Scotland, Orkney Islands & Norway
May 29 – June 8, 2025 (11 days) aboard the 72-cabin Exploris One
The Trip
Join Mary Savina ’72, Professor of Geology, Emerita, on this exploration of remote islands, magnificent landscapes, ancient settlements, and idyllic villages from Inverness, Scotland, to the Orkney Islands and along the Norwegian coast above the Arctic Circle. Cruise during the peak of spring, with long days of bright green scenery speckled with blooming flowers and rushing waterfalls from snow melting in the mountains.
Professor Savina will be part of a team of onboard experts who together will offer a series of lectures and informal discussions. This varied and balanced itinerary combines the wonders of the natural world with the historical and cultural highlights of the area. Our cruise is bookended with time in some of the region’s most remote and inaccessible island groups—Scotland’s Orkney Islands and Norway’s Lofoten Islands—and offers rich opportunities for bird and whale watching.
In Scotland, visit Clava Cairns, a group of three Bronze Age burial mounds and, in the UNESCO Site “Heart of Neolithic Orkney,” marvel at the Neolithic standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar and the 5,000-year-old village of Skara Brae. Enjoy several days inside Norway’s iconic fjords, including the awe-inspiring Sognefjord, Norway’s longest, as well as the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord. Visit the 12th-century Hopperstad Stave Church, the oldest stave church in Norway; and step ashore at peaceful, picturesque fjord-side towns and fishing villages off the beaten track—splendid Art Nouveau Ålesund, set on myriad islands stretching out into the ocean; BrØnnØysund, from which one can view Torghatten, a granite mountain with a natural hole through it; and tiny villages of Å, Reine, or Nusfjord in the Lofotens. A pre-cruise extension in the Scottish Highlands and a post-cruise extension in Oslo are also available.
Delight in cruising for eight nights aboard the elegantly appointed and newly renovated Exploris One, designed to navigate demanding waters safely while offering the highest level of service and comfort. Each of its 72 suites and spacious staterooms offers breathtaking ocean views, some with private balconies.
The program is co-sponsored by other organizations, so I encourage you to contact Alumni Adventures today at (800) 811-7244 or carleton@studytours.org to reserve your preferred suite or stateroom.
Faculty Leader
Carleton College faculty leader Mary Savina ’72 is Charles L. Denison Professor of Geology, Emerita, at Carleton College, where she earned undergraduate degrees in history and geology. Her specialties—geoarchaeology, landscape history, and environmental geology—combine these interests nicely. Mary received the 2013 Undergraduate Research Mentor award, presented by the Geosciences division of the Council on Undergraduate Research, and the 1995 Outstanding Educator award from the Association of Women Geoscientists. Mary has taken Carleton students (and, in some cases, alums) to active geological landscapes in Iceland, Greece, Tasmania (Australia), New Zealand, Alaska, and the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the American Southwest, among other places. She has also found good excuses to travel to Australia, Europe, and central Alaska, generally finding opera performances wherever she goes, in addition to fascinating building stones, landscapes, and people. In her spare time, Mary sings in a choir, serves on several community boards, and is active in explaining geology to groups in the local community, including offering courses for the Cannon Valley Elder Collegium. She is looking forward to the combination of archaeology, landscape, and history in the Orkneys and Norway on this program.
Program Rates (11 nights)
Tour prices start at $8,990 double occupancy and $13,495 single occupancy.
Download the detailed brochure for all cabin prices.
To reserve your space using the online form, click here.
For reservations or questions, please email us at carleton@studytours.org (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884).
EXPLORIS ONE
Formerly named the Silver Explorer under Silversea Cruises’ ownership, Exploris One embarked on a new chapter in 2023 under the helm of French company Exploris Expeditions. Having known this vessel for many years, we recognize its suitability for intimate small-ship voyages. Our exclusive charter will host a maximum of 114 guests, alongside our dedicated staff. Benefit from the vessel’s shallow draft, enabling access to secluded areas inaccessible to larger ships. Delight in the expansive deck spaces, perfect for wildlife spotting and soaking in picturesque vistas while cruising. Renovated in 2023, Exploris One seamlessly blends adventure with luxurious comfort. Its 60 staterooms and 12 suites, all exterior facing, boast impeccable finishes. Savor refined French and International cuisine at Le Grand Restaurant and the Outdoor Grill. The Grand Salon and Panoramic Lounge offer sweeping panoramas. Onboard amenities include a dedicated lecture room, a hair salon, fitness center, massage room, sauna, and two hot tubs. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as Wi-Fi access, are complimentary throughout the cruise.
ITINERARY
THURSDAY & FRIDAY, MAY 29 & 30: DEPART U.S. / INVERNESS, SCOTLAND
SATURDAY, MAY 31: INVERNESS / EMBARK EXPLORIS ONE
SUNDAY, JUNE 1: KIRKWALL, ORKNEY ISLANDS
MONDAY, JUNE 2: AT SEA
TUESDAY, JUNE 3: VIK & NAERØYFJORD, NORWAY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4: NORDFJORDEID
THURSDAY, JUNE 5: RUNDE & ÅLESUND
FRIDAY, JUNE 6: TORGHATTEN & BRØNNØYSUND
SATURDAY, JUNE 7: REINE (LOFOTEN ISLANDS)
SUNDAY, JUNE 8: DISEMBARK/HOME
Optional Pre- and Post-tour extensions:
OPTIONAL PRE-VOYAGE EXTENSION
MAY 26–30, 2025
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS IN DEPTH
Further details and pricing will be sent to confirmed participants.
OPTIONAL POST-VOYAGE EXTENSION
JUNE 8–11, 2025
ARCHAEOLOGY, ART & GARDENS OF OSLO
Further details and pricing will be sent to confirmed participants.
Download the brochure for the complete detailed itinerary.
Additional Information
For more information or to reserve your space, please call 800-811-7244 or email Carleton College Alumni Adventures. To make a reservation online click here.