Treasures of the British Isles

The Treasures of the British Isles is a 10-night United Kingdom cruise aboard Ambience, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line. Departing London (Tilbury) on August 31, 2026, the voyage visits 7 ports.

Length: 10 nights
Departs: Aug 31, 2026
Returns: Sep 10, 2026
Ports of call: 7
Days at sea: 3

Itinerary

Day 1 Aug 31, 2026 London (Tilbury) Departs 17:00 London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, is a 21st-century city with history stretching back to Roman times. At its centre stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower and Westminster Abbey, site of British monarch coronations. Across the Thames River, the London Eye observation wheel provides panoramic views of the South Bank cultural complex, and the entire city.

Day 3 Sep 2, 2026 Kirkwall, Scotland 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore The seventy or so Orcadian isles apart from rugged rock of Hoy - are low-lying and richly fertile. First inhabited by late Stone Age settlers, followed by broch-builders and Picts, fromthe 15th centuries Orkney was ruled as a Norse kingdom, passing to the Scottish crown in 1471. Mainland Kirkwall is the capital. The Orkney Islands are politically a part of Britain, yet seem quite different in many ways. Numerous place names have non-English sounds, reflecting the original Viking settlement of the 9th century. Norse crafts and traditions are obvious everywhere. These islands were ruled from Norway and Denmark until 1468, when a Norwegian king gave them to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for his daughter's marriage to King James III. In addition to the Norse heritage there are numerous remains of prehistoric monuments such as the Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. The archipelago is located at the same latitude as southern Greenland; the Gulfstream accounts for the islands' temperate climate. Approximately half of the 60 islands are inhabited; the rest are home only to seals and sea birds. Most of the inhabitants, who draw their livelihood from the fertile hills rather than the sea, live on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. Kirkwall, located on Mainland, is the principal harbor and capital of the Orkneys. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets that wind around the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney historical artifacts is housed in the 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions around the island include Maes Howe, the site of Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village of Skara Brae. Scapa Flow serves as a reminder of more recent times when, during both World Wars, Britain's naval base was located here. Kirkwall, Scotland port guide Search cruises visiting Kirkwall, Scotland

Kirkwall, Scotland photo — Day 3 Sep 2, 2026 Kirkwall, Scotland 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore The seventy or so Orcadian isles apart from rugged rock of Hoy - are low-lying and richly fertile. First inhabited by late Stone Age settlers, followed by broch-builders and Picts, fromthe 15th centuries Orkney was ruled as a Norse kingdom, passing to the Scottish crown in 1471. Mainland Kirkwall is the capital. The Orkney Islands are politically a part of Britain, yet seem quite different in many ways. Numerous place names have non-English sounds, reflecting the original Viking settlement of the 9th century. Norse crafts and traditions are obvious everywhere. These islands were ruled from Norway and Denmark until 1468, when a Norwegian king gave them to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for his daughter's marriage to King James III. In addition to the Norse heritage there are numerous remains of prehistoric monuments such as the Stenness Standing Stones at Finstown. The archipelago is located at the same latitude as southern Greenland; the Gulfstream accounts for the islands' temperate climate. Approximately half of the 60 islands are inhabited; the rest are home only to seals and sea birds. Most of the inhabitants, who draw their livelihood from the fertile hills rather than the sea, live on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. Kirkwall, located on Mainland, is the principal harbor and capital of the Orkneys. Steep-roofed stone houses line streets that wind around the medieval St. Magnus Cathedral. A museum featuring Orkney historical artifacts is housed in the 16th-century Tankerness House. Other attractions around the island include Maes Howe, the site of Britain's best-preserved megalithic tomb, and the stone-age village of Skara Brae. Scapa Flow serves as a reminder of more recent times when, during both World Wars, Britain's naval base was located here. Kirkwall, Scotland port guide Search cruises visiting Kirkwall, Scotland

Day 4 Sep 3, 2026 Stornoway (Isle of Lewis), United Kingdom 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Founded by the Vikings in the early 9th century, Stornoway is located on the scenic Isle of Lewis, the most northerly of Scotland’s Hebrides islands. Visiting Lewis is like taking a step back in time, where ancient stone circles stand on the same land as modern day Stornoway, Gaelic is spoken alongside English, and during the summer months, “local people can still be seen cutting the peats, and in the winter the distinctive dry smell of the peat fires drifts in the wind.” With its spectacular cliffs, moorlands and fresh-water lochs, the region is home to a diverse wildlife habitat of eagles, deer, otters and numerous species of indigenous birds, while Lewis’ several rivers have significant runs of salmon and sea trout, which make for great fishing. There are also beautiful remote beaches like Tolsta, Bostadh and Traigh Chuil, adventure boat trips for regular sightings of seals, porpoises and dolphins, and historical attractions such as the impressive Lews Castle, the Whale Bone Arch and Latta Mill’s Stornoway.

Day 5 Sep 4, 2026 Tobermory, Scotland 07:00 – 18:00 11.0 hrs ashore Built as a fishing port in 1788, based on a design by Thomas Telford, Tobermory is now the main village on the remote island of Mull. This little village with brightly-coloured houses that run from the main street down to the pier, is one of the prettiest and most iconic ports in Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic, Tobar Mhoire – Mary’s Well – and water from it (now gone) was believed to have medical properties. The Mull Museum on the main street celebrates the island’s history, with artefacts that include working implements used by local craftsmen. Legend has it that the village’s sheltered bay is where one of the Spanish Armada ships sank in 1588 carrying gold bullion. Tobermory Distillery, the only one on Mull, was founded in 1798. It has been closed and reopened several times – the most recent reopening in 1990. The buildings are the original ones from when the Distillery first opened. Today it produces a malt and a blend, known as Tobermory the Malt.

Day 6 Sep 5, 2026 Belfast 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Reborn as a cool, modern city, Belfast has successfully left its troubles behind, emerging as a hotbed of culture and architecture, where the comfort of a cosy pub is never far away. Take a voyage of discovery in its maritime quarter, home to a celebrated museum dedicated to the most famous ship ever built, which was constructed right here in the city’s shipyards. A walk across the Lagan Weir Footbridge brings you to Belfast’s fascinating Titanic District – an area of the city devoted to its rich ship-building heritage. The state-of-the-art Titanic Museum brings the story of the doomed vessel to life, and is the largest museum dedicated to the infamously ‘unsinkable’ ship. Wind up a nautical-themed ramble along the Maritime Mile with a visit to SS Nomadic, the smaller cousin of the Titanic, and a ship which serves as a fascinating time capsule back to the pomp and grandeur of the Titanic, while also telling its own stories of service in both World Wars. There’s just enough time to give the 10-metre long Salmon of Knowledge sculpture a quick peck for luck, before continuing to explore. A stark barbed wire and graffitied sheet metal barrier marks an abrupt scar through the city’s residential areas. The Peace Line was constructed during the height of the Troubles, when Belfast was plagued by sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics. Nowadays, you can jump in a black taxi tour to see the colourful murals and living history of the walls, which stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace. After exploring the city’s historic divisions, a reminder of Belfast’s uniting creativity can be found at the Metropolitan Arts Centre – a seven-storey tall building, which invites light to gloriously cascade inside. The Cathedral Quarter is a cobbled blend of flower-adorned pubs, restaurants and theatres, and venues where music spills out onto the streets at night, and many a pint is cheerily shared. Belfast port guide Search cruises visiting Belfast

Belfast photo — Day 6 Sep 5, 2026 Belfast 08:00 – 18:00 10.0 hrs ashore Reborn as a cool, modern city, Belfast has successfully left its troubles behind, emerging as a hotbed of culture and architecture, where the comfort of a cosy pub is never far away. Take a voyage of discovery in its maritime quarter, home to a celebrated museum dedicated to the most famous ship ever built, which was constructed right here in the city’s shipyards. A walk across the Lagan Weir Footbridge brings you to Belfast’s fascinating Titanic District – an area of the city devoted to its rich ship-building heritage. The state-of-the-art Titanic Museum brings the story of the doomed vessel to life, and is the largest museum dedicated to the infamously ‘unsinkable’ ship. Wind up a nautical-themed ramble along the Maritime Mile with a visit to SS Nomadic, the smaller cousin of the Titanic, and a ship which serves as a fascinating time capsule back to the pomp and grandeur of the Titanic, while also telling its own stories of service in both World Wars. There’s just enough time to give the 10-metre long Salmon of Knowledge sculpture a quick peck for luck, before continuing to explore. A stark barbed wire and graffitied sheet metal barrier marks an abrupt scar through the city’s residential areas. The Peace Line was constructed during the height of the Troubles, when Belfast was plagued by sectarian divisions between Protestants and Catholics. Nowadays, you can jump in a black taxi tour to see the colourful murals and living history of the walls, which stand as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace. After exploring the city’s historic divisions, a reminder of Belfast’s uniting creativity can be found at the Metropolitan Arts Centre – a seven-storey tall building, which invites light to gloriously cascade inside. The Cathedral Quarter is a cobbled blend of flower-adorned pubs, restaurants and theatres, and venues where music spills out onto the streets at night, and many a pint is cheerily shared. Belfast port guide Search cruises visiting Belfast

Day 8 Sep 7, 2026 Cobh, Ireland 07:30 – 18:00 10.5 hrs ashore When you step ashore from your MSC Northern Europe cruise in Cork, everywhere there is evidence of its history as a great mercantile centre, with grey-stone quaysides, old warehouses, and elegant, quirky bridges spanning the River Lee to each side of the city’s island core. But equally powerful draws are its lively atmosphere and large student population, combined with a vibrant social and cultural scene. Massive stone walls built by invading Normans in the twelfth century were destroyed by William III’s forces during the Siege of Cork in 1690, after which waterborne trade brought increasing prosperity, as witnessed by the city’s fine eighteenth-century bow-fronted houses and ostentatious nineteenth-century churches. The graceful arc of St Patrick’s Street – which with Grand Parade forms the commercial heart of the centre – is crammed with major chain stores. Just off here on Princes Street, the English Market offers the chance to sample local delicacies like drisheen (a peppered sausage made from a sheep’s stomach lining and blood). The west of the city is predominantly residential, though Fitzgerald Park is home to the Cork Public Museum, which focuses on Republican history. Kinsale, 25km south of Cork city, is also waiting to be enjoyed on an MSC Northern Europe cruise excursion. Kinsale enjoys a glorious setting at the head of a sheltered harbour around the mouth of the Bandon River. Two imposing forts and a fine tower-house remain as evidence of its former importance as a trading port, and Kinsale has built on its cosmopolitan links to become the culinary capital of the southwest. Add in plenty of opportunities for watersports on the fine local beaches and a number of congenial pubs, and you have a very appealing, upscale resort town. Cobh, Ireland port guide Search cruises visiting Cobh, Ireland

Day 9 Sep 8, 2026 St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly 07:00 – 18:00 11.0 hrs ashore Scattered 30 miles offshore from England’s most south-westerly point – Land’s End – the Isles of Scilly are home to rich wildlife, and green land sloping to powdery white beaches. The Isles of Scilly’s biggest island harbours around 1,600 people – roughly three-quarters of the total population - and is one of five occupied islands. Isolated and serene, life here hums along at its own pace in this archipelago's bubble, which enjoys the UK’s mildest climate, and some of its most spectacular beaches. View less Hugh Town is the centre of St Mary’s, and you’ll be warmly welcomed by the incredibly tight-knit local community. A peaceful place, watch out when the waters are suddenly parted by the competition of gig racing – the island’s sporting pride and joy - which sees teams competing in colourful rowboats. Elsewhere, catch sight of Atlantic seals and seabirds like puffins and fulmars, along nine miles of coastline. You can also spot the ghostly shipwrecks strewn around the island’s waters, and the 140 islands and skerries that have made treacherous sailing historically. There's a dense collection of historical sites that belies the islands’ small size – from a former prime minster’s grave to star-shaped fortresses. Tresco Abbey Garden is one of the UK’s most vibrant gardens, with diverse plants bathing in the warmer climate and over 300 species on display. Taste the rewards of the mild weather with a glass of wine from England’s most south-westerly vineyard.

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Show all 50 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
Not listed
Balcony Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	BAL10AFT	Balcony
Balcony Cabin (Forward - Deck 10)	BAL10FWD	Balcony
Balcony Cabin (Midship - Deck 10)	BAL10MID	Balcony
Balcony Cabin (Midship - Deck 10)	BAL10MIDS	Balcony
Balcony Cabin (Aft - Deck 11)	BAL11AFT	Balcony
Balcony Cabin (Midship - Deck 11)	BAL11MID	Balcony
Balcony	BALG	Balcony
Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 5)	INS05FWD	Inside
Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 5)	INS05MID	Inside
Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 6)	INS06FWD	Inside
Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 6)	INS06MID	Inside
Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 8)	INS08MID	Inside
Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 9)	INS09AFT	Inside
Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	INS10AFT	Inside
Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 10)	INS10FWD	Inside
Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 10)	INS10FWDS	Inside
Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 10)	INS10MID	Inside
Inside Cabin (Aft - Deck 11)	INS11AFT	Inside
Inside Cabin (Forward - Deck 11)	INS11FWD	Inside
Inside Cabin (Midship - Deck 11)	INS11MID	Inside
Inside	INSG	Inside
Inside Guarantee	INSSG	Inside
Outside Guarantee	OS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 4)	OUT04MIDS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 5)	OUT05FWD	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 5)	OUT05FWDS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 5)	OUT05MID	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 6)	OUT06FWD	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 6)	OUT06MID	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 8)	OUT08AFT	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Mid - Deck 8)	OUT08MID	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin - Obstructed View (Midship - Deck 8)	OUT08MIDO	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 9)	OUT09AFT	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 9)	OUT09FWD	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Midship - Deck 9)	OUT09MID	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	OUT10AFT	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 10)	OUT10AFTS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 10)	OUT10FWD	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 10)	OUT10FWDS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 11)	OUT11AFT	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Aft - Deck 11)	OUT11AFTS	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 11)	OUT11FWD	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin (Forward - Deck 11)	OUT11FWDS	Oceanview
Outside	OUTG	Oceanview
Outside	OUTSG	Oceanview
Deluxe Suite (Forward - Deck 11)	DLX11FWD	Suite
Deluxe Suite (Midship - Deck 11)	DLX11MID	Suite
Junior Suite	JS	Suite
Suite (Midship - Deck 11)	SUI11MID	Suite