E-mail a friendShip: Polar Star
Itinerary: UK & Eire: Islands on the Edge
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Bird close up
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Day 1 : | Dartmouth, England / Embark |
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| Day 2 : | Isles of Scilly |
| Day 3 : | The Skellig Islands / Ring of Kerry, Ireland |
| Day 4 : | Aran Islands |
| Day 5 : | Donegal Bay |
| Day 6 : | Giant\'s Causeway & Rathlin Island |
| Day 7 : | Isle of Islay, Scotland |
| Day 8 : | Isle of Colonsay |
| Day 9 : | Iona & Staffa |
| Day 10 : | Friskay & Mingulay |
| Day 11 : | The Inner Hebrides |
| Day 12 : | Oban, Scotland / Disembark |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||||||
| K1-Triple | K1-Double | K2 | K3 | K4-Triple | K4-Double | K6 | K7 | ||
| 12 | May 7, 2009 | $3,645 | $4,375 | $5,015 | $5,260 | $4,620 | $5,845 | $6,330 | $6,630 |
| Please note an additional fuel surcharge listed below | |||||||||
| Destinations : Europe, Scotland, United Kingdom Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Nature Viewing, Photography, Whale Watching |
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Each day draws you to the fantastic history of this area and the incredible bird sightings that are possible – gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots abound and perhaps you will spot the rare Corn Crake . The history is equally compelling - just imagine yourself back in these challenging days when eking out a living on this rugged coast was a challenge. From Bant’s Cairn in the Isles of Scilly to the black houses of St Kilda’s these remnants are a tribute to the people’s pre-Christian, Nordic, Celtic and feudal history.
Day 1 : Dartmouth, England / Embark
The ship awaits you in the picturesque town of Dartmouth – if you have time, it is well worth coming here are few days early to enjoy the charm of this community.
Day 2 : Isles of Scilly
The morning finds us at the Isles of Scilly, an exquisitely beautiful archipelago. On the island of Tresco, we tour the astonishing Abbey Gardens, where a huge variety of subtropical plants can flourish because of the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream. We next visit the community of St. Mary’s, where we take a lovely stroll to Bant’s Cairn, a Neolithic village site and the earliest remains of human settlement here.
Day 3 : The Skellig Islands / Ring of Kerry, Ireland
During the night we cross into Irish waters. This morning we explore the remote Skellig Islands in our Zodiac landing craft, weather permitting. Little Skellig is a nesting site for some 40,000 gannets - a great spectacle. The rocky pinnacle of Great Skellig, also called Skellig Michael, is a World Heritage Site crowned with the ruins of a monastery dedicated to St. Michael, a vivid testament to the devotion of the monks who occupied this impossible site for hundreds of years. In the afternoon, on the green Irish mainland we explore the Ring of Kerry, famous for its glorious seascapes, coastline and mountains. We stop in the town of Waterville (a chance to sample the offerings at an Irish pub if you are so inclined), and cross the Coomakista Pass to the town of Sneem, where houses are painted in bright contrasting colors and whose charm is enhanced by its riverside setting beneath Mt. Knockmoyle.
Day 4 : Aran Islands
We begin our day by sailing along County Clare’s Cliffs of Moher, which stretch five miles and rise dramatically from the ocean to a height of up to 660 feet. In May we can expect to find colonies of puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. We then visit the Aran Islands. On Inishmore we explore the remarkable site of Dun Aengus, a hugely impressive fort of concentric stone rings on a cliff perched 300 feet above the Atlantic, which should at the time of our visit be set with wildflowers. The earliest parts of the fort are more than 3,000 years old. The island was a place for monastic study, and there are a number of early Christian sites here.
Day 5 : Donegal Bay
Today we explore County Donegal. We visit the town of Glencolmcille, the home of St. Columba, which is surrounded by exceptionally beautiful countryside. Irish traditions remain strong here, with Gaelic widely spoken. We have a chance to look around the village, whose buildings are painted in vivid colors, and then tour the Folk Village Museum, with fine replicas of houses and furnishings of the last several centuries. There are also chances for walks along the coast, where we’ll find ancient remains including standing stones. Later there is time to explore Killybegs – perhaps the carpet factory or local pub!
Day 6 : Giant\'s Causeway & Rathlin Island
Today we visit Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, a fascinating formation of basalt rock and volcanic activity, and rugged Rathlin Island, inhabited by fewer than 80 hardy residents. This unique island is noted for its vast seabird populations, Stone Age and Viking sites, and the contrast of dry stone walls and cottage ruins with the wind turbines of today. On this island, according to legend Robert the Bruce (Robert I of Scotland) hid before his victorious return to Scotland in the early 14th century.
Day 7 : Isle of Islay, Scotland
We cross into Scottish waters and start the day off with a jolt and a visit to the Ardbeg Distillery on the Isle of Islay. In the afternoon enjoy a tranquil visit to the Achamore House and its lovely gardens on Gigha.
Day 8 : Isle of Colonsay
Stroll the lanes of tranquil Isle of Colonsay to the Iron Age fort. In Loch Tarbet of Isle of Jura find intriguing raised beaches and caves.
Day 9 : Iona & Staffa
This morning we visit Iona Island, a place of transcendent importance in Christian history. St. Columba founded the monastery in 563, and it was key to the spread of Christianity in Europe. The monks here created many illuminated manuscripts, including the Book of Kells. We visit the beautifully restored Abbey, which dates to the 13th century, and look for the graves of kings of Scotland, Ireland, France and Norway. In the afternoon we walk on uninhabited Staffa Island, keeping an eye out for puffins. Staffa is famous for its deep sea caves and cliffs made up of basalt columns. We explore Fingal’s Cave, which moved Mendelssohn to write the Hebrides or Fingal’s Cave Overture — he began writing on the spot during his visit in 1829 — and also inspired a painting by Turner and sonnets by Wordsworth.
Day 10 : Friskay & Mingulay
This morning we sail to the Outer Hebrides. Learn the tale of “Whiskey Galore” at Friskay. On Mingulay Isle you can see two buildings that remain standing as a reminder of the past: a schoolhouse built of the abundant gneiss rock in the 1880s, and a priest’s house built in 1898. Both are moss-covered, crumbling remnants of the village that once existed on the eastern shore of the island. Though uninhabited since 1912, Mingulay is now home to about 500 sheep and tens of thousands of seabirds.
Day 11 : The Inner Hebrides
Once known as the breadbasket of the Inner Hebrides (corn), Tiree is an excellent example of the crofting lifestyle. Part of the Treshnish Isles, Lunga is a nesting place for hundreds of seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins. Seal colonies may also be spotted.
Day 12 : Oban, Scotland / Disembark
We tuck into Oban, once a Victorian resort and now a charming town, to disembark.
-Additional fuel surcharge of $30/person/night for the 2008-2009 season (Nov-Nov). This surcharge is subject to possible increases depending on the price of fuel.
-A provisional fuel surcharge of $14/person/night has been set for the 2009-2010 season, subject to change depending on the price of fuel.
-Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double or triple occupancy. Request the Twin or Triple Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.
-Standard Twin Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.6 times the shared price.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$50,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
-All onboard gratuities are included for the 2008-2009 season.
15+ months prior to departure - SAVE 5%
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Polar Star
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Polar Star
The Polar Star was built in Finland and served in the Swedish Maritime Administration's fleet of icebreakers under the name of Njord. In 2000 she underwent complete retrofit and upgrades. She was renamed M/V Polar Star after her namesake that served Karlsen's Arctic cruise program. Karlsen Shipping, is an old Norwegian family business originally from the northwestern coast of Norway and now headquartered in Halifax, Canada. With over 100 years experience in many aspects of the marine industry, Karlsen has operated primarily in the Polar Regions.
The M/V Polar Star is one of the most safe and comfortable ice class vessels with safety standards exceeding requirements for several years to come. The ship is certified for worldwide international voyages, complying with the latest SOLAS and IMF regulations for safety and the environment. We take up to 105 passengers on expedition cruises that by definition are to remote destinations. For shore excursions, we are equipped with 10 16-man zodiacs.
The M/V Polar Star is large enough to voyage to remote areas in comfort and small enough to enter out of the way destinations that other vessels can only sail by. We explore nature's most breathtaking wonders up close and our voyages offer magnificent wildlife on a journey that is spirited with adventure.
Polar Star has some of the "industry bests" on board including a very spacious bridge with an open bridge policy, large observation lounge/lecture hall with seating for all passengers, one of the best standard cabins (our K3) and a superior amount of outside viewing areas. Additional common areas include a shop, sumptuous library, bar, fitness facility and a dining room that seats all passengers in one sitting. Our varied international menu is prepared fresh onboard. Our 45 cabins include 31 doubles, 4 superior cabins and 6 suites (all with private facilities), plus an additional 4 cabins with shared facilities.
Our Cabins
All cabins are outside cabins. K1 categories have shared facilities with the next cabin. Our K3s, K4s, K6s and K7s all have private facilities with sink, shower and toilet. Each cabin is equipped with a wardrobe for each person and a writing desk. (The figure in brackets below indicates the number of cabins in each category available for passengers.)
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K1-Triple Two lower and one upper berths sold as triple. Sharing toilet / showers shared with cabin next door. Approx.100 sq. feet/10 sq. meters. Windows or portholes. |
K1-Double Two lower and one upper berths sold as double. Sharing toilet / showers shared with cabin next door. Approx.100 sq. feet/10 sq. meters. Windows or portholes. |
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K2 Two lower beds. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Approx. 115 sq. feet / 11.5 sq. meters. Large windows. K2 cabins on deck 3 have a partially obstructed view and one window opens. K2 cabins on deck 4 have non-opening windows. |
K3 Two lower beds. Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin. Approx. 115 sq. feet / 11.5 sq. meters. Large windows, one opens. |
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K4-Triple Double bed, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 140 sq. feet / 14 sq. meters. Side and aft facing windows. |
K4-Double Double bed, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 140 sq. feet / 14 sq. meters. Side and aft facing windows. |
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K6 Double bed in alcove, couch can be made up as bed. Approx. 180 sq. feet / 18 sq. meters. Large windows. |
K7 Sleeping area in separate room (double bed in 501 and 2-singles in 401), couch in living room can be made up as bed. Approx. 250 sq. feet / 25 sq. meters. Forward and side facing windows. |
