From Portugal to Portsmouth - The Wild West Coast of Europe

Perched on the hills at the mouth of the Tagus River, Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, boasts a rich history spanning thousands of years. The city has seen occupation by Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate, and a series of Christian kingdoms before being declared the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal in 1256.

As the second oldest European capital after Athens, Lisbon predates cities like London, Paris, and Madrid by centuries. Positioned as the westernmost city on the European mainland, it has long served as a launching point for expeditions to distant parts of the world.

The MV Ocean Albatros awaits in the city’s harbor. After completing the mandatory safety briefing and drill, guests can relax with a hand-crafted cocktail on the outer decks while sailing away from this magnificent city, heading toward the wild western coasts of northern Europe.

Situated on the northern side of Porto, Leixões is Portugal's second-largest and busiest seaport. Built to ease pressure on the city's ancient center, it serves as a gateway to one of the world's most remarkable historic cities. Porto's center designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, showcases a stunning array of monuments, ancient buildings, and architectural marvels.

Porto straddles a deep gorge where the River Douro, Iberia's largest river by output, meets the sea. Warm inland air mixes with cool Atlantic breezes, creating an ideal climate—sunny summer days balanced by refreshing ocean air. The city's golden beaches, exposed to the open Atlantic, attract surfers and thrill-seekers from around the globe.

Beyond the beaches, Porto's rich history and cultural significance stand out. Despite its smaller size compared to other European cities, Porto has played a major role in world history. In 1387, a marriage here cemented the military alliance between Portugal and England—an alliance still strong today. Ships built in Porto were among the first to navigate the West African coast, marking the city's place in the Age of Exploration and its involvement in Transatlantic Slavery.

Commerce shaped Porto's character, with the most beautiful buildings clustered along the River Douro's docks. A vast iron bridge now spans the river, linking the northern and southern parts of the city. The hilltops above feature some of Europe's oldest and best-preserved structures, including the iconic Porto Cathedral.

On a narrow spit of land at the northwestern tip of the Spanish mainland sits the city of A Coruña, one of the largest and most culturally important cities in Galicia. A Coruña was a port city long before the Romans arrived in this part of Europe, and the pre-Roman Celtic roots of the region are strong. In the verdant hills above the city, thatched roundhouses, unchanged since the Iron Age look out over the Bay of Biscay - many now swanky cabins and holiday homes. 

When the Romans arrived in A Coruña, they set about improving the city port and laid the foundations of the modern city. In doing so they constructed one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Torre de Hércules (Tower of Hercules), a fifty-five-meter tall lighthouse, which still stands proud guarding the city's shipping lanes almost two thousand years later. The area surrounding it is today a popular local park, where coruñeses stroll in the footsteps of their ancestors. 

The old city of A Coruña forms the core of the modern city, and sections of the ancient walls constructed in the medieval period (to keep out Viking marauders from the North, and Moorish slavers from the South) still surround the narrow streets. The climate of Galicia is heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and the city experiences far more rain than the majority of Spain. Even the buildings in the city reflect the climate. Lining the waterfront are galería style balconies; glazed verandas with retractable glass panes, originally modeled on warship towers, they are considered essential in the region's wet climate. 

A Coruña's mild climate makes it a popular getaway spot for Spaniards fleeing the fierce summer heat of the interior. However, its position controlling several vital European chipping lanes has meant foreigners have visited the city since time immemorial - the city was the main entry point by sea for pilgrims on their way to the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela. While these holy journeys continue to this day, foreign visitors are more commonly found enjoying the gentle warmth on the city beaches, soaking up the atmosphere in the cafe-lined Plaza María Pita, or strolling along the Paseo Maritímo, the city's spectacular nine-kilometer promenade which passes all the major sights in town - definitely the place to be!

Between Galicia and Brittany lies the Bay of Biscay. Sailors of old would whisper of this infamous seaway, which is home to some of the Atlantic Ocean's most ferocious winter weather. Thankfully, modern advances in maritime technology have tamed these infamous waters! 

With direct access to the Bay of Biscay from Spain, France, and Britain, these waters have seen some of the most dramatic naval engagements in history. It was here that the British and Spanish Armadas clashed during the age of exploration, and where warships have sunk to Davy Jones's locker during both World Wars. Thankfully, the bay today is a peaceful place, home to a multitude of commercial shipping lanes, and criss-crossed by ferries. 

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind and enjoy the onboard amenities aboard Ocean Albatros. Work up a sweat in the gym, refresh with panoramic views in the sauna, or enjoy the ocean views from the hot tubs. 

The Bay of Biscay is world-renowned for its cetacean activity - in the middle of the bay lies a huge continental shelf, which drives nutrients from the deep ocean to the surface, creating a haven for marine wildlife. Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are all commonly seen in the area, so be sure to grab your binoculars and join your expedition team on the outer decks!

Standing proud in the Baie de La Forêt is the medieval walled city of Concarneau, one of Brittany's most historic towns. Steeped in Breton culture and rich in art and history, Concarneau enjoys one of the most beautiful natural settings in Europe, surrounded by golden beaches and rolling green hills. 

Concarneau sits in the heart of Brittany, the large peninsula in the northwest of France. As Roman power in Europe collapsed in the 4th Century, Britons from what is now Devon and Cornwall sailed to Brittany; more followed after the Anglo-Saxon invasions in the 5th and 6th Centuries. Their language evolved into modern Breton, a Celtic language closely related to Welsh, Gaelic, and Irish, and radically different from French. The language declined due to government Francization policies in the 1800s but is experiencing a vibrant revival - expect to see dual-language signs throughout the city. 

The exact origins of the walled city are lost to time, although the walls today were constructed during the 14th and 15th Centuries, a period when England and France were almost constantly at war. After the French Revolution, the city attained its modern shape, with new houses lining the bay surrounding the walled island city. One of the most popular destinations in Brittany, the old town is a maze of cobbled streets, walls, and independent shops and cafes - all lovingly restored during the 2010s. The modern port surrounding the walled city is home to one of France's largest artisanal fishing fleets - taste the catch of the day in one of the many local restaurants lining the quayside.

A cluster of granite islands and skerries 45km southeast of Cornwall, the Scilly Isles are the southernmost part of the United Kingdom. Green, lush, and verdant, these welcoming islands are a veritable garden, kept warm and moist by the Gulf Stream. 
 
The main settlement of Hugh Town on the island of St Mary's is the morning destination. Hugh Town is a beautiful and quaint town that houses the majority of the island's population. Star Castle, a 16th Century fortress looms over the narrow winding streets of the town, which are lined with independent shops, cozy cafes, and welcoming pubs. 

During the afternoon, you'll visit the island of Tresco, the second largest of the islands. The whole island can be walked in a few hours and is home to fewer than two hundred people. Without doubt, the most famous attraction in the islands exists on Tresco - the world-famous Abbey Gardens. Built around the ruins of a medieval Benedictine abbey, these stunning gardens were established by Augustus Smith in the 19th Century. The warm humid climate of Scilly provides the perfect habitat for hundreds of species of plants from around the world, many of which can grow nowhere else in the UK. Golden pheasants strut around the overgrowing flowerbeds and medieval archways, modernist sculptures brimming planters and bubbling fountains are around every turn! This veritable Eden also holds the Valhalla Museum, a collection of figureheads from vessels wrecked around the islands. Arguably the most spectacular garden in the United Kingdom, it is a highlight not to be missed!

Fowey is a small town on the southern coast of England, in the county of Cornwall. Named for the river of the same name, the town sits between the rolling green hills of cornwall and the calm waters of the English Channel, the town was once a notable haunt for smugglers and pirates, raiding passing ships and sneaking luxuries such as tea, tobacco, and liquor into England. 

During the Victorian period however, the advent of the railways brought a new demographic to the town - sun-seeking tourists, looking to enjoy the clean seas and fresh air away from the industrial grime of the big cities. Rambling mansions and hotels line the waterfront, and restaurants and cafes tempt visitors in with locally produced delicacies. While the town lacks the beaches of some Cornish resorts, its perfect harbor makes it a magnet for watersports enthusiasts, who can choose between the calm river or the open sea. 

Fowey is the ideal gateway to Cornwall. Nearby attractions include the vast tropical greenhouses of the Eden Project, famous resort towns such as Padstow and Newquay, and of course, the stunning vistas of the Cornish coast - undoubtedly some of the most beautiful in the UK!

Linked to the English mainland by a narrow causeway, the Isle of Portland stands proudly in the English Channel, guarding some of the world's busiest seaways. Portland is backed by the enormous Chesil Beach, which at 28km in length is the longest beach in Britain, and also shields a freshwater lagoon (the Fleet) - a vital habitat for wildlife and a Ramsar wetland. The region is part of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site world-renowned for its incredible geology and fossil finds. Indeed, Portland is perhaps best known for the local Portland stone (limestone) which is used in legendary buildings including St Paul's Cathedral and the United Nations Headquarters. 

The town of Portland lies at the heart of a vast lagoon, formed by a series of breakwaters. Its strategic position made it a vital naval base during both World Wars and its sheltered waters today make it a haven for watersports enthusiasts. The southernmost tip of the island holds the legendary Portland Bill lighthouse, a hotspot for birders looking for migratory species, which undoubtedly boasts the best views on the island. 

Portland is a town that had to reinvent itself many times, from quarrying settlement to smugglers hotspot, from naval base to fortress town, and today to one of the most popular summer destinations in England. Boasting beaches on three sides, nowhere offers better access to the sea, while the modern road link allows easy access to the mainland to explore the length of England's Jurassic Coast.

Sitting in the calm waters of the Solent, Portsmouth is undoubtedly the leading port city of the United Kingdom. A stone's throw from London on the south coast of England, the city of Portsmouth covers the whole of Portsea Island - the most densely populated island in the UK. 

Situated at the heart of a vast network of waterways, Portsmouth has played a key role in British maritime history; legendary ships such as the Mary Rose, the Challenger Expedition, and Nelson's Trafalgar fleet all sailed from this port. Portsmouth today is a busy and bustling city, a hub for vast container ships bringing cargo from all over the world, fleets of ferries sailing to Europe, and the only scheduled hovercraft service in the world (the fastest route to the Isle of Wight). 

On the final day of your voyage, bid a fond farewell to the Officers and Crew of the Ocean Albatros as you disembark towards your next adventure.