Day 1-2: Lisbon, Portugal

Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Lisbon has inspired explorers for centuries with its stunning setting at the Tagus River’s mouth. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city prospered greatly from its trade. And today’s streets are lined with the legacies of wealthy builders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, stunning works that introduced Manueline architecture. Savoring local cuisine and port wine are favorite pastimes here. On any evening, the strains offadospill from clubs in the historic Alfama District.

Day 3: Porto (Leixoes), Portugal 

Porto holds a place of great traditional importance. The town lends its name to the port wine produced in the region and throughout the nation. Located along a rocky embankment, the city boasts picturesque neighborhoods, fashionable restaurants and lively markets. Like Lisbon, Porto has a rich past; its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of narrow cobblestone streets brimming with romantic buildings spanning the centuries and a Romanesque cathedral. At the riverside, smallbarcos rabelos, boats once used to transport casks of wine, paint a charming scene. 

Day 4: A Coruna, Spain

The stunning Atlantic setting of A Coruña lends this historic city a wide-open feel. The Roman-era Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse that has been in continuous operation since the 2nd century. The coastal San Antón Castle once defended northern Spain from seafaring intruders. The city is known for the historic row of houses along Avenida de la Marina; these 19th-century buildings are fronted by white-glazed glass balconies that, viewed side by side, form a wall of white. The city’s bicycle-friendly promenade leads to the glass Millennium Obelisk monument and Orzán Beach.

Day 5: Bilbao, Spain

The largest city in the Basque Country, Bilbao exudes culture and innovation. Famed for its stunning architecture, the riverside city is home to the Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, which has fast become Bilbao’s most recognizable symbol. The quaint streets that form the backbone of the Casco Viejo, or old town, are a maze of charming shops and bars with traditionalpintxos—creatively presented small servings of bread, with delicious toppings. Bilbao's gastronomic scene also extends to upscale eateries—it boasts a number of Michelin-starred restaurants.

Day 6-7: Bordeaux, France

Capital of the Aquitaine region, Bordeaux is celebrated for its thoughtfully preserved 18th-century architecture. Together, its glorious buildings, many of them built on the wine trade, comprise the world’s largest urban UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, honored as a City of Art and History, Bordeaux is a “Little Paris” of beautiful boulevards, Gothic and baroque churches, and lovely parks and gardens. The towering spire of the flamboyant Basilica of St. Michael is visible from all over the city, while the city’s green spaces are a delight to explore on foot.

Day 8: Sail the Atlantic Ocean

Sail the Atlantic Ocean, divided in half, north to south, by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined, this underwater mountain range is the longest on Earth. Renew your body, mind and spirit in our Scandinavian-inspired Spa, a Nordic sanctuary of holistic wellness, today while at sea. Whether you unwind in the Sauna, refresh in the Snow Grotto or take a dip in the Thermal Pool, you will feel recharged and revitalized.

Day 9: Paris (Honfleur), France

Honfleur is set along the Seine estuary and is considered one of the coastal jewels of Normandy. Dating back to the 11th century, this bustling port changed hands many times during the Hundred Years War, before finally coming under French control. A thriving commercial port until the 19th century, it has since become a popular destination for artists; they can be frequently seen perched at their easels along the old harbor. Honfleur is renowned for its historic houses, quaint galleries and charming cafes that line the water, as well as the timbered Church of St. Catherine.

Day 10: Dover, England

Most famously known for its dramatic white-chalk towering cliffs, Dover is the nearest city to France across the English Channel. Its strategic location as a doorway into England has earned it the moniker “Key to England.” As the port was under constant threat because of its location, the massive Dover Castle overlooking the channel grew over the centuries to become the nation’s largest edifice and remains so today. Dover also served as a bastion and command center during World War II.

Day 11-12: London (Greenwich), England

Greenwich, a borough of London, is home to the Royal Observatory. From here, the world’s longitude is measured from the prime meridian, and Greenwich Mean Time sets the global time standard. At the port, the clipper shipCutty Sark, one of Greenwich’s renowned historic landmarks, is preserved as a fascinating museum. Upriver, London is home to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. In addition, this major economic and cultural hub boasts a long tradition of arts and architectural innovation—from Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to West End musicals.