Festive Celebrations to the Canaries

Portsmouth

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Leixoes (for Oporto), Portugal

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Leixoes is one of Portugal’s major seaports. It offers a gateway to the city of Oporto, which sits beside the Douro River. 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.

Optional excursions

Head to Oporto set on the River Douro, called the ‘River of Gold’ by the Romans. Explore the city by Tuk Tuk or see the sights from the water aboard a Rabelo boat.

Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive 0900. 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. Lisbon’s downtown area is a labrynth of narrow cobbled alleyways steeped in history.

Included excursion

See some of the city’s numerous attractions.

Optional excursion

Explore the city on a guided Tuk Tuk tour or by vintage tram.

Cádiz, Spain

Arrive 1400 on Dec 22. Depart 1700 on Dec 23.

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.

Included excursion

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

Optional excursion

Enjoy a full-day trip to Seville or explore Cádiz on foot with a local guide.

Spend the day at sea.

Arrecife, Lanzarote

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Named in Spanish after the reef that edges its shoreline, peaceful Arrecife has been the island’s capital since it took the title from nearby Teguise in 1852. This relatively sleepy port’s origins can be seen in the whitewashed fishermen cottages and 17th-century church set around the coastal lagoon of El Charco de San Gines.

The 18th-century San Jose fortress now hosts a collection of art by such renowned Spanish artists as Picasso and Miro, while the Science and Art Centre is housed in the 19th-century manor of La Casa de Los Arroyo.

From Arrecife, you can also discover the vast lava fields and crater-studded landscapes of Timanfaya National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Look forward to a traditional Christmas dinner and live entertainment on board, followed by a deck party under the stars in the evening.

Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The second-largest island of the Canaries, Fuerteventura, is ringed by beaches and blessed with a mild climate. Several nature reserves protect the unique ecosystems of its undeveloped volcanic interior, including Corralejo Nature Reserve.

In the capital, Puerto del Rosario, discover the old quarter, with its tangle of lanes and whitewashed houses while a variety of artworks, including statues and murals, add colour to the relaxed squares and streets. 19th-century sights include Nuestra Señora del Rosario church.

Santa Cruz, Tenerife

Arrive 0800. Depart 1800.

Tenerife is crowned by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Teide. Its capital Santa Cruz has a mix of old and new sights, from the central square of Plaza de Espana, which was built in 1929 to the auditorium, an expressionist structure that resembles a wave.

Included excursion

Look forward to an included panoramic excursion, taking in the mountain scenery and pausing in La Laguna for time at leisure.

Optional excursions

Take a cable car to the summit of Mount Teide, or enjoy tea at the Orchid Garden.

Santa Cruz, La Palma

Arrive 0800. Depart 2200.

La Palma is the greenest of the Canaries and large tracts of its laurel forests have been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You may like to explore the capital of Santa Cruz which is set in a sweeping natural amphitheatre and was a hub for New World explorers and merchant traders during the Age of Exploration. Its history is reflected in the 16th-century Castilian architecture and the old quarter with its wooden balconies and cobbled lanes is set around the Renaissance Plaza Espana. The island’s maritime past is displayed in the Naval Museum which is housed inside a replica of Christopher Columbus’ famous vessel, the Santa Maria.

Included excursion

An included panoramic excursion will provide an introduction to the surrounding area.

Optional excursions

Join a walking tour of the coast and visit to Los Tilos Forest.

San Sebastian, La Gomera

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

It was in La Gomera that Christopher Columbus readied his ships for his New World adventures. Local legend holds that he took mass in La Asuncion church and water from a well at the manor Pozo de la Aguada, which displays exhibits on the explorer’s expeditions.

One of the oldest remaining structures is the stone Torre del Conde tower which protected the wife of the island’s first governor, Hernan Peraza, when ill-treated islanders rebelled in 1488.

Optional excursions

Explore the unspoilt forests of Garajonay National Park, home to such rare indigenous wildlife as the Gomeran lizard and Gomeran skink.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Arrive 0800. Depart 1600.

Nearly half of Gran Canaria has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The island is fringed with beautiful coves and sandy beaches to the south and wild mountains to the north. The subtropical capital of Las Palmas is set beside two broad bays and features cafe-lined squares and courtyards overflowing with exotic fruits, flowers and palms. The oldest sights can be discovered in a trio of historic neighbourhoods: San Antonio, Triana and Vegueta. Discover over 500 years of history in the landmark Santa Ana Cathedral which encompasses Gothic, Renaissance and neoclassical styles.

Optional excursion

Head off into the mountains on a trip to discover villages seemingly lost in time or hike the Bandama Crater.

Funchal ⚓, Madeira

Arrive 1200 on Dec 31. Depart 0030 on Jan 1.

Madeira is a verdant, mountainous island formed from a volcanic eruption and known for its namesake wine. Often described as the ‘floating garden in the Atlantic’, the island is home to the world’s largest laurel forest and Botanical Gardens where exotic indigenous plants grow.

Enjoy the celebrations to welcome in the New Year on board tonight, as well as watching the fireworks display over Madeira from the comfort of your ship.

Included excursion

An included panoramic excursion will reveal the scenic highlights of the island.

Optional excursion

Admire panoramic views across Funchal as you ascend to the suburb of Monte by cable car, before visiting the Botanical Gardens, step out onto the glass-bottomed skywalk at Cabo Girao, over Europe’s highest sea cliff.

⚓ Land by launch or tender

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Portsmouth

Arrive 0730.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.