to our visit. The town originated from four farms
which grew into four villages and ultimately into a modern town in the
late 1939s. Some light hiking and birdwatching are possible in areas
selected by local guides and our expedition team.
Our
expedition team will also search for more 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
8: At Sea, En route to Iceland
Today
is for relaxation on board or watching for seabirds and aquatic life in
the Atlantic’s pelagic layers from the Sea Spirit’s
decks or open bridge. When they’re not busy giving
informative presentations on the geology, wildlife or Viking heritage
of the Faroes and Iceland in the Oceanus Lounge, the expedition team
will be happy to answer your questions.
Day
9: Vestmannaeyjar, Heimaey, Iceland
Sometimes
anglicized as Westman Islands, Vestmannaeyjar is the name of the small
town of 4,200 inhabitants as well as the 15-island archipelago that is
located off the south coast of Iceland. It came to the
world’s attention in 1973 with the eruption of the Eldfell
volcano, which forced the evacuation of the entire population. It has a
unique microclimate, and more than 30 species of birds nest in the
millions in the high cliffs and grassyledges.
Vestmannaeyjar
– literally “the islands of the westmen”
– is named after the Irish slaves brought here by the
Vikings. A full day here will provide us with time to tour the small
town and travel into more windswept and remote areas for hiking and
views of massive breeding colonies of migratory birdlife. Tonight, as
the Sea Spirit departs Vestmannaeyjar, enjoy the Captain’s
farewell cocktail party and festive dinner.
Day
10: Reykjavik, Disembarkation, Iceland
We
finish our journey in the capital city of Iceland where, after
breakfast, guests will disembark and be transferred to either the
International Airport or the city center.
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 Edinburgh;
- Group
transfer to the ship for embarkation on Day 2;
- Shipboard
accommodation;
- All
meals on board throughout the voyage;
- Tea
and coffee station 24 hours daily;
- All
scheduled landings/excursions (subject to weather and ice conditions);
- Leadership
throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader &
Expedition Team;
- Branded
Poseidon Expeditions parka;
- Rubber
boots for shore landings for the time of the cruise;
- Welcome
and Farewell cocktails;
- All
port fees;
- Group
transfer to airport or central location upon disembarkation;
- Pre-departure
materials;
- Digital
Voyage Log;
- Wi-Fi
on board.
Not
Included
- 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;
- Personal
expenses such as laundry and telecommunication charges;
- Mandatory
Emergency Evacuation Insurance to a minimum benefit of US$ 200,000 per
person;
- Staff
gratuities.
