14/05/2023 Dover

Dover

Embark Spirit of Adventure.

Depart 1800.

15/05/2023 St Peter Port ⚓, Guernsey

St Peter Port ⚓, Guernsey

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Set on low hills, St Peter Port has a quaint collection of wooden-fronted shops and boutiques which are great for a spot of window shopping. Highlights include the town church, which was completed in 1466, and hilltop Candie Gardens which offer excellent coastal views. Listen out for the Noon Day Gun fired daily from 13th-century Castle Cornet, set on an island in the harbour.

Optional excursions

Imagine life during German occupation on a tour exploring Guernsey’s World War Two underground fortifications.

16/05/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

17/05/2023 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 eight 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.

18/05/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

19/05/2023 Lisbon, Portugal

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

Included excursion

See some of the city’s numerous attractions.

20/05/2023 Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal

Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

From Leixoes, an included sightseeing 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 tour 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.

21/05/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

22/05/2023 Gijon, Spain

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 collonaded streets of seaside Aviles and medieval Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias region.

23/05/2023 Bilbao, Spain

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 sightseeing 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 excursion.

24/05/2023 La Pallice (for La Rochelle), France

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.

25/05/2023 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

26/05/2023 Dover

Dover

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Adventure after breakfast.