01/05/2023 Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1800.

02/05/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

03/05/2023 Brest, France

Brest, France

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Set in a natural harbour on Brittany’s Finistere Peninsula, the naval port of Brest is a modern city with a strong seafaring past. Under German occupation the port was a major U-boat base and whilst many of the city’s older buildings did not survive the war, the Château de Brest still dominates the mouth of River Penfeld. The medieval tower of Tour Tanguy stands opposite the Chateau while modern sights include the Pont de I’lroise cable bridge and the sprawling Oceanopolis aquarium.

Included excursion

An included excursion will reveal the key sights of Brest.

Optional excursions

Discover the half-timbered houses and twin spires of the Gothic Cathedral in medieval Quimper.

04/05/2023 Falmouth, England

Falmouth, England

Arrive 0800. Depart 1745.

Falmouth is a thriving port town, well-known for its rich maritime heritage and was converted into a seaport at the suggestion of Sir Walter Raleigh. Positioned on the Cornish coast at the Fal Estuary, today the town is the start and finish line for many record-breaking sea voyages including those of Dame Ellen MacArthur and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Included excursion

Enjoy Cornwall’s attractions including Marazion, where you can admire the view of St Michael’s Mount on its granite island.

Optional excursions

Discover the remarkable botanical gardens of the Eden Project which are all housed in tropical biomes, nestling in a huge crater of a former china clay mine.

05/05/2023 Plymouth ⚓, England

Plymouth ⚓, England

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Set at the mouth of the river Plym, Plymouth has served as a centre for trade and a base for exploration and military action. It was from here, in 1577, that Sir Francis Drake embarked on the first ever circumnavigation of the globe. He is said to have been playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe – the highest point above the city – as the Armada sailed up the Channel before he masterminded their defeat. Drake was also involved in establishing England's first colony, at Roanoke in Virginia, although the most famous emigration from Plymouth was that of the puritan Pilgrims who left for the New World on board the Mayflower in 1620. You can still visit the Mayflower steps. In 1690 the first Royal Dockyard opened on the banks of the Tamar west of Plymouth, the start of the development of a huge naval complex. The port played a major role in the Napoleonic Wars and also in both World Wars. You can find out more at The Devonport Naval Heritage Site and Visitor Centre. It was from Plymouth in 1831 that Charles Darwin sailed to the Galapagos Islands, and developed his theories about the Origins of Species.

06/05/2023 Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.