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Santiago de Compostela, Spain- Douarnenez harbour
- Oporto and the Douro River
- Bilbao in the Basque Country
Exploring Spain and Western France
Spirit of Discovery departing Portsmouth
£4,255 per person
12 nights 28th April 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required
save up to 30%
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
Explore the coastal attractions of Portugal, Spain and France…
Enjoy a leisurely, all-inclusive cruise along the coasts of Portugal, Spain and France in 2024. Explore the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed Ribeira old town of Oporto and uncover the Roman heritage of Gijon. Cruise to Spain’s Galician coast to visit Vigo and the Basque coast to call at Bilbao, home to the famous Guggenheim Museum. From La Pallice you can discover the ‘White City’ of La Rochelle before stopping on the Brittany coast to experience the authentic charm of Douarmenez, a new port for Saga Cruises.
Your three included panoramic excursions will be in
- Oporto (from Leixoes), Portugal
- Vigo, Spain
- Bilbao, Spain
Joining you on board…
Jools Holland will be performing live on this cruise.…
Jools Holland OBE DL is a composer, pianist, bandleader and broadcaster. From playing pubs in the East End docks as a teenage greaser, to leading his rhythm and blues orchestra and selling millions of records this century, it is his passion for music that has made Jools Holland into a doyen of the music scene. Jools was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to the British music industry and in 2007 his autobiography, Barefaced Lies & Boogie-Woogie Boasts, hit the shelves.
Itinerary
Portsmouth
Embark Spirit of Discovery.
Depart 1700.
See what we have to offer at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
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. Look forward to an included panoramic excursion here.
Included excursion
Explore your surroundings on an included panoramic excursion.
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.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Gijon, Spain
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Gijon is a city of old and new where historic buildings are complemented by modern sculptures. This port can trace its roots back to the Romans although it flourished as a result of the 19th-century steel trade. The atmospheric streets of the historic fisherman’s quarter, Cimadevilla, feature plazas, churches and museums which lead up Santa Catalina hill. Beyond lie sandy beaches, the 19th to 20th-century city centre and wooded parks.
Optional excursions
Sightseeing tours reveal the colonnaded streets of seaside Aviles and medieval Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias region.
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.
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.
Douarnenez ⚓, France
Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.
Douarnenez is an attractive coastal town with a bustling harbour. The town prospered in the 19th century when it became a centre for sardine fishing and canning. The fisherman’s cottages and workshops lining the narrow streets from the harbour to the town centre are a reminder of the town’s heyday. From Douarnenez, you can follow a number of scenic coastal paths, including a trail to Plomarc’h Natural Site with its 18th-century stone cottages.
Optional excursions
Visit Quimper, Brittany’s oldest city, and see the half-timbered houses around St Corentin Cathedral.
⚓ Land by launch or tender.
Spend the day at sea.
See what we have to offer at sea.
Portsmouth
Arrive 0730.
Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.
£4,255 per person
12 nights 28th April 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required
save up to 30%
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.
£4,255 per person
12 nights 28th April 2024 Including optional travel insurance or a price reduction of £27 if not required