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Oporto and the Douro River- Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
- The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- Lisbon’s Bélem Tower
Beautiful Bordeaux and Portugal
Spirit of Discovery departing Dover
£4,031 per person
12 nights 16th August 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required
save up to 35%
How our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each grade at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected grades. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold. This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare. Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin and grade. When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.-
No fly
-
Chauffeur service
Experience authentic Portugal, Spain and France…
This all-inclusive cruise to Europe in 2024 visits a region brimming with historic interest. In Portugal you can see the UNESCO-listed sites of Lisbon and Oporto. In Spain you can explore the authentic Galician old town of Vigo and discover the Renaissance and Baroque architecture of Bilbao. While the French cities of Bordeaux and La Rochelle offer a wealth of historical buildings and monuments to uncover, from medieval towers to 18th-century pavilions.
Your three included panoramic excursions will be in
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal
- Bilbao, Spain
Itinerary
Dover
Embark Spirit of Discovery.
Depart 1700.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Lisbon, Portugal
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
The sprawling city of Lisbon is spread across seven hills. It boasts two UNESCO-listed sites: Jeronimos Monastery, where Vasco da Gama is entombed and Bélem Tower, built in his honour. An included panoramic excursion is a great way to see some of the highlights.
Included excursion
See some of the city’s numerous attractions.
Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
From Leixoes, an included panoramic excursion will take you to Oporto. It is set beside the Douro River which has served as the lifeblood of the city for centuries. On one bank lies Villa Nova de Gaia’s port wine lodges, which produce the city’s famous fortified wine, while on the other is the UNESCO-listed Ribeira old town. Cobbled streets climb the steep hillside which is crammed with historic buildings, including the 12th-century cathedral, neoclassical Stock Exchange and Manueline-style Church of Santa Clara. The wooden Rabelo cargo boats, which once ferried barrels of port now carry sightseers along the river – the Ponte Dom Luis I bridge offers a good vantage point from which to appreciate the entire riverscape.
Included excursion
An included panoramic excursion will transport you from Leixoes to Oporto set on the River Douro, called the ‘River of Gold’ by the Romans.
Optional excursions
Enjoy a memorable wine-tasting session in a traditional bodega.
Vigo, Spain
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Vigo is a major fishing port, set in the wine-growing region of Rias Baixas on Spain’s Galician coast. This modern city has a historic quarter, Casco Vello, whose central square is the arcaded Plaza de la Constitución, a neoclassical cathedral and 17th-century Castro Fortress.
Optional excursions
Take advantage of the opportunity to visit UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela which is a treasure trove of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings – the greatest of which is easily the 11th-century cathedral thought to enshrine St James the Apostle.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Bilbao, Spain
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Founded in 1300, Bilbao developed into a shipbuilding centre during the 19th century. Contrast the Renaissance, Baroque and modernist architecture of the historic centre with newer additions to the cityscape. The most striking of these is the riverside Guggenheim Museum, a contorted wave-like structure clad in titanium plates that reflect the surrounding art district which you will see on an included panoramic excursion. Other highlights include the funicular which offers panoramic views on its way to the summit of Artxanda and the sweeping parkland of Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park, the city’s largest green space.
Included excursion
Discover the sights of Bilbao on an included panoramic excursion.
Optional excursions
Visit the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, and browse the contemporary collection of artwork.
Bordeaux, France
Arrive 1200 on Aug 24. Depart 2200 on Aug 25.
Cruise through the Gironde Estuary and up the Garonne River into Bordeaux for an overnight stop. Hailed as the ‘very essence of elegance’ by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, it offers a heady mix of historic art and architecture which blossomed during the Age of Enlightenment, placing its 18th-century centre on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Key among the highlights are the Place de la Bourse and its 21st-century reflective pool.
Optional excursion
Visit the world-famous Margaux wine district, located north of Bordeaux. The village is home to a number of prestigious wine estates.
La Pallice (for La Rochelle), France
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
From La Pallice, visit the ‘White City’ of La Rochelle, so-called for the limestone facades of its many historic buildings which gleam in the sun. Echoes of its significance as a major port up until the 17th century are evident in the three 14th-century fortified towers that guard the historic harbour. The old town is a charming combination of arcaded walkways, half-timbered houses and Renaissance architecture.
Optional excursions
Explore La Rochelle’s medieval past when it was a prosperous trading port or visit the Chateau de la Roche Courbon.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Dover
Arrive 0730.
Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.
£4,031 per person
12 nights 16th August 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required
save up to 35%
How our discounts work
On all cruises we set aside a number of cabins within each grade at a discounted fare, with the highest discount of 35% for ocean cruises and 25% for river cruises available on selected grades. These cabins are sold on a first come, first served basis. As cabins are sold, the discount begins to reduce, and continues to reduce until those selected cabins are sold. This means that the earlier you book, the higher the chance of securing a greater discount. Our price panels clearly show the full cruise price, along with the current discount fare. Please note: During busy periods for holiday bookings, the early booking discount can reduce rapidly. We recommend that you book early to benefit from the best booking discounts and to secure your preferred cabin and grade. When promoting new cruises for the first time, we contact customers on our Advanced Registration list first, allowing then to secure the cabin of their choice and benefit from the best savings. Our brochures are then sent out to loyalty club members first, followed by past cruise goers and then everyone else.)
Spirit of Discovery
2019
Year built
987
Guest capacity (maximum)
540
Ship crew
Britannia Lounge
Relax in comfort with a drink, and admire the spectacular panoramic views.
Enjoy fine dining
Enjoy world-class cuisine at no extra cost in a choice of four restaurants.
Spa
Indulge yourself with a spa treatment in one of our six treatment rooms.
The Library
A booklover’s paradise combined with an artisanal coffee-shop, it's the perfect spot to research your next port of call.
Time for you
Take advantage of tailored exercise regimes and bespoke one-to-one fitness sessions with our health and wellbeing expert.
Daily afternoon tea
Indulge with a sumptuous selection of sweet treats at the daily afternoon tea.
The Terrace
This elegant ‘secret’ garden area is the perfect setting to enjoy the fresh air any time of the day.
£4,031 per person
12 nights 16th August 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required