Compare Voyages to Antiquity: Iceland and the Islands of the North by Road Scholar

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive London, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
London D Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and get your room assignment. The Group Leader will be on hand to provide assistance as needed. Then take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. We will meet in the hotel lobby. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. In addition to lectures and field trips exclusively for our Road Scholar group, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events aboard ship that are separate from the Road Scholar program. All meals aboard ship are included, as well as afternoon tea and late night snacks; non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and select wines included with dinner. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. All routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and sea conditions may affect the itinerary. Sea conditions could 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 field trips and excursions without prior notice.

Dinner: In the hotel dining room, we will enjoy a welcome dinner buffet with coffee, tea, water, and wine included; other beverages available for purchase.

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

Day 3
London, England
London B,L Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.

Morning: We will board a motorcoach and depart the hotel for a panoramic overview of London's monuments and most famous sights with a local expert.

Lunch: Enjoy an authentic London pub lunch. Pubs — public houses — are an institution hearkening back to the Roman era. Our menu today is traditional fish and chips and dessert. Water, tea or coffee is also included.

Afternoon: Following lunch, we will transfer by coach to discover the Museum of London with our local expert. We will trace the history of London and its people from prehistoric to modern times. We will learn about the capital's turbulent past, see how the city changed under Romans and Saxons, and examine the tumultuous years when London was ravaged by civil wars, plague and fire. In the Galleries of Modern London, we will walk the streets of Victorian London, take a stroll in the recreated pleasure gardens, and marvel at the magnificent Lord Mayor's Coach.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader can provide suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Tower of London, embark the Aegean Odyssey
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1/2 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room.

Morning: After check-out, transfer via private coach to the Tower of London. On this field trip with your local expert, absorb over 1000 years of history and learn about Great Britain's dramatic and fascinating past. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, the symbol of the monarchy's power and status.

Lunch: The ship offers a welcome lunch buffet following embarkation.

Afternoon: Transfer to the port in Tilbury to embark the Aegean Odyssey. After getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and relax. We will gather late afternoon in the Observation Lounge for our Road Scholar orientation to the ship. Along with everyone on board, we will participate in the ship’s mandatory safety drill when announced.

Dinner: Aboard ship, Road Scholars are invited to dine together on the first night. Thereafter, you may choose either the Marco Polo Restaurant that serves a variety of á là carte items or the Terrace Café with its buffet. The ship’s chefs use fresh local ingredients to create menus inspired by regional cuisine.

Evening: At leisure. Most evenings aboard ship are free to enjoy as you like whether it’s attending a shipboard guest lecture or listening to live music in the Charleston Lounge.

Day 5
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship, breakfast will be buffet-style and served in the Terrace Café.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards the Shetland Islands, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards the Shetland Islands, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Lerwick, Shetland Islands
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and discover Lerwick on foot with a local expert. We will begin from the Victoria Pier in the heart of Old Town and visit the Old Tollbooth followed by the famous Lodberries which were used in the 18th century to load and unload goods from boats. Next, we will continue along the Hillhead to see the town's narrow lanes, followed by a visit to the Shetland Museum to discover the island's heritage with our local expert.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. As we head towards Iceland, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards Iceland, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Heimaey, Iceland
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards Iceland, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Disembark the ship and discover Heimay on foot with our local expert. Our first stop is Skansinn, the site of an old fort built by orders of the Danish king in the 17th century. Next, we will visit a traditional wooden stave church donated by Norway to commemorate the millennium of Christianity in Iceland. Finally, we will begin our exploration on foot across the lava fields of Eldfell (Fire Mountain) formed in 1973 by a volcanic eruption. Late afternoon we will return to the ship on foot.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Reykjavik, Iceland; Golden Circle
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1/2 mile, some uneven terrain and uphill segments.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and board a motorcoach for a full day discover of Iceland's Golden Circle with a local expert. We will stop at Thingvellir National Park, the only place in the world where any part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, separating the Eurasian and North American plates, is above sea-level. Next, we will continue our journey to the Gullfoss Waterfall, the most famous of Iceland's many waterfalls.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will continue our exploration of the Golden Circle with a visit to Geysir geothermal area, from where the word “geyser” originates. Strokkur is an explosive geyser that erupts every few minutes and is another one of Iceland’s world famous landmarks. We will return to Reykavik via motorcoach to visit the Perlan which has a viewing deck with panoramic views of the city.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Isafjordur, Iceland
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and transfer by motorcoach to discover the isolated Westfjords. Our first stop is Bolungarvík and Ósvör Fisherman’s Hut, a museum housing traditional turf-and-stone shacks, where we will learn the history of the area from a local expert. After, we will transfer by coach to he church of Hólskirkja or “the church on the hill”, built in 1908. Next, we will coach to the town of Ísafjörður, the largest settlement in the Westfjords and one of the main cultural and trading centres in Iceland, for a discovery on foot with our local expert. Lastly, we will visit the local Maritime Museum including some traditional Icelandic refreshments.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The ship’s shore excursion desk will tell you what is available and the cost involved. Ship departs late afternoon.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Akureyri, Iceland
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to begin our discovery of the Jewels of the North with a local expert. Our first stop is the Goðafoss Waterfall or “Waterfall of the Gods”. Next we will visit Lake Mývatn which is home to thousands of birds. Our journey continues to explore the mud-pots and fumaroles of Námaskarð, a geothermal field full of sulphur deposits and boiling springs.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will transfer to the lava landscape of Dimmuborgir, a place where the strange formations of volcanic rock have provided inspiration for many Icelandic folktales. Next, we will visit the pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir, formed by explosions of gas during the cooling of boiling lava over the wetlands near the lake. These craters are a popular site for birdwatchers and are protected as a natural conservation area. Late afternoon transfer to Akureyri to rejoin the ship.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Husavik, Iceland
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Getting on/off a smaller boat. Walking up to 1/2 mile.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark the ship and transfer by coach to the Húsavík Whale Museum to learn about the history, biology, and habitat of whales with a local guide. Húsavík is globally recognized as one of the best locations in the world to watch whales. After the museum, we will transfer by coach to join our whale-spotting crew on the waters of Skjálfandi Bay. Like all wild-nature experiences, sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The ship’s shore excursion desk will tell you what is available and the cost involved. Ship departs early evening.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards the Faroe Islands, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 15
Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and explore Torshavn on foot with a local guide. Torshavn is one of the smallest and most pleasant capital cities in the world. After visiting the scenic overlook, we will continue to the open-air museum "Hoyviksgardur" which includes a traditional farmhouse and buildings, before taking a walk through the colourful warehouses, 18th century cathedral and iconic turf-roofed homes of the old town, Tinganes.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. As we head towards Scotland, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 16
Kirkwall, Scotland / Skara Brae
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile, some uneven terrain and cobblestones.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: This morning, we will disembark the ship and board a motorcoach to explore the ancient treasures of Kirkwall with a local expert. First, we will transfer to the Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial circle of stones dating back 5,000 years. After, we will continue on to Skara Brae, an ancient village which was occupied from 3190 BC to 2500 BC. Discover the dwellings that were revealed beneath sand dunes 150 years ago.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. As we head towards Edinburgh, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 17
Edinburgh (Rosyth), Scotland
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: After breakfast, we will board a motorcoach and transfer to Edinburgh. On foot, we will explore Scotland’s Royal Mile with a local expert.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The ship’s shore excursion desk will tell you what is available and the cost involved.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 18
At sea
Aegean Odyssey - At Sea B,L,D Aegean Odyssey
Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: At sea. As we head towards London, see and do what interests you most aboard ship. You might like to take a seat in the observation lounge with fellow Road Scholars, find something to read in the library, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

Lunch: Aboard ship.

Afternoon: At sea. The ship will present a guest lecturer.

Dinner: Aboard ship.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation.

Day 19
Disembarkation, London, Westminster Abbey
London B,D Millennium Gloucester Hotel
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 1 mile, some uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Aboard ship.

Morning: Disembark and transfer via private coach to London for a field trip to Westminster Abbey with a local expert. The Abbey is a living pageant of British history; learn about kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader can provide suggestions

Afternoon: Transfer to the hotel for check-in followed by free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 20
Program Concludes, In Transit from Program
In Flight B
Activity note: See your program’s travel details regarding transfers

Breakfast: In hotel dining room depending on departure times. This concludes our program.

Morning: Transfer to London airports for departures. 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.