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Scotland

The Hidden Coasts of Scotland: An Expedition on the Ocean Albatros

Program No. 24592RJ
Experience Scotland from Edinburgh to the Orkney Islands and Outer Hebrides as you join us for our Floating Campus onboard the Ocean Albatros!

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We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

Ship Out Ship Balc Ship Suite
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

Accommodation Details

A larger cabin, often with separate sleeping and living areas; the largest class of stateroom.

May 10 - May 21, 2024
Ship Outside 9,999
Ship Balcony 12,999
Ship Suite 14,499
Special Offer

Enroll by April 30, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities!

DATES & PRICES

Ship Outside Ship Balcony
Accommodation Details

A cabin with a window or porthole to view the outside.

Accommodation Details

A cabin featuring a verandah, or balcony, that allows you to step outside without going to a public deck.

May 10 - May 21, 2024
Ship Outside 14,999
Ship Balcony 19,499
Special Offer

Enroll by April 30, 2023 and receive free round-trip airfare from many cities!

At a Glance

The northern coast of Scotland is known for its incredible natural beauty, remote islands and ancient landmarks — and there’s no better way to experience them all than on this exclusive Road Scholar Floating Campus voyage! We’ll have the brand-new Ocean Albatros to ourselves on this learning adventure that begins and ends in Edinburgh, and leads you on a journey to Aberdeen, the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Outer Hebrides. Marvel in the remote landscapes of Scotland as your onboard instructors offer their insight into the history and biodiversity of the region through onboard lectures, Q&A sessions and casual discussions. In true campus style, take part in onboard activities like a book club or photography instruction, enjoy a live onboard performance of Scottish dance and music and get to know other Road Scholars who love learning — and voyages — as much as you do.
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Spend a night in Edinburgh before and after your voyage to enjoy opportunities to discover landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile with a local expert.
  • Learn about royal history at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, purchased and restored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
  • Discover Scotland’s prehistoric landmarks during field trips to the Callanish Standing Stones and the Ring of Brogdar in the Orkney Isles, both sites thought to be constructed for astronomical observations.
  • Voyage to some of Scotland’s remote islands as you explore the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Sumburgh Head in Shetland and enjoy zodiac rides along Loch Torridon.
  • Enjoy the camaraderie of other Road Scholars as you take in private lectures, unique field trips and take part in educational onboard activities on this exclusive Floating Campus voyage.

General Notes

Please note that we need a minimum number of participants to enroll in this program to have exclusive use of the ship. In the unlikely event we do not meet the minimum number, then the cruise line may have its own passengers on the ship, though they will not be part of any Road Scholar activities.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Scotland: the Story of a Nation
by Magnus Magnusson
Encompassing everything from the first Mesolithic settlers in 7000 B.C. to the present movements for independence, Scotland: The Story of a Nation is history on an epic level, essential reading for anyone interested in the rich past of this captivating land.
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
by Athur Herman
As historian and author Arthur Herman reveals, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Scotland made crucial contributions to science, philosophy, literature, education, medicine, commerce, and politics—contributions that have formed and nurtured the modern West ever since.
Sunset Song
by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
The first and most celebrated novel by Scottish writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song evokes village life in the early twentieth century and offers a powerful portrait of a land and people in turmoil.
Waverley (1814)
by Sir Walter Scott
Waverley (1814), tells the story of Edward Waverley, a naïve young man who is posted to Scotland with his regiment. Edward must decide whether he will follow the civilization he has always known, or be drawn into an older world of honor.
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886)
by Robert Louis Stevenson
This gothic novella by Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson was originally published in 1886. The story is about a legal practitioner in London, named Gabriel John Utterson, who investigates bizarre incidents that occur between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll, and the evil Edward Hyde.
The Wasp Factory
by Iain Banks
The literary debut of Scottish author Iain Banks, The Wasp Factory is an imaginative and disturbing look into the mind of a child psychopath.
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
# 1 New York Times Bestseller, the first book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga. Based in the Scottish Highlands, this spellbinding novel of passion and history combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.
No Gods and Precious Few Heroes (Vol 8: Scotland, 1914-80)
by Christopher Harvie
Harvie analyzes the pressures and influences that, over the past ninety years, have eroded Scotland's position as a world industrial power.
Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
by Ronald McNair Scott
Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings.
Trainspotting
by Irvine Welsh
Trainspotting is Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh’s 1993 work of fiction. Set in the late 1980s, the novel follows the “Skag Boys,” who are involved in Edinburgh, Scotland’s heroin scene, particularly in the neighborhood of Leith.
Scotland: a New History
by Michael Lynch
Michael Lynch, named as 'one of the most influential historians in Scotland of the last thirty years', has written an extraordinary one-volume history of the country that spans twenty centuries, from the Picts to the present day.
The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns
by Robert Burns
Burns is an icon for the UK and Scotland he is a national symbol. This volume of poems and songs is a best selling, beautiful edition of his work.
Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History
by Alistairi Moffat
This book follows the movement of hunter-gatherers north, the growth of fishing, and the establishment of farming. The author also covers cultural evolution in Scotland - the roles played by megalith builders, Celts, Picts, and others.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.