From Scotland to Spitsbergen

Glasgow was Scotland's great industrial centre during the 19th century and today, the city remains the commercial and cultural capital of the Lowlands. Lying on the banks of the River Clyde, Glasgow boasts some of the finest Victorian architecture in the entire United Kingdom. Ships will dock in Greenock which is a 45 minute drive from Glasgow.

Top Things to Do in Glasgow:

• admire the famed Glasgow Cathedral
• stroll through the Glasgow Botanic Garden
• cruise Loch Lomond
• visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Known as the 'cradle of Christianity', Iona has an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, enhanced by green fields and sandy beaches fringed with intense blue-green seas that look more Mediterranean than Scottish. 

The island's main attraction is its medieval abbey, established by Saint Columba when he arrived from Ireland in 563. The abbey is a fine example of ecclesiastical architecture dating from the Middle Ages and it also serves as an important site of spiritual pilgrimage. Many kings of Scotland, including the legendary Macbeth, are buried in the nearby cemetery.

Callanish, located on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, is famed for its ancient stone circle, Callanish Stones. These prehistoric standing stones, dating back over 5,000 years, are steeped in mystery and provide a captivating glimpse into the island’s Neolithic past. The site offers breathtaking views, especially at sunrise and sunset, creating a magical atmosphere.

The nearby Callanish Visitor Centre provides insights into the history and significance of the stones. The Isle of Lewis also features stunning landscapes, including rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, and rich cultural heritage seen in its traditional Gaelic communities. Callanish is a must-visit for history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.

This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Explore the coastal town of Bronnoysund, with its charming Old Town and timeless wooden houses, and spot the iconic Bronnoysund Bridge that leads to the tranquil Alsten Island.

Indulge in the local cuisine at quayside restaurants, savouring seafood delicacies, and visit the Norwegian Aquaculture Center for a deeper understanding of the region's fishing heritage.

Discover the natural wonder of the nearby Torghatten rock formation, and experience the lush beauty of the Vega Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Area of cultural richness and stunning island scenery.

Bronnoysund's unique character and the pristine Nordic landscape makes it an irresistible destination for cruise travellers.

According to legend, Trollfjord was named after the mythical creatures that guarded this narrow two kilometre strip of the Raftsundet Strait. Bright and verdant in the warmer months, snow-capped and glacial in the cold frost of winter, experience out of this world beauty no matter what time of the year you visit.

This breathtaking passage has the largest sea eagle population in the world, listen to the call of these majestic birds while keeping your eyes peeled for puffins clinging to cliffs. In the water below, otters and seals play in surf teeming with fish and the occasional porpoise or whale.

Way beyond the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Islands are truly considered to be in 'another world'. A jewel of nature in its most pristine state, this archipelago with its jagged coastline offers you majestic settings of high alpine summits, sandy beaches, green prairies and fjords of a deep blue, where countless bird colonies make their nests.

Top Things to Do on the Lofoten Islands:

• visit the Svolvaer Magic Ice Bar and Gallery
• explore the preserved Nusfjord fishing village
• take a boat tour among the Lofoten Skerries
• visit the Gallery Lofoten House

In the north of the Arctic circle you’ll discover Tromsø, a secluded town located in the county of Troms. Norwegians call it the “Paris of the north”. You’ll soon see why when you discover its extensive neoclassical architectural heritage. A stunning example is the Arctic cathedral, a major monument whose stylistic purity echoes the outline of the mountains surrounding the town.

Halfway between Norway and Spitsbergen lies Bear Island or Bjørnøya, the southernmost island of Svalbard. Observe this isolated piece of land discovered in 1596 by Dutch navigator, Willem Barents. Following a tough fight between a polar bear and the members of the expedition, he dubbed the place Bear Island.

Regularly covered by a thick layer of fog, Bjørnøya shelters a meteorological station built in 1923. The island was declared a nature reserve in 2002 and is home to an enormous colony of sea birds - skuas, guillemots, puffins, gulls, petrels and little auks all coexist here.

Nestling between millennial glaciers and carved mountains, and considered to be “the crown of Arctic Norway”, Spitsbergen is a place that never sees the night. Your ship will take you closer to this fascinating archipelago and, more particularly, the Hornsund fjord. Considered to be Svalbard’s southernmost fjord, it is especially reputed to be its most stunning: at the end of its vast bay, 8 great glaciers slowly make their way down to the sea before giving way to the many icebergs elegantly drifting along its cold and mysterious waters.

You will head to the Bellsund fjord to follow in the footsteps of the first explorers who came from the Norwegian coast, or those of the many fur traders seeking game and trophies. Boasting an astonishingly rich wildlife, the arms of the fjord separate to form two lush valleys. Give free rein to your imagination in the heart of this majestic natural environment where time seems to stand still.

The vast Isfjorden is one of the main fjords in Svalbard. These different branches reach the heart of the island of Spitsbergen. Located deep inside the Billejforden, the Nordenskiöld Glacier with its front of ice, nearly 5 km wide, is one of the most spectacular in the Svalbard Archipelago. You will perhaps have the opportunity to discover the ghost town of Pyramiden. Constructed at the foot of a mountain in the form of a pyramid, this former mining town, founded by Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century before being sold a few years later to the Soviet Union, and abandoned in 1998, has conserved all the buildings from its glory days, when it lived off coal mining.

Longyearbyen is the capital of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago, located on Svalbard’s main island, and is the northernmost territorial capital on the planet. With winter temperatures dropping to below 40°C, the landscapes of this mining town are simply breathtaking. The glaciers, the mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the untouched nature, make you feel like you’re in completely unexplored territory.