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Midsummer in Iceland (Serenissima)

Midsummer in Iceland (Serenissima)

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Description

Iceland is without doubt one of the most extraordinary and dramatic lands on the planet and we are offering the opportunity to join a unique expedition combining this wonderous country with an in-depth exploration of the remote and little visited Faroe Islands. We will set sail from Oban, enjoying the opportunity to visit St Kilda before sailing north to the Faroe Islands. This mysterious collection of islands is a paradise for walkers and bird watchers and the intriguing history can be traced back to the Irish monks who settled here in the 6th century, and the 9th century seafaring explorers who traversed the North Sea. Here, a highlight will be seeing the many puffins and other sea birds nesting and we will spend three days exploring the villages and rolling hills of these distant isles before venturing further north to Iceland.

Europe’s least populated country offers the visitor a truly unparalleled experience of elemental forces at work and during our exploration of Iceland we will witness the immense scale of the landscape dominated by towering snow-capped mountains, thundering waterfalls and spontaneous erupting geysers as we learn of the centuries old legacies of a Viking and Norse heritage. We will visit some of its most dramatic areas and, whilst we sail its waters, will look out for humpback whales, orcas, white-beaked dolphins and observe the colonies of seabirds.

A journey by small ship is the ideal way to get up close to nature and explore areas inaccessible to larger vessels and an expedition such as this can only be undertaken by a special vessel with the self-sufficient qualities of the MS Serenissima. With her expert team and fleet of Zodiacs we will be able to land on remote beaches and cruise close to shorelines and cliffs crowded with birdlife.

Trip Name
Midsummer in Iceland (Serenissima)
Days
14
Overview
Vessel Type: Small Ship Length: 87 metres Passenger Capacity: 95 Built / refurbished: 1960 / 2013 / 2019 MS Serenissima is a charming vessel and one of her best known and loved features of this vessel is its unique style. During a major refit the then owners commissioned Swedish interior designers to create a Gustavian style interior. This bright Swedish 18th century influenced, country house style works particularly well on a vessel of this vintage, providing intimacy and classic nautical sensibility often lacking in larger vessels. The vessel is equipped with a fleet of Zodiac landing craft allowing us to visit remote places where normal tender arrangements are not possible. The European Captain, Officers, Expedition Staff, and crew offer a first class service and have been selected for their professionalism and caring attitudes. The atmosphere on board is warm and welcoming and dedicated to discovery and relaxation. AIR-CONDITIONING The ship is air conditioned throughout. Please note that only the Serenissima Suites have individually controlled air-conditioning. DAILY PROGRAMME A Daily Programme, detailing the following day’s arrangements as well as any specific information about the day’s activities is produced onboard and delivered to your cabin each evening during the turn down service. DINING, DRINKING AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS The Venice Restaurant onboard serves international cuisine and accommodates all guests at a single open seating. Tables seat 4 to 10 diners. In addition, there is an outside dining area for when the weather and itinerary permit. Breakfast and lunch are both buffet style, dinner is waiter service only. Complimentary (red and white) house wine, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner. Bar drinks and other beverages with meals are not included; these may be purchased onboard and paid for at the end of your cruise. Complimentary tea and coffee are available between 07:00 hours and 23:00 hours at the tea and coffee station located in the Andrea lounge. Please advise of any special dietary requests in advance. DISABLED FACILITIES The ship can accommodate passengers with mobility restrictions and wheelchair dependent passengers in cabin 407, which has a wider door and no step into/out of the bathroom and shower area. There is a lift serving decks 3 to 6, but there is no stair lift. DOCTOR A medical doctor is available on board 24 hours a day. A fee is charged for any consultations and medication prescribed. Please ensure you carry adequate supplies of any regular medications you may require.  ELECTRICITY The electrical outlets in the cabins and public areas are 220V and take a two-round-pin plug (as in continental Europe). There is a 110/220V, 60Hz outlet for electric shavers in the bathroom. We recommend that you bring an international adaptor. GRATUITIES Gratuities to crew and whilst on excursions are included in the cost of your holiday. INTERNET The onboard library has a computer equipped for email/internet access and Wi-Fi access is available in public areas, although you will require your own laptop, tablet or smartphone, and charges apply – 100mb for €15 Euros, or 500mb for €25 Euros. Please note that connection is dependent on weather conditions and location. LANGUAGE All members of the crew speak English. MONEY The following payment methods are accepted for settlement of shipboard accounts: Cash (Euros or British Pounds), Credit Card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express), Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa). Please note that personal cheques and Travellers’ Cheques are not accepted. PUBLIC AREAS • Andrea Lounge (on Deck 5). The bar is open from 11.00 until 24.00. • Harald Jarl Lounge (on Deck 5). There is a small library here with books and games. There is also a computer for public use (charges apply for internet access) • Lido area (on Deck 5) with a Jacuzzi and fitness room with two running machines • Observation Deck (access from Deck 5 lido area) • Deck 5 and Deck 6 outside seating areas SNORKELLING Snorkelling equipment is kept onboard. Please note that there is no snorkelling from Zodiacs. All snorkelling stops will operate from a beach.  TELEVISION The ship is equipped with a satellite TV system which receives 15 channels. TV reception depends on the satellite dish and on occasion it may not be possible to receive a signal. There is one central video channel on which it is possible to listen to the lectures delivered in the Andrea Lounge. There is also a channel for the ship’s camera located in front of the ship. ZODIACS Some destinations may require the use of Zodiacs to go ashore. These are usually on expedition cruises though may sometimes be used on destination cruises. 

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Oban, Scotland.
Embark the MS Serenissima this afternoon. Transfers will be provided from Glasgow International Airport and Glasgow Central Station at a fixed time. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner and sail this evening for the Outer Hebrides.
Day 2 - Day 2 St Kilda.
Awake this morning in St Kilda, a remarkable uninhabited archipelago some fifty miles beyond the Outer Hebrides. Dominated by the highest cliffs and sea stacks in Britain, Hirta, St Kilda’s main island, was occupied on and off for at least two thousand years, with the last 36 Gaelic speaking inhabitants evacuated at their own request in 1930. Immediately after the evacuation, the island was bought by the Marquess of Bute to protect the island’s thousands of seabirds including puffin and fulmars, and in 1957 it was bequeathed to The National Trust for Scotland. St Kilda is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites with dual status reflecting its natural and cultural significance. The local ranger will join us on board before our expedition staff lead a number of guided walks on the island. Later, cruise past two of the largest gannetries in the world at Stac Lee and Berneray. These impressive stacs rise 170 metres from the sea and are home to up to 60,000 breeding pairs of northern gannet.
Day 3 - Day 3 Suduroy, Faroe Islands.
Over lunch we will arrive at Suduroy, the southernmost island of the Faroe Islands. From the port of Tvoroyri we will have a choice of activities. Choose to join a scenic island drive travelling between the villages seeing the stunning geology, fjords, tunnels and architecture of the island, ending at the southernmost point and the Akraberg lighthouse. In Porkeri we will take the ridge-top road which winds up the mountainside for wonderful views towards the steep cliffs on the west coast, the Beinisvoro promontory to the north and the luscious grass slopes to the east. To locals, this delivers the essence of the Faroe Islands with mountains and fjords, villages and valleys, birds, sheep and nature. Alternatively, those feeling active may wish to join a hike to Hvaanhagi, a beautiful, uninhabited place north of Tvoroyri on the east coast of Suduroy. The view is fantastic towards the three islands Litla Dímun, Stora Dimun and Skuvoy.
Day 4 - Day 4 Torshavn.
From our berth this morning we will join a guided tour through Torshavn over the hills to Kirkjubour, the island’s oldest cultural centre, where we see the ruins of the 13th century St Magnus Cathedral and the 11th century church, still in use. We also visit the 900 year old ‘Roykstovan’, the old bishopric, considered to be the oldest wooden house in Europe. For those feeling active we will arrange a hike in the hills surrounding the town to discover the local flora and fauna. After lunch on board, we will drive to the beautiful village of Saksun, an isolated settlement situated beneath steep majestic mountains. We will visit Duvugaroar, an old farmhouse which is now a museum, and a traditional Faeroese wooden church in Kollafjord.
Day 5 - Day 5 Vestmanna.
Vestmanna is our base this morning as we explore the northwest corner of Streymoy and the nearby cliffs. We will board local boats to explore the vertical cliffs that climb almost 1500 feet, sailing into grottos carved by the surf over the years and watching the thousands of seabirds including puffins, guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes that nest here each summer. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon on board sailing towards Iceland.
Day 6 - Day 6 Hofn, Iceland.
As we approach Iceland we will see the shimmering white Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier, sometimes called an icecap. The 600 metre thick ice surmounts active volcanoes, one of which erupted in 1996 creating a crater on the surface of the glacier, a most unusual phenomenon. From our berth in Hofn we will drive to the otherworldly glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon, a dramatic drive through some of the finest scenery that Iceland offers. Once we reach Jokulsarlon, the 100 metre deep glacial river lagoon which is full of large icebergs, carved from the glacier Breioamerkurjokull, we will embark on a cruise on the pristine water, sailing in between the blue, white and black ice.
Day 7 - Days 7 & 8 Neskaupstadur, Mjoifjordur & Thistilfjord Bay.
Enjoy the benefits of our small ship as we spend two days exploring the lesser known fjords in the east of Iceland. We hope to land at the small town at Neskaupstadur for a chance to visit the excellent museum which features the local art gallery, Museum of Natural History and Maritime Museum. The more active can hike to the avalanche barriers behind the town, offering great views of the surrounding areas. Cruise through Mjoifjordur where we can enjoy the wilderness of this remote area before we continue our expedition in Thistilfjord Bay on the remote north east coast of Iceland. Anchoring in the bay we will use our Zodiacs to explore this wild area with its bird cliffs, caves, arches and picturesque sea stacks.
Day 8 - Day 9 Husavik.
Be on deck this morning as we sail into Husavik, known as the whale capital of Iceland. From our berth we will head inland to visit the Lake Myvatn-Krafla area, a fine example of the volcanic world with lava fields, boiling and steaming mud pools and steam vents of sulphur and craters. The area illustrates the sheer magnitude of Iceland’s forces at work. The lake itself, with beautiful natural rock formations and hot springs, is also a unique ecosystem and the largest migratory bird sanctuary in Europe. We will offer time in the natural baths before returning to the ship via the spectacular Godafoss Waterfall where water from the Skjalfandafljot river falls from a height of 12 metres over a width of 30 metres. Enjoy some free time in Husavik this afternoon to explore the town and maybe visit the excellent whale museum.
Day 9 - Day 10 Grimsey Island & Siglufjordur.
Spend the morning on Grimsey Island. The Arctic Circle bisects this island which is known for its tiny community, basalt cliffs and large variety of birdlife. On arrival join our expedition team members for a nature walk on the island. Over lunch we sail to Siglufjordur, a picturesque town that enjoys an idyllic setting in a small fjord backed by mountains. Here in the early 1900s, a booming economy due to the herring industry resulted in a prosperous town with some marvellous Icelandic architecture. Stroll through the town and visit the Herring Era Museum.
Day 10 - Day 11 Saudarkrokur & Drangey Island.
Cruise overnight into Skagafjordur where we berth in the small town of Saudarkrokur. Established as a market town in 1868 for the local farmers, the town grew in the early 20th century as an important fishing port and trading centre for the region. We will drive inland to Glaumbaer and visit the museum, built within turf-roofed farmhouses, which showcases the region’s heritage and we will also see the tannery, the only one in Europe that makes fish leather. Over lunch we sail to Drangey Island, situated in the fjord it is a colony for thousands of seabirds including puffins, guillemots, gannets and fulmars who nest on the steep cliffs that rise up 180 metres. Our guide will also tell us the ancient stories of Grettir the Strong who lived on the island in exile over 1000 years ago.
Day 11 - Day 12 West Fjords.
Awake this morning in the West Fjords, an isolated but spectacular area of Iceland. We will cruise into Isafjordur and, depending on local weather conditions, we hope to use our fleet of Zodiacs to explore further. We also plan to visit the village of Thingeyri, one of the oldest settlements in the West Fjords and the location of the area’s first trading post. Return to the ship via the thunderous Dynjandi, the highest waterfall in the West Fjords falling 100 metres and 30 metres wide.
Day 12 - Day 13 Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Sail this morning into Stykkisholmur, located in Breidafjordur Bay and surrounded by an archipelago of islands. The town is famed for its beautiful and well preserved old houses and is also the gateway to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula which is dominated by the Snaefellsjokull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland and known as the setting for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”. Our tour will include a drive through the lava landscape to the glacier visiting pretty fishing ports and beaches along the way. Afterwards, there will be the opportunity to spend some time at leisure in the town.
Day 13 - Day 14 Reykjavik to London.
Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to London.
Day 14 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Discover St Kilda
    • Visit Suduroy, Faroe Islands
    • Explore Torshavn & Vestmanna
    • Enjoy Neskaupstadur, Mjoifjordur & Thistilfjord Bay
    • Discover West Fjords

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