North Atlantic Wonders: Iceland, Scotland and the Faroes

Arrive in Edinburgh and transfer to the city center. Visit Edinburgh Castle, the historic hilltop fortress overlooking the city. Walk the Royal Mile, explore local shops and museums, or dine in traditional pubs before boarding the ship later in the day.

Dock in Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney. Walk through the old town with a guide and tour St. Magnus Cathedral along with the ruins of the Bishop’s and Earl’s Palaces. Explore High Street independently before choosing from several excursions across the islands. Visit Scapa Flow, a major natural harbor and key British naval base during both World Wars. Explore archaeological sites on Mainland or Horse Island, see ancient ruins in the north, and examine later stone structures that reflect how residents live among historic foundations today.

Shetland is characterized by deep-seated cultural traditions and dramatic landscapes. Close enough to Norway to speak Scottish with a Scandinavian accent, this 100-island archipelago has never been fully tamed by those who live here. Discover some of these picturesque, rural islands with their mix of long-haired ponies, ancient ruins and windswept pastures, including a visit to the protected harbor of Burrafirth at the base of the Hermaness Nature Reserve and joining in a night of music and dance at a local community hall.

This morning, arrive in the Faroe Islands, an autonomous archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark. The legacy of the Vikings persists here, reflected in the language of the Faroese and their love of the sea. Hike out to Leitisvatn—or the "floating lake"—for pristine views of the North Atlantic and stunning photo opportunities.

Visit Torshavn, the colorful capital of the Faroe Islands, where homes and government buildings are capped with the region’s iconic turf roofs. Witness the 12th-century St. Olav’s Church, which is still in use today, alongside the ruins of Kirkjubour Cathedral.  

Navigate to one of the local communities on Eysturoy, the second largest island in the Faroes, to enjoy the warm hospitality of its villagers and take in the stunning landscapes and trails of their beautiful fjord. 

Arrive in Djúpivogur and explore the remote black-sand beaches and steep fjords of eastern Iceland. Alternatively, visit secluded valleys and remote waterfalls in the countryside or join a hike to the black sand beaches of southern Iceland.

Later on, voyage to the Westman Islands. which were formed by undersea volcanoes between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago and are among the youngest of the world’s archipelagos. In 1963, the world witnessed on film the birth of its newest island, Surtsey—a UNESCO World Heritage site—which you’ll see as you cruise past its coast. In Heimaey, visit the crater, where the earth is still hot, for amazing views of areas that were once engulfed by lava in 1973.

Disembark in Reykjavík and transfer to the airport for flights home.