essential cruise - Iceland, Faroes & Northern Isles

Day 1 Newcastle At Port of Tyne, Newcastle, embark the Columbus (3T) in preparation for late afternoon sailing. Day 2 Dundee In the midst of beautiful countryside sits Dundee, the country's first UNESCO City of Design. Scotland’s sunniest city mixes its historic heritage with a modern look. Art galleries and quirky shops fill the centre, while the Dundee Museum of Transport and Discovery Point display the vehicles of past adventures, with the latter offering the opportunity to climb aboard Captain Scott’s RRS Discovery, the vessel that undertook one of the most fascinating voyages of exploration. Day 3 At sea Day 4 Torshavn, Faroe Islands Although known as Europe’s smallest capital city, Torshavn is brimming with historical buildings to discover and its compact size makes it the perfect destination for those on a time limit. The historic centre, Tinganes, is just one square mile and can easily be explored in just a few hours. The area is characterised by its red wooden buildings topped with turfed roofs; a nod to the Viking days. The Faroe Islands are home to wild and dramatic landscapes and it’s only a 10-minute drive out of town to discover some fantastic views. Day 5 Eskifjördur, Iceland Eskifjördur is a charming isolated village amid a stunning landscape sculpted by ice age glaciers. The Maritime Museum gives insight into how the sea, has seen the community adopt self-sufficiency. Further along the coast is a famous spar mine, where some of Iceland’s largest spar crystals have been found. The mine features in optional excursions along with the Icelandic Wartime Museum which recounts Iceland’s World War II history. Day 6 Akureyri The capital of northern Iceland is nestled at the head of the Eyjafjördur. With just 18,000 residents, it would be considered a town anywhere else, but with lively winter festivals, buzzy art galleries, and stunning botanical gardens it’s a far cry from the other rural Icelandic towns. Optional excursions highlight Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes including surreal rock formations, the lunar-like pseudo-craters at Skutustadir and the stunning, crescent-shaped Godafoss Waterfall. In town, the church, Akureyrarkirkja (nicknamed the ‘Ice Cathedral’) dominates the cityscape, while Laufas Folk Museum and the Myvatn Nature Baths are also wonderful places to spend your time in the city. Day 7 Ísafjördur The Westfjords town of Ísafjördur is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Flanked on three sides by plunging mountains, there’s plenty of hiking trails and some of the country’s best skiing and kayaking opportunities. Nature aficionados will love the bird paradise of Vigur Island, which is just a short boat trip from the mainland. Meanwhile, amongst the 18th century timber and tin-clad buildings, the Maritime Museum traces the history of the settlement where fishing has always been the main source of income. Day 8-9 Reykjavik (overnight) Our final stop in Iceland is perhaps the most anticipated. The part Old Norse, part modern city of Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and home to almost half of the country’s total population. The city’s style is punctuated with colourful buildings and eye-popping design that breeds a strikingly quirky, creative atmosphere. Loaded with captivating art, cool cafés and rich history, the National Museum, Saga Museum, and National Gallery are all worthy of a visit. Optional excursions highlight the classic ‘Golden Circle’ featuring vast lava fields, bubbling mud pools, crashing waterfalls and spouting geysers, while the chance to bathe in the famous geothermal Blue Lagoon is also very tempting. Day 10-11 At sea At sea to enjoy onboard facilities. Day 12 Lerwick, Shetland Islands Britain’s most northerly frontier; the Shetland Islands possess an element of Scandinavian influence from their Norwegian neighbours who ruled the islands until 1469. In Lerwick, discover more about Norse history at the fantastic Shetland Museum, or explore the maze of narrow flagstone streets that make up the core of the town. Charming 18th century sandstone buildings surround the harbour, Hay’s Dock, where remnants of a once thriving fishing industry can be seen. Outside of town, the vast landscape offers a wealth of wildlife to rival the Scottish mainland, peppered with lochs. Ship to shore tender service. Day 13 Invergordon Invergordon is a key port on the shores of the deep Cromarty Firth, with an important naval history stretching back through two World Wars. Stretching from its boundaries is the beautiful Scottish Highlands which form a stunning backdrop to the romantic castles and historic battlefields featuring in optional excursions. Other popular options include the Glenmorangie Distillery, legendary Loch Ness and Inverness, ‘Capital of the Highlands’. Day 14 Newcastle Arrive at Port of Tyne, Newcastle.