Cruising the British Isles: England, Ireland & Scotland

Arrive in London, where you meet your fellow guests and Expedition Team. Transfer to Dover to board your expedition vessel this afternoon. Later this evening, enjoy a welcome briefing and reception aboard.

Relish a day at sea, relaxing with new friends and attending lectures to enrich your upcoming discoveries in Ireland.

Go ashore in Cork, the Republic of Ireland’s second-largest city. Explore the city center’s renowned university area, as well as Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, an impressive example of Gothic Revival architecture. Continue a few miles inland to Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s most iconic sites. Here, you might choose to ascend the parapet to see the Blarney Stone, said to bestow "the gift of the gab” on all who kiss it.

Today, arrive in Galway, a lively cultural enclave renowned for its vibrant lanes, colorful houses and thriving arts scene. You might enjoy a culinary walking tour and Irish whiskey tasting, explore the Burren’s vast karst landscape with a botanist and visit a local sheep farm, or spend the day amid Connemara’s rugged shoreline. Later, take in iconic vistas from a scenic lookout atop the Cliffs of Moher.

Today, your Captain charts a course past Ireland’s Killybegs to County Donegal, a rugged enclave of deep-sea inlets, sandy beaches and spectacular mountains. Once ashore, you may opt for a scenic tour of Donegal Town, a drive through the countryside to the Slieve League Mountains, or a visit to Northern Ireland’s walled city of Londonderry to reflect on the legacy of “Bloody Sunday” and “The Troubles.”

Come ashore in Mull, a remote island enclave of grand mountains, seaside villages, sandy beaches and some of the wildest coastal scenery in Europe. Here, you might visit Duart Castle, sample fine gins and whiskies at a local distillery, or tour the charming coastal burgh of Tobermory and a nearby farm. Afterward, cruise past great basalt columns flanking deep caves as you make your way to Staffa. Conditions allowing, enjoy a Zodiac experience near Fingal, a sea cave formed by hexagonally jointed basalt.

Continue cruising toward Oban. Set on the doorstep of the Scottish Highlands, this former fishing town became the “Gateway to the Islands" at the dawn of the steamship era. Once ashore, explore the town’s distillery, McCaig's Tower and Battery Hill. Other options may include a visit to the standing stones of Kilmartin Glen, a tour of Inveraray and Kilchurn castles, or a six-mile hike of the West Highland Way.

Framed by wild, windswept beaches, Scotland’s Western Isles span the rolling moorlands of Lewis and the towering mountains of Harris. Today, you might opt for a drive through the moorlands, stopping to explore the Calanais Standing Stones and the island’s crofting traditions, or drive the Golden Road, pausing to visit a Harris tweed weaver and a local distillery.

Rich in Viking heritage, the landscapes of the Orkneys span rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and wave-swept sea caves. Today, you might explore historic Kirkwall; Skara Brae, one of the best-preserved Stone Age settlements in Western Europe; or the spine-tingling Ring of Brodgar, a circle of standing stones dating to 2700 BC.

Northern Scotland is legendary for its dramatic, windswept mountains, wooded hills and rich history. Today, explore the magnificent Highlands, choosing from excursions that may include a visit to Inverness, a private cruise on mythic Loch Ness and stop at Urquhart Castle, an exploration of Culloden’s battlefield, or a whisky tasting at Glenmorangie Distillery.

Bid farewell to your Captain and crew as you sail through the Firth of Forth and disembark in Edinburgh, a city that embodies the Scottish national heritage like few other places. Tour this vibrant capital, taking in Edinburgh Castle and inspiring city views. This evening, gather for a farewell reception and luxurious night's stay at The Balmoral, a longstanding Edinburgh landmark.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on an extension touring Edinburgh and the historic Scottish Borders.