Scotland & Norwegian Fjords Seabourn Expedition Cruise

Call to Reserve 678-824-5030

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14-day Expedition Cruise from Leith (Edinburgh), Scotland to Tromso, Norway on the Seabourn Venture

Cruise embarks May 26, 2024

Disembark June 9, 2024

Luxury expedition ship inclusive of wine, beer, and spirits, gratuities, and excursions.

A Recess Clubhouse Featured Trip - expedition cruising to the Norwegian Fjords!

Highlights

Highlights


  • Embark from Leith, two miles from memorable Edinburgh
  • Intimate ship allows us to sail where larger ships cannot go to visit hidden harbors and marquee ports
  • Cruise through the breathtaking Norwegian fjords
  • Visit Fair Isle, the most remote inhabited island in Britain and one of the best places in the world to see rare birds
  • Explore Aberdeen, one of Scotland's most beautiful cities 
  • Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve and the fascinating Inchnadamph Bone Caves
  • The town of Ålesund, dating back to the 9th century and called a “backdrop for a Nordic fairytale” by National Geographic 
  • Disembark in Tromsø, situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, known as "the land of the midnight sun" in the summer

Inclusions

Inclusions


WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS TRAVEL PACKAGE

  • 14-day luxury cruise on Seabourn Venture Ship, with only 264 guests and nearly one crew member for every guest, providing an exceptionally high level of service

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE SEABOURN CRUISE

  • Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar stocked with your preferences
  • Personalized service – nearly one crew member for every guest
  • Spacious suites
  • Each suite includes a Personal Suite Host and Suite Attendant who ensures everything is perfect, from arranging a private in-suite cocktail party to our Pure Pampering bath
  • Unlimited Free Wifi
  • World-class dining, further enhanced through a culinary partnership with Chef Thomas Keller
  • Choice of restaurants, diverse cuisine, open-seating dining
  • Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times
  • In-suite dining and room service
  • Seabourn Conversations, connecting with visionary experts
    •  We invite luminaries of particular interest and accomplishment to join our guests on board
    •  They participate in the daily social scene onboard, sharing meals, adventures ashore, and casual chats throughout the voyage.
  • Onboard entertainment
  • Onboard gratuities

Itinerary

Itinerary

SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2024: DEPART US

Depart your hometown and take international flight (not included) to Scotland. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.


SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2024: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Two miles distant from its ancient seaport of Leith lies Edinburgh, Scotland's national capital. The Scottish capital since the 15th century, Edinburgh is comprised of two distinct areas - the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress, and the neoclassical New Town, whose development from the 18th century onwards had a far-reaching influence on European urban planning. The harmonious juxtaposition of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character.

Always favored by geography, Edinburgh is ideally situated on the Firth of Forth, an inlet from the North Sea, and built on extinct volcanoes surrounded by woods, rolling hills and lakes. On a clear day, there are glorious vistas from each of these hilltops. Looming above the city is the striking fairy tale castle built on the site of a 7th-century fortress. Towards the Middle Ages life within the fortress spilled onto the long ridge running to the foot of Arthur's Seat, which crowns Holyrood Park. The city's most legendary citizens are the arch Presbyterian John Knox and Mary Queen of Scots, who dominated the Edinburgh of the late 16th century. Edinburgh's delightful city center is a joy to explore on foot. Every alley reveals impressive steeples, jagged, chimney-potted skylines, or lovely rotund domes.


MONDAY, MAY 27, 2024: ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND 

Aberdeen literally shines. Many of its impressive buildings from the mid-18th Century until the 20th Century were built from locally quarried granite with a high percentage of mica, that reflects light like polished silver. In contrast to many Scottish cities built with softer sandstone, Aberdeen’s corners remain sharp and clean. The venerable city looks proud and prosperous, which it is, since it is also the U.K. hub for North Sea oil production. With two large universities, a large number of prestigious museums and galleries, and 45 quite famous parks and gardens, it is a showplace for Scotland. Of special interest is the Maritime Museum, relating the city’s long history of shipbuilding through the eras of sailing clipper ships and steam.


TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024: STROMA, PENTLAND FIRTH, UNITED KINGDOM

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2024: ULLAPOOL, SCOTLAND

The picturesque fishing town of Ullapool nestles on the shores of Loch Broom, in the Highlands. Its location is one of the more pristine natural environments in Britain. A diverse choice of walks in the area includes mountains, rocky coasts, through forests and into deep gorges. Dominating the landscape is the monolithic peak of 2,000’ (610 m) Stac Pollaidh. Nearby Corrieshalloch Gorge with its 150’ (46 m) Falls of Measach and the Inverpolly Nature Reserve allow you to experience the natural beauty of the Highlands. The geology of the area is highlighted by Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve and the fascinating Inchnadamph Bone Caves. Formed by water penetrating soft limestone, the caves contained 1,000 reindeer bones dating back as far as 47,000 years. Beside them were found the bones of four human beings, dating back 4,500 years.

Ullapool owns a reputation as a center for music, the arts and performance. Explore the Ullapool Museum and the Leckmelm Shrubbery & Arboretum.


THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2024: FAIR ISLE, SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND | MOUSA, SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND

Fair Isle at the southernmost end of the Shetlands is the most remote inhabited island in Britain. Like the rest of the archipelago, it was once governed by Norway. Today it belongs to the National Trust, and about 55 people live on the island, mostly in crofts on the southern half. The northern half is rocky moorland. The island’s west coast consists mainly of cliffs up to 200 m/660 ft. high. The island’s unique style of knitted wool sweaters is world-renowned, and knitting is an important source of income for the island’s women. Its position along the annual migration routes of birds also makes it one of the best places in the world to see rare birds, with over British 27 first sightings of species, as well as its own endemic species of wren.  A bird observatory was started here in 1945, and it remains a major attraction for tourism.

This tiny island, set just off Scotland’s southeast coast, is dominated by its eponymous broch, one of the country’s best-preserved prehistoric monuments. A unique Scottish phenomenon, brochs or fortified round towers represent the apex Iron Age dry-stone wall construction. Hundreds of these windowless towers once peppered northwest Scotland; of those that remain, the Mousa broch stands as the finest and most famous, mentioned twice in Norse sagas. Built around 300 BC and boasting 16-foot-thick walls, the 43-foot-high broch offers commanding views across Mousa Sound. Today the island is uninhabited – except, that is, for some 12,000 pairs of breeding storm petrels, one of the United Kingdom’s largest colonies. (Many nest inside the broch.) It also offers refuge for great skuas, Arctic terns, black guillemots and other seabirds, as well as seals and otters. 


FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024: LERWICK, SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND 

Lerwick, Britain's most northerly town, and is a small, bustling, cosmopolitan seaport with a population of over 7,000 people and fine architecture. Shetland Museum, located on Hay's Dock, is an award- winning attraction. Discover the island’s many secrets through its exhibits, and take a look in the boat shed, where you can see demonstrations of traditional boat building.  Also of interest is the stone-walled town hall, built in 1884, displaying an impressive array of beautifully intricate stained glass. Towering St. Magnus Cathedral, constructed in 1863, is likewise well worth a visit.

People have lived and prospered here since Neolithic times. The site of Clickimin Broch, a hollow-stone-walled structure, was a Late Bronze Age farmstead of the 7th century BCE. Historic Fort Charlotte, built in 1653, is a five-sided fortress, with cannon batteries pointing out to sea. The Shetland Textile Museum, with its fine weaving, and the quaint Crofters Museum will detail life in a much gentler time. The name Lerwick is derived from Norse and means ‘bay of clay.’ 


SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2024: SCENIC CRUISING ISLE OF NOSS 


SUNDAY, JUNE 2, 2024: ALESUND, NORWAY | ISLE OF RUNDE, NORWAY

Stretching into the Borgundfjord and backed by the Sunnmoere Alps, Aalesund abounds with natural beauty. The town itself dates from the 9th century, when it was a Viking base for establishing settlements in France. Following a great fire in 1904, Aalesund was rebuilt in the popular Art Nouveau style of the time. Today, the towers, turrets and romantic facades make this one of the loveliest towns in all of Norway. The city is also the world's largest supplier of 'klippfisk,' or dried cod, but the main attraction by far is the scenic beauty of Aalesund's fjords and surrounding peaks, including 550-foot Mt. Aksla.


MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2024: TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

Founded in 997, Trondheim is one of Norway's oldest cities, situated midway between southern and northern Norway. Dominated by the massive Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim is often referred to as the Royal City. Traditionally, the kings of Norway have been crowned in the cathedral, which is considered a National Shrine. Straddling both sides of the River Nid, on Trondheimfjord, much of the town was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1681 destroyed the majority of its original wooden structures. Some of the oldest buildings, dating to the 1700s, have survived along the river, while the wide streets of the city center boast picturesque and brightly painted houses.


TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2024 and WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024: EXPLORING THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS

CRUISING ONLY, SUBJECT ICE WEATHER TIDAL CONDITIONS


THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2024: VAEROY, NORWAY | REINE, NORWAY


FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2024: SVOLVAER (LOFOTEN), NORWAY | TROLLFJORD, NORWAY

Huddled together in what appears to be a wall of solid rock, the Lofotens are actually several islands. Their scenery, revealed when the ice disappeared from the last Ice Age, is held to be among the most dramatic in Norway. Svolvaer, located on the island of Austvaagoey, received town status in 1996, and is the Lofotens' most important city with about 4,500 residents. Dominating the town is the mountain peak called Svolvaergeita, a beacon for climbers. Fishermen flock here when the Norwegian Arctic cod enters the Vestfjord to spawn. Artists prize the picturesque setting and extraordinary light conditions. 

The entry to Trollfjord off the Raftsund sound is hair-raising. Just 100 meters wide, it is approached from an angle that hides the opening until the last moment. Then steep, sheer cliffs rise on either side as your ship slips between the polished walls. Once inside, the walls fall away to reveal a vast bowl of snowcapped peaks up to 1100 meters high. It is simply breathtaking. On your Seabourn ship, the Ventures by Seabourn team will likely offer the option to escort the ship into the fjord aboard Zodiacs, making for unmatched video and photo opportunities. Your ship will slowly turn to survey the whole ranks of peaks surrounding the fjord. No matter what the weather, Trollfjord is a highpoint of any cruise in Norway’s majestic fjords.


SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024: SENJA, NORWAY


SUNDAY, JUNE 9, 2024: TROMSO, NORWAY

The cruise disembarks at 7:00 am in Tromsø. Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the ninth most populous municipality in the country. It surprises visitors with its sophisticated art scene, its contrasting modern and historical architecture, international cuisine, multicultural events, and festivals throughout the year.

Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is within the land of the midnight sun during summer months and the elusive northern lights in winter. However, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the sea doesn’t freeze here in winter, and there is no permafrost in the vicinity. Tromsø is noticeably milder than other towns at the same latitudes in other parts of the world.

Tromsø is also ‘The City of Explorers’ and has seen a number of expeditions set off from its shores to the probe the polar realm. Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited men in the city. Nowadays home to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø continues a tradition of being one of the key centers in explorations of the Arctic.


Veranda Suite

VERANDA SUITE

Approximate total space: 355 sq. ft. (33 sq. m.) including veranda of 75 sq. ft. (7 sq. m.)* Suites on Seabourn Venture feature a comfortable living area; private veranda; queen-size bed or two twin beds; extra-large walk-in closet for expedition gear; personal safe; interactive flat-screen TV with music and movies; fully stocked bar and refrigerator; writing desk with personalized stationery; makeup vanity; spacious bathroom with double vanities, tub and shower, plush robes, slippers, hairdryer and 110/220V AC outlets.

PRICING: Starting at $16,099 per person

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VERANDA SUITE Room Layout

Stateroom Amenities

All staterooms feature the following amenities (see specific stateroom category for additional amenities):

  • All ocean-front suites, luxuriously appointed
  • All suites include a walk-in closet
  • Beautifully designed five-fixture marble bathrooms with double vanities
  • All suites have elegant living areas with sofa and dining table
  • Shower and luxury products feature an exclusive signature scent, created for Seabourn by Molton Brown, London
  • Premium and Penthouse suites offer larger accommodations and additional personal touches

Distinctive Voyages

ELEVATE YOUR CRUISE EXPERIENCE

True to its name, the Distinctive Voyages program elevates your cruise experience by providing you with a special set of complimentary amenities that will make your cruise vacation a true departure from the rest. With over 350 departures annually across 13 cruise lines, our Distinctive Voyages offer exclusive amenities and services you can't get anywhere else.

Our Distinctive Voyage Program Includes:

• Carol Rowland, Distinctive Voyages Host
• Invitation to a Private Cocktail Reception
• Exclusive Amenity or Complimentary Shore Event

The Distinctive Voyages Host

For novices and experts alike, every cruise is filled with questions: What time is my dinner reservation? How much should I tip the staff? Where is the gym? What’s the best way to get to the city center from the dock? On a Distinctive Voyages’ cruise, you will have easy access to Carol Rowland, our Distinctive Voyages Host who is always ready to answer your questions. Our extremely knowledgeable Hosts are carefully selected because they know both the ship and the itinerary inside and out. They will personally take care of you throughout your voyage, helping you locate lost luggage and arrange private guides at ports, as well as recommend off-the-beaten-path experiences.

The Exclusive Shore Event

Guided by local experts, our Exclusive Shore Events are specially-chosen excursions that reveal the true nature of the people and places you will visit, helping you connect to the culture in a very personal and unforgettable way. These excursions are only available to the members in your group. Some cruise lines may offer excursions to the general public that are similar, but our Distinctive Voyages adds extra experiences to make them extra special to you. Plus, these groups tend to be much smaller, which leads to a more enjoyable affair. 

The Private Cocktail Reception

The Private Cocktail Reception is your introduction to your exclusive group. Occurring early in the cruise, you’ll meet and become acquainted with the other VIPs in the Distinctive Voyages group. These acquaintances will soon become fast friends as you see them throughout the journey and on your Exclusive Shore Event. The reception will be organized by the Distinctive Voyages Host, who will discuss the itinerary in depth, review the details of your Shore Event and answer any questions you might have. It truly is a wonderful way to begin your cruise adventure.