Luxury United Kingdom Voyages

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the entrance of the Mediterranean on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. Most visitors arriving by sea are impressed by the rock’s enormous visual impact. Only covering an area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 sq. km.) several sites are a must-see! Some of the “can’t miss” options include the Great Siege Tunnels, St. Michael’s Cave, The Moorish Castle, The Lighthouse at Europa Point and shopping – yes shopping. SeaDream docks at the passenger terminal and has the coaches for the land adventures just outside. It is an easy walk downtown to the duty-free area. Bikes are available should you want to bike up the rock.

SeaDream will scenically navigate by the very impressive Rock of Gibraltar. Should time allow, the Captain may stop for a few minutes to allow a fantastic photographic opportunity. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the entrance of the Mediterranean on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. Most visitors arriving by sea are impressed by the rock’s huge visual impact.

Boasting an immensely picturesque coastline, the Channel Island of Guernsey has long attracted artists such as Auguste Renoir to its welcoming shores. In the capital of St. Peter Port, wander through commanding Castle Cornet, a 13th-century marvel of military engineering that sits on a rocky headland jutting out at sea. Admire some of the earliest heated glass houses at the Candie Gardens, whose elegantly landscaped grounds are laid out with Victorian thoughtfulness and contemplate Victor Hugo’s not entirely uncomfortable exile at Hauteville House, the splendid manor where he wrote Les Miserables. Hop on a bicycle to explore the picturesque hills and dales of the island, perhaps riding past a herd of the island’s famed namesake cows, and revitalize at an authentic tea house, where age-old traditions are carefully observed. For that perfect keepsake, shop along cobbled streets overflowing with charm, maybe pausing at a fresh-caught seafood restaurant for a taste of the island’s famed crab. No matter how you choose to spend your time, the leisurely pace of life in delightful Guernsey will replenish your spirit.

Synonymous with royalty, London is a living testament to the lofty achievements of the mighty kings and queens that have presided over this storied island nation. Witness the changing of the guard at gracious Buckingham Palace, a cherished custom that is both timeless and precisely on time, and tour the Houses of Parliament, the city’s other magnificently ornate center of power and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cross the iconic Tower Bridge on your way to view the utterly dazzling Crown Jewels, which are kept in the once-forbidding Tower of London, another UNESCO site. After refreshing with a pint of beer at a classic English pub, sample the best of contemporary art at the essential Tate Modern, which is housed in a former brick power station. Next door, you’ll find the faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where Romeo and Juliet can keep falling in love for eternity. Stroll through immaculately manicured Hyde Park, shop in tony Covent Garden and take in the entire city from the London Eye observation wheel, as the resonant chimes of Big Ben comfort both Londoners and visitors with time-honored tones known the world over.

One of the Channel Islands, the beautiful, steep island of Sark rises from the sea, outshined only by its scenic coastline. Three intimate harbors—Creux, La Maseline, and Havre Gosselin—allow for anchorage and easy access to its sheltered beaches. Sark is one of the few remaining islands where cars are banned and only bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles are permitted on its roads.

The Shetland Islands is a North Sea archipelago, of which only sixteen islands are inhabited, many only accessible via small sailing vessels. The archipelago is perfect for yachting, with a raw, rugged coastline and low rolling hills, providing opportunities for spying wildlife. Shaped by billions of years of shifting sand and sea, Shetland’s natural landscape is among the most dramatic in the world, teeming with wildlife from puffins to native Shetland ponies. Lerwick is Shetland’s only town, founded as an unofficial marketplace to service seventeenth-century Dutch herring fleets, and the island’s capital since 1708.

Known for its rugged coastline, stunning white beaches, wild mountainous terrain, and rich history, Isle of Lewis is the perfect yachting destination for travelers looking to explore Scotland’s natural beauty and Gaelic cultural heritage. The largest of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, Isles of Lewis is defined by its sandy beaches backed by dunes and machair on the west coast, giving way to an expansive peat-covered plateau in the center of the island. The eastern coastline is markedly more rugged and is mostly rocky cliffs, interrupted by small coves and beaches. Explore the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, one of the most significant archaeological monuments in the Outer Hebrides.

The northernmost island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, the Isle of Skye is defined by its rugged landscapes, medieval castles, picturesque fishing villages, and otherworldly natural landscapes—grassy moors, steep glens, tumbling waterfalls, rivers, sparkling mountainsides and pristine harbors, inviting exploration.

Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, heralded for its serene beaches, stunning green hillsides, machair and moor. Like its neighboring islands of Uist, Lewis, and Skye, the Isle of Barra is pre-Norse and presents a remote, otherworldly quality. From its white-sand beaches on the north side to the rocky inlets on the southeast side, the Isle of Barra exudes a raw, untamed beauty. At just eight miles long and five miles wide, Barra is easy to explore, its Barra Head Lighthouse welcoming visitors since it began operating in 1833. Kisimul Castle, an impressive 11th- century fortress, sits on a small rocky island in Castlebay Harbor. Barra is a coveted destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach-going opportunities. The highest point on the island, Heaval, provides a particularly distinct vantage point, boasting views of the coastline, perfect for hikers and birdwatchers.

The Isle of Mull is home to some of the most impressive coastal scenery in Scotland, boasting grand mountains, lush woodlands, charming villages, and sheltered inlets with sandy beaches. Explore uninterrupted coastline, peppered with communities of red and deer, wild goats, mountain hares, and otters. Call on the charming town of Tobermory with its colorful houses and scenic coastal trail that leads to the ruins of thirteenth-century Aros Castle.

Sitting along the banks of the Clyde River, Glasgow is one of Northern Europe’s most endearing and culturally vibrant cities, boasting a variety of art and museums, galleries, luxe restaurants, and pubs. The city’s Gaelic name, Glaschu, fittingly translates as “dear green place.” Glasgow boasts an incredible architectural heritage, ranging from medieval times to the Victorian and Art Nouveau eras, set within a city full of abundant parks and green spaces, making it ripe for exploration. Glasgow is also home to Scotland’s national opera, ballet, and theater companies and is a UNESCO City of Music, presenting a lively music scene. Defined by a strong sense of community and welcoming ambiance, the dynamic city shines for diversity, from the city’s artsy West End to historic East End, home to the 12th-century Gothic Glasgow Cathedral.

The Isle of Islay, often called the “Queen of the Hebrides,” is the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides islands. With unforgettable scenery, abundant wildlife, and a warm, welcoming community, the island is easily navigated, offering many hiking and biking opportunities. Port Ellen, a small town on the island of Islay known for once producing a now-coveted Scotch whisky, sits pretty in Leodamais Bay. Its previous name, Leòdamas, is derived from Old Norse meaning “Leòd’s Harbour.”

The small seaside resort town of Portrush (“Port Rois” in Old Irish) sits quietly on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Set on a peninsula that juts into the Atlantic, Portrush boasts stunning beaches, including East Strand, West Strand, and White Rocks, each awarded “Blue Flag” status for their pristine waters. During medieval times, Portrush was a strategic landing place for the castle and settlement at Dunluce, and today its Old Town pays homage to its historic past. Portrush is the gateway to Giant’s Causeway, a geologic wonder of interlocking basalt columns jutting from the sea at the foot of dramatic cliffs.

Northern Ireland’s thriving capital of Belfast offers historic landmarks and museums, including the Ulster Museum, the aluminum-clad Titanic Belfast, and the Metropolitan Arts Center (The MAC), located in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Among shipbuilding and the production of rope and tobacco, the city paved the way in the world’s linen industry, and many of its linen houses still remain in the city’s historic Linen Quarter. Stroll the Botanic Gardens, designed in the 19th century by Sir Charles Lanyon. Named for the five caves along the Belfast cliffs, Cave Hill Country Park offers walking trails with incredible views dotted with ancient history, including the nineteenth-century Belfast Castle and the old stone McArt’s Fort, sitting 1,200 feet above sea level. Take in the city’s lively food scene, including St. George’s Market boasting local delicacies. As your gateway to Northern Ireland, Belfast is perfectly positioned for exploration of Giant’s Causeway, Game of Thrones filming locations, and bicycling beyond Belfast.

The quaint seaside town on the northwest coast of England boasts a glistening silica white-sand beach and is your gateway to the Lake District National Park, nestled in the Cumbrian Mountains. Boasting England’s tallest peak and largest lake, this idyllic spot is perfect for hiking, biking, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland—and thousands of smaller islands—collectively comprise the dreamy British Isles. Rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and intimate yachting harbors and ports allow a view of island life you haven’t experienced unless you have approached these destinations by yacht. Yachting through the remote Isles of Scilly and castle-dotted, rural Isle of Man transport you to otherworldly locations.

The picturesque seaside town, perched on a beautiful inlet fringed by the Mourne and Cooley Mountains, boasts a charming promenade, sixteenth-century Narrow Water Castle, and scenic golf course, offering a challenging play for linksmen of all skill levels. Stroll the two-mile-long scenic walk around Lough Ree or hike the Mournes with sweeping views of the area’s summits and valleys.

A tranquil coastal town in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, Fishguard stretches along the north slope of the valley. Set across two parts, the main town is perched on the top of the hill, while Lower Fishguard hugs a small river that flows into an idyllic harbor, where SeaDream drops anchor. Ancient standing stones round the perimeter of Fishguard Parish, forming one of several clusters of Early Medieval standing stones in Wales. Beyond its public gardens of Dyffryn Fernant and Penlan Uchaf, the quaint fishing village is notable for its parish church, seaside cafés, and artisan shops and boutiques along High Street. Fishguard’s Royal Oak House is notable as the site of the signing of France’s surrender after 1797’s Battle of Fishguard, a brief military campaign during which Napoleon’s troops attempted to invade Britain, its story displayed in finely embroidered tapestry.

The Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the Cornish coast of southwest England, is defined by its heathland and fringed by sandy beaches. On Tresco, one of the five inhabited islands in the archipelago, Tresco Abbey Garden is home to subtropical plants and the Valhalla Museum, displaying a diverse collection of artifacts. As a small, privately owned island, Scilly’s ambiance of exclusivity extends to its upscale cafés and art gallery. The tower of 17th-century Cromwell’s Castle stands north of Tresco and is one of a handful of stone fortifications that survive from England’s Interregnum (“between reigns”) period of 1649-1660.

Dock in Fowey Harbor to explore the small town of Fowey, England, sitting pretty on the south coast of Cornwall, just a stone’s throw away from the Biomes House, the largest contained rainforest, and the award-winning garden restoration project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Established hundreds of years ago as a trading and navel town, Fowey boasts a heady mix of coastal walking paths, quaint streets, and luxe boutiques, backgrounded by a picturesque countryside and thirteenth-century Restormel Castle.

Barra is the most southerly of the inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides, heralded for its serene beaches, stunning green hillsides, machair and moor. Like its neighboring islands of Uist, Lewis, and Skye, the Isle of Barra is pre-Norse and presents a remote, otherworldly quality. From its white-sand beaches on the north side to the rocky inlets on the southeast side, the Isle of Barra exudes a raw, untamed beauty. At just eight miles long and five miles wide, Barra is easy to explore, its Barra Head Lighthouse welcoming visitors since it began operating in 1833. Kisimul Castle, an impressive 11th- century fortress, sits on a small rocky island in Castlebay Harbor. Barra is a coveted destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach-going opportunities. The highest point on the island, Heaval, provides a particularly distinct vantage point, boasting views of the coastline, perfect for hikers and birdwatchers.

With seemingly unending miles of coastline and beautiful natural backdrops to explore, the Orkney Islands archipelago lies on the rugged northern tip of Scotland. Ideal for yachting, walking, hiking, and cycling, many of the islands along these shorelines are uninhabited. The capital of the Orkney Islands, Kirkwall, is full of character and Norse heritage. A Royal Burgh since 1486, Kirkwall’s name comes from the Norse word “Kirkjuvagr,” meaning “Church on the bay,” as exemplified by its St. Magnus Cathedral.

At approximately 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, the Strait of Dover is the slimmest section of the English Channel. As you pass through the strait, on a clear day the White Cliffs of Dover and the landscape of Calais, France come into view.