From Portugal to London: A Journey Through Historic Ports

Lisbon→London

20.05.28 - 29.05.28

D1328052009SH DIANA

Ports8

Countries3

Nights9

Set sail on an unforgettable journey through Western Europe, from Lisbon's timeless charm to the historic heart of London. Discover ancient ports, vibrant cultures and breathtaking Atlantic coastlines, enriched by expert insights. Explore medieval Galicia, unwind on the flower-covered islands of the Scilly Archipelago, and sail up the Thames to moor beneath Tower Bridge — one of the most iconic arrivals in European cruising.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

From Lisbon to London along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe.

NOTE: This itinerary provides general information about each destination. Also, please be aware that some of the venues and highlights mentioned may not be open or accessible on the day we visit. For the most accurate tour program, we recommend contacting your Swan Hellenic agent or travel agent closer to your departure date.

Overview

Day 1. Lisbon

Spread over seven hills with São Jorge Castle views, bustling Lisbon is one of the world's oldest cities. Elegant Baixa, hilltop Alfama with its yellow tram, and scenic Graça overviewing pastel buildings, are top areas. The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém is a World Heritage Gothic site. The classic Portuguese pastel de nata custard tarts are a local treat. Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Ponte 25 de Abril, crosses the river Tagus.

Day 2. Leixoes (Oporto)

Established in the late 19th century, Leixões is one of Portugal’s key commercial and cruise ports, providing easy access to Porto’s UNESCO-listed historic center, the Ribeira district and the Douro River; the modern cruise terminal stands out for its contemporary design, while the surrounding area offers Atlantic beaches, seafood restaurants and convenient connections to the Douro Valley, making Leixões both a working harbor and a gateway to northern Portugal’s cultural and wine heritage.

Activities:

Included

Oporto & Wine Tasting

4 hours

Delve into Porto's captivating history, with its mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical architecture. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ribeira district, passing the Palácio da Bolsa and the Gothic São Francisco Church renowned for its elaborate gilded wood carvings. Enjoy free time before a wine cellar tour in Vila Nova de Gaia, where you'll uncover the story behind Porto’s famed export, Port wine.

Optional

Guimaraes: Birthplace of a Nation

4 hours

Visit Guimarães, widely regarded as the birthplace of Portugal and its original capital. This well-preserved medieval town offers a remarkable blend of history and architecture, and is known as the birthplace of the country’s first king, Afonso Henriques. Your guided tour includes an exterior visit to Guimarães Castle, perched above the old town, where you will learn about its royal history and military significance. Continue to the nearby Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, a national monument dating from the 15th century, to explore its grand interiors, period furnishings, armour, tapestries, and portraits. Afterwards, enjoy a guided walking tour through the historic centre of Guimarães, with its narrow streets, iron balconies, and traditional squares, followed by some free time to browse local shops or relax before returning to the pier. Minimum participation required; tour may be cancelled or subject to price changes if not met.

Optional

Oporto highlights by e-bike

4 hours

Pedal effortlessly through Porto on an electric bike exploring the city's stunning scenery and landmarks. Begin at Matosinhos, then ride along the picturesque beaches into Porto’s UNESCO-listed historic centre. Glide past Cordoaria Garden, Clérigos Tower and Lello Bookstore, then enjoy a coffee on Aliados Avenue. Continue to São Bento station, Porto Cathedral, Dom Luís I Bridge and the Ribeira Quarter before returning.

Day 3. Vilagarcia de Arousa

Vilagarcía de Arousa serves as the natural gateway to Santiago de Compostela, where a sweeping seafront promenade buzzes with waterfront cafés and restaurants offering fresh Galician seafood. Inland lies the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, where the soaring spires of its legendary cathedral welcome thousands of pilgrims completing their transformative journey along the ancient Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Day 4. Ferrol

With a rich seafaring history and scenic beaches, Ferrol, in A Coruña, Galicia, on the Atlantic coast, champions the Ferrol Naval Museum and the 16th-century San Felipe Castle. Nearby, La Coruña, dubbed the Crystal City for its glass-fronted buildings, showcases the 1st-century Hercules Tower, a UNESCO landmark. Santiago de Compostela, a famed pilgrimage centre, houses the cathedral believed to hold the remains of St. James the Great.

Activities:

Included

Santiago de Compostela City Tour

6 hours

Follow in pilgrims' footsteps on the legendary “Camino de Santiago” or Way of Saint James. Explore Santiago’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, beginning at Obradoiro Square, home to the impressive Cathedral, the Town Hall, the Palace of St. Jerome, and the Parador of the Reyes Católicos, a former pilgrim hospital. Discover the Cathedral’s grand façades—Baroque, Neoclassical, and Romanesque—before touring its interior. Then enjoy free time to explore.

Included

Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage hike

6 hours

Experience the last stretch of the legendary Camino de Santiago, ending at the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the believed resting place of Saint James the Great. This pilgrimage is one of only three in the world granting plenary indulgence. Your journey begins outside Santiago, following a scenic 5-kilometre path through forests, hills, and rivers, offering a peaceful and authentic approach to the city. Upon arrival at the Cathedral, your guide will introduce its stunning exteriors, including the Baroque Obradoiro façade, the Neoclassical Plaza de Azabachería, the Romanesque Plaza de Platerías, and the Holy Door in La Quintana Square, which opens only in Jubilee Years. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Cathedral’s interior, followed by free time to explore on your own—perhaps visiting the crypt or admiring the famous Botafumeiro incense burner. Each guest will receive a traditional Camino shell as a souvenir of this unforgettable experience. Please note this is a 5km walk along dirt and gravel pathways with some mild inclines. Upon arrival in Santiago there are cobblestones and the entrance to the Cathedral has numerous steps. Guests must be fit and able to walk a minimum of 5km at ease.

Optional

Discover La Coruna

3 hrs 45 min

Enjoy a scenic 45 min drive to La Coruna. As we arrive and enter the old part of the city, you will see the "galleries", sited in front of the harbour that gives the name to La Coruna as "The Crystal City”, due to the hundreds of windows these houses have. Many, many years ago, the sea was nearer to the city and these windows reflected the sunlight on top of the surface of the sea. At the promenade - the longest in Europe that surrounds most of Coruna’s coastline – we will pass the Castle of San Anton, built on an island; first it was the local fortress, and nowadays it shelters the archaeological museum and is connected with the city by a stretch road. Next we will arrive at the Tower of Hercules; this beacon built by the Romans is the only lighthouse in the world of its kind that is still working for its original purpose. As the most important monument of the city, it is part of the coat of arms of La Coruna, together with the bones of Gerion, a giant that was killed by Hercules and buried under the beacon. Continue to the foot of Mount San Pedro, from where you will have a beautiful view of the Tower of Hercules and the ocean where you will see the octopus, a two metre tall sculpture with the beacon behind it. Afterwards, view one of the most important places in La Coruna, Maria Pita Square, where the town hall stands. Maria Pita was a woman who lead the fight and defeated the pirate “Sir” Francis Drake in the 16th century, when he tried to invade the city. You will have free time to wander around the city centre square where hundreds of shops, bars and markets, can be found before returning to Ferrol. Minimum participation required; tour may be cancelled or subject to price changes if not met.

Day 5. Day at sea

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Day 6. Tresco, Scilly Islands

A rare stop at one of England's most remote inhabited archipelagos, 45 kilometres off the tip of Cornwall. Tresco is best known for its Abbey Garden — subtropical plants thriving in a climate shaped by the Gulf Stream — and for the kind of quiet that is increasingly hard to find.

Activities:

Included

Tresco Abbey Gardens

3 hours

Wander among the exotic blooms of Tresco Abbey Gardens, a subtropical botanical paradise on Scilly's Isle of Tresco, brimming with flora from around the globe. The mild climate and long sunshine hours allow 20,000 plant species to thrive here when they wouldn't elsewhere. Greeted by a local gardener, learn about the wealthy 19th-century owner before exploring at your leisure and trying to spot one of Britain's endangered red squirrels.

Day 7. Fowey

A small harbour town on the southern Cornish coast, Fowey sits at the mouth of a tidal estuary surrounded by wooded hills. The town's history is bound up with the sea — medieval trading port, naval base, and later the home of writer Daphne du Maurier, who drew heavily on the surrounding landscape in her novels.

Activities:

Included

Scenic Cornish Drive & Polperro

4 hours

Peer into Polperro's smuggling past on a scenic Cornish tour. Reveal Cornwall's charm on a drive through rolling countryside and the Georgian town of Lostwithiel to car-free Polperro, known for its colourful smuggling history, which you can explore in the Heritage Museum. Discover tales of daring smugglers and treasure as you wander the village's lanes, whitewashed cottages, shops and harbour - but not before tasting a traditional Cornish pasty.

Optional

Fowey on foot

3 hours

Trace Fowey’s maritime history on a guided walk through 15th-century streets to Town Quay, overlooking Polruan. See the 'Rook with a Book' sculpture honouring local author Daphne Du Maurier who drew inspiration for her novels from the surrounding landscapes. Head to Readymoney Cove and pass through woodland to St Catherine's Castle ruins, hearing tales of pirates and privateers who once roamed these waters. Suitable for experienced walkers only.

Optional

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

4 hours

Immerse yourself in a once secret botanical world at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, rediscovered in 1990 after being lost for 70 years. These glorious gardens include an exotic jungle, Victorian garden and more, where winding paths lead through bamboo tunnels, ancient woodlands and over Britain's longest Burmese rope bridge. Meet farm animals and sculptures amidst the landscape, then enjoy free time to buy local produce in the restaurant/bakery.

Day 8. Cowes, Isle of Wight

Cowes is one of Britain’s most iconic sailing towns, famous for its elegant yacht regattas and rich maritime heritage. For over two centuries, it has welcomed royalty and sailors alike. Beyond its seafaring reputation, Cowes offers picturesque streets lined with traditional pubs, boutique shops, and scenic waterfront views across the Solent. A perfect blend of maritime history, gentle island pace, and quintessentially English charm

Days 9-10. London

The ship enters the Thames Estuary and makes the iconic passage upriver to central London — past marshes, old docklands and a constantly changing skyline, before mooring alongside Tower Bridge. Two days in the heart of the British capital give time to explore properly: the City, the South Bank, the great museums and streets that have been at the centre of world events for centuries.

Endless ways to spend your day

There’s no such thing as a typical day with Swan Hellenic. We bring you endless possibilities to tailor every moment to your interests and mood, so you’ll always have your dream day on board.

SH Diana at a Glance

Boutique Cruising

SH Diana’s bespoke interiors are spacious and tasteful, with plush furnishing, and floor-to-ceiling windows that give you unobstructed views of some of the world’s most incredible landscapes. Bold clean lines blend with wood, metal and natural fabrics to create casual comfort.

Culinary Excellence

Outstanding food is all part of your boutique travel experience. Get ready to explore gastronomic excellence as Swan Hellenic’s world-renowned chefs take you on an international culinary journey

Beauty & Spa

Choose from beauty and wellness treatments, including Balinese inspired massages and body care. It is an easy way to reset between landings.

Fitness & Sauna

Our state-of-the-art gym has everything you’ll need for an invigorating workout, from cardio machines to stretch bands and free weights. Enjoy sessions with personal trainers and relax in sauna with a view.

Onboard Discoveries

Immerse yourself in the nature, history and culture of every locale you visit on your cruise with special briefings, lectures and presentations. Our experienced expedition guides are sure to make your time on board both fascinating and informative.

Engaging Environment

Whether you’re seeking a moment of quiet reflection, a chance to recharge your batteries, or an opportunity to investigate the wonders of the natural world, the SH Diana has a variety of relaxing and rejuvenating spaces to help make your voyage with us truly unforgettable.

Personal Service

Swan Hellenic is all about personal service and genuine hospitality. Our warm and welcoming crew aim to please, and nothing more than to give you the best experience possible.

Your Home Away from Home

Relax in the understated elegance of your stateroom or suite. A sophisticated blend of muted tones, natural textures and intuitive technology, the Scandi-inspired design seamlessly blends the natural world with exceptional comforts.