Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1           Reykjavik

Today you will arrive into Reykavik and be met at the airport by a representative from Swan Hellenic for a transfer to your Reykavik hotel for the night.  Iceland’s vibrant capital blends colourful Nordic charm with dramatic natural beauty. Explore its lively streets and waterfront, visit the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, or venture beyond the city to experience geothermal landscapes, waterfalls, and the famous Blue Lagoon. Hotel: Midgardur by Center Hotels (or similar)  

Day 2  Reykjavik

Today you will spend the day in CME session. After session you have free time to explore Reykjavík.  At the top of the town stands the distinctive Hallgrímskirkja church, designed by renowned Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The revitalised harbour area features the futuristic Harpa Concert Hall and the Maritime Museum, showcasing the city's cultural heritage.  

Day 3 Reykjavik

After a morning CME session, you will board SH Diana to begin your journey to the Netherlands.  

Day 4 Heimaey, Westman Island

Ten million Atlantic puffins make Heimaey, a 13-square-km island in the Westman Islands off southern Iceland, the largest puffin colony in the world from mid-April until the beginning of August. Despite a population of 4,000 people, puffins have even been spotted in the town of Vestmannaeyjar. The fascinating Eldheimar museum charts the story of the town’s devastation by lava from the Eldfell volcano in 1973. Nearby is Vestmannaeyjar Bird Cliff.  

Day 5 Djupivogur

With Viking-era origins, Djupivogur, a tranquil fishing village with fewer than 500 residents, is renowned for its unhurried pace of life and the art installation 'The Eggs at Merry Bay,' featuring 34 granite eggs representing local bird species. Nearby, Vatnajökull National Park, covering 14 percent of Iceland, offers a wild expanse with Europe's largest ice cap, Vatnajökull Glacier, thundering glacial rivers and active volcanoes.  

Day 6 Funningur

Cloaked in Faroese legend as the site where the first Viking settler, Grímur Kamban, made landfall over 1,200 years ago, Funningur is one of the archipelago's most ancient and atmospheric villages. Just seventy souls live here, nestled between cascading streams and the deep waters of Funningsfjørður, beneath the shadow of Slættaratindur — the highest peak in the Faroe Islands. A turf-roofed church, colourful houses, and a profound sense of stillness make it one of the most quietly unforgettable corners of these islands.  

Day 7 Torshavn

Cut adrift in the Atlantic, between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroes are a self-governing archipelago in the Kingdom of Denmark. On the southern tip of Streymoy, the largest of the 18 islands, the lively little capital of Tórshavn (Thor’s Harbour) charms with its rainbow-hued clapboard warehouses, grass-roofed wooden churches and the quaint old quarter, Tinganes. Off the radar for many, the Faroes are fast becoming known for their scenery.

Day 8           Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Lerwick is the capital of Shetland, shaped by sea routes, Norse heritage, and a coastline that always pulls your eye outward. The town's stone streets and natural harbour speak to centuries of seafaring, while the moorland, inlets, and wildlife beyond its edge make even the simplest outing feel like an expedition. Archaeological sites, sea cliffs, and seabird colonies define this far-northern corner of Britain — remote, elemental, and quietly compelling.  

Day 9 Kirkwall, Orkney

The ancient capital of Orkney, Kirkwall is a compact and characterful town dominated by the magnificent red sandstone St Magnus Cathedral — one of the finest medieval buildings in northern Europe, founded in 1137. The Orkney Islands sit at a remarkable crossroads of Viking and Pictish history, and nowhere is that layered past more tangible than here, where Norse street names run alongside world-class museums and the extraordinary Neolithic landscape of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney — a UNESCO World Heritage site — lies just minutes away.  

Days 10&11 Edinburgh

One of Europe's most dramatic capital cities, Edinburgh rises around a volcanic crag crowned by its medieval castle, its skyline unchanged in centuries. The Royal Mile connects two royal palaces through a dense layering of history, while the Georgian elegance of the New Town and the panoramic views from Calton Hill reveal a city of extraordinary contrasts. Beyond the city, Scotland's landscape and deep past continue to unfold — castles, battlefields, and royal estates that bring the country's story vividly to life.  

Day 12 At Sea

Today we will have CME sessions while sailing from Edinburgh to Ijmuiden. You will have time to enjoy the on board facilities like the sauna, gym or hot tub.  

Day 13 IJmuiden (Amsterdam)

Today you will disembark SH Diana in Ijmuiden.   IJmuiden is the modern seaport serving Amsterdam, just a 30-minute drive from the historic city centre. Amsterdam is a gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the heart of things. Yet, the magic also unfolds while strolling through narrow streets and crossing the hundreds of bridges. It houses a treasure trove of fabulous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, adorned with Dutch Masters, conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum. To the south, picturesque stretches of countryside with windmills line the canals.