Best of British Isles

Welcome to England, the perfect starting point for your British Isles cruise! Enjoy a stress-free experience with an included pre-cruise hotel stay, ensuring a smooth and relaxing transition. The following morning, a comfortable motorcoach will transfer you to Portsmouth. Details about the meeting time and location for the motorcoach will be provided at the hotel, setting the stage for a seamless start to your journey.

Watch for the Poseidon representative in the lobby, who will guide you to your private motorcoach for a scenic transfer to Portsmouth. Known as the historic home of the Royal Navy, this city's rich maritime legacy provides the perfect backdrop for the start of your thrilling journey. Step aboard the luxurious expedition ship, Sea Spirit, by afternoon, ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

The Isles of Scilly is a group of small islands off the coast of Cornwall boasting mild weather, secluded beaches, enchanting wildlife, and a relaxed lifestyle. On Tresco's lovely, sand-fringed island, Bronze Age burial sites and romantic 17th-century castle ruins reveal a long and dramatic history. On the hallowed grounds of a Benedictine abbey, you discover the exquisite Tresco Abbey Garden with its spectacular collection of more than 20,000 exotic plants worldwide. Delightful cafes and local shops enrich your experience even further.

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford on Ireland's southeastern coast. From here, you can take a short journey through scenic countryside to the House of Waterford Crystal. Here, you can take a guided tour of the factory to see the master craftsmen at work and the world's largest collection of their wares. Also nearby is Mount Congreve, a magnificent 18th-century Georgian estate and botanical gardens containing thousands of plant species on 70 acres of intensively planted woodland and a four-acre walled garden.

The plan is to visit the Saltee Islands. The larger island, Great Saltee, is Ireland's most famous bird sanctuary. These Islands are privately owned and are one of the world's major bird sanctuaries. The Saltees are a haven for sea birds, nurturing an impressive array of Gannets and Gulls to Puffins and Manx Shearwaters. They also lie on an important migratory route and a popular stopping-off place for spring and autumn migrants

Your port for today is the vibrant seaside town of Llandudno in the north of Wales. From here, embark on a scenic overland tour of Snowdonia National Park. Drive through some of Britain's wildest and most dramatic landscapes as you discover craggy mountains, stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes, dense woodlands, and flowering meadows. Snowdonia is also renowned for wildlife, including otters, water voles, wild ponies, and rare birds such as dotterel and peregrine falcon. Enjoy a delightful stop at the charming and distinctively Welsh town of Betws-y-Coed in the Gwydyr Forest.

Visit to the Conwy Castle is also on your list. UNESCO considers Conwy one of "the finest examples of late 13th-century and early 14th-century military architecture in Europe", and it is a World Heritage site. Divided into an Inner and an Outer Ward, it is defended by eight large towers and two barbicans, with a postern gate leading down to the river, allowing the castle to be resupplied from the sea.

Today, disembark at the small seaside resort town of Portrush in Northern Ireland. Travel overland to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway. Here, discover a geological masterpiece—40,000 closely packed hexagonal basalt columns of varying heights descending like a staircase into the sea. According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. In this area, you are also able to spot various seabirds such as fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank, guillemot, and razorbill.

These days, explore Scotland, uncovering its beauty and the secrets of its history. From the picturesque coasts to the hidden tales etched into its landscapes, your journey promises a glimpse into the heart of this captivating region.

Today, disembark in Stromness for an overland tour of Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland. Attractions such as the well-preserved 5000-year-old village site at Skara Brae and the ancient Ring of Brodgar within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” showcase the world-class cultural heritage of the island. Finish your island tour in the charming village of Kirkwall, where you can find the landmark Saint Magnus Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century. You can also have free time to roam the old streets of Kirkwall and enjoy its unique atmosphere before you head to your next destination.

On Fair Isle—an isolated island of rolling moorlands and rugged coastlines—one is easily enchanted by historic crofts, picturesque lighthouses, and friendly locals. The island is famous among birders for its abundance of British birds and its numerous records of eastern rarities and migrants.

Fair Isle is also one of Europe’s best places to watch seabirds, especially puffins, at close range.

Additionally, the island is notable for the abundance and diversity of its wildflowers. Seals are also commonly seen in its bays. Finally, during your visit, it will be possible to see and purchase articles hand-knitted in the intricate and distinctive style for which Fair Isle has been celebrated for hundreds of years.

Isle of May and Bass Rock, both of these uninhabited islands, are in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. The Isle of May is a national nature reserve and includes significant colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants, and terns. Harbor seals and grey seals can be spotted along the shores. Some historic architectural sites include St. Ardin's Chapel, the lighthouse, and the Low and Light Cottages.

The island known as "the Bass" hosts over 150,000 northern gannets in the breeding season, making it the world's largest colony of these magnificent birds. The island's steep walls are white with guano, and the vast multitude of seabirds in flight darkens the sky. Your voyage is perfectly timed to coincide with this amazing spectacle—truly one of the world's wildlife wonders.

After breakfast on Sea Spirit, you say farewell in Leith, Edinburgh’s vibrant port district. The team provides transfers to the airport or Edinburgh city center if you wish to spend more time in the wonderful capital of Scotland.