France, Portugal & Spain Combination Cruise: Bordeaux, Lisbon & Seville

Day 1 - Portsmouth, UK

Arrive: Sat 02 September 2028 / Depart: Sat 02 September 2028 at 18:00

Day 2 - Caen

Arrive: Sun 03 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 03 September 2028 at 18:00

Day 3 - St Malo, France

Arrive: Mon 04 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 04 September 2028 at 20:00

The walled city of St. Malo is a quaint maze of fine old buildings, museums, and cafés serving Breton specialties of crepes and cider. Stroll along the ramparts, walk the cobblestone streets, and hear tales of corsairs, privateers grown rich off captured ships and their booty, authorized by the government during wartime, in order to hinder the enemy. Nearby is the rocky tidal island of Mont St. Michel. The perfect spot for a religious retreat, the first monastic settlement was built here in the 8th century, and the Romanesque church that is its crowning glory in the 11th.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Bordeaux

Arrive: Wed 06 September 2028 at 10:30

Bordeaux’s fortunes have long been tied to viticulture, beginning with an expansion of the wine trade with England in the 14th century. As a result it is a handsome and cohesive city of uniform classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and many fine mansions financed by the almighty grape. The nearby countryside is alive with wine chateaux sporting impressive appellations such as Pauillac, Sauternes, Margaux, and Saint-Emilion. A visit is an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine production and appreciation, which of course requires a considerable amount of tasting to accomplish.

Day 6 - Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s fortunes have long been tied to viticulture, beginning with an expansion of the wine trade with England in the 14th century. As a result it is a handsome and cohesive city of uniform classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and many fine mansions financed by the almighty grape. The nearby countryside is alive with wine chateaux sporting impressive appellations such as Pauillac, Sauternes, Margaux, and Saint-Emilion. A visit is an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine production and appreciation, which of course requires a considerable amount of tasting to accomplish.

Day 7 - Bordeaux

Depart: Fri 08 September 2028 at 10:30

Bordeaux’s fortunes have long been tied to viticulture, beginning with an expansion of the wine trade with England in the 14th century. As a result it is a handsome and cohesive city of uniform classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and many fine mansions financed by the almighty grape. The nearby countryside is alive with wine chateaux sporting impressive appellations such as Pauillac, Sauternes, Margaux, and Saint-Emilion. A visit is an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine production and appreciation, which of course requires a considerable amount of tasting to accomplish.

Day 8 - Bilbao

Arrive: Sat 09 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 09 September 2028 at 22:00

If Bilbao wasn't always a household name, it was transformed with the opening of Frank Gehry's groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in 1997. Located in the heart of the Basque Country, Bilbao became an instant media darling and tourist mecca. And that was just the beginning of an exciting phase of development in infrastructure and cultural activity, which combined with the Basque love of food, wine, and laughter, solidified the city's place in the annals of tourism.

Day 9 - Gijon

Arrive: Sun 10 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 10 September 2028 at 13:30

On the Bay of Biscay, in the self-governing community of Asturias, lies the northern city of Gijón. This region is known for its verdant hills; the greenest perhaps in all of Spain. The contrast against the bay is stunning; however, the main attraction is the fishing village of Cimadevilla, meaning 'top of the village.' Step back in time as you stroll its tiny streets with renovated buildings in every imaginable hue.

Day 10 - Vigo

Arrive: Mon 11 September 2028 at 10:00 / Depart: Mon 11 September 2028 at 20:00

Catholic pilgrims flock to the nearby sacred cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, built over the burial spot of St. James. In Vigo, Galicia province's most populated city, El Sireno, a gilded sculpture depicting a half-man-half-sea-creature, towers over your head and the city's lovely gardens and well-preserved historical buildings.

Day 11 - Leixoes, Portugal

Arrive: Tue 12 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 12 September 2028 at 15:30

At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies the city of Porto, known mostly for its port wine trade. With origins dating back to the 5th century, there is plenty to see in this town that was named European Capital of Culture in 2001. Stroll the Ribeira neighborhood along the river, explore the Cathedral area, or tour the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river.

Day 12 - Lisbon

Arrive: Wed 13 September 2028 at 06:30 / Depart: Wed 13 September 2028 at 17:00

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

Day 13 - Portimao

Arrive: Thu 14 September 2028 at 07:30 / Depart: Thu 14 September 2028 at 18:00

The breathtaking scenery of Portugal’s southernmost region has long made the Algarve region a magnet for those seeking winter sun. And Portimão is a perfect example: golden sandy beaches beneath dramatic cliffs, the aroma of fresh sardines on the grill and some of the best golf courses in Europe - what could be better? This, maybe: the fabulous Autodromo Algarve Racing School, better known as the Poritmao Circuit puts you behind the wheel of a professional F1 racecar on a F1 track, pretty hard to beat.

Day 14 - Seville

Arrive: Fri 15 September 2028 at 13:00

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 15 - Seville

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 16 - Seville

Depart: Sun 17 September 2028 at 13:00

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 17 - Gibraltar

Arrive: Mon 18 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 18 September 2028 at 22:00

The towering Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Overlooking the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea from a height of 1,400 ft, it is a natural fortress, in a strategic position to control all naval traffic between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Only three miles long and a mile wide, this peninsula attached to the Spanish mainland juts out into the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates continental Europe from North Africa, a distance of only 14 miles. One feature most unusual for Europe is the troupes of semi-wild and curiously tailless Barbary macaques that have taken up residence on The Rock’s upper reaches.

Day 18 - Malaga

Arrive: Tue 19 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 19 September 2028 at 22:00

Málaga is the lively capital of the Costa del Sol, famed for its beaches and mild climate, and gateway to Andalusia, with its Moorish architectural heritage. The city’s Alcazaba is a fine example, an 11th century citadel sitting in majestic splendor overlooking the African coast. It contains three magnificent palaces and graceful gardens with ornate fountains. In addition to their rich cultural heritage, Malagueños are also very proud of their most famous citizens – Picasso, for whom there is a museum commemorating his birth here, and actor Antonio Banderas, so far without a monument.

Day 19 - Motril, Granada

Arrive: Wed 20 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 20 September 2028 at 20:00

In AD 711 Moors from North Africa conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula, and retained portions of it for 800 years. Granada was the last stronghold, and a symbol of economic, cultural, and artistic prosperity until it too was overcome in 1492. The city’s glory is embodied in the magnificent Alhambra, a compound of palaces and gardens that is a masterpiece of Moorish style. It appears that a primary goal of the architects was to cover every single inch with decoration. As Islam bans the representation of figures of any kind, the decorative elements are made up of complex, detailed, and intertwining geometric and floral images, and Arabic script.

Day 20 - Cartagena, Spain

Arrive: Thu 21 September 2028 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 21 September 2028 at 18:00

Strategically located along historic sailing routes, Cartagena has been colonized by a veritable who’s who of Mediterranean superpowers over the millennia, resulting in a rich and multi-layered cultural heritage, and a history both glorious and turbulent. From atop a hill, Concepción Castle served as a fortress for Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Castilians. The 13th century Old Cathedral stands on the remains of a Roman Theater just discovered in 1987. More recent architectural contributions include modernist designs of public buildings and private dwellings by pupils of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.

Day 21 - Valencia

Arrive: Fri 22 September 2028 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 22 September 2028 at 18:00

One of the country's biggest and bustling cities was defended against the Moors by the legendary Spaniard "El Cid." Work up an appetite taking in la Calle de Los Caballeros and La Lonja, Valencia's old stock-exchange building of 1483, and reward your curiosities with a Paella Valenciana, Spain's most famous contribution to the world's tables.

Day 22 - Tarragona

Arrive: Sat 23 September 2028 at 06:30 / Depart: Sat 23 September 2028

A unique blend of Spanish and Roman history, Tarragona is a seaside treasure on Spain’s Northeast coast just waiting to be discovered. Dating back to the 5th century BC, it’s the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula, and the city’s ruins are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take in stunning ocean views while exploring the Roman Amphitheatre, or while strolling along the Mediterranean Balcony.