7-Day Viking Trails & Celtic Origins: Edinburgh Evening Stay

Itinerary

Day 1 Jul 19, 2026 Reykjavik, Iceland Departs 22:00 Reykjavík is mirrored in the waters of its bay, as you can see when your cruise ship sets anchor in the port. The quays along the seafront host a variety of shops, live music clubs and cafés. Take a stroll down Frakkastigur up to Lækjartorg, to admire the Sólfar, also known as the Sun Voyager, a large modern steelsculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, that represents a Viking vessel, with the bow pointing towards the north. Go back in history as you reach the historic centre, in the districts of Aðalstræti and Suðurgata, where you can still see the remains of some primitive Icelandic dwellings. Also the church of Hallgrímur, probably the most important architectural monument in Reykjavik, is worth a visit. As you will discover during your MSC cruise of Northern Europe, geothermal energy positively conditions the life of the entire country and there is an abundance of spas. Don’t miss an excursion to the Þingvellir national park, in the south west region of the island, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004. On the northern shores of the Þingvallavatn, the largest Icelandic lake, the Öxará river forms the Öxaráfoss waterfall in the vicinity of Almannagjá, the largest cleft in this land. If you like waterfalls, you should not miss a visit to Gullfoss, in the south east of the island: the river Hvítá here drops down 11 and then 21 metres forming the queen of all Icelandic waterfalls and then continues along a narrow gorge in the plateau. In this area we also find the Strokkur, the only geyser that regularly erupts every 4-8 minutes. Then proceed to Geysir, in the Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser, from which the term originates. Its eruptions spray boiling water up to 60 metres into the air, but often reach higher than 100 metres: it is the tallest of the active geysers. Reykjavik, Iceland port guide Search cruises visiting Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, Iceland photo — Day 1 Jul 19, 2026 Reykjavik, Iceland Departs 22:00 Reykjavík is mirrored in the waters of its bay, as you can see when your cruise ship sets anchor in the port. The quays along the seafront host a variety of shops, live music clubs and cafés. Take a stroll down Frakkastigur up to Lækjartorg, to admire the Sólfar, also known as the Sun Voyager, a large modern steelsculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason, that represents a Viking vessel, with the bow pointing towards the north. Go back in history as you reach the historic centre, in the districts of Aðalstræti and Suðurgata, where you can still see the remains of some primitive Icelandic dwellings. Also the church of Hallgrímur, probably the most important architectural monument in Reykjavik, is worth a visit. As you will discover during your MSC cruise of Northern Europe, geothermal energy positively conditions the life of the entire country and there is an abundance of spas. Don’t miss an excursion to the Þingvellir national park, in the south west region of the island, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004. On the northern shores of the Þingvallavatn, the largest Icelandic lake, the Öxará river forms the Öxaráfoss waterfall in the vicinity of Almannagjá, the largest cleft in this land. If you like waterfalls, you should not miss a visit to Gullfoss, in the south east of the island: the river Hvítá here drops down 11 and then 21 metres forming the queen of all Icelandic waterfalls and then continues along a narrow gorge in the plateau. In this area we also find the Strokkur, the only geyser that regularly erupts every 4-8 minutes. Then proceed to Geysir, in the Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser, from which the term originates. Its eruptions spray boiling water up to 60 metres into the air, but often reach higher than 100 metres: it is the tallest of the active geysers. Reykjavik, Iceland port guide Search cruises visiting Reykjavik, Iceland

Day 2 Jul 20, 2026 Heimaey 09:00 – 18:00 9.0 hrs ashore The largest of the Westman Islands off the Icelandic coast, Heimaey is best known for a volcanic eruption in 1973 from a previously unknown fissure that rained ash and lava and changed the landscape forever. A heroic effort was made to save the town – and the valuable frozen fish stock stored at the pier – by pouring seawater on the molten lava. This slowed the red-hot lava’s march toward the sea, and all residents were able to escape. In time, residents were able to return and rebuild the community, now situated amidst the lush landscape of volcanic peaks. The must-see Eldheimar Museum is dedicated to this traumatic event and includes the excavated ruins of one of the homes buried in the eruption. Heimaey port guide Search cruises visiting Heimaey

Heimaey photo — Day 2 Jul 20, 2026 Heimaey 09:00 – 18:00 9.0 hrs ashore The largest of the Westman Islands off the Icelandic coast, Heimaey is best known for a volcanic eruption in 1973 from a previously unknown fissure that rained ash and lava and changed the landscape forever. A heroic effort was made to save the town – and the valuable frozen fish stock stored at the pier – by pouring seawater on the molten lava. This slowed the red-hot lava’s march toward the sea, and all residents were able to escape. In time, residents were able to return and rebuild the community, now situated amidst the lush landscape of volcanic peaks. The must-see Eldheimar Museum is dedicated to this traumatic event and includes the excavated ruins of one of the homes buried in the eruption. Heimaey port guide Search cruises visiting Heimaey

Day 3 Jul 21, 2026 Djupivogur, Iceland 08:00 – 17:00 9.0 hrs ashore Slow the pace, and discover the refreshing approach to life that Djupivogur has made its trademark. You can leave your phone behind as you step out into this Icelandic town, which has won awards celebrating its leisurely outlook and stubborn rebellion against the frenetic pace of modern life. After all, who needs emails and notifications when you have some of the most humbling monochrome scenery and gashed fjords, waiting on your doorstep? Sitting on a peninsula to the south-east of Iceland, the glacial approach to life here wins many hearts. A place where hammers knock on metal in workshops, artists ladle paint onto canvases, and wild ponies roam across mountains, Djupivogur is an uninhibited artistic hub - full of makers and creatives. The most expansive project is the 34 egg sculptures that dot the coastline, created by the Icelandic artist, Sigurður Guðmundsson. Each egg represents a different native bird species. Fishing remains the primary industry, and you can savour the soft fruits of the labour in restaurants serving up smoked trout and fish soup within their cosy confines. Wander the surrounding landscapes, where snow-freckled mountains rise, and lazy seals lie on dark rock beaches, to feel Djupivogur's natural inspiration seeping under your skin. Alive with greens and golds in summer, further ventures reveal bright blue glaciers and the sprawling waterfalls of Vatnajökull National Park. The cliff-hugging puffins of Papey Island are a short boat ride away, while Bulandstindur Mountain's pyramid shape is a stand out even among these fairy-tale landscapes.

Day 4 Jul 22, 2026 Runavik (Faroe Isles) 12:00 – 20:30 8.5 hrs ashore Originally a fishing port, Kongshavn harbor on the southern end of Eysturoy, the Faroes’ second-largest isle, is now a major staging port for the North Sea oil platforms as well. Runavik’s buildings are scattered across an alluvial fan below looming, green-clad peaks beside the Skalafjordur fjord. The mountainous island is criss-crossed with hiking trails, some of which date from Viking times. The main attraction for visitors is the grandeur of nature, along with the birds and animals that inhabit the island. Lake Toftavatn is one place to see them, on a Ventures by Seabourn hike. A drive around the island will include views of 2,890-foot Mt. Slaettaratindur with stops at the picturesque village of Gjogr on the north end, and a visit to Glyvrar to see the Forni Museum that preserves a typical 17th century island home. Your Ventures by Seabourn team will offer kayaking excursions on Skalafjord, or an excursion the the major Viking site of Toftanes with your expert archaeologist.

Day 6 Jul 24, 2026 South Queensferry 08:00 – 23:00 15.0 hrs ashore Eight miles north-west of Edinburgh city centre is the small town of South Queensferry, located at the southern end of the two mighty Forth Bridges. When you are cruising the North Sea with MSC Cruises, South Queensferry will be your port of call. It’s an attractive old settlement, with a narrow, cobbled High Street lined with tightly packed buildings, most of which date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Moreover, a shore excursion on your MSC Northern Europe cruise can be the opportunity to discover the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, a far more handsome city than London; it’s famous for its magnificent setting, majestic castle and ancient royal quarter of Holyrood, not to mention an acclaimed international arts festival and some excellent museums. Edinburgh’s Old Town, although only about a mile long and 400 yards wide, represented the total extent of the twin burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate for the first 650 years of their existence, and its general appearance and character remain indubitably medieval. Containing the majority of the city’s most famous tourist sights, the Old Town is compact enough to explore in a single day, though a thorough visit requires a bit longer. The history of Edinburgh, and indeed of Scotland, is indissolubly bound up with its castle, which dominates the city from its lofty seat atop an extinct volcanic rock. The disparate styles of the fortifications reflect the change in its role from defensive citadel to national monument, and today, as well as attracting more visitors than anywhere else in the country, the castle is still a military barracks and home to Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The oldest surviving part of the complex is from the twelfth century, while the most recent additions date back to the 1920s. South Queensferry port guide Search cruises visiting South Queensferry

Day 8 Jul 26, 2026 Rotterdam Arrives 07:00 Your MSC cruise will lay anchor in the largest port in the world, Rotterdam, is a no-nonsense working-class city lying at the heart of a maze of rivers and artificial waterways that together form the outlet of the rivers Rijn (Rhine) and Maas (Meuse). After devastating damage during World War II, Rotterdam has grown into a vibrant, forceful city dotted with first division cultural attractions. Your MSC cruise of Northern Europe will give you the opportunity to see that the immense land reclamation work hasn’t obliterated its earthy character though: its tough grittiness is part of its appeal, as are its boisterous bars and clubs. Amongst the most interesting attractions to enjoy during your vacation in Holland, is Rotterdam’s Kunsthal, the museum of contemporary art, and the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, which has an outstanding art collection including representative works from almost all the most important Dutch painters: both are in the city’s designated culture zone, the Museumpark. Other interesting sites to visit on an MSC excursion are the Oude Haven, the city’s oldest harbour, ravaged during World War II but sympathetically redeveloped, and Delfs haven, an antique harbour that managed to survive the bombs pretty much intact. Rotterdam also boasts a string of first-rate festivals, including the much-lauded North Sea Jazz Festival and the colourful Summer Carnival. The postwar period saw the rapid reconstruction of the docks and, when huge container ships and oil tankers made the existing port facilities obsolete, Rotterdammers promptly built an entirely new deep-sea port, the Europoort, jutting out into the North Sea some 25 km to the west of the old town. Completed in 1968, the Europoort is able to welcome the largest ships in the world, amongst which also the MSC cruise ships. Rotterdam port guide Search cruises visiting Rotterdam

Rotterdam photo — Day 8 Jul 26, 2026 Rotterdam Arrives 07:00 Your MSC cruise will lay anchor in the largest port in the world, Rotterdam, is a no-nonsense working-class city lying at the heart of a maze of rivers and artificial waterways that together form the outlet of the rivers Rijn (Rhine) and Maas (Meuse). After devastating damage during World War II, Rotterdam has grown into a vibrant, forceful city dotted with first division cultural attractions. Your MSC cruise of Northern Europe will give you the opportunity to see that the immense land reclamation work hasn’t obliterated its earthy character though: its tough grittiness is part of its appeal, as are its boisterous bars and clubs. Amongst the most interesting attractions to enjoy during your vacation in Holland, is Rotterdam’s Kunsthal, the museum of contemporary art, and the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, which has an outstanding art collection including representative works from almost all the most important Dutch painters: both are in the city’s designated culture zone, the Museumpark. Other interesting sites to visit on an MSC excursion are the Oude Haven, the city’s oldest harbour, ravaged during World War II but sympathetically redeveloped, and Delfs haven, an antique harbour that managed to survive the bombs pretty much intact. Rotterdam also boasts a string of first-rate festivals, including the much-lauded North Sea Jazz Festival and the colourful Summer Carnival. The postwar period saw the rapid reconstruction of the docks and, when huge container ships and oil tankers made the existing port facilities obsolete, Rotterdammers promptly built an entirely new deep-sea port, the Europoort, jutting out into the North Sea some 25 km to the west of the old town. Completed in 1968, the Europoort is able to welcome the largest ships in the world, amongst which also the MSC cruise ships. Rotterdam port guide Search cruises visiting Rotterdam

Ship

Name	Supplier code	Type
Verandah Stateroom	V	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VA	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VB	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VC	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VD	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VE	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VF	Balcony
Partially Obstructed Verandah	VH	Balcony
Verandah Spa Stateroom	VQ	Balcony
Verandah Stateroom	VS	Balcony
Standard Interior Stateroom	I	Inside
Spa Interior Stateroom	IQ	Inside
Standard Interior Stateroom	J	Inside
Standard Interior Stateroom	K	Inside
Standard Interior Stateroom	L	Inside
Standard Interior Stateroom	N	Inside
Large Ocean View Stateroom	C	Oceanview
Spa Large Ocean View Stateroom	CQ	Oceanview
Large Ocean View Stateroom	D	Oceanview
Large Ocean View Stateroom	E	Oceanview
Large Ocean View Stateroom	F	Oceanview
Family Ocean View Stateroom	FA	Oceanview
Family Ocean View Stateroom	FB	Oceanview
Single Ocean View Stateroom	OO	Oceanview
Vista Suite	A	Suite
Aft - Vista Suite	AS	Suite
Vista Suite	B	Suite
Vista Suite	BC	Suite
Pinnacle Suite	PS	Suite
Neptune Suite	SA	Suite
Neptune Suite	SB	Suite
Neptune Suite	SC	Suite
Spa Neptune Suite	SQ	Suite
Signature Suite	SS	Suite
Signature Suite	SY	Suite

7-Day Viking Trails & Celtic Origins: Edinburgh Evening Stay

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