Western Mediterranean: Malaga to Lisbon

Arrive in Malaga and board the Sea Cloud II. Settle into your cabin and attend a welcome dinner as the ship sets sail.

Málaga has spruced itself up. In 2003, the Museo Picasso opened in a 16th century Renaissance palace and is dedicated to the artist's extensive life's work. This historic old city invites you to take a stroll and its buildings gleam like new. And above everything towers the Alcazaba, a mighty walled fortress. The port was completely redesigned when the city was opened to the sea and you can now take a lovely stroll along the promenade. In Málaga's hinterland you can see the most beautiful aspects of traditional Andalusia. From a distance the typical Andalusian villages look like white dabs of paint shining out from the brown of the barren mountain landscape.

The Strait of Gibraltar, the only gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, is guarded by Gibraltar, a heavily fortified British air and naval post. Gibraltar has represented British naval might since the 18th century, and in that sense, it is referred to as "the Rock."

The old city of Cádiz, around 3,000 years old, has a picturesque location on a narrow headland, right by the Playa de la Caleta with its elegant beachside promenade. Visit the Andalusian capital of Seville and you will be transported back to the heyday of Moorish splendour and rule, but also the age of discovery. This town sits on the Guadalquivir River was a centre of Spanish maritime trade with the New World. Many buildings in the old town are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the splendid Moorish Alcazar fortress and the huge Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede. Seville is a fun-loving city that is still at the centre of Andalusian culture and is considered the proud birthplace of Flamenco.

Portimo is a port city in southern Portugal's Algarve area. It is renowned for its historic district, active marina, and closeness to numerous beaches. The Museu de Portimo features local history exhibits and is housed in a 19th-century cannery that has been refurbished. Azulejo tiles can be found in the Gothic-style Nossa Senhora da Conceiço church. Rocha Beach, which is bordered by ochre cliffs, and the historic Santa Catarina de Ribamar Fort are located to the south.

The most beautiful approach to the Portuguese capital is to travel up the River Tagus. One of the city's most famous landmarks has been greeting visitors right on the estuary since 1521 - the Torre de Belém. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and transports you back to the glory days when Portugal was a naval power. There are many landmarks, such as the facades of the houses decorated with azulejos tilework and the ancient trams that rattle through the city. But Lisbon has many different sides. Joie de vivre comes face to face with the melancholy of Fado music, winding lanes in the old city meet wide boulevards, while magnificent churches and austere monasteries show the two sides of former religious faith.

Enjoy the onboard amenities and facilities at the Sea Cloud Spirit. 

Disembark the ship after breakfast for your continued independent journeys.