Cruise itinerary
20-Night Europe Cruise from Southampton
20 nights · Europe · 15 ports of call
20-night Europe cruise aboard EXPLORA IV, departing Southampton and calling at At Sea, Greencastle, Killybegs, Portree, Isle of Skye, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands and Invergordon and 8 more.
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At a glance
- Ship
- EXPLORA IV
- Cruise line
- Explora Journeys
- Duration
- 20 nights
- Region
- Europe · Northern Europe
- Departs
- Southampton
- Returns
- Southampton
How NestCruise works:we're advisor-led, not a booking engine. No fares are listed and there are no booking fees — tell an advisor your dates and party and they price your exact EXPLORA IV sailing, typically within 24 hours.
Where this voyage takes you
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Southampton
Depart 20:00
England's principal cruise homeport on the south coast, with deep docks that once launched the great ocean liners. Many transatlantic and Northern European sailings begin here, an hour or so by rail from London and close to the New Forest.
- Ocean liner heritage
- Gateway to London
- Tudor old town
- Day2
At Sea
- Day3
Greencastle
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 19:00
A coastal village on the Inishowen peninsula in County Donegal, at the head of Lough Foyle in Ireland's far north. Guarded by a ruined medieval castle and a fort, it looks across the lough toward Northern Ireland, set among green hills and quiet shore.
- Greencastle fort
- Lough Foyle
- Inishowen peninsula
- Day4
Killybegs
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
- Day5
Portree, Isle of Skye
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
- Day6
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 18:00
The main town of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland, set around a sheltered bay. The red-stone St Magnus Cathedral towers over the centre, with Neolithic sites such as Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar across the islands.
- St Magnus Cathedral
- Skara Brae
- Ring of Brodgar
- Day7
Invergordon
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 18:00
A deep-water firth port in the Scottish Highlands, the usual gateway to Inverness and Loch Ness. Cruise ships dock close to town, with castles, single-malt distilleries along the Speyside route, and the Culloden battlefield within easy reach of the harbour.
- Loch Ness
- Speyside whisky
- Culloden battlefield
- Day8
Edinburgh
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 20:00
Scotland's capital, a city of medieval closes and Georgian terraces built across volcanic hills, with ships docking at Leith and Newhaven. A clifftop castle crowns the Old Town above the Royal Mile, which runs down to the royal palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Edinburgh Castle
- the Royal Mile
- Arthur's Seat
- Day9
At Sea
- Day10
Southampton
Arrive 07:00 · Depart 18:00
England's principal cruise homeport on the south coast, with deep docks that once launched the great ocean liners. Many transatlantic and Northern European sailings begin here, an hour or so by rail from London and close to the New Forest.
- Ocean liner heritage
- Gateway to London
- Tudor old town
- Day11
At Sea
- Day12
Mandal
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
Norway's southernmost town, a tidy harbour of white wooden houses set among smooth coastal rocks where the Mandal river meets the sea. It is known for its long sandy beach, summer artists and a sheltered old town of narrow lanes.
- Sjøsanden beach
- white wooden town
- Mandal river
- Day13
At Sea
- Day14
Geiranger
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 17:00
- Day15
Bergen
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 19:00
A historic port on Norway's western fjord coast, ringed by seven mountains and once the country's largest city. Bergen is known for the colourful wooden Hanseatic warehouses of Bryggen, the Fløibanen funicular, and its lively fish market.
- Bryggen wharf
- Fløibanen funicular
- Fish Market
- Day16
Flåm
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 18:00
- Day17
Haugesund
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
A coastal town on the south-west Norwegian seaboard, sheltered among islands along a historic shipping channel. It lies near the Viking site at Avaldsnes and the dramatic Langfoss waterfall, with skerries and fjords spreading around it.
- Avaldsnes Viking site
- Langfoss waterfall
- Island skerries
- Day18
Eidfjord
Arrive 08:00 · Depart 18:00
A small Norwegian village at the head of the Hardangerfjord, ringed by steep cliffs and waterfalls. It sits at the gateway to the Hardangervidda plateau, with the thundering Vøringsfossen falls and the Måbødalen valley a short drive inland.
- Vøringsfossen falls
- Hardangervidda plateau
- Måbødalen valley
- Day19
At Sea
- Day20
Zeebrugge
Arrive 09:00 · Depart 18:00
A North Sea port on the Belgian coast and the gateway to Bruges, about a quarter-hour inland by road. Zeebrugge itself is a working harbour and beach resort, while nearby Bruges draws visitors for its canals, belfry, and medieval market square.
- Bruges canals
- Belfry of Bruges
- Coastal tram
- Day21
Southampton
Arrive 07:00
England's principal cruise homeport on the south coast, with deep docks that once launched the great ocean liners. Many transatlantic and Northern European sailings begin here, an hour or so by rail from London and close to the New Forest.
- Ocean liner heritage
- Gateway to London
- Tudor old town
Upcoming departures
- 7 Jul 2028
Upcoming sailings of this itinerary — a NestCruise advisor confirms current availability and your fare.
20-Night Europe Cruise from Southampton FAQ
Which ports does this cruise visit?
This 20-night Europe cruise calls at Southampton, At Sea, Greencastle, Killybegs, Portree, Isle of Skye, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Invergordon, Edinburgh, Mandal, Geiranger, Bergen, Flåm, Haugesund, Eidfjord and Zeebrugge.
How many days are spent at sea?
5 days are spent at sea; the rest are in port.
Where does this cruise depart from?
It is a round-trip sailing from Southampton.
How long is this cruise?
20 nights aboard EXPLORA IV.
When does this itinerary sail?
Upcoming departures include 7 Jul 2028. A NestCruise advisor can confirm current availability.