Experience the glories of Spain & Portugal on this 8-day cruise and admire the beauty and authentic charm of the old continent. Visit the picturesque city of Monchique, nested between two hills, and sail to Seville, built along the Guadalkivir River with several UNESCO classified monuments and a rich Moorish and Spanish heritage. Explore Granada with her brilliant architectural jewels such as the Alhambra Palace, and discover Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its wines, horse breeding, and flamenco!
Highlights
Admire Seville's UNESCO classified monuments and its rich Moorish heritage
Discover Grenada, with its architectural jewels such as the Alhambra Palace
Visit Jerez de la Frontera, world famous for its sherry and fine horses
Explore the historic city of Ronda, birthplace of modern bull fighting
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Meet at 1pm at the Lisbon Hotel. You'll be transferred by bus to Portimao, where you will embark on your ship. Arrive in Portimao at approximately 5 pm. Dinner on board.
Enjoy a half-day excursion to Silves, a city largely destroyed by a 17th-century earthquake. Marvel at the centuries-old Moorish castle complex with an underground water reservoir, a 13th-century Cathedral built by Alfonso X of Castile on the site of a former Mosque, and a fine strong 15th-century bridge over the Rio Arade. During your visit to Silves, spend some time browsing the historic exhibits at the Museu Arqueológico. Leave Silves and travel into the Serra de Monchique to reach the picturesque city of Monchique and walk through its cobbled streets with small doorways housing various artisan trades. There is a 17th-century Franciscan monastery overlooking the town and a 16th-century Parish Church decorated with hand-crafted blue ceramic tiles.
Return to Portimao for a late lunch. In the afternoon, take an optional walking excursion to Portimao town or spend free time shopping and bathing at the local beach. Sail to Cadiz in the late afternoon. Overnight at sea to Seville.
Morning sailing up the Guadalquivir river and midday arrival. This morning leave port to drive inland for an optional excursion to Seville, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, where Moorish and Spanish art and culture have left their mark. Your optional excursion brings you to the Cathedral, the Alcazar Palace and its Andalusian gardens, the Maria Luisa Park, and the quaint and elegant district of Santa Cruz. Overnight in port.
Day 4: Seville | Jerez de la Frontera | Cadiz, Spain
Take part in an optional full-day excursion to Jerez de la Frontera, famous for its wines, horse breeding, and flamenco. Visit the Alcazar, the cathedral, and a “ganadería”, where bulls are raised to take part in the bull fighting, very much part of Spanish culture. (The ship departs with passengers not participating in the excursion at 8:30 to reach Cadiz). Guests rejoin the ship in Cadiz in the evening. Late night sailing.
Arrive at Gibraltar in the early morning and enjoy an optional half-day excursion to the “Rock”. Visit the Cable Car Base Station and reach the Top Station perched on the summit of Gibraltar for a breathtaking view as you are suspended in mid-air. Then travel to the Middle Station and the sanctuary of Gibraltar’s older inhabitants, the Barbary Apes, roaming free around this station. Return to your coach for a 5-minute drive to Princess Caroline’s Battery and the entrance to the Great Siege Tunnels, a system of tunnels carved out of solid limestone. Proceed to the Gibraltar Museum with its enormous amount of artifacts on display. Return to your yacht or stay in town and make your own arrangements for returning to the yacht in the night. Overnight in port
Enjoy an early morning sailing to Porto Banus, Spain. Arrive in Porto Banus. Enjoy an optional full-day excursion to Ronda, 50 km inland, a city which retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town and the nearby 18th-century Puente Nuevo. Ronda is also famous as the birthplace of modern bullfighting, today glimpsed once a year at the spectacular Feria Goyesca. Plaza de Toros is now a museum, and visitors can stroll out into the arena. Your full-day optional excursion includes visits to an elegant cloistered 16th-century convent and old Ronda with its cobbled streets hemmed by handsome town mansions, some still occupied by Ronda's titled families such as the Casa de Don Bosco. Walk to the leafy Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, which boasts a convent and two churches, including the toy town bell tower of the Iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor. The ship will sail to Malaga at 3 pm and guests participating in the excursion will rejoin the ship in Malaga. Late night arrival in Malaga. Overnight in port.
Arrive in Malaga in the morning and enjoy an optional full-day excursion to Granada, one of the most fascinating cities in Europe and the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492. Visit one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture, the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th c. Explore the Cathedral with its Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, and the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style. Enjoy time at leisure before returning to the ship. Overnight in port.
Important Note: For the Granada & Alhambra Palaces excursion the tickets for Alhambra must be “purchased” latest 6 months in advance therefore this tour must be pre-booked.
Day 8: Malaga, Spain | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your continued independent journey.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,790
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Category C (Double)
Main deck. One double bed, windows, en suite bathroom with shower, flat screen TV sets, DVD players, mini fridges, hairdryers, individually controlled A/C and safe deposit boxes.
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Category B
Main deck. One double bed or two twin beds, windows, en suite bathroom with shower, flat screen TV sets, DVD players, mini fridges, hairdryers, individually controlled A/C and safe deposit boxes.
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Category A
Upper deck. One double bed or two twin beds, windows, en suite bathroom with shower, flat screen TV sets, DVD players, mini fridges, hairdryers, individually controlled A/C and safe deposit boxes.
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Category P
Upper deck. One double bed or two twin beds, sofa, windows, en suite bathroom with shower, flat screen TV sets, DVD players, mini fridges, hairdryers, individually controlled A/C and safe deposit boxes.
Notes
- Please note that fares do not include port charges and possible fuel surcharges. Contact us for details.
- Please note that shore excursions are offered at additional costs.
- Child Discount:
Children between the ages of 7-10 sharing a cabin with two paying adults receive a 50% discount in Category A. Children between the ages of 10-16 sharing a cabin with two paying adults receive a 35% discount in Category A.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
