My Seabourn Expedition- Leith to Lerwick

Day 1: Joining Seabourn Venture in Leith

I joined Seabourn Venture in Leith and with a bright and sunny day in Edinburgh it made the perfect start to our expedition! 

Upon arrival I was greeted at the port, my case was taken from me, and I boarded the ship in less than ten minutes!  

Once on-board I headed for a light bite at the Colonnade where I helped myself to some delicious salad and also ordered some beautiful salmon from the menu! After lunch, I was ready to explore the ship, with some stunning places to relax including my favourite spot and the hub of the ship Seabourn Square! 

At 4.15 we made our way to the Discovery Centre where everyone gathered for the safety briefing which is mandatory to ensure everyone is safe before heading out to the open ocean! 

Then the fun part of the meeting included a Zodiac briefing which is the essence of an expedition voyage allowing access to remote areas with it being much quicker than tenders! Then the Expedition Leader Seb Coulthard presented an overview of what you can expect on an expedition voyage.  With a large expedition team with a wealth of knowledge including experts such as geologists, video photographers, historians plus many more. 

One of my favourite parts is the Seabourn expeditions team really does get to know you, they are more than happy to sit and talk with you in an evening about all sorts of things and their knowledge and passion really come through! 

Day 2: Invergordon  

Seabourn Venture sailed into the Cromarty Firth to a landscape combining Scottish wilderness and sophisticated oil platforms! 

I took a shore excursion which followed the river Ness towards the world-famous Loch Ness, I have to say I was excited at the thought I might catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster! Beside the Loch, I visited the beautiful Urquhart Castle, which is steeped in history. The beautiful weather made it even better and with stunning views it was nice just to take a minute and enjoy the surroundings and appreciate how beautiful the landscape is! 

After a brilliant excursion, I headed back to the ship and enjoyed some lunch on-board. It was then time to get ready and head to dinner in the restaurant. There is always a fantastic choice of offerings on the menu from the chef’s selection to the classics that are always available. I had an after-dinner nightcap in the Constellation Lounge and then it was straight to bed ready for another exciting day ahead.  

Day 3: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands  

Seabourn Venture arrived in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands.  

I took a shore excursion today to see the Rings of Brodgar, a circular arrangement of stones which was built around 2,500 BC. It’s a very impressive site and left me wondering how they managed to get those stones there all those years ago!  

I then got back on the coach, and headed to the town of Stromness, a very beautiful and quaint town with lots of narrow streets and beautiful houses!  

After a lovely morning, the coach headed back to Seabourn Venture where lunch in the Colonnade was a fantastic Mexican buffet selection. I tucked into some delicious tacos, fajitas, and lots of fresh salads.  

After lunch, I decided to join the second adventure of the day which was an additional hike the expedition team had put on to visit the Mull Head Nature Reserve, the views from the cliffs were beautiful and I spotted lots of birdlife nesting among the cliffs. A bit further along there were some Viking ruins which were incredible to see.  

After dinner that evening I headed to the Discovery Centre to watch a local family band from Orkney, they played some fantastic traditional music and treated us to Scottish Dance.  

After the band had disembarked, they played their bagpipes as we set sail from Kirkwall, it was a fantastic way to end what had been such a brilliant day! 

Day 4: Fair Isle, Shetland  

I had signed up for the Kayaking excursion today and I was excited and a little anxious, to say the least! As soon as we headed down to the landing zone to change into the clothing and equipment my mind was put at rest with expert Kayaking guides who make you feel safe and very comfortable.  

We had a safety briefing and were given the basic knowledge we needed to paddle and steer around this amazing landscape. As soon as we headed out on the Zodiac and boarded the Kayak I felt comfortable and safe with there being two guides with us and the safety Zodiac there if we needed any assistance. It was an unbelievable experience with so many Puffins, Guillemots and many other bird species! As we continued to Kayak around a corner we spotted the seals and they were very inquisitive watching our every move! 

After that incredible experience, it was time to head back to the ship to warm up with a coffee and some cake from Seabourn Square. After a quick rest, I then took a tour of the Submarines, Seabourn Cruises has two on-board and they are incredible pieces of equipment and offer guests a chance to experience the amazing waters below! 

In the afternoon I took a Zodiac back over to Fair Isles and headed on a short walk up the cliff to see Puffins, they are stunning birds to see up close and another memory I will always have! The weather was beautiful in the afternoon with some slight wind, I have never seen the sea so blue and the sand so soft and white I thought I could have been in the Caribbean! 

I took the Zodiac back to the ship and arrived back to a beautiful bath drawn with rose petals, this was the perfect way to relax after a busy day.  

That evening I headed to the Constellation Lounge for ‘British Pub Night’ which was great fun and lots of people gathered to enjoy the fish and chips and meat pies that were on offer! 

Day 5: Mousa and Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands 

Seabourn Venture had two stops today. First, she anchored in near the island of Mousa, I took the Zodiac from the ship to the island which was a short trip, I was excited to visit the amazing Ancient Broch that still stands! 

The expedition team were on hand to answer any questions about the Broch and any other questions anyone had! It was a beautiful morning and great to enjoy the remoteness and history of this island. 

After everyone was back on-board Seabourn Venture anchored near the Isle of Noss, a National Nature Reserve. After lunch, I headed back out on the Zodiac and went to appreciate the dramatic scenery and birdlife, our guide Luqui pointed this out to answer questions we asked. It was brilliant to learn and appreciate nature! 

It was back on-board to relax for a while and then get ready for farewell drinks. I had dinner in the restaurant this evening and again there was a fantastic choice, I enjoy a delicious beetroot salad followed by Lamb which was just incredible.  

I headed to bed early that evening as it was time to say goodbye to the incredible Seabourn Venture in Lerwick and I headed back to my suite to think about the incredible memories I’d made over the last few days.  

Day 6: Lerwick, Shetland Islands 

This morning I got up and had a quick breakfast in the Colonnade and headed out on one more short excursion to visit the Shetland Ponies and take in the views of Shetland.  

After heading back to the ship, it was time to disembark and say goodbye to what had become home for the last five nights. I had an incredible experience discovering everything the British Isles has to offer. Taking an expedition cruise and visiting these remote locations for me was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seabourn Venture promises you the ultra-luxury experience but with adventure at every corner, it felt personable, homely, and very relaxed. I would highly recommend a Seabourn Expedition! 

Speak to our expedition experts today to find out more on 0808 278 4192.