Scotland Intensive Cruise: Glasgow, Stornoway & Edinburgh

Day 1 - Portsmouth, UK

Arrive: Thu 01 June 2028 / Depart: Thu 01 June 2028 at 18:00

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Douglas

Arrive: Sat 03 June 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 03 June 2028 at 18:00

The tiny Isle of Man has quite a lot to offer for its size. Douglas’ lovely sea front is lined with picturesque hotels and restaurants, and can be traversed by horse-drawn trams as it has been since 1876. There’s a medieval fortress in Castletown; a ruined castle on the Isle of St. Patrick where tales of Vikings, monks, and a ghost dog abound; and the village of Cregneash, where people live in thatched cottages, speak the native Manx language, and practice traditional trades and crafts. Front gardens on residential streets are a standout – awash in color and scent.

Day 4 - Greenock

Arrive: Sun 04 June 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 04 June 2028 at 20:00

Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in Scotland and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It forms part of a contiguous urban area with Gourock to the west and Port Glasgow to the east.

Day 5 - Tobermory, Scotland

Arrive: Mon 05 June 2028 at 10:00 / Depart: Mon 05 June 2028 at 18:00

Day 6 - Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), United Kingdom

Arrive: Tue 06 June 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 06 June 2028 at 20:00

Founded by the Vikings in the early 9th century, Stornoway is located on the scenic Isle of Lewis, the most northerly of Scotland’s Hebrides islands. Visiting Lewis is like taking a step back in time, where ancient stone circles stand on the same land as modern day Stornoway, Gaelic is spoken alongside English, and during the summer months, “local people can still be seen cutting the peats, and in the winter the distinctive dry smell of the peat fires drifts in the wind.” With its spectacular cliffs, moorlands and fresh-water lochs, the region is home to a diverse wildlife habitat of eagles, deer, otters and numerous species of indigenous birds, while Lewis’ several rivers have significant runs of salmon and sea trout, which make for great fishing. There are also beautiful remote beaches like Tolsta, Bostadh and Traigh Chuil, adventure boat trips for regular sightings of seals, porpoises and dolphins, and historical attractions such as the impressive Lews Castle, the Whale Bone Arch and Latta Mill’s Stornoway.

Day 7 - Kirkwall

Arrive: Wed 07 June 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 07 June 2028 at 20:00

The 70 islands of Orkney are low lying, a pleasing, gently rolling panorama of fertile fields, heather cloaked moors, and lakes. The red sandstone walls of the imposing St. Magnus Cathedral dominate Kirkwall, the main town, capital, and hub for roads linking east and west. In summer whales and dolphins sport in coastal waters, and tens of thousands of breeding seabirds congregate on sharp seaside cliffs. The early arrival of mankind on this scene can be investigated at Skara Brae, an amazingly well preserved Neolithic village that was inhabited and already abandoned more than 5,000 years ago.

Day 8 - Lerwick, Scotland

Arrive: Thu 08 June 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 08 June 2028 at 18:00

An interesting mix of cultures, Shetland belonged to the Vikings until 1468, when the islands were mortgaged to Scotland as part of a marriage agreement between the future James II and Princess Margrethe of Denmark. It is a great place for wildlife experiences, with an abundance of breeding seabirds, orcas off shore, and shaggy and inquisitive Shetland ponies nosing about for a snack when you stop to take their photos. These isles are surely worth a visit; as Shetland Tourism says, “A quarter of a million puffins who come back every year can’t be wrong.”

Day 9 - Aberdeen

Arrive: Fri 09 June 2028 at 07:30 / Depart: Fri 09 June 2028 at 21:45

Where the rivers Dee and Don meet the North Sea, you’ll find the harbor city of Aberdeen. Remote and northerly, Scotland’s third largest city is a surprising gem with distinctive architecture and a cosmopolitan feel. Encompassing a veritable wonderland of urban delights and pastoral pursuits, Aberdeen stands apart from other Scottish cities. You won’t hear Gaelic around these parts, as this bright sunny port more closely resembles a typical English city.

Day 10 - Invergordon

Arrive: Sat 10 June 2028 at 07:15 / Depart: Sat 10 June 2028 at 17:00

Take a superb natural setting of mountains, tumbling waterfalls, rushing rivers, and serene lochs (and add one sea monster); pepper the landscape with amazing castles (such as Cawdor, setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth); plant a crop of magnificent gardens; incorporate a pretty village or two (surely Beauly, with its lovely flower displays and 13th century ruined priory); toss in a trail of whiskey distilleries, and there you have it: the Scottish Highlands, shrouded in myth and folklore, and a treat to explore.

Day 11 - Dundee

Arrive: Sun 11 June 2028 at 05:30 / Depart: Sun 11 June 2028 at 18:00

Once most famous for its industrial grime, Dundee has evolved into a vibrant art, design, music and theatre scene. It’s the UK’s first designated UNESCO City of Design and now has the first design museum outside of London. The new V&A Museum Of Design is housed in a world-class building at the heart of the newly transformed waterfront. Visit and learn the story of Scotland's outstanding design heritage.

Day 12 - Leith, Scotland

Arrive: Mon 12 June 2028 at 08:00

Day 13 - Leith, Scotland

Depart: Tue 13 June 2028