Duration
22 Nights
Journey Type
Sailing from Portugal
Ports
22 Ports
12 May
Setting sail from Lisbon
The roots of historic Lisbon's fame lie in its strategic position on the edge of the Atlantic and the fact it offers one of the world's greatest natural harbours. No surprise therefore that it became the home of the world's most famous explorers such as Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator. Built on seven hills, we always find Lisbon to be soulful, captivating and picturesque, with architecture which reflects its status as a great port.
Don't miss
Belem Tower, dating from the 1500s, was both a fortress and the explorers’ departure point. On the façade you will find a stone rhinoceros sculpted into the tower – Europe’s first sight of this extraordinary beast!
13 May
Portugal: Porto (Leixões)
Blessed with a dramatic setting on the steep banks of the river Douro, Portugal’s second city is currently enjoying something of a renaissance, and is best known as the home of the country’s most famous export, port wine.
14 May
Spain: Ferrol
The Galician city of Ferrol, birthplace of General Franco, doesn’t feature on too many tourist itineraries, though maritime enthusiasts may enjoy a visit to the 18th-century shipyards. Most cruise visitors will use Ferrol as a base to explore Galicia’s wild coast, the nearby city of La Coruña or the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela.
15 May
Spain: Avilés
Avilés is an important industrial centre, known for its steel mill, with a pleasant historic centre and a number of traditional Asturian restaurants. The Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, designed by the eponymous Brazilian architect, is the city’s most striking modern building.
16 May
Spain: Bilbao
It’s not so long ago that Bilbao was a grim and unappealing place, scarred by heavy industry, but the Basque Country’s biggest city has reinvented itself as a cultural hub since the opening of the shimmering Guggenheim Museum in 1997.
17 May
Spain: Pasajes
18-20 May
France: Bordeaux
Bordeaux sits at the centre of the world's most famous wine region, and is home to a beguiling blend of beautiful buildings, sophisticated gastronomy and high culture. It's a marvellous place to spend some time, whether it's a day sampling wines, an evening at the opera or a night on the tiles.
21 May
France: Concarneau
Concarneau’s pretty old town, the Ville Close, is one of Brittany’s most popular attractions. Designed by Vauban and surrounded by medieval walls, the old town sits on an island connected to the mainland by two small bridges. The surrounding coastline is also a big draw for tourists, with some lovely beaches.
22 May
United Kingdom: Hugh Town (St Mary's)
St Mary’s is the largest of the Isles of Scilly, and the gateway to the islands for those arriving by ferry from Penzance. Take a wander around charming Hugh Town, explore some of the lovely nearby beaches and look out for wildlife including seals, puffins and fulmars.
23 May
Ireland: Dublin
The city of Dublin has something for everyone with great shopping, beautiful Georgian architecture, lovely parks, galleries and museums. Everywhere you go you will be bowled away by the jovial Irish welcome. Don’t miss the chance to sample a local pint of Guinness.
24 May
United Kingdom: Belfast
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was a watershed moment for Northern Ireland, and its rejuvenated capital is enjoying a surge in popularity. The new Titanic Belfast museum is the star attraction, while the city centre boasts some handsome Victorian architecture and a lively pub scene.
25 May
United Kingdom: Iona
The tiny island of Iona, situated off the southwestern tip of Mull, is said to be the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, and is a popular place of pilgrimage. Thousands of visitors flock here every year to visit the Abbey, and the island gets particularly busy in summer.
25 May
United Kingdom: Staffa
The uninhabited island of Staffa is known for its striking geology, characterised by the same hexagonal basalt columns as the Giant’s Causeway, and is home to the famous Fingal’s Cave. Seabirds including puffins, guillemots and razorbills nest here during spring and early summer.
26 May
New Zealand: Stewart Island
Stewart Island is New Zealand’s rarely visited third island. A landscape of lush rainforest and beautiful beaches is home to abundant birdlife, and it’s one of the best places in the country to see kiwis in the wild. You can also have a drink at New Zealand’s southernmost pub in Oban, the only town on the island.
26 May
United Kingdom: Sound of Mull
27 May
United Kingdom: St Kilda
The St Kilda archipelago is a remote and rugged collection of sea stacks and rocky islands, some 40 miles to the west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. The islands constitute the largest nesting site for seabirds in the North Atlantic and are home to over a million birds, including puffins, gannets, fulmars and petrels.
28 May
United Kingdom: Portree (Isle of Skye)
The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, thanks to a spectacular landscape of jagged peaks, misty moors and glassy lochs. The island’s biggest town is Portree, a pleasant little place with a colourful harbour.
29 May
United Kingdom: Stornoway
Situated on a natural harbour on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis, Stornoway is the largest town in the Outer Hebrides. The island is one of the last major strongholds of the Gaelic language, and is home to fascinating Neolithic sites such as the mysterious standing stones at Callanish.
30 May
United Kingdom: Lerwick
Lerwick is the only town of any size in the Shetland islands, and originally grew up around the herring trade. Highlights include the charming 18th century architecture along the waterfront and the informative Shetland Museum, which provides an excellent introduction to the history and culture of the islands.
31 May
United Kingdom: Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
The flat, windswept Orkney Islands, just off the northeast coast of Scotland, have a distinctive Scandinavian heritage that’s discernible in everything from the unusual place names to the ancient Norse architecture of the capital, Kirkwall. Don’t miss the Ring of Brodgar, a fascinating Neolithic stone circle.
1 June
United Kingdom: Aberdeen
The ‘granite city’ of Aberdeen is flush with money from the North Sea oil boom, and boasts cultural attractions including the fascinating Maritime Museum and the Aberdeen Art Gallery. Head out into the countryside and you’ll find magnificent castles, wild mountain scenery and whisky distilleries aplenty.
2-3 June
Arriving in Leith (Edinburgh)
Edinburgh - what a city! The capital city of Scotland has some striking and varied architecture, an imposing Castle, memorable museums and galleries and some wonderful restaurants. And what we love best about this buzzing city is that you can always look up, and there's the beautiful countryside - the Seven Hills - surrounding you. It's a city of inexhaustible delights; in one day alone you could see the Scottish Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny, follow the Royal Mile to explore narrow closes steeped in history, and go to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Edinburgh Dungeon and the Scottish Parliament.
Our tip
If you will be visiting in August, the Festival is overwhelming – check out what’s on and book ahead. Don’t forget to include the Tattoo – a stirring evening indeed!
For once-in-a-lifetime tailor-made itineraries, Mundy Adventures specialises in expedition cruises to some of the most wonderful places on earth; places often only accessible by water.
Your home from home
What we love
Scenic have gone all out to create the most luxurious, most technologically advanced and most exciting expedition ship ever built. We couldn't be more excited about the advances that this ship represents, and the way it will be able to enhance already thrilling itineraries.
Capacity | 228 Guests |
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Style | Sleek, modern and designed to deliver once-in-a-lifetime experiences, this ship really has it all! The state-of-the-art design provides the perfect combination of luxury and adventure. |
Inclusions |
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Year Built | 2019 |
Length | 544 feet |
Breadth | 71 feet |
Tailor-make your trip
Our recommended hotel
The Pousada de Lisboa, newly opened in May 2015, has a great location in the heart of the city and an interior to wow you.
Take a day trip from Lisbon
Visit Sintra – Roman and Moorish influences make this magical city with its fairytale palaces and extravagant villas a must.
Where to stay in Edinburgh
For sheer weird quirkiness, the Witchery by the Castle has to be our top choice: gothic and theatrical, this is Edinburgh at its best.
What to see around Edinburgh
Cross the Forth Bridge to visit Hopetoun House, the seaside fortress Blackness Castle, the House of the Binns, the Palace of Linlithgow and Rosslyn Chapel.