European Coastal Cruise

Home City/ Lisbon, Portugal

Depart for Lisbon, Portugal. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided  luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: LIS.

Arrive at Lisbon International Airport in Lisbon. Proceed through the immigration check point to the baggage claim area. After exiting baggage claim, guides with signs will be waiting.

Those arriving early will transfer to a group hospitality room at a Lisbon hotel. After lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby, you will then travel with the group to embark the deluxe World Voyager. Those arriving later will transfer directly to the port for embarkation.

This evening, attend a Welcome Briefing and lifeboat drill, followed by a dinner on board the ship as we depart Lisbon.

Leixões for Oporto

Watch for stunning views over breakfast as we spend the morning cruising toward Lexiões for a day of discovery. Renowned for its port wine, Porto 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. Porto is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Romanesque monuments, medieval old town, and Stock Exchange.

Disembark for your chosen excursion.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions:

• Wine Tasting with Port and Cheese. Savor the famous wine that Porto is known for with a tasting of port paired with cheese, hosted by a local purveyor with more than 200 years of history. (Mild)
• Medieval Monuments of Porto. See some of Porto’s most famous medieval structures on a tour that includes the 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace — a grand building with British Neoclassical and Palladian influences. Inside you will find elaborate paintings, sculptures, and décor of the period. (Moderate)

Return to the ship for lunch or choose to stay in town for lunch on your own.

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

La Coruña, Spain, for Santiago de Compostela

Wake this morning to breakfast on board and stunning views as the ship arrives in the historic Spanish port city of La Coruña for an excursion to Santiago de Compostela. Disembark after lunch for an excursion to Santiago de Compostela.

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. (Mild)

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Santander/Bilbao

Enjoy breakfast on board and attend a lecture this morning as the ship cruises to Santander, where you will disembark after lunch for an afternoon excursion to Bilbao.

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. Walk the galleries and explore the legendary Guggenheim Museum at your own pace, followed by a city tour to see some of Bilbao’s most iconic landmarks.
• Aspaldiko Basque Cooking Demonstration. Travel to the rustic Aspaldiko restaurant for a Basque cooking demonstration. Taste the authentic dishes you create and enjoy the splendor of this charming property.

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day at Sea

Wake this morning to breakfast and 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.

St. Malo, France

Today the ship arrives in Cherbourg, where you will disembark with special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for a special tour of the historic Normandy beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Your day-long excursion includes guided walks of Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach, where an estimated 2,400 Allied soldiers died on a day the world will never forget. Join a visit to the American Military Cemetery with Professor Eisenhower, plus an exclusive wreath-laying ceremony. There will also be opportunities to customize your experience with time to explore at your own pace.

Drive with Professor Eisenhower to Arromanches-les-Bains to see the remnants of the temporary Mulberry “A” harbor that was created and taken across the English Channel to support Allied landings on the Normandy beaches.

Cherbourg

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as the ship arrives in Honfleur, where you will disembark with Professor Eisenhower for a special anniversary tour of the historic Normandy beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Your day-long excursion includes guided walks through the American Military Cemetery and Omaha Beach, where an estimated 2,400 Allied soldiers died on a day the world will never forget. There will also be opportunities to customize your experience with time to explore at your own pace.

American passengers may join a group wreath-laying ceremony at the American Military Cemetery with Professor Eisenhower, along with tours of Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach from the U.S. point of view. Lunch will be provided for the group near one of the sites.

Return to the ship later this afternoon for dinner on board this evening.

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Savor panoramic views as you cruise the English Channel across the Strait of Dover.

This day at sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s many luxury amenities or attend another lecture from Professor Eisenhower. Watch from the deck as Britain’s history is revealed on this storied journey to remember.

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

London/Disembark ship/ Return to the U.S.

Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to Heathrow International Airport for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city and go through immigration and customs.