Atlantic Odyssey: Ireland to Iceland

Dublin, capital of Ireland, seamlessly blends grit and beauty with Georgian squares, parks, and canals. It boasts a rich literary heritage, home to renowned writers like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. Literary attractions include Trinity College Library, housing the 9th century Book of Kells, and the James Joyce Centre. The vibrant pub culture, with landmarks like the Guinness Storehouse and Temple Bar, adds to its lively charm.

Please Note: An arrival airport transfer, one pre-cruise hotel night and transfer from the hotel to the ship on Day 1 is included for guests arriving one day early. For guests arriving on Day 1, an airport to ship transfer will be provided.

Iona, in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland, holds over a thousand years of spiritual history. With a population of barely 100, the island remains mostly untouched. Iona is renowned for its abbey, established by St. Columba and his Irish followers in 563 CE. In these serene cloisters, the priceless Book of Kells was created, which was later taken to Ireland in 807 CE to safeguard it from Viking raids. Explore Iona Abbey on foot; an optional excursion includes a nature walk with specialized guides.

Portree is the largest town, capital, and gateway to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides. Fringed by cliffs, Portree's harbor, with a pier designed by engineer Thomas Telford, is surrounded by colorful homes and is best photographed from the viewpoint next to the Royal Hotel. Popular as a base for hiking, to the north is the Old Man of Storr, a rocky pinnacle popular with hikers. Take a stroll around the gardens of Dunvegan Castle and see the waterfall known as Rory Mor's Cascade. As an option, you can walk to the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr.

The dramatic village of Ullapool on Scotland's west coast sits on fjord-like Loch Broom, the narrow waters curling away into the distance below the misty mountains. The countryside is packed with wonders: Corrieshalloch Gorge, steep, narrow and with the roar of rushing water; Achmelvich Beach, a crescent of pure white sand and turquoise waters protected by rocky outcrops; and the Bone Caves, where bones of reindeer and polar bear have been found. You'll visit the loch and see the ruins of Calda House and Ardvreck Castle. Optional excursions include hiking in Knockan Crag and the Geopark or a visit to the Glen Ord Distillery to sample "liquid gold."

Ramshackle Stromness is an 18th century stone seaport, barely changed since Captain Cook's ships stopped in 1780. The Pier Arts Centre housing modern art is often described as a "little seaside Tate." Just 7 miles north, prehistoric Skara Brae is Northern Europe's best preserved Neolithic village, predating Stonehenge and the Giza pyramids. Shore excursions include a visit to the ancient village of Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar, a colossal ceremonial stone circle nearly 5,000 years old. An option is to take a walking tour of Stromness.

Nearer Norway than the Scottish mainland, the solid, stone-built town of Lerwick is the capital and only town of the Shetland Islands, a subarctic Scottish archipelago with Viking roots. The port has a Dutch flair with 17th century Fort Charlotte. In the island's south, Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement reveals an exceptional archaeological site spanning 5,000 years of history. Around 1,500 tiny Shetland ponies roam freely on the islands. Visit the bird cliffs at Jarlshof and Sumburgh Head—puffins, shags, fulmars, and gannets—or visit a jewelry workshop and meet the locals.

Disembark in Tórshavn, the port capital of the Faroe Islands. Cut adrift in the Atlantic, halfway between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroes are a self-governing archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark. Off the radar for most travelers, the Faroes are becoming increasingly well known for their scenic splendor (think New Zealand crossed with Iceland), and the unique cultural heritage. Thanks to a melange of influences, the Faroes has its own flag, saga, dances, traditions, and language. Sited on the southern tip of Streymoy, the largest of the 18 islands, the lively little capital, "Thor's Harbour," will charm with its rainbow-hued clapboard warehouses, grass-roofed wooden churches, and the quaint old quarter, Tinganes. You might opt to explore the twin-sited Føroya Fornminnissavn, an excellent museum; the Skansin Fort; the church of Havnar Kirkja, with its distinctive clock tower. Or the shops might tempt you, the fabulous concept store, Oström, or renowned knitwear designer Gudrun & Gudrun is an obvious choice in a place where sheep outnumber people nearly two to one.

With Viking-era origins, Djupivogur, a tranquil fishing village with fewer than 500 residents, is renowned for its unhurried pace of life and the art installation "The Eggs at Merry Bay," featuring 34 granite eggs representing local bird species. Nearby, Vatnajökull National Park, covering 14 percent of Iceland, offers a wild expanse with Europe's largest ice cap, Vatnajökull Glacier, thundering glacial rivers, and active volcanoes. Enjoy a cultural walk in the village, with a visit to a local craft museum, or opt to travel to Einstigsfoss waterfall, the Hoffellsjökull, an outlet glacier formed during the "little ice age,” or navigating through the icy wonderland of Jökulsárlón by boat.

Grímsey is a remote island located 25 miles off Iceland's north coast. Many people travel here for the purpose of setting foot in the Arctic Circle, the only place in Iceland where you can do so. The island is home to fewer than 100 people, but over one million seabirds. Birdlife thrives here thanks to the lack of egg predation and the well-stocked surrounding seas. Grímsey has one of Iceland's largest tern nesting sites and puffin colonies. Enjoy a 4-mile nature walk with birds flying overhead and visit a church built from driftwood in the 19th century.

Home to some 18,000 residents, Akureyri stands proud as the Land of Fire and Ice's "Capital of the North." It's the gateway to some natural wonders including the Myvatn region, Dettifoss waterfall, Godafoss waterfall, and Asbyrgi canyon. But before you rush off, take some time to explore: Iceland's winsome second city is colorful, cozy, and utterly enchanting. Enjoy the quaint harborfront; climb the steps to the towering Akureyri Church; stroll around Lystigardurinn, the city's Arctic botanical garden; visit the Laufás Turf Houses; get in the festive spirit early at the Christmas House (Jolahusid); admire the exhibits at the Akureyri Art Museum or the Hof cultural center; or take a dip in the outdoor, geothermal swimming pool. Optional excursions include a hike from Hverfell, a large, circular volcanic crater.

Surrounded by fjords in the Westfjords region, Ísafjördur is a bustling fishing town in northwest Iceland with colorful wooden 18th and 19th century houses in its old town, Neskaupstadur. Nearby, Sudavik is home to the Arctic Fox Center. Iceland's only mammal, the arctic fox, lives on the lush tundra of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost peninsula in the Westfjords with two of Europe's largest bird cliffs. Get a glimpse of Westfjords' life and culture at the Maritime Museum; optional excursions include an ATV tour of the mountainous terrain or a whale watching sail along the beautiful Snæfjallaströnd (Snow-Mountain-Coast).

A jewel of the Westfjords, Vigur is the fjord's second-largest island and a thriving seabird sanctuary. Flocks of arctic terns, puffins, guillemots, and eider ducks nest atop rocky cliffs. As one of only two inhabited islands, Vigur supports a family farm continuing the centuries-old eiderdown harvest across 3,500 nests. This remote pillar also houses Iceland's sole windmill, its tiniest post office, and a 200-year-old, still-seaworthy rowing boat.

Considered one of Iceland's most impressive falls, the thunderous Dynjandi waterfall in the Westfjords region gives the impression of a bridal veil as it spreads down ever-growing cascades. The walk takes 15 minutes passing five smaller waterfalls. Nearby, Hrafnseyri is the birthplace of Jón Sigurðsson, 19th-century leader of the Icelandic Independence movement. The museum includes an Icelandic turf house.

The dramatic 1,300-foot-high Látrabjarg cliffs stretch over 8 miles along Iceland's and Europe's westernmost edge. As the largest seabird cliff in Europe, Látrabjarg is home to thousands of breeding birds: Atlantic puffins, gannets, guillemots, fulmar, and kittiwakes as well as 40 percent of the world's population of razorbills belonging to the auk family.

Your cruise ends in Reykjavík. Make sure there is sufficient time before you begin your journey home to explore this diminutive but dramatic capital city. Despite its small size, you won't be short of things to see and do. To get your bearings, take the elevator to the top of Hallgrímskirkja. This church, designed by famed Icelandic architect Gudjón Samuelsson, is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. When you return to earth, visit the city's other renowned building, Harpa Concert Hall, located at the heart of Reykjavík's regenerated harbor—also the home of the Maritime Museum. Speaking of cultural spaces, tour the National Museum to learn the story of Iceland from past to present. The Reykjavík Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection including eye-catching pieces by Erró. And, of course, just 30 miles outside the city lies Thingvellir National Park, the site of Iceland's original Viking parliament.

Please note: A ship to airport transfer is provided for guests departing after disembarkation.