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.

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.

Fair Isle is a true paradise for birdwatchers. A huge number of birds inhabit its lush grasslands and spectacular cliffs—over 345 species have been recorded here, more than anywhere else in Britain. During our island walk, we hope to spot northern fulmars, kittiwakes, northern gannets, Atlantic puffins, and great and Arctic skuas, observing them closely and photographing them from just a few meters away. The puffin population alone is impressive—around 12,000 birds. About fifty residents live on Fair Isle, and they’ll welcome us at the community centre with Scottish treats, sweets, and hot drinks. You’ll also have the chance to purchase Fair Isle’s famous wool jumpers, hats, and mittens, and chat with the locals about everyday life on the island.

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. Today we will explore Tórshavn, the capital and largest city of Faroe Islands.

Tórshavn is a unique city, where history meets modernity, where picturesque old turfed houses and modern buildings stand side by side... 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. Today we will explore Tórshavn, the capital and largest city of Faroe Islands. Tórshavn is a unique city, where history meets modernity, where picturesque old turfed houses and modern buildings stand side by side... These islands are home to around 70,000 sheep—and just as many lambs. At the national museum, you’ll discover how Skerpikjøt (pronounced “sher-pi-chet”), a nine-month wind-dried mutton specialty, is made. You’ll also visit one of the oldest still-inhabited wooden houses and explore the ruins of a Gothic cathedral in Kirkjubøur. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time in Tórshavn before returning to the ship for our voyage north to Svalbard.

Spend your day at sea immersed in discovery and delight. Our expert staff lead engaging presentations and hands-on workshops, while our onboard recreation facilities offer endless ways to unwind. Step onto the panoramic decks or gaze through your stateroom windows to watch kittiwakes and fulmars trailing the ship—or keep an eye out for whale spouts on the horizon. As we cross the Arctic Circle at 66°30′ N, join us for a festive celebration complete with ice cream and cheers under the polar sky. Later, the lounge comes alive with a spectacular appearance by Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, bringing myth and merriment to life before we settle in for the evening’s entertainment.

Today, weather permitting, we’ll attempt to explore Jan Mayen, a remote Norwegian island dominated by Beerenberg—the world’s northernmost active volcano. Towering cliffs and rugged slopes host an astonishing seabird colony: northern fulmars drifting on ocean breezes, kittiwakes wheeling overhead, and Brünnich’s guillemots perched on narrow ledges. Inland, the only inhabitants are the crew of the lone weather station, whose cheeky sign reads: “Theory is when you understand everything but nothing works. Practice is when everything works but nobody understands why. Here, we combine theory and practice so nothing works and nobody understands why.” In the afternoon, we’ll set sail, continuing on to our next Arctic destination.

Today you’ll deepen your Arctic knowledge with engaging lectures on polar geology, wildlife behavior, and culture, sprinkled between exhilarating whale-watching sessions from the open decks. Join hands-on workshops in the lounge — practice your photography techniques, and attend an “Expedition Readiness” briefing to prepare for our shore landings. As the low Arctic sun drapes the horizon, share stories over drinks and toast to tomorrow’s first glimpse of Svalbard’s ice-swept shores.

This is a real expedition in a true High Arctic wilderness. As such, our route and exploration opportunities here are heavily dependent on the weather and sea ice conditions we encounter. Our experienced captain and expedition leader decide the itinerary and continually adjust plans as conditions and opportunities warrant. You can be sure that the best possible advantage will be taken of the circumstances presented to us by Nature in this wild and remote corner of the Arctic.
Polar bears and other quintessential Arctic wildlife can be spotted anytime, anywhere in and around Svalbard. We exploit every opportunity to experience excellent wildlife viewing, to discover incredible scenery, and to walk in the footsteps of the historic polar expeditions that came before us.

We anticipate exploring the spectacular fjords, coasts, and islands in the western part of Svalbard. This area contains the archipelago’s most impressive scenery and some of the Arctic’s best wildlife viewing opportunities. Deep fjords and narrow channels are flanked by jagged snowy mountain peaks. Immense tidewater glaciers calve icebergs into turquoise waters. Fields of flowering tundra are home to grazing reindeer and playful Arctic fox. Bountiful inshore and offshore waters are home to walrus and a wide variety of whales. The whole area is alive with migratory birds, including numerous rare species, taking advantage of summer’s fecundity in 24-hour daylight.

To complete the Arctic experience we also explore places rich with history. Our area of exploration contains the historical remnants of whaling camps, coal mining operations, trappers’ cabins, staging areas for historic attempts to discover the North Pole, and even an abandoned polar research station. The days are filled with memorable excursions, sumptuous meals, presentations by our experts, and enough stunning scenery and wildlife to fill your camera and overwhelm your emotions.

After enjoying one final breakfast buffet on board, we bid you farewell in Longyearbyen, the capital of Svalbard and final destination of our expedition. After disembarkation, a captivating sightseeing tour awaits you, showcasing some of the most interesting locations in the world's northernmost city. We provide transfers to the airport or to the town center in case you plan to stay longer in Svalbard.