About This Trip

Indulge all the senses on this eight-night cruise itinerary aboard a deluxe small ship. Connect the past with the present as you sail from Lisbon to London, exploring the storied legacies of Portugal, Spain, France and England. Taste port and cheese in Oporto; retrace the footsteps of ancient pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela; visit Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum; climb to the top of UNESCO-inscribed Mont-Saint-Michel; and enjoy an overnight docked within view of London’s Tower Bridge. Meet guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he joins us on a tour of the hallowed Normandy beaches.

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Itinerary

• Day 1:  Depart Home City

  Monday, May 3, 2025
  

  Depart your home city for Lisbon, Portugal.
  

• Day 2: Lisbon, Portugal | Embark World Traveller

  Tuesday, May 4, 2025

  Arrive in Lisbon and transfer to the port to embark the deluxe World Traveller. Settle into your suite or stateroom and enjoy dinner on board this evening.
  

• Day 3: Leixões / Porto

  Wednesday, May 5, 2025

  Disembark for an excursion to Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city. Renowned for its port wine, Oporto has been occupied by humans since the 8th century B.C., when excavations show evidence of a Phoenician trading settlement. Situated high on a hill over the Douro River, this ancient city has been occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Normans and Moors over the centuries. Oporto is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Romanesque monuments, medieval old town and Stock Exchange.

  Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions:
  • Wine tasting with port and cheese.
  • Medieval Monuments of Oporto culture tour.

  Later this afternoon, experience the lively Ribeira riverfront medieval quarter on a guided walking tour.

  Free Time: After the tour, you will have time on your own to explore Ribeira, one of Oporto’s most popular and picturesque neighborhoods. Options abound, from shopping to strolling the medieval streets along the river.

  Captain's Welcome Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Welcome Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening.

• Day 4: La Coruña, Spain / Santiago de Compostela

  Thursday, May 6, 2025

  Today we arrive in the historic Spanish port city of La Coruña for an excursion to Santiago de Compostela. Located in the autonomous region of Galicia, UNESCO-inscribed Santiago de Compostela has been a world-renowned pilgrimage site since the 9th century when a light was seen shining over a forgotten Roman tomb believed to be that of St. James the Great, one of Jesus’ apostles. Following the Camino de Santiago pathway, Christians soon began to descend on the area to repent for their sins and visit the tomb. Santiago de Compostela’s spectacular old town is filled with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque monuments — all surrounding the Romanesque cathedral where the tomb is located.

  Your immersion into Santiago de Compostela begins with a guided walking tour to the city center at the Plaza de Obradoiro square, where you may admire the splendid Palacio de Rajoy. From there, you will visit the hallowed sanctuary of Spain's patron saint — a legendary cathedral that holds the remains of St. James. Marvel at the ornate blend of styles on its interior, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque, as well as the site’s unique features. See the silver urn that contains St. James’ ashes and the ancient Portico de la Gloria entry to the cathedral — a famous masterpiece by 12th century European sculptor Master Mateo.

• Day 5: Santander / Bilbao

  Friday, May 7, 2025

  A member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the ancient port city of Bilbao has become famous for its cultural transformation and innovations in architecture, interior design and fashion. The once-gritty city has become one of Spain’s most popular destinations. Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum is credited for ushering in Bilbao’s cultural renaissance while modernist marvels from Santiago Calatrava and Philippe Starck redefined the post‑industrial skyline.

  Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions:
  • Spectacular Galleries of the Guggenheim Museum and tour of Bilbao.
  • Aspaldiko Basque cooking demonstration.

• Day 6: Cruising at Sea

  Saturday, May 8, 2025

  Wake this morning to stunning views as you spend a day cruising the Bay of Biscay. Relax and enjoy some of the ship’s many luxury amenities as we sail north to France.

• Day 7: Saint Malo / Mont-Saint-Michel

  Sunday, May 9, 2025

  This morning you will journey to Saint-Malo, a fortified French port city where maritime explorer Jacques Cartier was born in the 15th century. From there you will travel to the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel, a pilgrimage site for more than 1,000 years.

  Rising from a tidal plain that appears to be suspended above the sea, the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Mont‑Saint‑Michel began as a humble oratory and became a renowned center of knowledge during the Middle Ages. Cobblestone streets weave through the fortified village, culminating in the Abbaye du Mont‑Saint‑Michel, a three‑story Gothic masterpiece.

  Climb up through the fortified medieval village to behold the glory of Mont-Saint-Michel—seemingly suspended above a saltwater marsh. Admire its storied cloisters; barrel-roofed réfectoire; Salle des Hôtes of the 13th century La Merveille; and the magnificent Église Abbatiale.

• Day 8: Caen / D-Day Sites

  Monday, May 10, 2025

  Today the ship arrives in Cherbourg, where you will disembark for a day of excursions to the historic Normandy beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history.

• Day 9: London, United Kingdom

  Tuesday, May 11, 2025

  Savor panoramic vistas as you cruise the English Channel across the Strait of Dover and up the River Thames to London. This day at sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s many luxury amenities.Watch from the deck as Britain’s history is revealed on this storied journey to remember.

  Dock on the Thames overnight alongside a famous D-Day-era warship in sight of the Tower Bridge.

  Farewell Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening amid views of the London skyline.

• Day 10: London / Disembark Ship / Return to Home City
  

  Wednesday, May 12, 2025

  Disembark the ship after breakfast and return to your home city or continue on the London Post-Program Extension.