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May 1 - May 11, 2025
United Kingdom/England/Wales/Scotland
The Ultimate U.K. Voyage: London to Edinburgh on the Ocean Albatros
Program No. 24890RJ
Cross multiple countries off your must-see list on this Floating Campus! Explore England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and their iconic sites on this voyage.
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DATES & PRICES
Apr 24 - May 5, 2026
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
12 days
11 nights
26 meals
10B 6L 10D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
5
Falmouth, U.K.
At Sea
7
Portrush, Giant's Causeway
At Sea
8
Portree, Isle of Skye
At Sea
12
Edinburgh, Program Concludes
Edinburgh
At a Glance
It’s the ultimate voyage through the countries of the United Kingdom — experience England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on our Floating Campus! Board the expedition ship Ocean Albatros and embark on an exciting exploration of the U.K. Come into port at iconic natural wonders such as Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site and Loch Ness and bustling cities including London and Edinburgh. From castles to cathedrals, admire the U.K’s medieval history and modern culture. Your two onboard instructors offer lectures, Q&A sessions and casual discussions to expand on your experiences in port. In true campus style, you’ll also have opportunities to participate in onboard activities, live performances and getting to know other Road Scholars who love learning — and voyages — as much as you do.
Activity Level
Choose Your Pace
This program offers two activity levels to choose from on every departure date: one Keep the Pace that has more walking and standing and one On Your Feet covering slightly shorter distances at a slower pace. Must be comfortable getting in & out of tender boats and zodiacs, feel comfortable navigating around the ship and handle stairs while on board. PLEASE NOTE: The ship is not suitable for wheelchair/electric scooter use.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy exclusive access to experts who will be with you throughout your journey and learn from them as you take in onboard lectures and educational activities.
- Seize the opportunity to visit all four countries — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — that comprise the United Kingdom.
- Visit Giant’s Causeway in Portrush and admire the natural wonder of its interlocking basalt columns caused by a volcanic eruption.
- Spend a full day in Kirkwall and visit the Neolithic site of Ring of Brodgar, a stone circle that is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Take in the beautiful scenery and mountains as you cruise the cold deep waters of Loch Ness and look out for the evasive Loch Ness Monster.
General Notes
This learning adventure is part of Road Scholar’s Floating Campus. You’ll experience a true campus feel as we enjoy field trips onshore and expert instruction during exclusive lectures, Q&A sessions and discussions. Enjoy a book club, onboard activities, a live performance and the camaraderie that can only be found with fellow Road Scholars! 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.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Tommy Hatwell
Tommy Hatwell—born in Plymouth, England—has lived, worked, and photographed all over the globe. In 2017, he completed his B.A. with honors in commercial photography and soon after won the prestigious Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London, also opening his first solo exhibition. He shares his passion and knowledge of photography by traveling around the world, offering workshops, and visiting universities. Tommy provides creative, hands-on photography lessons during Road Scholar Floating Campus programs, both on shore and aboard ship.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Tommy Hatwell
View biography
Tommy Hatwell—born in Plymouth, England—has lived, worked, and photographed all over the globe. In 2017, he completed his B.A. with honors in commercial photography and soon after won the prestigious Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London, also opening his first solo exhibition. He shares his passion and knowledge of photography by traveling around the world, offering workshops, and visiting universities. Tommy provides creative, hands-on photography lessons during Road Scholar Floating Campus programs, both on shore and aboard ship.
Katy Chamberlain
View biography
Katy Chamberlain is a geologist and volcanologist, who specializes in the interpretation of pre-eruptive magmatic evolution using geochemical analyses of erupted products. She currently holds the position of lecturer in igneous petrology at the University of Liverpool in the UK. Katy has worked all over the world, studying super-eruptive processes in the Bishop Tuff (USA), ocean island volcanism at Ascension Island and the Canary Islands, and subduction zones processes in the Southern Volcanic Zone of Chile.
Tony Pollard
View biography
Tony Pollard is a professor of conflict history and archaeology at the University of Glasgow, and has carried out pioneering archaeological investigations across the globe. He has written widely on a variety of archaeological and historical topics for academic and general audiences. Tony is also a familiar face on television, and since popularizing battlefield archaeology with the BBC series 'Two Men in a Trench,' he has gone on to make regular appearances on popular history shows like 'Nazi Megastructures' and 'Defending Europe.'
Suggested Reading List
(16 books)
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.
The Ultimate U.K. Voyage: London to Edinburgh on the Ocean Albatros
Program Number: 24890
Londoners
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
The Wasp Factory
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
# 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.
Robert the Bruce: King of Scots
Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings.
London, A Literary Anthology
Ranging from the 15th century to the present day, the British Library’s generous selection of poems and novel excerpts evokes the spirit of London through the ages. Full-color works of art from the library's collection are interspersed throughout.
Trainspotting
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.
A Traveller's History of London
The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.
Scotland: the Story of a Nation
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.
The Story of England
Beautifully illustrated with color pictures, chronological charts, royal genealogies and maps, this popular history of English politics, economics and culture from the Neolithic Age to the 1990s is an excellent travel companion.
Scotland: a New History
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
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.
Eyewitness Guide London
This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
How the Scots Invented the Modern World
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.
Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History
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.
London, A History
A brief, evocative meditation on the rich and varied history of England's capital city by the prolific British writer, critic and historian. Wilson examines London through several lenses, using humor and insight to discuss art, architecture, politics and culture.
Waverley (1814)
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.
Year
- 2025
- 2026
Date
- Apr 24 - May 05
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Apr 24 - May 5, 2026 Itinerary Differences: This departure is 12 days, 11 nights. Please see specific itinerary for further information.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- 2026
- Apr 24 - May 05
Apr 24 - May 5, 2026 Itinerary Differences: This departure is 12 days, 11 nights. Please see specific itinerary for further information.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
12 days
11 nights
What's Included
26 meals (
10B, 6L, 10D
)
7 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
10 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive in London, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
London
Meals:
D
Stay:
Radisson Blu Hotel, London South Kensington
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.
Day
3
Transfer to Portsmouth, Windsor Castle, Embark Ship
Location:
Portsmouth
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; standing up to 2 hours. Walking up a steep hill to get to Windsor Castle, walking on uneven terrain, stone & cobblestone floors with many steps. 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. NOTE: Windsor Castle is located at the top of a steep hill, its a historic building, the floors are uneven. Photography is not permitted inside the castle. Windsor Castle is a working royal palace, security and opening arrangements may be subject to change at short notice.
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.
Day
4
Falmouth, St. Ives, Tate St. Ives, Free Time
Location:
Falmouth
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down.; 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. The ship will remain in port overnight.
Day
5
Falmouth, U.K.
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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:
We will continue our discovery of Falmouth with a local expert. Learn more about the maritime heritage and why it's become a destination for festivals and cultural events.
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.
Day
6
Fishguard, Wales,St. Davids
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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. Steep walk to the cathedral.
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.
Day
7
Portrush, Giant's Causeway
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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.
Day
8
Portree, Isle of Skye
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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 on steep terrain and many steps at Dunvegan Castle; standing up to 2 hours. NOTE: The On Your Feet group will not visit Dunvegan Castle and will have a scenic drive of North Skye instead.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning we will board the Zodiacs for our ride to the pier, the Keep the Pace groups will head out to Dunvegan Castle via a scenic drive through the north of Skye, passing the Cuillins Mountain Range. Visit Dunvegan Castle, covering 10 different building periods from 1200 to the 1850's. The castle collection contains many beautiful paintings and important herilooms such as the mystical Fairy Flag and Sir Rory Mor's (15th chief) ceremonial drinking horn and gourd. The On Your Feet group will have a panoramic coach excursion of North Skye. Take in the spectacular scenery of soaring peaks and rock towers.
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.
Day
9
Kirkwall, Ring of Brodgar, Skara Brae
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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.
Day
10
Invergordon, Loch Ness Discovery
Location:
At Sea
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Ocean Albatros
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:
On your own.
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.
Day
11
Aberdeen, Disembark Ocean Albatros, Transfer to Edinburgh
Location:
Edinburgh
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
InterContinental Edinburgh The George
Activity Note
Get on and off a motorcoach 2-4 steps up/down. Transfer to Edinburgh is approx. 2 hours. The group will be split between 2 hotels, please note that we have to take Color Groups & bed configuration into consideration when assigning hotels, once your hotel is assigned, it cannot be changed.
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.
Day
12
Edinburgh, Program Concludes
Location:
Edinburgh
Meals:
B
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! NOTE: For participants departing after the program end date & want to book extra nights post program, please book extra nights at the Kimpton Charlotte Square hotel. We have designated this hotel for any participants departing independently or departing after the program end date. We do not book extra nights, please contact the hotel directly to book.
MEALS
26 Meals
10 Breakfasts
6 Lunches
10 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Apr 24, 2026 - May 05, 2026
- May 01, 2025 - May 11, 2025
- Apr 24, 2026 - May 05, 2026
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