Quest, North Atlantic Splendours ex Dover Return – 07 Jun 2021

45 Night Cruise sailing return from Dover onboard Seabourn Quest.

Seabourn Quest is the third iteration of the vessel design that has been called “a game-changer for the luxury segment. True to her Seabourn bloodlines, wherever she sails around the world, Seabourn Quest carries with her a bevy of award-winning dining venues that are comparable to the finest restaurants to be found anywhere. Under the guidance of celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, Seabourn Quest offers a variety of dining options to suit every taste and every mood, with never an extra charge.

Highlights of this cruise:

Dover (London), England, UK
Crossing the English Channel from continental Europe to Great Britain, the first view of England is the milky-white strip of land called the White Cliffs of Dover. As you get closer, the coastline unfolds before you in all its striking beauty. White chalk cliffs with streaks of black flint rise straight from the sea to a height of 350’ (110 m). Numerous archaeological finds reveal people were present in the area during the Stone Age. Yet the first record of Dover is from Romans, who valued its close proximity to the mainland. A mere 21 miles (33 km) separate Dover from the closest point in France. A Roman-built lighthouse in the area is the tallest Roman structure still standing in Britain. The remains of a Roman villa with the only preserved Roman wall mural outside of Italy are another unique survivor from ancient times which make Dover one of a kind.

Bristol (Bath), England, United Kingdom
Known as ‘the city of the seven hills,’ Bristol’s characteristic landscape of rolling hills, softened by the curves of the Avon River, is easily recognizable. Its key landmarks include the Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the Avon Gorge and the 878-year-old, 300′ (90 m) Bristol Cathedral towering above the old town. The stone structures of historic Bristol University with their awe-inspiring pillars, statues and fountains stand in stark contrast to the many ultra-modern buildings. Cabot Tower, built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s 1497 voyage to the New World, stands on Brandon Hill. Though Bristol sustained significant damage during WWII, it remains a unique mixture of Victorian, Georgian, and post-war architecture. It was the Romans who first noted the area’s mild climate and built a number of villas along the Frome and Avon rivers. Bristol enjoys more sunshine than most of England and is one of the country’s warmest cities.

Dublin, Ireland
Historic Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is rich in tradition and heritage. Founded in 841 as a Viking settlement, Dublin remained under Viking rule until the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Divided by the Liffey and Tolka rivers, Dublin is a truly quaint and picturesque city. Bridges, waterways, narrow alleyways, and beautiful Georgian architecture await discovery. Dublin’s 751 pubs support a traditional folk music scene second to none. Wandering along its streets, you cannot avoid noticing the city’s different faces — its cobblestone streets next to modern and mid-century buildings, massive stone churches heavy with the weight of ages, and colorful storefronts with ornate woodcarvings. The history of Dublin and Ireland itself can be seen through the changes in Dublin Castle. This impressive architectural landmark is one of Ireland’s most iconic symbols. Of traditional Norman design, it was erected in the 13th century to serve as the headquarters for Norman power.

Brodick, Isle Of Arran, United Kingdom
Brodick is the largest town on Arran, the largest island in the Firth of Clyde. The town is sited overlooking Brodick Bay and the Firth, with looming Goatfell mountain as a backdrop. At nearly 3,000 feet (847m) tall, the mountain is one of Scotland’s most popular hiking sites. Brodick is an important ferry terminal for the crucial tourism trade on the island. Arran is a popular holiday destination for hill-walking, horseback riding, fishing and golf. Brodick Castle is a red sandstone baronial home surrounded by handsome gardens and Scotland’s only island country park. The Isle of Arran Heritage Museum recounts the history of the island from prehistoric burial sites to the present day.

Djupivogur, Iceland
Djúpivogur is a very small, quaint town of some 456 people, located in East Iceland in Berufjörður fjord. Towering, pyramid-shaped Mount Búlandstindur dominates the landscape, rising to 3,510’ (1,069 m). It is a place of unspoiled nature, with quiet lagoons and a tranquil harbor populated by colorful fishing boats. The area is well-known for the diversity of birdlife, especially in nearby Búlandsnes Bird Sanctuary where most of Iceland’s bird species can be observed. Time seems to flow more slowly here, because the residents have chosen a much different lifestyle, enriched with opportunities to observe their natural surroundings. Djúpivogur is a creative community, displaying its local arts and crafts in workshops and galleries. The Eggs of Merry Bay, ‘Eggin í Gleðivík,’ is a large outdoor art installation by renowned Icelandic artist Sigurður Guðmundsson. It consists of 34 large sculpted stone eggs representing the 34 bird species found in the vicinity. Located only a kilometre from the town center, it makes an easy and pleasant stroll along the shore.

Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavík, established by Viking settler Ingólfur Arnarson around 870 C.E, is the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland. The census of 1703 recorded that Reykjavík had 69 residents and consisted of a farm and a church. The impressive statue of Leif Erikson, in the center of town, reminds all of Iceland’s Viking heritage. Its name translates to ‘smoky bay’, due to the geothermal nature of the surrounding area. Today about 200.000 people live in the Icelandic capital, roughly 60 % of the country’s population. It has evolved into a sophisticated city. The northernmost national capital in the world is also one of the cleanest, greenest, and safest on Earth. Walking Reykjavik streets one will find rich culture, history, music, shopping and in the late hours vibrant night-life. Colorful rooftops and the elegant spire of Hallgrímskirkja Church dominate Reykjaviks’s skyline. Known for its arts, Reykjavik hosts a number of internationally recognized festivals, notably the Iceland Air music festival, Reykjavik Arts Festival and the Reykjavik International Film Festival.

Akureyri, Iceland
Akureyri is the second largest urban area in Iceland with a population of around 18,000. Nicknamed ‘The Capital of the North,’ it is situated at the head of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland, only 62 miles (100 km) from the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by snow-streaked mountains, the Akureyri hills flourish in summer with a profusion of arctic wildflowers. Mt. Kerling is the highest peak visible from town, at 5,064’ (1,538 m). Often cloudy, with a mild climate, Akureyri has much less precipitation than its southern counterpart Reykjavik. It is a cultured city, with a university, numerous galleries, museums, art exhibitions, and live theater performances. Nearby Hrísey Island is a spectacularly beautiful and peaceful island often called ‘The Pearl of Eyjafjörður,’ with an atmosphere of calm and settled tranquility. Numerous Atlantic puffins fly overhead, and the occasional whale is seen traversing the fjord.

Tromso, Norway
Tromsø is the largest city in northern Norway and the ninth most populous municipality in the country. It surprises visitors with its sophisticated art scene, its contrasting modern and historical architecture, international cuisine, multicultural events, and festivals throughout the year. Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is within the land of the midnight sun during summer months and the elusive northern lights in winter. However, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, the sea doesn’t freeze here in winter, and there is no permafrost in the vicinity. Tromsø is noticeably milder than other towns at the same latitudes in other parts of the world. Tromsø is also ‘The City of Explorers’ and has seen a number of expeditions set off from its shores to the probe the polar realm. Both Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen frequently recruited men in the city. Nowadays home to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø continues a tradition of being one of the key centers in explorations of the Arctic.

Scenic Cruising North Cape
The looming cliffs of Norway’s North Cape rise directly from the sea 1007 ft/307m to a plateau as flat as a table. This impressive headland has been selected to represent the northernmost point of Europe, even though it is technically located on an island, Magerøya, connected to the mainland by a bridge. At 71° 10’ 20” N latitude, it is just 1,306 mi/2012 km from the North Pole. At this point, the Norwegian Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean, meets the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean. Further north, the mountainous archipelagoes of Franz Josef Land and Svalbard are the last lands before the Polar Ice Pack. The Midnight Sun does not dip below the horizon here at any time between May 14 and July 31 each year. Sheer and formidable, the North Cape pays its role to the hilt, emphatically declaring itself the end of Europe’s landmass.

Skagafjordur, Iceland
The deep bay of Skagafjördur cuts into Iceland’s northern coast west of Akureyri. Surrounded by mesa peaks and rolling slopes, this is rich agricultural country renowned for sheep ranching, horse breeding and resounding choral singing. Prosperous Saudárkrókur is the main town. Three islands in the bay, Malmey, Drangey and Lundey are all packed with breeding birds in the summer, including razorbills, guillemots and puffins, for which Lundey is named. Drangey is the most picturesque, a fortress-like block of volcanic tuff rising sheer from the sea. The promontory of Bórdarhöfdi presents a palisade of columnar basalt when seen from the water. The nearby Glaumbaer Museum centers on an authentic turf farmhouse and outbuildings stocked with tools and artifacts breathing life into the past. This might be an opportunity to try a horseback ride on one of the distinctive, small Icelandic horses with their unusual gait. Or pick up a sweater or other item woven from the unique Icelandic wool.

Skjoldungen Fjord, Greenland
Imagine a narrow fjord bordered by rugged peaks, vertical rock walls and serpentine rivers of ice plunging into the sea. This is Skjoldungen Fjord, named by Wilhelm August Graah after the honorific title Skjoldungen which, according to Norse mythology, was given to successors of legendary King Skjold to the Danish throne. Numerous tidewater glaciers calve during the summer, releasing large chunks of ice that plunge into the fjord. Above, huge crevasses and free-standing pillars of ice, known as seracs, are silhouetted against a blue Greenlandic sky. Barren of large trees, Skjoldungen Fjord is carpeted in colorful dwarf birch and willow forests that may grow several feet high, as well as a variety of low-growing Arctic wildflowers. This fjord was likely inhabited by Paleo-Eskimo (Inuit) nomadic people as early as 4,000 years ago. Archaeological remains of later historical periods, such as Thule culture graves, have also been found, indicating that Inuit people have lived in the area continuously. Scattered within this stunning scenery are remains of more recent abandoned Inuit dwellings along the fjord’s western shores.

Tasiilaq, Greenland
In Greenland, nature is big and almost overwhelming! You will be awed by towering mountains, huge distances, epic adventures, harsh weather and challenges that loom and beckon even in summer. The people of the Saqqaq culture arrived here from the north, the first to reach this part of Greenland. The Viking Norse first became familiar with this area when they made it their first landfall on the voyage from Iceland’s Snæfellsnes peninsula to Greenland. Today that location is known as Tassilaq, and it is the largest town in Eastern Greenland with 2,000 inhabitants. The island where Tasiilaq is located was formerly known as Angmagssalik in Greenlandic, meaning ‘the place with capelin.’ Walking through Tassilaq is, in many ways, like walking through time. You will likely see many of the town’s over 1,000 sled-dogs, as well as wooden dog-sledges, skin covered kayaks, fish air-drying on racks and maybe even the hides of seals and polar bears, just as in eras long past.

Husavik, Iceland
Husavik curls around the semi-circular Skjalfardi Bay on Iceland’s northern coast. It was the first Norse settlement on Iceland founded in 870 A.D. The name means ‘bay of houses,’ no doubt referring to the first farmstead on the island. The town’s skyline is dominated by the tall steeple of its picturesque, gingerbread-style church, built in 1907. Tourism has become increasingly important, and the bay has a well-deserved reputation for terrific whale-watching as several species frequent its waters. The Whale Museum capitalizes on that aspect. Other museums tout the history, including some ancient boats, and the history of human exploration, including a monument to astronauts. Nearby natural features include the horseshoe-shaped canyon Asbyrgi and several waterfalls.

Isle Of Noss, Shetland Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom
The Isle of Noss is a small gem of an island offering one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in the world. Its truly striking landscape provides for the perfect environment that supports a colossal number of birds. Its grass-topped, vertical cliffs, some 500’ (152 m) high, plunge straight into the sea. Established as a National Nature Reserve in 1955, Noss is home to over 300,000 breeding seabirds. The first sighting of Noss always imprints strongly on a visitor’s memories. Even those with no previous interest in birds cannot help being impressed by the stupendous aural chorus of around 150,000 adult birds and chicks at the peak of the breeding season. This wildlife reserve is an important colony for nesting gannets, shags, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, herring gulls, fulmars and skuas. Without a doubt, a visit here is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife experiences on earth. For that reason, Noss is often referred to as ‘Seabird City’ or the ‘Garden of the Cliffs.’