Icelandic Wonders & Northern Isles Cruise

Day 1: London Tilbury
The M/S Marco Polo departs at 1800hrs.  At Sea.

Day 2: Cruising at Sea
Cruising the North Sea en route to the Orkney Islands

Day 3: Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
The capital and administrative centre of the Orkney Islands, set on the principal island known as Mainland. The Orkneys comprise 70 or so islands, rocks and skerries that cover an area of 376 square miles. You can still detect the Norse influence and the Stone Age settlement at Skara Brae, older than either the Pyramids or Stonehenge, is fascinating.

Optional shore excursions in Kirkwall:
Skara Brae and Skaill House
South Island and Distillery
Scenic Orkneys

Day 4: At Sea
Cruising the Atlantic Ocean en route to Iceland

Day 5: Heimaey
Your first port in the 'Land of Ice & Fire' is in the Westmann Islands, a collection of 15 islands and 30 reefs off the southern coast of the mainland. Heimaey has about 5,000 inhabitants and was the scene of an immense volcanic eruption by Mt Helgafell in 1973. A new landscape was created and the resultant lava mountain is still warm to the touch.

Optional shore excursions:
Scenic Island Tour
Boat Trip Around Heimaey

In the early evening, Marco Polo will sail around the volcanic island of Surtsey, named after the 'giant of fire' in Icelandic mythology, which emerged spectacularly following a series of explosive eruptions between 1963 and 1966. The island is now a nature reserve.

Day 6: Reykjavik
Welcome to the world’s most northerly capital! A modern, smokeless city with an old town, lovingly preserved, Reykjavik lies close to an astonishing region of lava fields, spectacular geysers and steaming geothermal springs. Attractions abound, but the Blue Lagoon, with its warm mineral rich waters, and the magnificent Gulfoss Falls should not be missed.

Optional Shore Excursions:
The Golden Circle
Reykjavik Revealed
Introduction to Reykjavik
Reykjanes and the Blue Lagoon
Bathing in the Blue Lagoon
Glaciers and Volcanoes Flightseeing

Day 7: Grundafjordur
One of Iceland’s oldest fishing villages, set in a fine natural harbour on the Snaefellsnes peninsula of the west coast, it was from here that the famed Erik the Red set off to discover Greenland in 985 AD. Many legends and sagas are connected with this area which is also a birdlover’s delight with puffins, arctic terns, kittiwakes, fulmars and razorbills much in evidence.

Optional Shore Excursions:
Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Day 8: Akureyri
The second largest town in Iceland, at the head of the country’s longest fjord, the thriving Botanical Gardens and the fascinating museum are well worth seeing, but the real attraction is the awesome landscape of volcanoes, waterfalls, canyons and geysers. Take a polar flight across to Grimsey, watch for whales or visit Godafoss - the ‘Waterfall of the Gods’.

Optional Shore Excursions:
Jewels of the North
Whales and Waterfalls
Godafoss and Laufas
Polar Flight to Grimsey Island

Day 9: At Sea
Cruising the North Atlantic Ocean on a course towards the Faroe Islands

Day 10: Torshavn (Faroe Islands, Denmark)
Capital city of the Faroe Islands, “The harbour of the god Thor”, is a modern town that retains a unique character; although the islands - a green home to birds, sheep and about 46,000 people - would still be recognisable to the early Viking settlers who arrived on their transatlantic trail from Scandinavia to North America.

Optional Shore Excursions:
Saksun
Kirkjubour and Nordic House
Kvivik and Kollafjoerdur
Kirkjubour and National Museum

Day 11: Lerwick (Shetland Islands)
Capital and county town of the Shetland Islands, Lerwick was settled by the Norsemen in the 9th century but has prehistoric sites going back thousands of years. Jarlshof, with its remains of Bronze Age, Viking and Medieval settlements is believed by some to be the most remarkable archaeological discovery in Britain.

Optional Shore Excursions:
Scenic Shetlands
Shetland Contrasts

Day 12: At Sea
Cruising the North Sea on a southerly course towards Tilbury.

Day 13: London Tilbury
Disembark after breakfast on board