Save up to £1,505pp on Cruising the Enchanted Isles
Valid for travel 26 August – 8 September 2022
Valid for travel 26 August – 8 September 2022. Offer can be withdrawn at any time. For Ts&Cs and availability, please speak to one of our travel specialists.
Capacity
148
Holiday Length
13 nights
Price guide
From £12,030pp
The price shown is a guide – based on two people sharing and excluding international flights. Please reference the Departure dates & prices box below for more details and ask your travel specialist for more information.
Holiday type
Cruise
Highlights
A&K Expedition – Cruising the Enchanted Isles
Voyage beyond mainland Scotland, Ireland and England for a unique experience exploring spectacular coastlines, natural landscapes and historical treasures. Joined by A&K’s famed expedition team, discover the velvet-green Orkney archipelago, wild Hebrides, UNESCO-designated St. Kilda and beautiful cliffs of Donegal and Moher. Begin in Edinburgh and finish your adventure with a two-night stay in London.
Inclusions
Exclusively chartered, all-inclusive voyage led by A&K’s expedition team and local guides
Pre- and/or post-cruise stays at stylish, ideally located hotels and A&K-led city tours
Airport meet and greet, and transfers
Private balcony with every on-board accommodation and butler service with every suite
Maximum personnel-to-guest ratio of 1 to 1.3
Culinary programme featuring French-inspired cuisine, including house drinks, afternoon tea and pastries
24-hour room service and breakfast in bed
Choice of curated, included shore excursions with expert guides
Traveller’s Valet® laundry service
All tips, port charges and taxes
Complimentary wifi on board and in hotels
On-board service from an English-speaking staff, including an accredited physician
24/7 A&K on-call support
Cabin
Per person from
Special offer price
Classic stateroom
£13,535
£12,030
Deluxe stateroom
£15,035
£13,535
Prestige stateroom
£15,790
£14,285
Deluxe suite
£22,930
£21,425
Privilege suite
£24,810
£23,305
Prestige two-room suite
£28,570
£27,065
Grand deluxe two-room suite
£33,080
£31,580
Owner’s balcony suite
£35,335
£33,835
Prices above are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from £10,150
Departure date
The departure dates for this Luxury Cultural Expedition Cruise is:
Lord Chartres is a distinguished scholar interested in history and the environment. He is a life peer in the House of Lords and has served as Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal.
Dr. Mark Brazil
ORNITHOLOGY LECTURER
Born and educated in England and Scotland, Mark is a professor of biodiversity and conservation. Author of several books, his career spans ornithological research, consulting for TV and radio, and naturalist guiding.
Journey details
Due to the nature of Luxury Expedition Cruises, itineraries are for guidance purposes only and may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances including weather, wildlife, ice, medical emergencies and other conditions beyond A&K’s control at the sole discretion of the Captain onboard.
Arrive in Edinburgh and transfer to your luxury hotel. This evening, join fellow guests and your A&K expedition team for a welcome briefing and themed dinner at your hotel.
Edinburgh
After breakfast and a morning at leisure, join a panoramic tour of Scotland’s capital city, vibrant Edinburgh. Explore Edinburgh Castle with your expert local guide and take in stunning city views. Later, board your sleek expedition vessel and set sail on the Firth of Forth. Join fellow guests on deck and, conditions permitting, view Bass Rock, home to the world's largest gannet colony, and the Isle of May, home to over 285 species of birds.
Invergordon
The northern part of Scotland is legendary for its dramatic, windswept mountains, wooded hills and historical significance. Today, explore the magnificent Highlands. Choose from experiences that include an expertly guided visit of the Scottish Highlands capital of Inverness, a private cruise on mythic Loch Ness and exploration of Urquhart Castle, a moving experience at the site of the epic Battle of Culloden, or a visit and whisky tasting at Glenmorangie Distillery.
Orkney Islands
Rich in Viking heritage and UNESCO-designated sites, the landscapes of the Orkneys run the gamut from rolling hills to dramatic cliffs and sea caves. A choice of excursions reveals the archipelago’s many stories, including exploring historic Kirkwall or visiting the 5,000-year-old Skara Brae, one of the best-preserved Stone Age settlements in Western Europe. You may also see the spine-tingling Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial circle of ancient standing stones dating to 2700 BC. Before dinner this evening aboard your luxury expedition cruiser, enjoy a recap and fascinating lectures with A&K’s expedition team.
Outer Hebrides
The Western Isles of Scotland offer outstanding scenery with wild and windswept beaches, towering peaks and peat moors. The main islands include the moorlands of Lewis and the mountains of Harris. Choose a drive to the archaeological site of the ancient Calanais Standing Stones and a visit to Arnol Blackhouse. In a traditional thatched house, Gaelic-speaking locals reveal the island’s crofting traditions. Alternatively, you may opt for a drive on the Golden Road with stops to visit a Harris tweed weaver, as well as a local gin and whisky distillery. Continue to a clifftop at the edge of the Outer Hebrides.
Outer Hebrides
For more than 2,000 years and until 1930, the St. Kilda islands were inhabited by an isolated community. Today, the preserved settlement showcases ‘cleits’, beehive-shaped cells of rough stone that served as larders and storerooms. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated for both its natural and cultural significance. Admire the staggering cliffs and sea stacks that define the islands. Visit Hirta, the largest island with the highest cliffs in all of Britain. Among the most important seabird breeding colonies in Northwest Europe, the cliffs provide refuge for more than 200 species, including fulmars and shags.
Inner Hebrides
The approach to Staffa by sea is unforgettable, with great basalt columns flanking the deep caves of the island. Keep an eye out for dolphins, basking sharks and minke whales, which can be seen during the warmer months. Excursions ashore lead you to the wonders of Fingal, a sea cave formed by hexagonally jointed basalt. Continue cruising to the tranquil island of Iona, where you discover Iona Abbey, an ancient centre of Gaelic monasticism.
Donegal
Ireland is packed with stunning landscapes and a wealth of history and culture. Your introduction to the island begins at Killybegs, with its broken coastline of deep-sea inlets and sandy beaches, spectacular mountains and blanket bog. Today, join a guided walking tour of Donegal or a drive to the iconic Slieve League mountains. Fans of legendary writer William Butler Yeats may choose to visit his hometown of Sligo. In ‘Yeats Country’, experience a poetry reading at the Yeats Society and visit the poet’s gravesite. Alternatively, cross into Northern Ireland and spend the day in the walled city of Londonderry.
Galway/Cliffs of Moher
Today, arrive in the lively city of Galway with its narrow streets, colourful houses and thriving arts community. Choose from excursions that take you on an artisan culinary walking tour with a tutored tasting of Irish whiskeys or to the Burren — the most extensive karst landscape in Europe — for a botanist guided experience and local sheep farm visit. You may also opt for a day in Ireland’s wild Connemara region with its jagged, filigreed shoreline. Later today, embark on Zodiac excursions along the captivating Cliffs of Moher.
Skellig Michael/Bantry Bay
Early this morning, you may have the opportunity to see the island Skellig Michael, a UNESCO-designated monastic site whose extreme remoteness has preserved it almost unchanged. Its sandstone pyramids were home to some of the earliest Christian settlements in Ireland; today, they provide sanctuary to fantastic birdlife, including puffins. Movie buffs might spot that dizzying Skellig Michael (also known as Great Skellig) also doubled as Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Temple in the Star Wars saga. Later today, arrive at historical Bantry and set off on a leisurely walk and guided visits to its historic churches or stately Bantry House’s magnificent gardens.
At sea
Relish a day at sea, taking in the views from the outer decks or your private balcony. Enjoy relaxed time with new friends and your expedition team, including additional lectures and conversations to enrich your discoveries.
Dover/London
Bid farewell to your captain and crew as you approach the White Cliffs of Dover and disembark for the next chapter of your adventure. Before heading to London, choose from various options, such as the visit to Canterbury and its prestigious Cathedral, or Leeds Castle, the property of six English queens during the 13th to 15th centuries. You may also opt for a stop at Chartwell, the former home of Winston Churchill. Following lunch, transfer to the heart of London and check into your luxury hotel, where you have dinner tonight.
London
Today, embark on a full day of exploration in this bustling city. Your choice of excursions includes a panoramic tour showcasing eye-popping landmarks such as the Tower of London and Kensington Palace, a visit to Westminster Abbey and a London Eye experience. Alternately, join a visit to Buckingham Palace, a culinary experience spanning Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill, sampling delicacies and enjoying lunch with a former executive chef to the Royal Family, or a journey back in time with a visit to the Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War Museums.
Depart London
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on a group extension to the Cotswolds.
Europe & Middle East team
This dynamic team has scoured Europe and the Middle East, and are perfectly placed to curate your dream getaway
