Ellen Goldman Finds Luxury in the Wild North Atlantic

"From Dublin to Iceland aboard an expedition ship, I discovered that adventure and elegance can sail together, and summer doesn't have to mean baking in the sun."

I've always believed that the best way to understand a destination is to experience it myself. So when the opportunity came to sail aboard the Seabourn Venture from Dublin to Reykjavik, I knew I had to go. This wasn't just another cruise. It was a chance to explore the lesser traveled western coast of the United Kingdom, visiting places like the Isle of Lewis, St. Kilda, and the Shetland Islands. Places most travelers never think to seek out.

What drew me was the promise of something different: an expedition vessel with the bones of a luxury cruise. I wanted to see for myself whether you could have adventure without sacrificing comfort, whether you could explore remote landscapes and still enjoy a delicious meal and a proper suite at the end of the day.

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A Settlement Frozen in Time

St. Kilda was an unknown. Before this trip, I had never even heard of it. What I found was a settlement that had been inhabited for several hundred years before being abandoned in the 1930s. The remoteness was incredible, especially when I paused to think that people had lived there their entire lives, completely isolated from the modern world. The beauty was astounding, and we were incredibly lucky to hit it on a sunny day. Many vessels don't have sufficiently good weather to disembark, but we lucked out.

Standing on that island, looking out at the stark cliffs and the endless sea, I felt a connection to the people who had once called this place home. It's the kind of moment that stays with you, one that you can't manufacture or plan for. You simply have to be there.

The Ship That Felt Like Home

The Seabourn Venture itself was a revelation. The food was delicious, all the rooms were suites, and the fellow passengers were eager to engage. It felt like a home away from home, with crew and guests incredibly relaxed and genuinely interested in getting to know one another. The level of entertainment surprised me most. Seabourn brought on high quality cabaret performers, some of the best entertainment I've ever experienced on a cruise ship. It wasn't stuffy or formal. It was warm, social, and utterly enjoyable.

This experience made me realize that expedition cruising doesn't have to mean spartan accommodations. Several expedition vessels I've been on previously have been much more basic. Now I know that simply isn't necessary in order to do a great expedition. You can have gracious dining, suite accommodations and high quality entertainment, while still zodiacing out to explore fabulous land formatons inhabited by thousands of migratory birds.

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Who This Trip is For

This journey is made for travelers who are social, enjoy low-key luxury, and have a desire to learn. They need to love the outdoors and experiencing nature; and, they shouldn't expect formal nights or obsequious service. This is about being casual and relaxed while still being pampered. You have the opportunity to attend talks with quirky subject matter like ,"the history of scurvy." If you want to toast the sunset in casually elegent attire after a day exploring cliffs, seabird colonies, on off the beaten path towns, you'll be in heaven.

I also want to challenge how people think about summer travel. A lot of people believe summer means roasting in the hot sun. But, I've found it much more invigorating to be someplace with a breeze and natural cooling. Going north in summer offers a completely different, deeply refreshing experience.

For clients who are cruise-adverse because they picture a behemoth with several thousand passengers, this vessel had only a few hundred and didn't feel at all like a "standard"cruise. We spent considerable time on land, exploring and discovering. Now, when someone tells me they don't do cruises, I know exactly what to show them. The Seabourn Venture changed how I think about expedition travel, and I can't wait to send the right clients to experience it for themselves.