Explore with Viking—British Isles & Ireland

Enjoy an overview of London’s most recognizable cultural and historic monuments. Drive into the city with your local guide, passing the imposing Tower of London—home to the Crown Jewels and the resident Yeomen Warders, more fondly known as Beefeaters. Trace the Thames River to admire the buildings along the famous Thames Embankment. In Trafalgar Square, gaze up at Admiral Horatio Nelson atop his column. The Mall, London’s ceremonial avenue, leads you past St. James’s Park to spectacular Buckingham Palace. At Parliament Square, you will hear the chime of Big Ben, see the Gothic Houses of Parliament and pause for photos at Westminster Abbey, the celebrated venue of royal wedding ceremonies. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, every English and British monarch, with the exceptions of Edward V and Edward VIII, has been crowned at this famous London landmark. After your tour, you will rejoin your motor coach and return to your ship.

Come together for a “Magical Mystery Tour” of the city that produced the Beatles: Liverpool. To develop a true sense of the Beatles’ home, you will have the chance to visit places that inspired their songwriting, such as Penny Lane, as well as other well-known spots associated with the band’s formative years. Stop by Strawberry Field, immortalized by the 1967 classic “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Stroll through the Peace Garden and view exhibits that offer insight into John Lennon’s childhood and the Beatles’ early years. Learn about the on-site training and work placement center for at-risk youths. Then, make your way to the Beatles Story exhibition for an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture and music of four young men from Liverpool—John, Paul, George and Ringo—who were propelled to dizzying heights of worldwide fame and fortune to become arguably the greatest band of all time.

Enjoy a tour of the main sights of Belfast, including its noteworthy monuments and structures. Take in the highlights of Northern Ireland’s capital, including the Grand Opera House, Albert Memorial Clock, Queen’s University and Botanic Gardens. As you pass the impressive Renaissance-style Belfast City Hall, catch sight of the marble Titanic Memorial, erected to commemorate the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. You will learn about Northern Ireland’s troubled past from your local guide as you pass by Stormont, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly. You will also have the chance to see the former Crumlin Road Courthouse, Her Majesty’s Prison Belfast—also known as Crumlin Road Gaol (jail)—and the Peace Line. Be sure to keep watch for Belfast’s political wall murals—a unique cultural touchstone.

See highlights of Scotland’s capital city on this included tour, from gracious architecture to a storied castle. Your journey begins by crossing the Forth Road Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, as you drive toward the heart of the historic city of Edinburgh. On your panoramic tour, you will see the 18th-century New Town with its delightful neoclassical and Georgian period architecture. From a high point, view the dramatic skyline punctuated with church spires and dominated by Edinburgh Castle set on its craggy volcanic rock. Drive through the center of the city and walk down the famous bustling Royal Mile to view the 17th-century Palace of Holyroodhouse. Photo stops will be made en route as traffic permits. Following your tour, enjoy some free time for shopping and independent exploration in central Edinburgh before returning to your ship.

Discover Greenwich’s maritime and royal history by foot. You will join your guide for a walk that will take you past the famous Cutty Sark, the world’s only surviving tea clipper and the fastest sailing ship in the world when it was built in 1869, and the Greenwich Market, an eclectic mix of arts and crafts, and street food. Continue on to St. Alfege Church, dedicated to the archbishop of Canterbury who was killed on this spot in 1012 and where Henry VIII was baptized. Then, stop for photos at the Queen’s House, the first classical building built in England. See the National Maritime Museum, housed in a former royal palace and the world’s largest seafaring museum, and the iconic Old Royal Naval College, the architectural centerpiece of Maritime Greenwich, before returning to your ship.

See Bergen both up close and from a bird’s-eye perspective on this expansive tour. With your guide, pass the medieval fortress at the entrance to the harbor. Stroll along the seafront to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, the picturesque wharf that helped put Bergen at the center of the Hanseatic League. Visit the Schøtstuene Museum and explore its multipurpose rooms in which wealthy Hanseatic merchants gathered during the winter months. Embark on a scenic drive through the city for a visit to the elegant Fantoft Stave Church. Built entirely of wood in 1150, it was moved to this site in 1883 to preserve it as part of the nation’s heritage. Return to the city where you will ascend Mt. Fløien via funicular railway. From the summit, enjoy spectacular views of Bergen’s seaside setting before returning to your ship.

Savor a taste of the Orkney Isles during an immersive experience into its rich cultural and culinary heritage. At Kirkwall harbor, meet your skipper for a short safety briefing before boarding your vessel. As you set sail, listen to fascinating stories of folklore and get a glimpse of life in the Orkneys. Learn about traditional fishing practices, including hand hauling a creel (lobster pot), and sustainable harvesting methods. Enjoy a taste of some of Orkney's finest produce, including oatcakes, butter, cheese and chutneys, accompanied by Bannocks—Scottish bread toasted on a griddle—and fudge. You will also be served freshly caught scallops and lobster, expertly cooked on a barbecue, with a dram of whisky or a glass of Orkney ale. Afterward, return with your guide or enjoy time in the harbor to browse the local stores on your own, before taking the shuttle bus back to your ship.

Combine a tour of the highlights of historic Bergen with a scenic visit to the summit of Mt. Ulriken. A panoramic tour takes you to the medieval Bergenhus fortress at the entrance to Bergen’s harbor. You will also see the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, the beautifully preserved wharf that was central to Bergen’s role in the Hanseatic League. Here, you will see the wooden warehouses through which much of the mercantile organization’s wealth passed. A cable car awaits you just outside the affluent suburb of Kalfaret. Wind conditions permitting, take a seat inside your gondola for a scenic ascent to Mt. Ulriken, the highest of Bergen’s famous Seven Mountains. At the summit, witness the magnificent views and enjoy a warm beverage accompanied by the famed Ulriken Bun, a cinnamon pastry for which this region is known. Enjoy free time at this 1,000-foot peak before returning to the city to explore on your own.

Cross over the Menai Strait to the Welsh mainland to visit two very impressive Welsh castles. Penrhyn Castle was completed in 1837 by Thomas Hopper, and designed in a Gothic style with a Moorish flavor. The extensive grounds, which you can discover after your self-guided tour of the castle, include formal gardens, semi-wooded walks and a Victorian walled garden. Following lunch in the seaside town of Caernarfon, your tour takes you to Caernarfon Castle. Of the four castles in northern Wales built by order of King Edward I, this is the most magnificent. Caernarfon Castle’s symbolic status was reinforced when Edward made sure that his son, the first Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284. In more recent times, King Charles III was crowned Prince of Wales here in a glittering ceremony in 1969.

Experience the flavors of Northern Ireland with this exciting walking tour centered on cuisine. Set out for the city, where you will connect with your experienced local guide. You will have the opportunity to soak in Belfast’s rich heritage and culture as you make your way through historic neighborhoods, all the while enjoying delicious foods with a local food connoisseur who knows and loves Northern Ireland’s specialties, as well as the best spots in town to sample them. Tastings are frequent and generous; you will encounter local producers, learn about the food of Northern Ireland and enjoy sampling favorite foods and drinks from the region along the way.

Discover some of cosmopolitan Liverpool’s most impressive architectural and cultural sights. Explore the city by motor coach as you learn about Liverpool’s maritime heritage as the home port of RMS Titanic. View the Liverpool Cathedral, dominating the city’s skyline from atop St. James’s Mount, and admire its impressive Gothic arches; it is the largest Anglican cathedral in the UK. In stark architectural contrast, admire the striking style and multicolored glass lantern tower of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest Catholic cathedral in the UK. Pass through St. George’s Quarter, which boasts some of the country’s finest examples of Victorian architecture, including the imposing St. George’s Hall. As you return to the port, pass the iconic “Three Graces,” Albion House, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and the rejuvenated Royal Albert Dock.

Explore the majesty and mystery of Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will journey inland, through Ballymena and Bushmills, to the dramatic North Antrim Coast. Here, You will discover an aggregation of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns—the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. For millions of years, the unique rock formations of Giant’s Causeway have stood as a natural rampart against the unbridled ferocity of Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns both intrigues and inspires. You may be astonished by this ancient natural marvel as you scan the mysterious stones for structures that resemble objects, such as the Organ, Giant's Boot, Camel's Hump and Chimney Stacks. Returning to port, You will stop for photographs at the magnificent clifftop Dunluce Castle, and, time permitting, at the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge that spans a chasm 80 feet deep.