Itinerary Expand all Belfast to Edinburgh Day 1 Belfast, Northern Ireland Check in to the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast, with the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city on your own. Gather at the hotel this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Accommodation: The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Belfast / Portrush, Giant’s Causeway / Embark the Greg Mortimer / Isle of Islay, Scotland Depart overland for Portrush for a visit to the World Heritage Site of Giant’s Causeway. This three-mile section of coastline is a geological masterpiece—some 40,000 closely-packed hexagonal columns of varying heights line the coast and descend like a staircase into the sea. Embark the Greg Mortimer and, after lunch, go ashore on the Isle of Islay for a tour of the Ardbeg Distillery. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Staffa, Inner Hebrides / Iona Weather permitting, spend the morning exploring the uninhabited island of Staffa by Zodiac and its most famous feature, Fingal’s Cave. The cave’s peculiar rock formations and unusual coloring are a delight to behold, and the wonderful echo of the sea from within served as the inspiration for Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture. In 563 AD the Christian missionary, St. Columba, built a monastery on Iona and spread Christianity throughout Scotland. Though the monastery suffered repeated attacks by Vikings over the centuries and the original was destroyed, it was rebuilt each time and some of these later buildings still stand. Visit the monastery site; the nearby cemetery of St. Oran, where numerous Scottish kings are buried; and the 12th-century Iona Abbey. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides / Flannan Islands Spend the morning at St. Kilda, once home to a small community, evidenced by abandoned houses and cleits, beehive-shaped cells where goods were stored. Spend the afternoon cruising among the Flannan Islands—puffins, fulmars, murres, and kittiwakes should be plentiful. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Kirkwall, Orkney Islands Arrive in the capital city of Kirkwall on Mainland Island in the Orkneys today for visits to the magnificent St. Magnus Cathedral and some of the island’s major archaeological sites. Visit the enigmatic Standing Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and Skara Brae, a remarkably well-preserved Stone Age village buried in sand some 4,500 years ago. Return to Kirkwall for an afternoon walking tour of this charming city. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Lerwick, Shetland Islands / Isle of Noss / Mousa This morning enjoy a guided walking tour of Lerwick, capital of the Shetland Islands, which are steeped in Norse heritage. After the tour there will be free time to stroll the narrow streets and browse the many shops, or raise a pint at the local pub. After lunch on board, cruise to the Isle of Noss, where spectacular cliffs support a large and diverse seabird colony, home to 80,000 seabirds—guillemots, razorbills, gannets, shags, and more. This evening go ashore at Mousa to view one of Britain’s finest Iron Age ruins, an unusually well-preserved 40-foot broch, a dry stone structure, dating from about 200 AD. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Fair Isle One of the most isolated settlements in the British Isles, Fair Isle is renowned for the quality and intricacy of its handmade sweaters, using local wool. It is also famous as a haven for seabirds, including gannets, murres, black-legged kittiwakes, numerous gull species, and a large colony of puffins. After a short walk, join some of the 70 islanders at their community center for tea and cakes, and a visit to the local museum. Accommodation: The Greg Mortimer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Aberdeen / Disembark / Edinburgh / USA Disembark in Aberdeen this morning, and enjoy a scenic drive to Edinburgh. Board your independent homeward flight. Meals included: Breakfast
United Kingdom UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
The Greg Mortimer As a modern and custom-designed ship, the 130-guest Greg Mortimer is at the cutting edge of nautical technology. Robust, powerful and built with guests in mind, the Greg Mortimer is built to world-class polar standards. Built with the environment in mind, the ship features a Tier 3 engine, (which gives off 80% less emissions than typical engines) lower energy consumption, high fuel efficiency, reduced light pollution for minimal wildlife disruption, and lower onboard plastic use. The ship has state-of-the-art virtual anchoring technology, meaning the ship can hold its position using its own propellers and thrusters while launching Zodiacs and kayaks without disturbing the sea floor. All staterooms feature an oceanview, en suite bathrooms, personal storage options, twin and double-bed configuration options, and ample storage. GENERAL • Six decks of guest facilities. - Deck 3 – guest suites, doctors office, mud room and Zodiac landing platforms. - Deck 4 – guest suites. - Deck 5 – dining room, lounge, bar, reception, shop, and hydraulic viewing platforms. - Deck 6 – guest suites. - Deck 7 – guest suites, bridge, library, gym, sauna, spa, sun deck, and observation area. - Deck 8 – 360-degree observation deck, observation lounge, bar, and two hot tubs. • Stairs and an elevator service all decks. • The bridge is available to visit most times throughout the day, contingent upon weather, security, and navigation conditions. • Smoking is permitted only in designated areas on Deck 8. SUITES • All suites feature ocean views, two twin beds that can be reconfigured into one king, a well-appointed en suite bathroom, closets, desk, small refrigerator, flat-screen TV, personal safe, hair dryer, bath robes, and toiletries, individually controlled air-conditioning and heating, and American style outlets (two flat prongs) at 110 volts. • Category 1 suites average 170 - 245 square feet and have a porthole. • Category 2, 3, and 4 suites average 225 - 336 square feet including a private balcony. • Category 5 suites average 328 - 435 square feet including a private balcony. • Suites are 418 square feet including a lounge, bedroom, and private balcony. • The owner’s suite is 478 square feet including a lounge, bedroom, and private balcony. DINING • The main restaurant can accommodate all guests at one seating. • Most diets can be catered for on board, but special dietary requests must be made in advance. • Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style. • Dinner is served in the main restaurant with four, a la carte courses. When weather permits, meals can also be served on deck. • Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and coffee and tea are available 24 hours a day. SERVICES • The Greg Mortimer carries a fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks. • Laundry services (no dry cleaning) and a small doctor’s office are available on board. Rates are posted. • The American dollar is the currency used on board. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted for payment of shipboard accounts. • Free Wi-Fi access is available throughout the ship.
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