All Expeditions in Europe

Circumnavigation of Sicily

Wild & Ancient Britain

In the Wake of the Vikings: Scotland, Faroes & Iceland

Baltic Odyssey: Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Russia

Circumnavigation of Iceland

Circumnavigation of Ireland

Circumnavigation of the Black Sea

Circumnavigation of Sicily

Departs: April 4, 2011

From Malta, we embark on a luxury small ship cruise around the island of Sicily, famed for its archaeological legacy and culinary traditions. Our itinerary visits Phoenician settlements near Marsala, and the Greek temples of Agrigento and Selinunte. We tour the Roman theaters and villas of Taormina and Lipari, and discover the ornate architecture of Norman-Arab castles and cathedrals in Cefalu, Palermo, and Monreale. And no Sicilian voyage would be complete without wine and olive oil tastings, visits to outdoor markets, and gourmet meals at local restaurants along the way.

Wild & Ancient Britain

Departs: July 1, 2011

Our British Isles cruise explores remote and isolated coastlines where windswept cliffs and promontories teem with the largest seabird colonies of Europe. Our voyage also takes us walking in heather-smothered moorlands, through the magnificent geological wonderland of Giant’s Causeway, and among the ruins of fortress-castles that echo the lore of the Celts and Anglo-Saxons. From the sub-tropical gardens on the Isles of Scilly to the sacred sites of the Inner Hebrides and the stark beauty of Fair Isle, our unique itinerary captures the ancient spirit and wild heart of Britain.

In the Wake of the Vikings: Scotland, Faroes & Iceland

Departs: July 13, 2011

This expedition cruise from Scotland’s Orkney and Shetlands Islands to the soaring bird cliffs of the Faroe Islands and the hot springs and glacier-carved fjords of Iceland presents the finest highlights of northern European waters during the height of summer. Sail the same routes as Viking seafarers to encounter glaciers and geysers, waterfalls and wildflowers, whales and seals, hot springs, and a profusion of seabirds.

Baltic Odyssey: Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Russia

Departs: July 15, 2011

Our Baltic educational cruise, aboard the elegant 100-passenger Island Sky, weaves together the rich history and pastoral landscapes of the countries bathed by this legendary sea. Highlights include Scandinavia’s largest medieval fortress on Bornholm Island; famed Solidarity sites in Gdansk; the splendid port of Visby, a World Heritage Site; the medieval and Art Nouveau architecture of Riga; and Tallinn, perhaps the finest preserved city in the region. Our time in St. Petersburg showcases the monuments and architecture of this canal-laced city, along with a guided tour of the Hermitage Museum.

Circumnavigation of Iceland

Departs: July 24, 2011

Our Iceland expedition cruise reveals element-sculpted landscapes and volcanic wizardry; offshore, rock pinnacles serve as the seasonal home for a myriad of nesting seabirds, including a hundred thousand puffins. We travel inland in search of breeding whooper swans; ride snowmobiles across the white expanse of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier; cruise by Zodiac beneath emerald hillsides laced with waterfalls; and walk among ruins that recall the heyday of Viking exploration. Near the capital of Reykjavík, we explore the fabled Golden Circle—Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir Center.

Circumnavigation of Ireland

Departs: August 14, 2011

Our Ireland educational cruise brings the isle’s fascinating history to life as we explore mysterious Dún Aengus; the Neolithic burial site of Newgrange; the Viking legacy of Waterford; and the 18th-century English architecture in Dublin, Cork, and Killarney. No less spectacular is the dramatic landscape of the Emerald Isle—the rolling green glens of the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula’s dramatic cliffs. Plus, the nesting seabird colonies on Saltee, Skellig Rocks, and Rathlin Islands and the basaltic geology of Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage Site.

Circumnavigation of the Black Sea

Departs: September 13, 2011 and September 25, 2011

Discover Eurasia’s most intriguing destinations—Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria—on a Black Sea luxury cruise. Beautiful landscapes set the stage for stunning architecture and archaeological sites that span the centuries. Our in-depth program explores the ruins of Greco-Roman sites, Byzantine basilicas and monasteries adorned in gold mosaics, exquisitely tiled Ottoman mosques, and charming red-roofed villages laced with cobblestone lanes. This Black Sea luxury cruise also provides fine opportunities to explore natural settings on foot or by local boats, including Romania’s Danube Delta and the wetlands around Histria.