06/08/2023 Tilbury

Tilbury

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1800.

07/08/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

08/08/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

09/08/2023 Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive 1100. Depart 1800.

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 sightseeing excursion is a great way to see some of the highlights.

Included excursion

See some of the city’s numerous attractions.

10/08/2023 Portimão ⚓, Portugal

Portimão ⚓, Portugal

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

With a prime position on the popular Algarve, Portimão is renowned for it’s golden beaches, charming old quarter and lively marina, bookended by the historic forts of Santa Catarina and São João. You can learn more about the city’s history of shipbuilding and sardine fishing at the Portimão Museum, which is housed in a restored 19th-century cannery on the bank of the Arade River.

11/08/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

12/08/2023 La Coruña, Spain

La Coruña, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

In the historic maritime city of La Coruña, sights worthy of your attention include the medieval lanes and plazas of the old town, Riazor Beach and the UNESCO-listed Tower of Hercules. The latter is the oldest operational Roman lighthouse and can found 8 miles away at the end of a coastal promenade. The city’s main sights will unfold before you on an included sightseeing excursion. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to UNESCO-listed Santiago de Compostela which marks the end of an ancient pilgrimage route that concludes at the 12th-century cathedral where St James is allegedly enshrined.

Included excursion

See some of the city’s main attractions on an included sightseeing excursion.

Optional excursions

Experience the ecclesiastical capital of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the last stop on the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage route that concludes at the 12th-century cathedral where St James is allegedly enshrined.

13/08/2023 Santander, Spain

Santander, Spain

Arrive 0900. Depart 1800.

A jewel on Spain’s verdant ‘Green Coast’, Santander has long been a popular seaside resort thanks to its white-sand beaches. An included sightseeing excursion will point out Santander’s mix of old and new. Of special note are the Palacio de la Magdalena, the royal summer palace built in the early 1900s which houses an interesting art collection, the 13th-century Cathedral de la Asuncion, the unusual capsule-shaped Centro Botin art museum, and the Paseo de Pereda y Calle Castellar promenade park, which is lined with Baroque-inspired houses. 

Included excursion

An included sightseeing excursion offers an introduction to the city.

Optional excursions

Travel to historic Santillana del Mar to discover its Romanesque architecture and 12th-century abbey.

14/08/2023 Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux, France

Arrive 0745 on Aug 14. Depart 1730 on Aug 15.

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 excursions

Visit the world-famous Margaux wine district, located north of Bordeaux. The village is home to a number of prestigious wine estates.

16/08/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

17/08/2023 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 delightful half-timbered houses and twin spires of the Gothic Cathedral in medieval Quimper.

18/08/2023 St Mary’s ⚓, Isles of Scilly

St Mary’s ⚓, Isles of Scilly

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The scenic Isles of Scilly are an archipelago of five inhabited islands, situated 28 miles from Land's End. With a mild climate, an abundance of flora and fauna and numerous white sandy beaches, the islands are a haven of peace and tranquility. St Mary’s, the largest island in the chain, is criss-crossed by nature trails and walking routes punctuated by ancient villages.

⚓ Land by launch or tender.

19/08/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

20/08/2023 Portsmouth

Portsmouth

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.