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Historic Ports of the Western Seaboard

Western Europe: Amsterdam to Lisbon 10 Day Expedition Cruise

D1723080809
Dates
08/08/23 - 08/17/23
Ship
SH Diana
Duration
9 Nights
Guests
2 Guest
Price From
$ 0
Per Person
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Trip Details

Leaving the low-lying city of Amsterdam, we follow in the footsteps of sailors, artists and royals, exploring ports along the English Channel, before venturing along the Atlantic coasts of France, Spain and Portugal. This luxury cruise of Western Europe on board our boutique ship carries you between two European capitals and covers five countries. Along the way, gaze upon Normandy beaches, wander along Gothic ramparts, feast on seafood, and explore a Roman lighthouse. Sit back and enjoy this leisurely voyage taking in fishing villages, fortified medieval towns, ancient port cities and picturesque harbours before arriving in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.

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Trip Highlights
Take a leisurely boat tour along the waterways of Bruges, nicknamed the Venice of the North
Follow in the footsteps of French artists Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin in Brittany and Normandy
Admire outstanding Gothic architecture while walking the granite ramparts of Concarneau and St Malo
Admire the striking ship-shaped Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Explore the old streets of Gijon’s fisherman’s quarter, Cimadevilla
Itinerary Map
Itinerary
Amsterdam Day 1

Our port is the gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the very heart of things, but where walking the narrow streets and over the hundreds of bridges is magical too. Discover a treasure trove of fabulous museums such as the Rijksmuseum, filled with Dutch Masters – and just around the corner from the Van Gogh Museum. While, south of the city, explore windmill-filled stretches of countryside canal.

Zeebrugge Day 2

We sail into the Belgian port and seaside resort of Zeebrugge. The old fish market in the marina houses Seafront, a maritime theme park in the old fish auction house. The port is linked to the city of Bruges - or Brugge - via the Baudouin Canal. Famous for lacemaking, Belgian beer and chocolate, Bruges is also known as the Venice of the North for its charming canals. Take your time to appreciate these waterways by hopping on a leisurely boat tour.

Shore Excursion
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Romantic Bruges
  • Duration: 04 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Visit Burg Square, the focal point of ancient Bruges and home to wonderfully ornate buildings with impeccable statues
  • Catch a glimpse of the incredibly intricate Chapel of the Holy Blood, a sacred site that emanates a sense of mystery and reverence
  • Make one last stop the the romantic Lake of Love before returning to the coach
Honfleur Day 3

Your port of call today is Honfleur, Normandy’s most charming port town. If it looks familiar, that’s because Honfleur was a favourite subject of Monet and many other artists too, including Boudin, Corot, Courbet, Dubourg, Sisley, Bazille and Daubigny. Thanks to landscapes by these masters, the town’s timber-framed houses and the appealing Vieux Bassin (Old Harbour) are part of our collective consciousness. Before the city became a refuge for 19th-century artists escaping Paris, in the 16th and 17th centuries, Honfleur was one of France’s most important ports. It was from here that, in 1608, Samuel de Champlain set sail to found Québec. Some of the city’s unmissable attractions include Les Maisons Satie Musée d’Ethnographie et d’Art Populaire Normand, Musée de la Marine and Musée Eugène Boudin. The Eglise Ste-Catherine is an extraordinary wooden church. Constructed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, it contains maritime motifs.

Shore Excursion
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Charming Etretat
  • Duration: 04 h 30 m
  • Included
  • See some of the most historically significant structures in the area like the old Market Hall on the Place Foch
  • Take in the natural beauty of the scenery with towering cliffs and a pebble beach
  • Learn the story of how this village became a popular seaside resort at the start of the 20th century
Saint-Malo Day 4

The enchanting coastal city of Saint-Malo is a labyrinth of medieval streets filled with history and culture. Dating back to the 12th century, Saint-Malo was once a haven for pirates and a stopping point for merchant ships. Today you’ll find colourful shops and outdoor alongside aromatic markets, cafes and restaurants. Oysters and crêpes are the local delicacies - definitely sample some whilst here. The ancient walled town of Intra-Muros forms the heart of Saint-Malo. Here the striking Gothic and Romanesque Cathédrale de St Malo dominates the skyline.

Shore Excursion
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Emerald Coast & Oyster Tasting
  • Duration: 04 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Visit the renowned “bancs d’huîtres” (oyster beds) of Cancale
  • Experience the cultural delights that give the Emerald Coast its unique identity while hearing about the thousands of oysters that make it from the sea to gourmet tables
  • Get your fill of oyster farming knowledge by seeing the washing and conditioning process in the workshop and with a visit to the Shell Museum
Mystical Mont Saint Michel a UNESCO Site
  • Duration: 07 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Visit the Mont that was once described by Victor Hugo as being “…to the ocean what the Pyramid of Cheops is to the desert.”
  • The monastery founded by the 10th century now welcomes you as modern pilgrims following the old traditions
  • Enjoy a guided tour of the inside of the abbey to marvel at the achievements of all the passionate builders who contributed to its construction
Concarneau Day 5

The picturesque French port city of Concarneau is in the Finistère department in Brittany. Its medieval walled city is on a tiny islet with narrow alleys and ramparts that are perfect for a leisurely stroll. Nearby, the charming artist village of Pont Aven, discovered in the 1860s by American painters, became a popular stop for French artist Paul Gauguin who set up the École de Pont-Aven art movement known as synthetism. Try galettes, the local melt-in-the-mouth Breton butter biscuits.

Shore Excursion
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Quimper & Pont Aven
  • Duration: 04 h 15 m
  • Included
  • Stand beneath the sky-scraping twin spires of the Cathedral Saint Corentin, built between the 13th and 15th century
  • Listen as your guide tells the story behind the enigmatic Santig Du
Bilbao Day 6

The industrial city of Bilbao is the de facto capital of the Basque region, famed for its culture, skyscrapers and the striking ship-shaped Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked significant revitalisation when it opened in 1997. Tour the city’s many pintxo bars and browse the stalls at the lively La Ribera Market whose origins date back to the 14th century. Spain’s famous La Rioja wine region is a full-day trip from the port, with plenty of time for wine tasting.

Shore Excursion
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Contrasts of Bilbao, the Guggenheim museum and Old Quarter
  • Duration: 04 h 30 m
  • Included
  • Have time to marvel at the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Ghery and its extensive collection of contemporary art
  • Walk the narrow streets of the Old Quarter lined with Renaissance, Baroque and Modernist buildings
  • Spot the Cathedral of Santiago and The Bridge and Church of San Anton
Gijon Day 7

The Asturian port city of Gijon with colourful old houses is surrounded by rolling green hills, and is home to the Atlantic Botanical Gardens, packed with over 2,000 plants. Wander around the fisherman’s old quarter of Cimedevilla to see the monumental Eulogy to the Horizon sculpture, crafted from cement blocks by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida in 1990, and the Campo Valdés Roman Baths dating from around 100 AD. Local ciders are a speciality, best enjoyed in a traditional sideria.

Shore Excursion
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Gijon & Aviles
  • Duration: 05 h 00 m
  • Included
  • Some of the famous landmarks you will visit include the pedestrian streets of Galiana and Rivero as well as the modern Santo Tomás de Canterbury Church
  • Learn about how this humble town became a bustling city and a major hub for iron and steel
  • Stop at the University of Labor, built between 1946 and 1956 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016
Finisterre Day 8

Finisterre lies at the westernmost point of Spain. Otherwise known as Land’s End, this is the end of the road (finis terrae in Roman), literally and for pilgrims visiting Santiago de Compostela. Our ship will make a stop here to allow booked guests to take part in the tour visiting Santiago de Compostela.

Shore Excursion
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Discover Santiago de Compostela
  • Duration: 07 h 15 m
  • Included
  • Take in the exceptional presence of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
  • Visit the Town Hall and Pazo with grand buildings and towering pillars
  • Connect with the city’s story as you’re guided through the illustrious Hotel of the Reyes Catholicos
Vigo Day 8

Gateway to the Atlantic, the Spanish Atlantic city of Vigo is one of Europe’s major fishing ports, known for its freezing and canning industry. Wander around the steep narrow streets and picturesque squares of Casco Vello, the old town towards the fish market. Hike to the top of Monte O Castro hill encompassing an old fortress and the 3rd-century BC archaeological site of Castro. Outlying Cies Islands are part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, renowned for its birdlife. Inland Santiago de Compostela, an important pilgrimage centre, is a short bus ride away.

Shore Excursion
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Tui and wine tasting
  • Duration: 03 h 30 m
  • Optional
  • Journey to the south of Pontevedra province to reach the immaculate riverside city of Tui
  • Get to know the local culture by indulging in a variety of delicacies
  • Learn about the cathedral’s storied past and how it was once converted into a fortress
Figueira da Foz Day 9

The oldest resort on Portugal’s Atlantic coast, Figueira da Foz, or Figueira, has a sandy, two-mile-long beach, the longest in Portugal. Once a centre for shipbuilding and deep sea fishing, the town became a popular tourist hotspot in the 1920s. Visitors come for walks along the promenade, stop at the beachfront cafes or wander north for seafood restaurants in Buarcos, a fortified town that’s known for its fisherman’s huts and for surfing.

Shore Excursion
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Montemor-o-velho Castle & Salt Museum in Figueira da Foz
  • Duration: 03 h 30 m
  • Included
  • Take in the stunning sights of sweeping rice fields from Cabo Mondego Viewpoint
  • Talk with experts about the Salt Ponds and their nature conservation efforts
  • Contribute to the preservation of a traditional activity that boosts local development
Lisbon Day 10

One of the oldest cities in the world, Lisbon’s technicoloured past is evident just about everywhere. The medina-like streets of Alfama still bear Moorish influences. Baroque architecture surrounds you in Baixa and scars of the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 can still be found throughout the city. It’s estimated that over 100,000 people died in what became one of history’s deadliest earthquakes. Today Lisbon is a delightful mix of colourful neighbourhoods, all brimming with history, culture and tradition. Baixa is where you’ll find the hustle and bustle, set below São Jorge Castle. Nearby Chiado is one of Lisbon’s trendiest neighbourhoods with its historic cafes and designer shops.

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Rates Include
Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
All meals onboard
Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
24-hour room service
Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call (Kayak not included, bookable for a fee on board)
Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
Standard WiFi
Onboard gratuities & port taxes
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Itinerary Map

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK
Stateroom
Number of Guests
Oceanview D4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Oceanview M4
20 m2 Sleeps 2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony M5
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Balcony D6
28 m2 Sleeps 2
Located on decks 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Junior Suite
35 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Junior Suite features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area, walk-in closet, luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Suite
44 m2 Sleeps 2
Our Suites feature a Super King Size bed and separate living room with a soothing flame-effect fireplace, a luxurious ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a 6 sq. m. private balcony.
Price From
$ 0
Premium Suite
47 m2 Sleeps 2
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious ensuite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Price From
$ 0

We are providing a list of sample excursions that Swan Hellenic may offer on this itinerary, which are subject to change. We constantly update our shore excursion program with exclusive and genuine experiences, so please do not hesitate to review your excursion program choice closer to your departure date.

We invite all guests to visit swanhellenic.com for the most updated information.

09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)

+1 (800) 537 6777
ARRANGE A CALLBACK