British Isles Explorer
British Isles Explorer
Cruise overview
Cruise ID
VIKINGOVL250917
Cruise Line
Cruise Type
Ocean
Ship
Duration
14 nights
Departure Port
Destination
Tilbury
Departure Date
17 Sep 25
From £8,690pp
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Day 1
Bergen (Norway)
About Bergen
Surrounded by mountains and sparkling fjords, the waterside city of Bergen has a spectacular setting. There has been a settlement here since medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic wharf, known as Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history of trade. As Norway’s best known medieval settlement, the Bryggen is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our comprehensive selection of excursions allows you to discover the many sides of Bergen, such as the fish market and narrow cobbled streets, as well as stunning views of the city from the summit of Mt Fløyen. Alternatively, those who have visited the city previously may like to experience one of the tours that travel further afield. Just 300 yards from the main piers, you will find the Fortress Museum (Fesningsmuseum), which has an interesting collection of objects related to World War II.
Day 2
Bergen (Norway)
About Bergen
Surrounded by mountains and sparkling fjords, the waterside city of Bergen has a spectacular setting. There has been a settlement here since medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic wharf, known as Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history of trade. As Norway’s best known medieval settlement, the Bryggen is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our comprehensive selection of excursions allows you to discover the many sides of Bergen, such as the fish market and narrow cobbled streets, as well as stunning views of the city from the summit of Mt Fløyen. Alternatively, those who have visited the city previously may like to experience one of the tours that travel further afield. Just 300 yards from the main piers, you will find the Fortress Museum (Fesningsmuseum), which has an interesting collection of objects related to World War II.
Day 3
Lerwick, Shetland Islands (Scotland)
About Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Founded by Dutch fishermen in the 17th century, Lerwick today is a busy town and administrative center. Handsome stone buildings—known as lodberries—line the harbor; they provided loading bays for goods, some of them illegal. The town's twisting flagstone lanes and harbor once heaved with activity, and Lerwick is still an active port today. This is also where most visitors to Shetland dock, spilling out of cruise ships, allowing passengers to walk around the town.
Day 4
Invergordon (Scotland)
About Invergordon
The port of Invergordon is your gateway to the Great Glen, an area of Scotland that includes Loch Ness and the city of Inverness. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, has the flavor of a Lowland town, its winds blowing in a sea-salt air from the Moray Firth. The Great Glen is also home to one of the world's most famous monster myths: in 1933, during a quiet news week, the editor of a local paper decided to run a story about a strange sighting of something splashing about in Loch Ness. But there's more to look for here besides Nessie, including inland lochs, craggy and steep-sided mountains, rugged promontories, deep inlets, brilliant purple and emerald moorland, and forests filled with astonishingly varied wildlife, including mountain hares, red deer, golden eagles, and ospreys.
Day 5
Newhaven/Edinburgh (Scotland)
About Newhaven/Edinburgh
Newhaven is a district in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, between Leith and Granton and about 2 miles north of the city centre, just north of the Victoria Park district. Formerly a village and harbour on the Firth of Forth.
Day 6
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands (Scotland)
About Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
In bustling Kirkwall, the main town on Orkney, there's plenty to see in the narrow, winding streets extending from the harbor. The cathedral and some museums are highlights.
Day 7
Ullapool (Scotland)
About Ullapool
Ullapool is an ideal base for hiking throughout Sutherland and taking wildlife and nature cruises, especially to the Summer Isles. By the shores of salty Loch Broom, the town was founded in 1788 as a fishing station to exploit the local herring stocks. There's still a smattering of fishing vessels, as well as visiting yachts and foreign ships. When their crews fill the pubs, Ullapool has a cosmopolitan feel. The harbor area comes to life when the Lewis ferry arrives and departs.
Day 8
Belfast (Northern Ireland)
About Belfast
Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.
Day 9
Liverpool (England)
About Liverpool
From world-class attractions and sports to legendary music, Liverpool offers old-world charm with modern sophistication, underpinned by a rich cultural history.
Day 10
Holyhead (Wales)
About Holyhead
Once a northern defense post against Irish raiders, Holyhead later became best known as a ferry port for Ireland. The dockside bustle is not matched by the town, however, which maintains just a small population. Nonetheless, thousands of years of settlement have given Holyhead rich historical ruins to explore, with more in the surrounding hiking friendly landscape.
Day 11
Dun Laoghaire (Ireland)
About Dun Laoghaire
Day 13
Dover (England)
About Dover
Known as the gateway of England, Dover welcomes millions of visitors from all over the globe each year in its role as the ferry capital of the world and the second busiest cruise port in the UK. The White Cliffs Country has a rich heritage. Within the walls of the town’s iconic castle, over 2,000 years of history waits to be explored, whilst the town’s museum is home to the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world’s oldest known seagoing vessel. The town’s cliffs that are a welcome sight for today's cross-channel travellers also served as the control centre for the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.
Day 14
Tilbury (England)
About Tilbury
Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.
Day 15
Tilbury (England)
About Tilbury
Just 22 nautical miles down river from the Tower Bridge in London, Tilbury is a popular turnaround port for cruises visiting Baltic and Northern European destinations.
Owner's Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 1,488 sq ft multi-room suite including expansive private veranda
- Ocean-view largest multi-room accommodations onboard
- Separate bedroom suite
- Spacious, well-appointed living room
- Separate dining area that seats 6
- Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen
- Ocean-view dry sauna
- Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties, with first oceangoing vapor-light fireplace
- Pantry for room service & hosted events
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 11 AM priority stateroom access
- First priority shore excursion booking 107 days prior to departure
- Complimentary shore excursion with private car & driver (up to 4 guests) in port city of your choice (valued at up to $800)
- 4 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 100 days prior to departure
- First priority spa treatment bookings 100 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- Two additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area and boardroom
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large master bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer, plus two guest bathrooms
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & premium snacks (replenished once daily)
- Binoculars
- Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
- Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
- Daily personalized tea or pre-dinner cocktail & canapés on request
- Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability)
- Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious walk-in closet with wooden hangers & drawers
Explorer Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 808–1,215 sq ft (includes private veranda)
- Ocean-view two-room suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a generous veranda (layout varies)
- Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 11 AM priority stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations 97 days prior to departure
- 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
- Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Welcome bottle of champagne
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
- Binoculars
- Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
- Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service
- Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
Penthouse Junior Suite
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 432 sq ft (includes private veranda)
- Ocean-view suite with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to a full-size veranda
- Wheelchair Accessible (#6020, #6021)
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 11 AM priority stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations 87 days prior to departure
- 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 80 days prior to departure
- Priority spa treatment bookings 80 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in sitting area
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Welcome bottle of champagne
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
- Binoculars
- Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
- Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service
- Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
Penthouse Veranda Stateroom
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 360 sq ft (includes private veranda)
- Ocean-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to full-size veranda
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 1 PM stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations 77 days prior to departure
- 2 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 70 days prior to departure
- Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Welcome bottle of champagne
- Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
- Binoculars
- Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
- Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service
- Complimentary pressing & shoe shine services
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
Deluxe Veranda Stateroom
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 288 sq ft (includes private veranda)
- Ocean-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to full-size veranda
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 2 PM stateroom access
- Priority shore excursion reservations 67 days prior to departure
- 1 priority reservation at each alternative restaurant 60 days prior to departure
- Priority spa treatment bookings 60 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
- Binoculars
- Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
- Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
Veranda Stateroom
Min.
occupancy: 1
Min.
occupancy: 2
Features
- Stateroom size: 288 sq ft (includes private veranda)
- Ocean-view stateroom with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening to full-size veranda
- 11 AM Embarkation
- 3 PM stateroom access
- Shore excursion reservations 60 days prior to departure
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- 42" flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
- 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
- Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers
- Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
- Security safe
- Individual climate control
- Purified water refilled daily
- Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- 24-hour room service
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
Viking Vela
Expand your horizons on our award-winning, all-veranda small ship, with just 998 guests, allowing us to dock where larger ships cannot.
Ship Facts
| Speed | N/A | ||||||||
| Width | 30 | ||||||||
| Length | 238 | ||||||||
| Capacity | 998 | ||||||||
| Currency | EUR | ||||||||
| Language | en | ||||||||
| Crew Count | N/A | ||||||||
| Deck Count | N/A | ||||||||
| Refit Year | |||||||||
| Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||||
| Launch Year | 2024 | ||||||||
| Gross Tonnage | N/A | ||||||||
| Electrical Plugs |
|
||||||||
| Large Cabin Count | N/A | ||||||||
| Wheelchair Cabin Count | N/A |
Deck 9
- Lifts
- Sports Deck
Deck 8
- Lifts
- Retractable Roof
- Explorers' Lounge
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Penthouse Junior Suites
Deck 7
- Infinity Pool
- Hot Tub
- Aquavit Terrace
- World Cafe
- Pool Grill
- Lifts
- Pool Bar
- Lanai
- Wintergarden
- Main Pool
- Mamsen's
- Explorers' Lounge
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Penthouse Junior Suites
- Owner's Suite
Deck 6
- Lifts
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Penthouse Veranda Staterooms
- Explorer Suites
- Penthouse Junior Suites
Deck 5
- Lifts
- Launderette
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Penthouse Veranda Staterooms
- Explorer Suites
Deck 4
- Launderette
- Lifts
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Penthouse Veranda Staterooms
- Explorer Suites
Deck 3
- Atrium
- Lifts
- Veranda Staterooms
- Deluxe Veranda Staterooms
- Explorer Suites
Deck 2
- The Restaurant
- Atrium
- Lifts
- Torshavn
- The Nordic Shop
- Shop
- Atrium
- Promenade Deck
- Cinema 1
- Cinema 2
- Bar
- The Theater
Deck 1
- The Kitchen Table
- The Chef's Table
- Manfredi's Italian Restaurant
- Private Dining Room 1
- Private Dining Room 2
- The Living Room
- Guest Services
- Bar
- Lifts
- Shop
- Hair Salon
- Fitness Center
- The Nordic Spa
Deck A
- Lifts
- Medical Center
The Chef's Table
Experience: cover
Food: chef
The sommeliers and culinary masters at The Chef’s Table create the perfect pairing of food and wine. During a multicourse tasting, they pour select vintages and serve thoughtfully prepared dishes made for each other.
Manfredi's Italian Restaurant
Experience:
Food:
Manfredi’s offers the best of Italian cuisine, whether the farm-inspired heartiness of Tuscany or the famed flavors of Rome. Subdued, ambient lighting creates a warm, welcoming air in this traditional restaurant recalling Italy’s beloved trattorias.
The Restaurant
Experience: cover
Food: varies
Our main dining venue, The Restaurant offers the highest onboard dining experience amid a streamlined Scandinavian design. The menu includes regional cuisine and always available classics enhanced with locally sourced ingredients, so you can explore new cultures through food.
Aquavit Terrace
Experience: cover
Food: casual
In the spirit of the revolutionary outdoor settings of our award-winning river ships, we have created the Aquavit Terrace, providing the most al fresco dining experiences at sea.
World Café
Experience: cover
Food: cafe
With live cooking, an open kitchen and premium sushi/seafood choices, the World Café provides a vibrant interactive experience and a wide range of international flavors. Dine indoors or al fresco on the Aquavit Terrace for stunning panoramic views.
Mamsen's
Experience: cover
Food: casual
Named for “Mamsen,” the Hagen family matriarch, this venue offers Norwegian specialties including waffles according to Mamsen’s original recipe, open-faced sandwiches and split pea soup.
The Living Room
The ideal setting for relaxation and conversation, The Living Room draws guests together. Spacious seating, melodic piano tunes, live entertainment and planned activities foster rich camaraderie. And its well-curated Library informs even the best-read traveler. Adorned with nautical touches from Viking days, including the clinker-built bar inspired by ancient longships, it is the most inspired living room at sea.
Bar
Featuring a clinker-built bar inspired by ancient longships, The Bar is located on the ground floor of The Atrium in the Living Room.
Guest Services
Located on Deck 1, our Guest Services is always open and can assist you with any questions. Should you want to attend a museum, concert or particular restaurant ashore, your Guest Services staff can assist you in making custom arrangements.
Shop
A variety of onboard shops have everything you need to make your voyage comfortable and convenient, plus signature Viking keepsakes including books, clothing and jewelry.
The Atrium
Relax in the soaring atrium and mingle with like-minded guests as you enjoy a cocktail from the Viking Bar.
Torshavn®
A lively music venue reminiscent of romantic jazz lounges of 1940s Hollywood, Torshaven is ideal for pre-dinner drinks and after-dinner entertainment.
Enjoy a classic martini, stirred to perfection; savor the finest quality Armagnac; take in the melodic tunes of jazz singers or piano players. All in an intimate setting that invites music lovers to linger. This hidden gem is designed to deliver delightful surprises, great conversation and impromptu crooning.
The Theater
Our main venue, The Theater, features live performances that bring you closer to the culture of our destinations. Sometimes, the destination we connect you to exists solely in the realm of an otherworldly theatrical journey, as is the case with beautifully themed shows.
We will also pull back the curtains of our destinations with cinema in our two movie theaters, which show first-run films you have not yet seen as well as destination-driven cinema such as Room with A View, Roman Holiday, or Skyfall. And because the intellect also needs to be stimulated, our theaters will always be buzzing with fresh, new insights from our port talks and onboard lectures that feature the history, art, and culture of our destinations. And since we have always promised you will explore the world in comfort, we have banished uncomfortable theater seating in favor of soft and spacious sofa seating.
Wintergarden
Under a canopy of Scandinavian trellised wood, indulge in afternoon tea service while enjoying the soft strains of a string quartet.
Explorers Lounge
Inspired by the trade routes of Vikings, the Explorers’ Lounge is the ideal place for guests to share their discoveries over an aquavit or a craft beer while sampling fine Scandinavian fare. Central to the Explorers’ Lounge is Mamsen’s, a casual gourmet deli inspired by Norwegian cuisine, from smoked salmon to open-faced sandwiches and locally sourced charcuterie and cheeses. The daily “Waffle Hour” provides mouthwatering samples of the beloved treat.