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Porto, Portugal Old Town

Discoveries of Coastal Europe

Example 13 Day Cruise aboard Ocean Adventurer
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From mighty seafaring capitals to sleepy fishing villages, trace the coast of Western Europe on this sweeping journey that highlights the region’s great art, fine food, and important historic sites. Browse local markets for a taste of daily life and stroll along scenic waterfronts that echo with centuries of maritime history. Raise a glass and soak in the charm and atmosphere of the celebrated wine towns of Porto and Bordeaux. Nature hikes on bucolic islands reveal terraced gardens, peaceful pastures, and wild, windswept coastlines. Visit three of the Channel Islands—Guernsey, Sark, and Jersey—to observe an interesting mix of French and British influences. A team of experts and local guides provide rich insights to deepen your understanding of these fascinating ports and their rich history.
Belem Tower in LisbonBiking past the Place de la Bourse in BordeauxLa Coruna BayUtah Beach on the Normandy coastPorto, Portugal Old Town
Highlights
  • Explore fascinating medieval UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain & France
  • Enjoy a wine tasting & vineyard tour in Bordeaux, the world’s wine capital
  • Visit three of the Channel Islands—Guernsey, Sark, and Jersey
  • Immerse yourself in World War II history with time in both Brest & Normandy
  • Search for resident and migrant birds in a variety of coastal habitats
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Lisbon, Portugal

  • 1 Dinner
Arrive in Lisbon and transfer to your hotel. Spend the day at leisure, with dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Lisbon | Embark Ocean Adventurer

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Tour Lisbon’s architectural highlights, including the Sao Roque Church; the Gothic Jeronimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and St. George’s Castle. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before embarking the Ocean Adventurer in the afternoon.

Day 3: Porto

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Porto’s historic center was awarded World Heritage status for its varied architecture—from Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance to Baroque, neoclassical, and modern. Stroll through the old town and visit the 13th-century cathedral. Sample port in its birthplace at a special tasting. A cruise along the Douro River offers a unique view of the colorful houses of Porto stacked on the surrounding hills.

Day 4: Vilagarcia, Spain | Santiago de Compostela | La Coruña

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark in Vilagarcia and depart overland to Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site with a mélange of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque buildings. The splendid St. James Cathedral is the conclusion of the pilgrimage road that begins in Paris and winds its way through France and across Northern Spain. Enjoy a traditional Spanish lunch, then continue to La Coruña, Galicia’s commercial center. Visit the Tower of Hercules, the world's oldest working lighthouse.

Day 5: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Lecturers recap your experiences on the Iberian Peninsula and prepare you for what’s to come.

Day 6: Bordeaux, France

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
World famous for exquisite wines, Bordeaux also boasts more Monuments Historiques than any French city except Paris. Enjoy a tour of the 18th-century urban area, the largest square in all of Europe, and St. Andre Cathedral. Or, choose to visit the hilltop town for Saint-Emilion. Stroll ancient streets lined with limestone houses and take a tour of its mysterious subterranean church, the largest in Europe. Both tours include lunch at a local restaurant and an afternoon winery tour to sample some local vintages. A third option includes a full-day birding tour at La Teich Bird Reserve to search for white storks, black-winged stilts, nightingales, and Cetti’s warblers.

Day 7: La Rochelle

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Known as La Ville Blanche (the White City), La Rochelle’s luminous limestone façades glow in the bright coastal sunlight. Stroll past three 14th-century stone towers and visit the neoclassical cathedral with a magnificent Baroque interior, the always colorful food market, and make a stop at the Cognac House for a tasting.

Or, visit the Poitevin Marsh, and board flat-bottomed punts for a cruise through a labyrinth of man-made channels to search for a variety of waterfowl. 

Day 8: Brest

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Brest has a long history as a military harbor and is the port where thousands of American soldiers landed from 1917-1918. Take a stroll along the Crozon Peninsula, famous for its dramatic, craggy coastline, or choose to visit the fascinating Maritime Museum and explore a botanical garden. Famed for its crepes, learn about the region’s food culture and sample local delicacies.

Day 9: Saint Malo | Mont Saint-Michel

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark in St. Malo, a lovely walled city fronted by broad beaches. A scenic drive through rolling countryside brings you to medieval Mont Saint-Michel, which inspired Henry Adams and influenced the Gothic revival. Ascend the Mont through twisting alleys and narrow stairways to reach the monastery, where you are rewarded with grand views over the bay and marshes far below. 

Day 10: Jersey, Channel Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Nature enthusiasts take a walk through wetlands to search for the ducks, geese, and waders that breed here, as well as warblers and buntings. Those with an interest in history take a tour of several WWII bunkers and the German Occupation Museum. In the afternoon, visit the wide-ranging Jersey Museum which explains the history, traditions, and culture of the island, and the award-winning Maritime Museum.

Day 11: Sark | Guernsey

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
With no cars—only tractors, bikes, and horse-drawn carriages—Sark is leisurely and relaxed. Join a local for a guided tour of the stunning cliffs and peaceful fields. Continue to La Seigneurie Gardens for a tranquil contrast to the windswept wildness of the rugged coast. After lunch on board, step ashore on Guernsey. An English outpost located off the coast of France, this island is a fascinating mosaic of fishing villages, greenhouses, and fields dotted with the island’s eponymous dairy cows. See remnants of the German occupation during World War II, visit the lovely Candie Gardens, and take a stroll through the photogenic harbor of St. Peter Port, where Victor Hugo lived in exile while he wrote Les Misérables.

Day 12: Normandy

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your tour of historic Normandy begins in the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the first French city to be liberated by the Allies.Take a drive along the coast, making stops at Arromanches-les-Bains, the site of a temporary harbor established by the Allies immediately after D-Day, as well as Omaha Beach. View exhibits chronicling the campaign at the D-Day Museum, visit the British and American cemeteries, and view the amazing Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England. 

Day 13: Portsmouth, UK | Disembark | London

  • 1 Breakfast
Disembark this morning and travel overland to London for your independent homeward flight.

Ship/Hotel

Ocean Adventurer

Ocean Adventurer Lounge
Library
Dining Room

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$9,980
Sea Adventurer's Category 1 and 2 Cabin.
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Cat 1
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, porthole window, 119-143 sq. ft
Sea Adventurer's Category 1 and 2 Cabin.
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Cat 2
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, porthole window, 117-153 sq. ft.
Ocean Adventurer Cabin 3 and 4
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Cat 3
Two twin beds, shower, two lower berths, double window, 115-142 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Category 3 and 4 cabin.
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Cat 4
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, porthole window, 121-161 sq. ft.
Ocean Adventurer Category 5
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Cat 5
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, double window, 121-161 sq.ft.
Ocean Adventurer Category 6
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Cat 6
Two lower berths, two twin beds, bath or shower, two windows, 121-161 sq.ft.
Sea Adventurer's Category 7 Cabin.
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Cat 7
Two lower berths, two twin beds, en suite bathroom, two windows, 160-165 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Category Suite.
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Suite
Suite, two lower twin beds, bath with shower, four windows, sitting area, 221 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Owner's Suite.
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Owner's Suite
Owner’s Suite, two lower berth twin beds, shower/ bathtub, four windows, sitting area, 273 sq ft.
Sea Adventurer's Single Category 2.
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Single Cat 2
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, porthole window, 117-153 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Single Category 3 Cabin
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Single Cat 3
Two twin beds, shower, two lower berths, double window, 115-142 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Single Category 4.
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Single Cat 4
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, porthole window, 121-161 sq. ft.
Sea Adventurer's Single Category 5 Cabin
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Single Cat 5
Two lower berths, two twin beds, shower, double window, 121-161 sq.ft.

Notes

- Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, a roommate will be assigned to you whenever possible.
- Additional singles may be available at 1.6 times the share rate.
Included
  • 12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 12 Dinners
  • 12 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
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