07/09/2022 Dover

Dover

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1800.

08/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

09/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

10/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

11/09/2022 Malaga, Spain

Malaga, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

A reflection of the many cultures which have intermingled in this port city over the centuries, Malaga boasts a wealth of historical sights. Chief among these are the imposing Moorish citadels of Alcazaba and its gardens, and the ruins of Gilfarbaro castle, as well as the Roman amphitheatre and Renaissance cathedral. Picasso, one of the city’s most famous sons, is celebrated at the Museu de Picasso in the artists’ quarter, which is also home to the Centre of Contemporary Arts as well as a host of smaller galleries and displays of street art.

Included sightseeing excursion

An included sightseeing excursion will show you Malaga’s highlights.

Optional excursions

Follow the Camino del Rey – ‘Kings Way’ – on a walk through a gorge and discover the natural beauty of the Malaga province.

12/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

13/09/2022 Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Eclectic Barcelona is a city of many faces, from subterranean Roman ruins to the elegant architecture of the Gothic quarter and the imaginative designs of Gaudi. Barcelona’s heart is Placa de Catalunya, an immense square dotted with fountains and statues, which bridges the old city and the 19th-century Eixample district. Lively La Rambla, the city’s main pedestrianised artery, flows from this square to Port Vell. Landmark sights include the Sagrada Familia, the 13th-century cathedral and Mercado de la Boqueria, a colourful indoor market. 

Included sightseeing excursion

An included sightseeing tour offers the perfect introduction to this unique city.

Optional excursions

Discover the Benedictine Montserrat Monastery set on a mountain top and reached by cable car.

14/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

15/09/2022 Salerno, Italy

Salerno, Italy

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

This once Roman town has an idyllic setting on the Tyrrhenian Sea and is a gateway to the Amalfi Coast. During the 11th century, Salerno was known far and wide for its leading School of Medicine. One of the school’s most prominent physicians, Matteo Silvatico, grew medicinal plants on the terraced slopes of Minerva Gardens. These medieval gardens were a forerunner of botanical gardens and offer a cool retreat in the heart of the city.

Optional excursions

Explore the Campania region’s past on a short drive to the ruins of Pompeii, the ancient town of Herculaneum or Paestum, famed for its three ancient Greek temples.

16/09/2022 Palermo, Sicily

Palermo, Sicily

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Conquered time after time, Palermo is a great melting pot of cultural influences with an eclectic array of Arab, Byzantine and Norman architectural sights. Of special note is the 12th-century ensemble of civil buildings that feature on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. These include the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel, Zisa Palace and Palermo Cathedral. At the heart of the city you’ll find Quattro Canti, a Baroque piazza and popular meeting place. An included sightseeing tour will give you a panoramic overview.

Included sightseeing excursion

See some of the surrounding area on an included sightseeing tour.

Optional excursions

Visit the Cathedral Churches in Cefalù or Monreale, all of which are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

17/09/2022 La Goulette (for Tunis), Tunisia

La Goulette (for Tunis), Tunisia

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

From La Goulette, discover Tunis, the colourful capital of North Africa’s smallest country. A fusion of Berber and Arab cultures can be seen in the UNESCO-listed medina which was founded in the 8th century. Its labyrinthine alleyways contain some 700 monuments, including mosques, mausoleums and madrassas. Seek out the covered souks where stallholders barter over such goods as spices, fabrics and crafts. In the Bardo Museum, antiquities from nearby Carthage are showcased – it was once the Mediterranean’s greatest city until its destruction by the Romans during the third Punic War in 146BC.

Optional excursions

Visit the ruins of Carthage, a city that once surpassed Rome or visit Sidi Bou Said, a village of whitewashed houses decorated with blue-painted doors.

18/09/2022 Cagliari, Sardinia

Cagliari, Sardinia

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Centuries-old Cagliari is a memorable sight to behold – especially when approaching by sea. Grand churches, watchtowers and shuttered townhouses that rise over the capital’s seven hills will be revealed on a panoramic included sightseeing excursion. The cityscape is crowned by Il Castello, the medieval hilltop old town which is penned in by Pisan and Aragonese ramparts. You can also visit the 13th-century cathedral and the five-mile-long sands of Poetto.

Included sightseeing excursion

Grand churches, watchtowers and shuttered townhouses that rise over the capital’s seven hills will be revealed on a panoramic included sightseeing excursion.

19/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

20/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

21/09/2022 Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

3,000-year-old Cádiz is Western Europe’s oldest continually inhabited city since its founding by the ancient seafaring Phoenicians. It is strung along a peninsula, and was refortified in the 17th-century after the British attacked twice, nearly destroying the city. Key landmarks include the Baroque and neoclassical cathedral with its yellow dome and the adjoining El Sagarario, the Roman amphitheatre, Castillo de Santa Catalaina and the Torre Tavira – one of 129 watchtowers dotted throughout the city. An included tour offers a relaxing introduction to the city.

Included sightseeing excursion

See some of the city’s attractions, both old and new, during an included sightseeing tour.

22/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

23/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

24/09/2022 At Sea

Spend the day at sea.

25/09/2022 Dover

Dover

Arrive 0700.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.

Please note: Some of the highlights detailed may only be seen on optional excursions or by exploring independently.