It goes without saying that a luxury European cruise will send you deep into the many histories and cultures of the Continent – filled with iconic ports, glittering palaces, acclaimed museums and more. But the wonders of Europe don’t all hinge on the Mediterranean, far from it. There are just as many exciting places to visit in Northern Europe that ring with culture and historic significance – and Silversea is ready to show you around.
Sailing the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, Silversea expedition ships visit some fascinating destinations in Ireland, Scotland, Norway and Iceland that are teeming with wild beauty and natural discovery. These are places that have incredibly unique stories to tell, ancient tales set amongst historic shorelines. This is a more subtle Europe, more tranquil – one that takes its time. Set away from all the limelight, you see deep into the souls of each engaging region.
Explore the coastlines of Ireland
You’ve very likely heard of the famous Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, their hiking paths along the dramatic seaside cliffs a storied pitstop. But you may not be familiar with the windswept moors and craggy cliffs of Kilronan in the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, or the nearby island of Inisheer. The small port of Dingle in Ireland’s southwest has a big personality, noted for its lively pubs, sandy beaches and several millennia of history. Its charms rival those of Kinsale in County Cork on the south coast, a town rich in maritime history, with not one but two 17th-century fortresses to explore.
Witness Scotland's untamed beauty
Silversea heads to Lunga, the largest island in the Treshnish archipelago off Scotland’s west coast. It is remote and volcanic in origin, filled with exotic birdlife like puffins and guillemots, and rare, endangered plants. Visitors marvel at the views from its 300-foot-high cliffs. The remote shores of the nearby Shiant Islands reveal ancient honeycomb cliffs and more diverse seabird colonies. St. Kilda comprises four uninhabited islands, home to the largest puffin colony in the world. Some itineraries carry on north to the UNESCO-listed Orkney Islands, rich with Neolithic sites, and to the Shetland Islands, also famous for its stunning beaches and migrant birds.
See parts of Norway that few experience
Silversea enjoys introducing new and remote places to savvy sailors, traveling to destinations in Norway that larger cruise ships can’t manage. The small island village of Bekkjarvik, within an archipelago south of Bergen, was once a busy trading post, complete with a 17th-century inn that is still welcoming guests. A shipbuilding culture permeates Rosendal on the mainland, an agricultural town well versed at all facets of hospitality. Silversea guests can also voyage through the Lysefjord, a 25-mile-long glacial fjord revealing sharp mountain peaks, lush farmland and soothing waterfalls.
Branch out to the shores of Iceland
With very intriguing pasts and inspiring futures, lesser-known coastal towns in Iceland can lend authentic cultural immersion to your Silversea experience. The small eastern Iceland town of Djúpivogur is a case in point: it is renowned for its adherence to the “slow movement” culture, the shift toward slowing down the pace of life. And Raufarhöfn on Iceland’s northeastern tip has more than a few ancient stories to repeat, while it serves up the Arctic Henge monument, a thrilling modern-day stonework.
Immerse in a sense of true adventure with Silversea
Unlike any other, a voyage with Silversea Expeditions restores your curiosity, ignites your sense of wonder, and reveals marvels witnessed by only the fortunate few. Guided and educated by a team of experts, you’ll explore on foot, via kayak and Zodiac — each experience exposing the rarest of Earth’s treasures. No one gets you closer to the majesty of Northern Europe than Silversea.
Your Tully Travel Designer will know just how to add on cosmopolitan indulgences in cities such as Belfast, Dublin or Copenhagen. They can also arrange for Silversea’s all-inclusive, door-to-door service. Taken together, a trip to Northern Europe could be your most exhilarating cruise yet.
