Poseidon Expeditions - your polar cruise operator
EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS
19 May - 28 May 2022
10 days
9 days
Dates | days | Activities | Special Offers | Rates from | |
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10 May - 22 May 2021 Plymouth (England) - Edinburgh (Scotland) |
13 |
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EXCLUSIVE OFFER |
US$ 5 995
US$ 4 496 per person |
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8 May - 20 May 2022 Portsmouth (England) - Edinburgh (Scotland) |
13 |
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EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS |
US$ 6 095
US$ 5 486 per person |
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Triple Suite |
US$ 3 956
US$ 4 395 |
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Main Deck Suite |
US$ 5 396
US$ 5 995 |
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Classic Suite |
US$ 5 756
US$ 6 395 |
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Superior Suite |
US$ 5 521
US$ 6 495 |
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Deluxe Suite |
US$ 6 201
US$ 7 295 |
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Premium Suite |
US$ 6 796
US$ 7 995 |
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Owners Suite |
US$ 8 666
US$ 10 195 |
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Savings of 10% for Triple, Main Deck and Classic Suites; 15% for Superior, Deluxe, Premium and Owner's Suite for all bookings confirmed before June 30, 2021.
Cruise rates are quoted per person and based on passengers sharing a cabin. Single supplement: 1.7 for Main Deck and Classic, Superior Suite; 2 for Deluxe, Premium and Owner’s Suite.
Free option
The Polar Regions are perhaps the most photogenic on earth, with countless beautiful scenes presenting themselves every day. Endless expanses of ice, beaches crowded with seals or penguins, sunsets over unbroken horizons, starlit skies, and even the majestic northern lights – they all present fantastic photographic opportunities – and in order to make sure that you come home with some spectacular images we offer you the chance to learn and practice your photography alongside an experienced professional.
Our expert Photographer will be on hand to answer your questions and give advice, both in the form of on-board lectures and workshops on shore. Explore the key elements of photography in a fun and relaxed setting, with plenty of opportunities for questions and feedback. Learn how to see light in a new way and experiment with the techniques of composition and framing.
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