Coastal Delights of France and Green Spain

Dover

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

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.

Bordeaux, France

Arrive 0915 on Sep 22. Depart 0800 on Sep 23.

Cruise through the Gironde Estuary and up the Garonne River into Bordeaux for an overnight stop. Hailed as the ‘very essence of elegance’ by the late 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.

Included excursion

An included panoramic tour will reveal Bordeaux’s highlights.

Optional excursion

For a taste of Bordeaux’s fine wines, join an optional wine-tasting session in the Margaux Wine District.

Santander, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

A jewel on Spain’s verdant ‘Green Coast’, Santander has long been a popular seaside resort thanks to its white-sand beaches. An included panoramic 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 panoramic excursion offers an introduction to the city.

Optional excursions

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

Spend the day at sea.

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. Lisbon’s downtown area is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled alleyways steeped in history.

Included excursion

See some of the city’s numerous attractions on an included panoramic excursion.

Optional excursions

Take a unique tour of the city on a Tuk Tuk or explore by vintage tram.

Leixoes, Portugal

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Set on hills overlooking the river, Leixoes is known for its narrow streets, granite church towers and Baroque architecture. Leixoes makes a great starting place from which to visit nearby Oporto where the cobbled streets of the old town are crammed with historic buildings, including the 12th-century cathedral, neoclassical Stock Exchange and Manueline-style Church of Santa Clara.

Optional excursions

Visit Oporto with its UNESCO-listed Ribeira old town and explore the city by Tuk Tuk or see the sights from the water aboard a Rabelo boat

La Coruña, Spain

Arrive 0900. 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 13 kilometres away at the end of a coastal promenade.

Included excursion

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

Optional excursion

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.

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.

Spend the day at sea.

Portsmouth

Arrive 0730.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.