Casablanca to Lisbon & Andalusia

• Exclusive journey to four countries from North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula.
• Created in our tradition of innovative programming and educational travel.
• Access to ports unavailable to larger vessels and an included excursion in each port.
• Specially arranged excursions in Morocco, featuring a visit to Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, Morocco's largest mosque, and the opulent Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat.
• Two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Rabat, a modern capital and historic city; and the Alcázar and Cathedral, Seville.
• Marrakech Pre-Tour Extension and Lisbon Post-Tour Extension.

Arrive at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a Gohagan & Company representative for a scenic transfer to Rabat.

Arrive in Rabat and check in to the Sofitel Rabat Jardin Roses, a deluxe hotel in the heart of Morocco’s fortified capital city. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure with time to explore on your own or indulge in the hotel’s luxury amenities, which include three swimming pools, a mini-golf area and a spa with a hammam.

Dinner is also on your own this evening. Consult the Hospitality Desk for recommendations in the area or dine in the hotel restaurant.

Check out of the hotel after breakfast for a tour of the city before returning to Casablanca to embark the deluxe World Traveller.

More reserved than bustling Marrakech and cosmopolitan Casablanca, the ancient city of Rabat has been the capital since 1956 and is the official royal residence of King Mohammed VI. Located where the Bou Regreg River flows into the Atlantic, Rabat features an historic section and more modern area that have been designated together as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A driving tour takes you past the Royal Palace of Rabat, which is fronted by expansive grounds and the Parliament of Morocco. See the contrast between ancient and modern as you pass by the Chellah, a former Roman settlement and the royal necropolis of the 14th-century Merinid dynasty. Admire the undulating lines of the newly built opera house, Grand Theater, designed by the late architect Dame Zaha Hadid.

Continue your tour on foot to visit the stately Mohammed V Mausoleum, which contains the tombs of King Mohammed V and his sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. Completed in 1971, the white marble pavilion is a masterpiece of traditional Moroccan architecture, regally adorned with a portico of horseshoe arches, a gilded and carved cedarwood-domed ceiling and walls of superb zellij mosaics. From there, walk to see the Hassan Tower, an impressive vestige of an unfinished, 12th-century mosque envisioned by an early Almohad monarch. In addition to the partially completed minaret, the site includes hundreds of columns erected for the mosque before construction ceased in 1199, when the ruler died.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Rabat before returning to Casablanca. On your way to the port, visit the Hassan II Mosque, dramatically situated on a promontory overlooking the ocean. Admire its intricate marble flooring and Moroccan details, including gilded cedar ceilings. One of the largest mosques in Africa, it is only one of two that is open to non-Muslim visitors. Conservative attire will be required, and you will be asked to remove your shoes at the entrance.

Continue to the port to embark the ship and settle into your suite or stateroom.

Join your fellow passengers on board this evening for the Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner.

The ship arrives in Gibraltar this morning where, after breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to visit the legendary Rock of Gibraltar.

Located at the near southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, the Rock of Gibraltar was considered by the ancient Greeks and Romans to be one of the two Pillars of Hercules that marked the boundary of the known world. You will have the option to walk up a steep road to stand on “Top of the Rock” — a nearly 1,400‑foot‑high limestone promontory — and enjoy an expansive view from Europa Point across the strait separating Europe and Africa. Those who prefer not to make the climb will still be able to savor the sights. From there, you’ll explore the impressive stalagmites and stalactites in St. Michael’s Cave and see the amusing antics of Barbary macaques, the only colony of wild monkeys in Europe. The tour concludes with a visit to the Great Siege Tunnels, excavated by British Army engineers in the late 18th century to provide defense for the colony.

Return to the ship for lunch on board as the ship sails through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Savor time at leisure on the ship this afternoon, followed by dinner on board.

Enjoy breakfast onboard as the ship arrives in the Spanish port city of Cádiz for an excursion to Jerez de la Frontera.

A scenic drive takes you to the Andalusian city, where you will enjoy a walking tour of its historic old town. Known today as the home of flamenco, this ancient metropolis dates to Palaeolithic times.

After the tour, visit The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation to see one of its famous shows. This unique exhibit of horsemanship and equestrian ballet features lively costumes and Spanish music. From there, continue to a sherry winery in Jerez de la Frontera for an authentic lunch and sherry tasting.

Return to the ship and enjoy an afternoon at leisure as the ship sails from Cádiz. Join the group for dinner on board this evening amid breathtaking views.

This morning the ship arrives in Seville, where you will disembark after breakfast for a full-day excursion.

This ancient Andalusian town on the Guadalquivir River has a history that dates to the ninth century B.C. From the Romans to the Vandals and Visigoths, many civilizations ruled Seville before it fell to the Moors in 711 — who retained control through the 13th century, when Spanish Christians conquered them. By the early 1500s, the colonial-era Age of Exploration established Seville as the gateway to Spanish trade with the Americas.

Begin your tour of this storied city with a visit to the Royal Alcázar of Seville, a fortified 11th-century Moorish palace and gardens that represent both the Islamic and Christian cultures that have ruled over the centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its architecture is an evolving tapestry of Mudéjar style and a blend of Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic influences. Today, the Alcázar is one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family and the oldest royal palace in Europe that’s still in use.

Next, visit the magnificent Cathedral of Seville. The largest Gothic building in the world, the cathedral replaced a mosque that had been located at that site. The giralda, or bell tower, was the mosque’s minaret. It is a splendid example of the Almohad architecture that the Moors brought to the Iberian Peninsula. Since the 16th century, the top of the minaret has featured a Renaissance belfry.

You will have the option to remain in Seville for lunch on your own and further exploration of the city at your own pace. Those who wish to lunch onboard the ship may also return to Seville for an afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy dinner on board this evening as we cruise to Portugal.

Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure with breakfast and lunch on board as the ship arrives in Portimão. This afternoon, disembark for a guided tour of the walled port town of Lagos.

Once the center of trade between Moorish Portugal and Africa, the ancient maritime port of Lagos was founded more than 2,000 years ago. Your afternoon excursion includes a visit to the statue of Infante Dom Henrique — a monument to Prince Henry the Navigator — and the intricately carved Church of San Antonio. Built in 1707 and re-built after an earthquake in 1755, the church is a fine example of Baroque architecture. You will also learn more about the disturbing history of slavery in Lagos during the 15th century with a visit the Mercado de Escravos, site of the first slave market in Europe. This somber landmark, now a museum, tells the story of the African men and women who were brought to Portugal against their will.

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening as the ship departs Portimão.

Disembark after breakfast for an excursion to the city of Setúbal and its surrounding vineyards.

Start with a scenic tour of this ancient city, located on the Sado River just south of Lisbon. Historians believe its viticulture was introduced around 2000 B.C. by the Tartessos — the first Iberian civilization recorded to be trading wares across the Mediterranean.

Continue driving through Setúbal wine country where you will stop at one of the region’s renowned wine cellars and estates. Learn more about the winemaking process and stroll through beautiful gardens on this immersive visit, which also includes lunch.

Return to the ship this afternoon for your last evening at sea. Join your fellow passengers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception, followed by dinner on board the ship.

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado International Airport for your return flight home. Arrive back in your home city later today.

If you have reserved the Lisbon Post-Program Extension, you will then join the city tour.