After a restless overnight at a Seattle airport hotel, we were up at 3am to begin the hurry and wait of modern air travel.
Just a few years back, I traveled around the world for a year with one ... Full Journal »
Scotland Slowly
« All Sea Adventurer (AC) cruise options
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||||
| Cat 1 | Cat 2 | Cat 3 | Cat 4 | Cat 5 | Cat 6 | Cat 7 | Cat 8 | Cat 9 | Cat 10 | |
| Jun 2 '13 |
$3,995 | $4,995 | $5,995 | $6,595 | $7,995 | $8,995 | $9,595 | $9,995 | $10,495 | $11,395 |
| Deals, Discounts... Savings! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Savings | Dates | |
| 30% | All Departure Dates | |
| These special offers are applicable only to new bookings. Discounts are subject to availability, so contact us for more details. | ||
- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.6 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Deposit & Payment -Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.6 times the double occupancy rate. The supplement for a suite is 2 times the shared rate.
Day 1 Glasgow & Oban
Dubbed the Empire's Second City, this bustling metropolis is a working town and the economic engine of Scotland. Known for its architecture, Glasgow's cathedral spires and Italianate steeples sit harmoniously alongside neo-gothic towers, the sensuous Art Nou-veau of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the titanium, glass and steel that serves as the backdrop for this contemporary city.
Day 2 Islay & Jura
Islay is referred to as the Cradle of Clan Donald. The descendants of Somerled, a 12th century prince, made their home at Loch Finlaggan. However, it was on Eilean na Comhairle (the council isle) that the Lordship government discussed important matters of the Hebrides. The capital of Islay today is Bowmore, home of the Bowmore Round Kirk and one of the island's seven whisky distilleries.
Jura is the wildest island in the Inner Hebrides. The ragged west side is uninhabited and dotted with caves, arches, pillars and raised beaches bordering a vast area of rock and blanket bog. Deer, wild goats, and golden eagles thrive here, but so do palm trees in the mild climate surrounding the only substantial village, Craighurst (population: 160). It has all the necessities of life -hotel, pub, post office, church, shop, doctor and distillery! Jura fascinated George Orwell, who lived here for two years as he penned the novel 1984.
Day 3 Isle of Skye
In Armadale, on the fertile Sleat Peninsula of Skye, there is a centre dedicated solely to Clan Donald. Surrounded by impressive gardens, the Macdonald Centre sits next to Armadale Castle, an ancient seat of the Macdonald chiefs.
Your visit to Skye will continue on the outhwestern shore as you visit Loch Courisk, a freshwater loch only meters above sea level accessed through Loch Scavaig. Some maintain this remote loch is one of the finest mountainscapes in all of Britain. Set against a stunning backdrop formed by the Cuillin Mountains, we’ll hike the western shore of Loch Courisk, a superb stop for birders and photographers.
Day 4 Staffa & Iona
Not far from Mull, the isle of Staffa is noted for its basalt cliffs and 'Fingal's Cave'- a spectacular natural feature named for the Celtic hero, and the inspiration for Mendelssohn's Hebridean overture.
Iona is where St. Columba established his monastery - the luminary of all the Caledonian Region in 563AD. Though savagely attacked by the Vikings, Iona was traditionally the burial places of Kings and it long enjoyed the patronage of the Lord of the Isles. The much restored Abbey complex preserves two outstanding 8th century crosses and a splendid collection of sculptures commissioned or influenced by the Chiefs of Clan Donald and their allies.
Day 5 Mingulay & Barra
The Outer Hebrides form a long archipelago off Scotland's west coast and are the stronghold of Gaelic culture and language. Mingulay is home to puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, shags, fulmars and razorbills. Sightings of eagles and peregrine falcons are possible here. This lovely island also served as inspiration for the noted tune "Mingulay Boat Song". Now uninhabited, a large natural arch and dramatic sea stacks adorn the western side of the island.
Barra is the ancestral island of Clan MacNeil whose chiefs were based at Kisimul Castle, which still sits impressively intact a few hundred yards offshore from the pleasant village of Castlebay. Alexander Lord of the Isles granted the MacNeils the island in 1427 and a century later the clan was accused of launching piratical raids on English shipping endeavours. Barra was later the home of writer Compton Mackenzie who used the setting for his novel (later a movie) Whisky Galore.
Day 6 St Kilda
St. Kilda was inhabited until 1930 when the population was forced to request evacuation. This near-mystical isle, 64 km (40 mi) west of the Outer Hebrides and now a World Heritage Site supports an abundant population of seabirds, notably puffins, fulmars and the largest gannet colony in Britain, and the Soay - a unique feral sheep left by the islanders. It also preserves many examples of houses, cleits (stone beehive shaped storage structures) and prehistoric remains. A hike to the cliffs offers a stunning 274m (900 ft) vista. To visit St. Kilda is a unique privilege and an altogether memorable experience.
Day 7 Isle of Lewis
Farther north lies Lewis, the largest of the Hebrides, the home of Harris Tweed and Scotland's largest Gaelic speaking community. Visit Stornoway, the island's capital city. On the west side, Callanish is one of Britain's most important Stone Age sites, a primordial configuration of standing stones dating from 2000 BC. One local tradition tells the story of giants who refused to be converted to Christianity, and were turned to stone as punishment by Saint Kieran.
Day 8 Orkney Islands
An early morning sail brings you past the Old Man of Hoy, a distinctive 137m (450 ft) sea stack, a red standstone plinth of igneous basalt on the west coast of the isle of Hoy. Continuous occupation by Vikings, Celts, Picts and stone-age peoples make Orkney one of the richest archaeological areas in the UK. Visit the 4,000-year old Ring of Brodgar, one of Europe's finest ancient Neolithic monuments, and also Maes Howe, a Neolithic chambered cairn estimated to have been constructed around 2700 BC. Kirkwall is a fine country town dominated by the massive Magnus Cathedral, dating from 1137, one of the best examples of its kind in Britain and the final resting place of Orkney-born Canadian Arctic explorer, John Rae. Orkney has strong links to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). From HBC's early days, their ships regularly called at Stromness for supplies and labour. By late 18th century three quarters of the HBC's workforce in Canada were Orcadians.
Day 9 Fair Isle & Mousa, Shetland Islands
Fair Isle has a National Trust Bird Observatory. A key destination in Viking times, it now hosts a hospitable population of some 70 people who happily combine a respect for tradition with a modern outlook. Great skuas greet visitors seeking puffins, while a charming museum is devoted to island heritage.
The isle of Mousa, in addition to being a fine birding island, Mousa is the site of the best preserved broch in the world. These fortified structures are unique to Scotland. Explore the 12m (40ft) high monument and climb the inner staircase up. Its precise function is a matter of debate and a potent source of speculation.
Day 10 Foula & Papa Stour, Shetland Islands
Foula is the most remote permanently inhabited island in the UK; 31 souls live here, 23 km (14 mi) west of the Shetland Islands. Many preserve traditional methods of agriculture and subsistence, while most have access to the Internet in their crofts. Known for its 400m (1,312 ft) high cliffs and its arctic terns, red-throated divers and great skuas, you'll be in the area at just the right time to see a considerable number of birds. Islanders still acknowledge the Julian calendar which celebrates Christmas on January 6 and New Year's on January 13, and remnants of an old Norse tongue, Norn, are still found here.
Humans have settled at Papa Stour since mesolithic times. The name, which means 'big island of the priests', commemorates Celtic monks who were engulfed by Viking settlers around 800 AD. A population of 20 and one of Britain's most dramatic coastlines - sea stacks, twisting tidal channels and rugged cliffscapes - perfect for Zodiac touring!
Day 11 Aberdeen, Scotland
The Clipper Adventurer arrives in Aberdeen in the morning and you can chose to extend your stay on your own or make your way home.
Itinerary Notes
What's Included- All entry & park fees
- Your complete itinerary
- Team of resource specialists
- Educational program and pre-departure materials
- All shipboard meals
- All Zodiac excursions
- Service charges and port fees
What's Not Included
- Commercial flights
- Mandatory medical / evacuation insurance
- Personal expenses
- Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
- Discretionary gratuities to ship's crew (approximately $10-14 per passenger per day)
- Visas, or inoculations, if required
- Possible fuel surcharges
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1700, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure.
Final payment by check, bank transfer, or credit card (subject to an additional fee of approx 4%).
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 130 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 121 days or more | $700 per person |
| 120-91 days | 70% trip cost |
| 90-0 days | 100% trip cost |
Sea Adventurer (AC)
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 110
Sea Adventurer is a handsome expedition vessel reminiscent of the days of the great ocean liners, with lots of varnished wood and brass. Formerly known as the Clipper Adventurer, she sails on a wide variety of cruises — in Europe, the Canadian Arctic, the U.S., South America, and Antarctica.
Built in 1975 as the Alla Tarasova in the former Yugoslavia, the 122-passenger Sea Adventurer underwent a $13-million conversion in 1998 in Scandinavia. The new features include: 61 comfortable, all-outside cabins, with lower beds, private bathroom facilities, and individual temperature controls to offer the most comfortable Antarctica tours possible. The window-lined dining room seats all passengers at leisurely single seatings, where superb American and Continental cuisine is served by the friendly staff. There are two lounges — the Main Lounge and Bar on Promenade Deck, seating 130 passengers; and the Clipper Club, also on Promenade Deck, seating 45 passengers. There’s also a library/card room, a small workout room, a gift shop, and a hair salon.
Unique to the Sea Adventurer is a spacious, covered promenade with a beautiful wooden deck (varnished Oregon pine) where passengers can view the seascapes during their Antarctica travels. There’s also plenty of open deck space on the Boat Deck and Sun Deck, while an observation platform located forward below the Bridge is ideal for wildlife viewing.
The Sea Adventurer is an oceangoing vessel equipped with an ice-strengthened hull (A-1 ice class) ideally suited for cruises in such remote environments that Antarctica tours can offer, but supremely comfortable anywhere she sails. A fleet of Zodiac landing craft provides access to areas where no infrastructure exists. The vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communication equipment including telephone, fax, and e-mail.
The Captain and his officers maintain an open bridge to give passengers an opportunity to observe and ask questions. An experienced cruise staff, physician, and on board lecturers accompany all voyages to enhance the passengers’ enjoyment of the places visited.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
 | Cat 1 Quad Lower Forward, 2 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window, 150 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 2 Triple Lower Deck, 1 upper 2 lower berths, private facilities, porthole window, 150 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 3 Junior Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 120 sq. ft |
| Cat 4 Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 125 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 5 Main Double, two lower berths, shower, porthole window, 155 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 6 Deluxe Double, shower, midship, two lower berths, double window, 125 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 7 Superior Double, two lower berths, shower, picture window, double window, 130 sq.ft. |
 | Cat 8 Junior Suite, two lower berths, bath or shower, sitting area, triple window, 160 sq. ft. |
 | Cat 9 Suite, two lower beds, bath with shower, two double windows, mini-refrigerator, sitting area, 215 sq. ft. |
| Cat 10 Owner’s Suite, two lower berths, shower/ bathtub, two double windows, mini-refrigerator and microwave, 268 sq ft. |
