European Coastal Cruise

• Exclusive journey to Portugal, Spain and England.
• Created in our tradition of innovative programming and educational travel.
• Access to ports unavailable to larger vessels and an included excursion in each port.
• Meet special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he joins us on a tour of the hallowed Normandy beaches
• Specially arranged excursion to Mont-Saint-Michel, the stunning and historic tidal island.
• Three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Historic Center of Porto, Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) and Mont-Saint-Michel.
• Lisbon Pre-Program and London Post‑Tour extensions.

Disembark for an excursion to Oporto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Renowned for its port wine, Oporto has been occupied by humans since the eighth 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. Oporto is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Romanesque monuments, medieval old town and Stock Exchange.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions.
• Wine tasting with port and cheese.
• Medieval Monuments of Oporto culture tour.

Later this afternoon, experience the lively Ribeira riverfront medieval quarter on a guided walking tour.

After the tour, you will have time on your own to explore Ribeira, one of Oporto’s most popular and picturesque neighborhoods. 

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

Today we arrive in the historic Spanish port city of La Coruña for an excursion to Santiago de Compostela. Located in the autonomous region of Galicia, UNESCO-inscribed Santiago de Compostela has been a world-renowned pilgrimage site since the ninth 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.

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.
• Aspaldiko Basque cooking demonstration.

This morning you will journey to Saint-Malo, a fortified French port city where maritime explorer Jacques Cartier was born in the 15th century. From there you will travel to the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel, a pilgrimage site for more than 1,000 years.

Rising from a tidal plain that appears to be suspended above the sea, the UNESCO World Heritage‑designated Mont‑Saint‑Michel began as a humble oratory and became a renowned center of knowledge during the Middle Ages. Cobblestone streets weave through the fortified village, culminating in the Abbaye du Mont‑Saint‑Michel, a three‑story Gothic masterpiece.

Climb up through the fortified medieval village to behold the glory of Mont-Saint-Michel—seemingly suspended above a saltwater marsh. Admire its storied cloisters; barrel-roofed réfectoire; Salle des Hôtes of the 13th century La Merveille; and the magnificent Église Abbatiale.

Savor panoramic vistas as you cruise the English Channel across the Strait of Dover and up the River Thames to London. This day at sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s many luxury amenities. Watch from the deck as Britain’s history is revealed on this storied journey to remember.

Dock on the Thames overnight alongside a famous D-Day-era warship in sight of the Tower Bridge.

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