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Ireland & Celtic Shores
9-day expedition around Ireland and the Celtic shores aboard Ocean Victory.
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Best Price Guarantee
Length
9 Days
Ship category
Premium
Ship type
Large Ship
Capacity
189 Passengers
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We’re delighted to welcome you to the new premium infinity vessel, Ocean Victory, whose maiden Antarctic cruise will begin in November 2021. This makes her one of the most modern small ship Antarctic exploration vessels.
Built to be a robust and capable polar explorer, she’s also designed with a touch of class. Her 93 comfortable guest cabins all feature ocean views and almost all of them feature a private ocean balcony.
Other standout features of Ocean Victory include several restaurants, a dedicated wellness area, a Nordic Bar, an open deck dining facility, a modern lecture lounge, and … Read more about Ocean Victory
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Fitness Center
Bar
Mudroom
Lecture Theater
Observation Deck
Pool
Zodiac Fleet
Observation Lounge
Spa
Gift Shop
Library
Beagle Restaurant Dinner always starts with delicious hot soups, cold cuts, and crisp, fresh salads. Several choices of entrees are offered each evening, to accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements; always including a meat choice, fish choice, and vegetarian choice. After dinner, freshly prepared desserts, including ship-made ice cream or cakes are a great way to end a meal and satisfy any sweet tooth. A selection of wines and beers is available to perfectly complement your visit to our restaurant. Our bar is fully equipped with a variety of cocktails, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and more, to quench your thirst and reward the explorer in you.
When booking online, you can choose the option to "Upgrade to single occupancy". This will guarantee you the whole cabin to yourself, for an additional fee. If you don't select this option, then another traveler of the same sex might be placed into the same cabin with you. Exceptions may apply.
Passage aboard the Ocean Victory
Applicable taxes and credit card fees
Complimentary expedition jacket
Special access permits, entry, and park fees
Expert expedition team
Guided activities
Sightseeing and community visits
All Zodiac excursions
Port fees
Pre-departure materials
Educational program
Interactive workshops
Evening entertainment
All shipboard meals
Complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks are served with dinner
Wi-Fi access (basic service included)
Commercial and charter flights
Program enhancements/optional excursions
Gratuities
Personal expenses
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance
Additional expenses in the event of delays or itinerary changes
Possible fuel surcharges and administrative fees
Pre- and post-trip hotel accommodation
Kayak program
Premium internet access available at an additional cost
Landings, Zodiac cruises and the order of visits depend on weather, sea conditions, permissions and the expedition leader’s safety assessment.
The South Coast of Ireland program may include Clear Island, Bantry Bay, Ilnacullin and the Iveragh Peninsula, subject to conditions.
The voyage starts and ends in Troon, with Glasgow as the principal travel gateway; pre- and post-trip hotels are not included.
Commercial and charter flights, gratuities, optional programs and the kayak program are not included.
Mandatory medical evacuation insurance is required by the operator and is not included in the voyage price.
After completing your booking, you will receive an invoice from your travel specialist by email. A deposit of 30% of the trip price is required to secure your booking. Payment can be made through bank transfer or by credit card through a secure payment link.
Full payment is expected 30 days before your trip. Payment can be made in installments.
Long-haul flights and the on-the-ground program generate 2.7 t CO₂e on this trip. Polartours regularly measures and monitors the carbon footprint of its journeys and actively reduces emissions through sustainable travel design: no unnecessary flights, fewer feeder flights, integration of rail and public transport, and promoting longer stays for a more balanced relationship between travel distance and impact.
From 2018 to 2024, we supported carbon reduction projects equivalent to the emissions generated. Recognizing the limits of traditional offsetting, we now focus on active environmental protection through our own rainforest project, Forest Guardians.
More information on our climate and environmental responsibility: https://www.venturatravel.org/impact
All cruises in the polar regions operate to itineraries that are more-or-less fixed. We say "more or less", because wildlife (breeding, seasonality) and weather always play an important role in routing. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise, including:
All boats carry English speaking, scientifically trained guides. They will lead you on your excursions, allowing you to learn as much as possible about the unique wildlife and habitats of the Polar Regions.
Choosing the right ship for a cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic seems difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Our fleet is over 30 vessels, we are sure that there is the perfect one for you. Please, follow these simple steps, and you will be able to find your ideal ship:
In addition: We work with responsible partners who provide a great experience for their passengers. All of our providers are committed to sustainability and to preserving the beauty of the polar regions. You don’t need to worry about the impact of your cruise, because we’ve already taken care of it.
We love to help people find their dream vacation to the Arctic and Antarctic. Whether you give us a call, contact us via email, or use our website inquiry form, one of our Polar travel experts will be more than happy to answer any questions, recommend ships and itineraries, and walk you through the whole process!
Step 1: Find your perfect trip. If you have already started looking for Polar Cruises, you will have quickly noticed that the sheer amount of options can be quite overwhelming. To help you navigate the countless departures and itineraries that our fleet offers, we have put together a great filter page for Antarctic and Arctic Expedition Cruises. Use this page to filter all trips by price, date, ship category, and even destinations you wish to visit. We update all dates, prices, and availabilities daily, and are proud to host what is doubtlessly the world's most complete collection of information.
Step 2: Found something you love? We'll hold your spaces, free of charge! If you find a cruise you like, you can either inquire directly with us or make an unbinding booking online. We will then reach out to the shipowners to put a hold on your spaces for a limited time, free of charge. Once we have confirmed your block with the ship, we will send you a written confirmation of your reservation and include full payment details in an invoice. Typically, we are able to hold unpaid reservations for up to 1 week*. This gives us time to clarify all your remaining questions, and also ensures that no other passengers can book your spaces, while we continue our conversation.
Step 3: Confirm your booking. In order to confirm your booking, we ask for a deposit payment. You can pay via bank transfer or credit card. Keep in mind, that we can only hold your spaces for a limited amount of time. If we don't receive your payment after this time, we can no longer guarantee that the places will be available or that the price won't increase. To prevent disappointment, we will automatically cancel your reservation if we don't receive your deposit by the due date stated on your booking reservation.
Step 4: Booking confirmation & Payment. As soon as we have received your deposit and a completed passenger information form, we will be pleased to send your booking confirmation and updated invoice, along with your trip itinerary, important information, and other great tips for your cruise.
Step 5: Final payment. In your initial invoice, we will define a final payment date by when you need to pay us the remaining amount of your trip. Once we have received your final payment we'll send you your cruise documents and voucher. As your trip approaches, we make sure to pass along all necessary information, so you feel super prepared and stress-free.
*For last-minute bookings, we might not be able to hold your spaces for so long. We will also require the full payment of your cruise upon booking.
An expedition cruise to Antarctica or the Arctic is a big deal! Most people plan for this type of trip at least 8 months in advance. This means the earlier you book, the better chance you'll have to reserve your prefered cabins. Early bird discounts are also popular and a great way to get 10-30% off your cruise.
Most expedition cruises offer optional activities like camping and kayaking, but the spaces are limited. A cruise with 120 passengers can have only 10-15 spaces for kayaking. These are reserved on a first come first served basis. The earlier you book, the higher your chance of grabbing a spot.
Even though last minute deals do occur, keep in mind that the airline prices will be much higher if you purchase them last minute. You may save a few hundred on your cruise, but you may end up paying the most for airfare.
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Price
Upon Request
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The Isle of Man’s Manx culture and rugged coast.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s cliffs and wildlife.
The Aran Islands’ stone walls and Dún Aonghasa.
The basalt columns and legends of Giant’s Causeway.
Best Price Guarantee: Find a better price elsewhere, and we’ll match it.
Polar Expedition Specialists: We focus exclusively on polar voyages, with advice rooted in real, firsthand expertise.
Travel that gives back: Every booking directly funds our mission to protect and restore global rainforests.
Circle the Celtic Sea aboard Ocean Victory on a nine-day expedition linking Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland. The route balances dramatic coastlines with living culture: Manx language and music, Welsh maritime traditions, Irish-speaking island communities and the geology and legends of Giant’s Causeway.
Days ashore range from the wildflower cliffs of Pembrokeshire and the gardens of Ilnacullin to Killarney’s lakes, the stone fields of the Aran Islands and Tory Island’s artist community. Zodiac cruising may bring the expedition closer to seabird colonies and sheltered coves when conditions allow.
Landings and the order of visits remain weather-dependent. The expedition team adapts each day to sea conditions, local permissions and wildlife opportunities while keeping the official route’s focus on coastal nature, archaeology, language and story.
Keep in mind this is an expedition cruise, so your itinerary will depend greatly on the weather, amount of ice and wildlife breeding behavior.
Harbour lights shimmer in the distance as you embark in Troon, where ship and sea meet the spirit of Scotland’s west coast. Beyond the gangway, the rolling Ayrshire hills and echoes of Glasgow’s maritime past set the tone for a voyage shaped by music, story, and salt air. As the vessel slips from the pier, bagpipe strains and seabirds’ cries mingle—a prelude to the journey ahead, the first notes of a Celtic tune carried across the tide.
Explore the UK’s only coastal national park, where seaside cliffs blaze with wildflowers and waves pound against sandstone headlands. Seal heads bob in the surf, and the cries of choughs echo through the wind—a natural symphony shaped by sea and stone. Every turn reveals another view of raw beauty and living coastline, where the elements are in constant conversation. Ashore, wander through harbour towns alive with the scent of salt and smoked fish, the hum of conversation in Welsh and English, and shop windows filled with handwoven wool and carved driftwood. Here, Welsh poetry and maritime craft endure. Beneath it all runs the quiet strength of place—steadfast, grounded, and proud, like the pulse of a harp’s deep string echoed in the lilt of Welsh voices and the bilingual signs that mark the streets.
Along Ireland’s southern coast, rolling headlands give way to sheltered bays alive with seabirds and seals. We’ll cruise by Clear Island (Cape Clear)—the country’s southernmost inhabited island—where rugged cliffs, lighthouses, and green slopes reveal the wild heart of West Cork. Weather permitting, a Zodiac cruise may bring us closer to seabird colonies and quiet coves shaped by wind and tide. Continuing into Bantry Bay, we’ll visit Ilnacullin (Garinish Island), home to one of Ireland’s most exquisite gardens. Here, subtropical blooms and sculpted terraces flourish in a sheltered microclimate. As we trace the shores of the Iveragh Peninsula—better known as the Ring of Kerry—the landscape unfolds in layers of beauty: sweeping coastlines, tranquil villages, and stone ruins that speak softly of Ireland’s deep and enduring past.
Mist clings to the oak woods and high passes of Killarney, the Jewel in Kerry’s Crown . A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Killarney National Park stretches from the foot of the Macgillycuddy Reeks—the highest mountain range in Ireland—to the outskirts of town, encompassing lakes, mountains, and plains. Here, the land feels alive with myth—where red deer move through mossy glades, and lakes mirror the shifting light. The forest seems to breathe in rhythm, a quiet harmony between water, wood, and wind. You may wander beneath ancient yews or listen to the soft hush of water beneath the trees. In Killarney, time slows; the tune softens; the world feels older, gentler, profoundly green.
On the edge of Ireland’s western sea lie the Aran Isles, windswept, enduring, and geologically unique. Set in Galway Bay, these limestone islands—Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inisheer—enjoy a temperate climate and host an extraordinary diversity of plant and animal life. The Arans are bastions of Irish culture, where a large proportion of the population are Gaelic speakers. Stone walls run like script across the fields, and the Aran sweater, homespun of local wool in intricate patterns, remains a symbol of island identity. You might explore Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric hill fort perched on a 100‑metre cliff edge on Inis Mór—an archaeological wonder and one of Ireland’s most significant ancient sites. Here, language, land, and sea are interwoven—a harmony as enduring as the Atlantic itself.
Toraigh (Tory Island) lies nearly fifteen kilometres off the northwest coast of County Donegal, where Gaelic remains the main spoken language. Since the 1950s, the island has been home to a small community of artists and musicians, with its own art gallery and a tradition of warm hospitality. Conversations here feel like songs, and every visit carries the sense of being welcomed into something rare—a community defined by creativity, resilience, and warmth, its heartbeat kept in time with the sea’s quiet measure.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway is a geological wonder where about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns rise from the surf like steps built by legend. Formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, these stones lead from the coastal cliffs down into the North Sea. The Causeway invites both awe and reflection—its symmetry the work of time, fire, and the patient sea, and its myths tied to the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. The air vibrates with the deep hum of the Atlantic, a bass note beneath the cry of kittiwakes. Nature’s artistry and human story entwine here, composing a quiet symphony—the harmony of earth and ocean.
Returning to Troon, the coastline greets you like an old song revisited. There’s a fullness to the homeward passage—the sound of waves against hull, the camaraderie of new friends, and a deepened sense of familiarity with these Celtic shores. The voyage ends where it began, its melody resolved but still echoing with in—the refrain of sea, story, and kinship carried onward.
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