Through the North Atlantic

Our journey begins in Aberdeen in North East Scotland, where MV Ocean Atlantic is located by a dock in the Dee River. Boarding is in the afternoon, where the staterooms are designated. After the mandatory security review and drill, we sail out through the mouth of the Dee River towards the North Sea.

During the night we will have sailed out into the waters between Outer and Inner Hebrides, and in the early morning we’ll reach the town of Kirkwall on the windy Orkney off the mainland of Scotland. Orkney is old Norse for the “seal islands”, and, like the other North Atlantic islands, Orkney has a rich Viking story.

Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney. Orkney has a fascinating history, and contains one of the highest concentrations of Stone-Age remains anywhere in the world, preserved in the islands’ softly blowing sand. These sites range from the dramatic stone circle of Brodgar to the touchingly intimate Neolithic houses of Skara Brae, preserved so perfectly they could almost still be inhabited. Unlike the Scottish mainland, Orkney and nearby Shetland were colonised by Norse settlers, and were a part of the Kingdom of Norway until the late 1400s; the islands’ language, culture and architecture is subsequently distinct to the rest of Scotland. Locals are proud of their Nordic heritage, which is evident almost everywhere you go in the city, from the magnificent St Magnus’ Cathedral (the founding of which is detailed in bloody sagas; it is also one of the only churches in the world to have its own dungeon), to street names, to the world-renowned Highland Park distillery. More recently, the islands were of huge military importance to the British state, and an entire German fleet lies scuttled at the bottom of Scapa Flow, just outside the city. The barricades between several of the islands were conducted after a daring U-Boat raid in the Second World War; along with the magnificent Italian Chapel (built by prisoners of war) bear testament to the islands’ intricate history.

Today, the islands have again reinvented themselves; visitors are warmly welcomed, and the bustling port is littered with equipment and parts devoted to tidal and wind energy, as Orkney seeks to capitalise on its abundant green energy.

For those who participate in the optional excursion: “Highlights of Orkney”:

We depart Kirkwall and head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. Along the way we will pass through rolling gentle landscapes into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney, an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Passing the Standing Stones of Stenness, we will stop at the 5000-year-old ceremonial circle: the Ring of Brodgar. 

We continue to the pretty fishing village of Stromness.  After a briefing and orientation enjoy free time to explore the picturesque harbour in Stromness and stroll along the quirky flag-stoned streets. Maybe visit the beautifully refurbished Pier Arts Centre with exhibitions by both local and international artists and relax with a hot beverage in a café or explore the craft shops selling local knitwear, pottery and art work.

Finally we return to the coach and continue our circular route following the coastline of Scapa Flow, a famous British Naval Base in both World Wars. 

(The excursion is part of the optional excursion package and not included in the price of the trip).

For guests wishing to stay in Kirkwall, a short walking city tour will be arranged, passing by St. Magnus cathedral as well as the picturesque ruins from Bishop’s and Earl’s Palace.

We are set to approach Lerwick near the “Main Land” of the Shetlands in the morning. The Shetland Islands consist of more than 100 islands, of which only 15 are inhabited year-round. The islands form the northernmost part of the United Kingdom, located approximately 300 km north of the mainland of Scotland.

For those who are on the optional excursion: “Clickimin Broch and Shetland sightseeing”

Once securely docked at the port, we depart through Lerwick towards Scalloway for a short scenic drive. From the elevated position we can enjoy the view of the charming village and the imposing Scalloway Castle. After a short photo stop, we continue eastwards through the area that is locally known as the “Black Gates” – an area where peat is still cut and used as fuel.

Following the road northwards, our main destination of Clickimin Broch is only a short drive. There will be free time to discover this well preserved and restored Broch and learn more about life in the Iron Age.

 (Please note: The coach excursion is part of the optional excursion package and is not included in the price of the trip).

Afterwards, we will return to Lerwick and after some time at leisure in the port town, we reboard around lunchtime. 

As we finish our meal, our ship moves to the nearby Isle of Noss, where we will encounter many bird colonies. Depending on the weather we hope to make either a Zodiac cruise or a landing with a smaller hike on the island.

We arrive after breakfast at Tórshavn, possibly the smallest capital in the world, ruling the scattered 18 island that make up the Faroes. Centred around the charming grass-roofed Parliament on Tinganes, Tórshavn is now an almost bustling modern city with shops, cafés and even three traffic lights!

By midmorning you can participate in an optional bus excursion where we will try to look a bit back in history. We drive out of the capital and over the mountains to the south. As the climate on the Faroe Island is ‘stable unstable’ it is not unlikely that we will drive through the cloud base and experience some fog on the way. But if you wait a moment, it also not unlikely that it will clear up. We arrive in Kirkjubøur, the most important historical site on the islands. Kirkjubøur was in medieval times the Episcopal centre of the Faroe Islands, and also its undisputed cultural centre. We visit the ruins of the impressive Magnus Cathedral that perhaps never was completed, and the St. Olav church – the only remaining medieval church on the Faroe Islands. Upon our return to ‘Havn’ – as Tórshavn is often just called – you can go for a leisurely stroll through the old citadel near the harbour. A visit to the Art museum and the Nordic House is also very recommendable.

(The excursion is part of the excursion package and is not included in the price of the trip).

The sailing northwards towards Jan Mayen will probably go through Vestmanna Sound, along the west-facing shore of Streymoy and the south side of Mykines. But the route depends on winds, sea and comfort. We spend day number 6 at sea and enjoy the ship’s many facilities.

Listen to a lecture from our experienced expedition staff, see a film about Arctic nature – or go out on deck to catch glimpses of migrating birds and hopefully some whales.

In the morning we will make a call in the small, cozy port town of Djúpivogur.

Located in East Iceland in the Berufjordur fjord, Djúpivogur is an enchanting village of just 456 inhabitants, standing beneath the dramatic Mount Búlandstindur, which reaches 3,510’ (1,069 m). Characterized by its calm lagoons, tranquil harbour, and flourishing bird population, particularly in the Búlandsnes Bird Sanctuary, the area allows visitors to enjoy an undisturbed natural paradise. The town is sheltered, but still very accessable from the ocean, the port is one of the oldest in Iceland, and the people from Djúpivogur take great pride in preserving some of the old houses. The town attracts creative folks and the art exhibitions are worth a visit, not least the permant Eggin i Gleðivík, 34 oversized bird eggs, carved out of granite. The artwork can be reached with a short stroll from the town centre. The Cultural Centre is located in the beautiful red timber house, Langabúð, and opposite this on the other side of the small harbor is the old Hotel Framtid. Residents have embraced a slower way of life which we can hope to enjoy whilst visiting.

For those who are on the optional excursion: Vatnajökull the largest icecap in Europe

We drive in our coach from Djupivogur to the “lobster” town of Höfn where we make a short break after the first 60 minutes of driving. Our next stop is the breathtaking Hoffelslón lagoon at the largest glacier in Europe (Vatnajökull), taking good time to take a walk on the glacial moraine and enjoy the unique nature. The glacier covers around 8% of Icelands total land mass. After the visit we return towards Djupivogur, with some photo stops enroute.

(The excursion is part of the excursion package and is not included in the price of the trip).

After we embark our ship and continue, we sail along the southern coast of Iceland, dominated by Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest glacier.

The Westman Islands were on the headlines of the world press in January 1973, when a volcano erupted in the Heimaey island. All 5,000 inhabitants evacuated, but most have now returned, and today the population is about 4,000. The Westman Islands are only 14 kilometres off the southwest coast of Iceland and consist of 15 green small islands and about 30 moorings.

When you go sailing, you can see the islands’ steep and grateful profiles in clear weather from a long distance. They are beautifully raised by the sea, and looking at them, one understands why an Icelandic poet would compare them with the sapphires in a silver ring.

The birdlife on these edges is unique and hosts, among other natural beauties, puffins and not least the “Queen of the Sea” – the gannet.

In the morning we head to Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the archipelago where we can see the recently excavated houses from the 1973 eruption. 

We end the day by passing close to one of the world’s newest islands, Surtsey. The island rose from the sea in 1963 and arrived in 2008 on UNESCO’s list of world natural heritage sites. The island is closed to the public and only researchers are allowed.

In the morning, Ocean Albatros goes alongside in the port of Reykjavik. It’s time to say farewell to the crew and begin the disembarkation.