European Coastal Cruise

• Cruise for 8 nights from Lisbon, Portugal, to London, England, aboard World Voyager, an exclusively chartered, deluxe small ship.
• Special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• 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.
• Included meals | 2 receptions, 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners.
• Lisbon Pre-Tour Extension and London Post‑Tour Extension.

Depart for Lisbon, Portugal. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city. Be sure to attach the provided Gohagan & Company luggage tags for each piece of luggage, including carry-ons.

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.

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. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form that follows.)

• 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.

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.

This morning you will disembark after breakfast at Saint-Malo, the 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. (Active)

Return to the ship this afternoon and join Distinguished Guest Speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, a noted historian and the grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who will embark the ship along with his wife, Julie.

Enjoy dinner this evening as we cruise to the D-Day beaches of Normandy.

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. Those interested in Canadian D-Day history will be able to visit the Juno Beach site and the Beny sur Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Lunch will be provided for the group near one of the sites.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions. (Please make your selection on the Reservation Form that follows.)

• Mulberry “A” harbor at Arromanches-les-Bains. Drive 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.
• Bayeux Tapestry and Museum. See the remarkable 230-foot-long work of embroidery that chronicles the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by the Duke of Normandy.

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

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.

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.