The Ultimate U.K. Voyage: London to Edinburgh on the Ocean Albatros

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date programs schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Get to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Drive from London to Portsmouth is approx. 1 hr. 50 min.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will check out of the hotel and begin our morning transfer to the ship with a visit to Windsor Castle enroute – a remarkable building that has been shaped by the Kings and Queens of England for over 1,000 years. It is still used for ceremonial and state occasions, whilst also being home to some of the greatest paintings and works of art in the world.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue our drive to the port and board the ship. After completing boarding procedures and getting your cabin, take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax and start becoming familiar with the ship. There will be a mandatory passenger briefing and safety drill. Please note that your departure is part of our Floating Campus programs. All routes and excursions are subject to change – weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions affect the progress of the ship, making it run late and sometimes miss ports because it is not safe to dock. Because of this, the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of excursions without prior notice.

Dinner: Aboard ship. Dinners always include a meat option, fish option and vegetarian option. Water, tea, & coffee is available 24 hours a day. Any other beverages will be charged to your cabin. The ship has a fully equipped onboard bar & offers a wide variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and bottled water available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to check out the library or the jacuzzis.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; total driving about 60 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles, walking and standing for up to 2 hours on field trips. Paved and cobbled streets, sandy beaches

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Arriving in Falmouth on Cornwall’s south coast, we’ll step off the ship, board our coaches, and begin a scenic journey across the Cornish peninsula to the small seaside town of St. Ives. Our first stop will be Pendennis Point where we will enjoy the view of Falmouth, St. Mawes and the surrounding areas, we will then continue to St. Ives. This town’s cobbled streets are full of history, legend, and tradition, housing Tate St. Ives, the Cornish arm of the world-renowned London Tate Galleries. We’ll explore the streets on foot and have an expert-led visit to the gallery.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time to explore St. Ives. We will board our coaches and head back to port. Later in the afternoon, we will gather for a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning we will board the Zodiacs for our ride to the pier where we'll then head out on a scenic drive to St Davids, Britain’s smallest city. Discover the magnificent 12th century cathedral and see the Bishop’s Palace before enjoying some free time in the city.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Today we are in Northern Ireland and will head off by motorcoach to visit the Giant’s Causeway which became widely known from the 1700s as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ and large numbers of visitors came to view this amazing array of basalt columns - it is estimated that there are around 40,000 in total.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time in port or enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, we will gather on the ship for a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Zodiac landing: possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning we will board the Zodiacs for our ride to the pier, we will then head out to discover the colorful harbor of Portree, meaning Port of the King. Our discovery drive will help us learn more about the fascinating history of the island's turbulent geological history from the rugged volcanic plateau of the north to the ice-sculpted peaks of Britain's most dramatic mountain range, the Cuillin.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time in Portree or enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship. Later in the afternoon, we will gather on the ship for a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. At Ring of Brodgar soft/uneven ground. Skaill House has flights of stairs. NOTE: The On Your Feet Group will not visit Skaill House and the visit to Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae will be at a slower pace.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will head out to explore the Ring of Brodgar & Skara Brae with our Group Leader. Depart Kirkwall and head into the west of Mainland, Orkney’s largest island. Head into the Neolithic Heartland of Orkney; an area designated as a World Heritage Site due to its wealth of pre-historic archaeology. Visit the Ring of Brodgar; a huge ceremonial circle of stones dating back almost 5000 years. Continue to Skara Brae to admire one of the best preserved Neolithic villages in Western Europe. Our next stop for the Keep the Pace Groups is Skaill House, Orkney’s finest manor. Skaill was built by Bishop George Graham in 1620 on the site of a farmstead thought to date to the Norse period. NOTE: the slower paced On Your Feet groups will not visit Skaill House.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars.

Activity note: Zodiac landing; possibility of rough seas; bumpy sailing; splashing water; may get wet; getting in/out of Zodiac with assistance from staff. Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Uneven terrain and steps at Urquhart Castle, walking up to 3 miles. Wear sturdy footwear.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: We will board zodiacs for the ride to the pier. Once we reach the pier, depart Invergordon with our Group Leader and head to the banks of Loch Ness. Visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle, it was a critical strategic stronghold in the highlands, positioned on the banks of Loch Ness. In 1692 the castle was blown up to stop it falling into Jacobite hands. What remains are picturesque and impressive ruins, surrounded on three sides by the cold deep waters of Loch Ness. From the Castle’s Jetty, we will join a boat cruise on one of the world’s most famous lochs. Look for the evasive Loch Ness Monster, which has baffled some of the world's most notable researchers for decades. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and mountains and learn of the Loch’s history and geology by a local expert. Disembark at the Loch Ness pier and return to the ship.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Enjoy the activities of your choice aboard ship, including a lecture on topics relevant to our program.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Enjoy activities aboard ship, spend time with fellow Road Scholars. Prepare for disembarkation tomorrow.

Activity note: Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Transfer to Edinburgh is approx. 2 hours.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Complete disembarkation procedures and transfer to Edinburgh.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Upon arrival in Edinburgh, we will have a panoramic drive of Edinburgh. During the drive, see the Georgian architecture of the New Town, parts of the medieval Royal Mile, and Princes Street with its civic gardens in the heart of the city. We will drive to the city's high points for some spectacular views over the city. Check in the hotel and then have free time to explore Edinburgh on your own.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check out by 12:00 p.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!