NEW! British Isles & Viking Shores

Gain insight into the Shetland Islands while learning about Shetland ponies and admiring striking landscapes. Enjoy a photo stop from above Scalloway Castle, overlooking the harbor below, before visiting a Shetland pony breeder and enthusiast. Small ponies have existed in the Shetland Islands for more than 2,000 years; the ponies are thought to have been in domestic use since the Bronze Age. Learn more about how these miniature ponies are bred and used today. Travel north through the Tingwall Valley, with its Norse heritage, before heading through the peat- and heather-covered landscape to Girlsta, with its beautiful freshwater lochs and hillside scenery. Drive through Whiteness on the Atlantic coast to Wormadale for the chance to photograph many of the islands of the Shetland archipelago. Hear more about Shetland culture and heritage on the way back to your ship.

Meet the famous four-legged residents of the Shetland Islands and enjoy a close-up encounter. Embark on a scenic drive through Lerwick, capital of the Shetland Islands. Enjoy a stop at Meal Beach, recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in Shetland. Arrive in Burra, one of the smaller islands of this group, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. Here, you will be warmly welcomed by your hosts and their furry companions. Small ponies have existed in the Shetland Islands for more than 2,000 years. Today, you will learn more about how these miniature ponies are bred and used. In small groups, you will have the opportunity to pet, brush and handle the ponies, then lead one down to a beautiful, secluded beach for the perfect photo opportunity. After your pony encounter, you will bid your newfound friend farewell and return to your awaiting ship.

Witness the impressive Mousa Broch and hike Mousa Island’s coastline to see local scenery and birdlife. Embark on a scenic drive through the rolling countryside en route to catching your first glimpse of the magnificent Mousa Broch, the tallest and best-preserved broch in the world. At the small ferry port, climb on board the Solan IV for a short crossing to the Island of Mousa, an uninhabited island just 1.5 miles long and one mile wide. Accompany your guide on a three-mile, two-hour trek around the perimeter of the island, admiring the beautiful scenery and observing wildlife including common and gray seals, Arctic terns and great skuas. Discover the historic Iron Age Mousa Broch, a drystone Iron Age fortress tower built more than 2,000 years ago without mortar. Incredibly, it stands some 43 feet high. After this invigorating walk, you will journey back to your ship.

Set forth with your highly experienced skipper and wildlife guide to seek Shetland wildlife. Starting from Victoria Pier, stroll past the Old Tolbooth from 1770 and go to the Lodberries. These were houses and warehouses sitting on their own piers so that goods could be loaded and unloaded directly from the boats during the time Lerwick was Northern Europe’s premier herring town. Returning to the pier, board your awaiting vessel and head out. You will enjoy unrivaled natural spectacles and memorable photographic opportunities. With a stunning backdrop of the Noss cliffs, this short cruise will take you around Noss and Bressay to enjoy the Shetlands’ numerous seabirds and seals, scenic views and geology. Keep watch for otters and marine mammals as you travel in comfort on board a twin-engine catamaran, providing the perfect platform to view the island’s wildlife.

Drive through Lerwick, capital of the Shetland Islands, to the island’s southerly point on a panoramic tour. Board your motor coach and begin your journey through rural townships. Along the way, if conditions permit, you may spot the magnificent Mousa Broch, the world’s tallest and best-preserved roundhouse. Continue south, passing St. Ninian’s Isle, where the famous Pictish hoard of silver dating from the 9th century was found in 1958. Arrive in Jarlshof and explore the prehistoric Norse settlements, one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Britain. Over 5,000 years old, it features a remarkable sequence of stone structures. Continue to the historic village of Hoswick and visit the Visitor Centre. View informative displays about the culture of Shetland, then spend time browsing the original Shetland garments in the knitwear shop before returning to your awaiting ship.

Take a walking tour through the colorful and cosmopolitan history of Lerwick. Hear lively tales of Lerwick’s growth, merchant trading, shipping fleets and smugglers. From Victoria Pier, view the Old Tollbooth from 1770 and the Lodberries, houses and warehouses sitting on their own piers so that goods could be loaded and unloaded directly from the boats during the time when Lerwick was Northern Europe’s premier herring town. Continue along Commercial Street to Fort Charlotte, pausing to admire the views. Visit the Up Helly Aa Exhibition to see a replica Viking galley and an exhibit on the famous fire festival—where every last Tuesday of January, the darkened streets of Lerwick provide a background for a long torchlit procession. Then, head to the Shetland Museum and enjoy free time to discover more about the islands’ heritage and culture.

Immerse yourself in the crofting culture of the Shetland Islands during a visit with a local breeder. Depart from Lerwick and travel through the picturesque harbor village of Hamnavoe en route to the Keolka croft, where you will meet expert sheepdog trainers who will introduce you to crofting life in Shetland. Learn about Shetland sheep, renowned for their warm woolly coats, and meet hardy Shetland ponies. Observe the skilled shepherd at work and gain insight into the various stages of sheepdog training, from playful puppies to accomplished herders, who demonstrate rounding up the wandering herd with ease. Hear tales of these four-legged companions and greet the stars of the demonstration with a friendly pat. If weather permits, you may also see a sheep-shearing demonstration. After, warm yourself up with a hot drink at a nearby hotel, then return to your ship.

Traverse the remote peninsula of Northmavine and learn about Shetland during a guided panoramic drive. Depart from Lerwick and travel northwest, taking in the views of the picturesque Shetland scenery along the way. See Scandinavian influences as you journey through Voe and hear about the crofting origins of Brae. Cross Mavis Grind, a narrow strip of land connecting Northmavine to the mainland, and pause for photographs at the Drongs, a collection of dramatic granite sea stacks. Continue to Tangwick Haa, a 17th-century laird’s house that now houses a museum, where you will learn about the region’s maritime history before heading to Eshaness Lighthouse, perched on the edge of the Northmavine Peninsula. Here, you may choose to explore the clifftops on foot and soak up the scenery. After time for photographs, continue to a local café for refreshments before rejoining your ship.

Set out on foot to discover Lerwick and sample Shetland whisky at Lerwick Distillery. Begin your exploration of Lerwick in the old town, accompanied by a guide who will share stories of the town’s maritime significance, Norse heritage and local culture. Your journey takes you past the Lodberries, warehouses that were once the commercial heart of the fishing industry. Continue through narrow, winding lanes dating back to the 17th century, once the main access routes from the harbor to the town center. See Lerwick Town Hall with its stained-glass windows depicting Shetland’s Norse roots, and stop at Whisky Lane, home to Shetland’s first malt whisky distillery and established in 2022. Step inside to learn about the creation of this celebrated spirit and enjoy a dram of the finished product before returning to your awaiting ship.