Europe Cruise: Iberia. Northern Europe & Baltic Grand Voyage

Day 1 - Barcelona

Arrive: Tue 16 June 2026 / Depart: Tue 16 June 2026 at 18:00

Dynamic Barcelona is all about architecture, from the magnificent medieval buildings of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernist movement typified by the work of Antoni Gaudi. Though his materials were stone and metal, his forms were organic, awash in curves, swirls, and colors. His masterpiece is the amazing Church of the Sagrada Familia, colossal and as yet unfinished, though construction began in 1882. A contemporary contribution to the scene is Ricardo Bofill's post modernist National Theater of Catalonia, an imaginative combination of classical and modern design, with a greenhouse-like lobby.

Day 2 - Valencia

Arrive: Wed 17 June 2026 at 07:30 / Depart: Wed 17 June 2026 at 22:00

One of the country's biggest and bustling cities was defended against the Moors by the legendary Spaniard "El Cid." Work up an appetite taking in la Calle de Los Caballeros and La Lonja, Valencia's old stock-exchange building of 1483, and reward your curiosities with a Paella Valenciana, Spain's most famous contribution to the world's tables.

Day 3 - Majorca

Arrive: Thu 18 June 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Thu 18 June 2026 at 18:00

Palma is a resort city and capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca), in the western Mediterranean. The massive Santa María cathedral, a Gothic landmark begun in the 13th century, overlooks the Bay of Palma. The adjacent Almudaina is a Moorish-style Arab fortress converted to a royal residence. West of the city, hilltop Bellver Castle is a medieval fortress with a distinctive circular shape

Day 4 - Cartagena, Spain

Arrive: Fri 19 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 19 June 2026 at 18:00

Strategically located along historic sailing routes, Cartagena has been colonized by a veritable who’s who of Mediterranean superpowers over the millennia, resulting in a rich and multi-layered cultural heritage, and a history both glorious and turbulent. From atop a hill, Concepción Castle served as a fortress for Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Castilians. The 13th century Old Cathedral stands on the remains of a Roman Theater just discovered in 1987. More recent architectural contributions include modernist designs of public buildings and private dwellings by pupils of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.

Day 5 - Malaga

Arrive: Sat 20 June 2026 at 07:30 / Depart: Sat 20 June 2026 at 22:00

Málaga is the lively capital of the Costa del Sol, famed for its beaches and mild climate, and gateway to Andalusia, with its Moorish architectural heritage. The city’s Alcazaba is a fine example, an 11th century citadel sitting in majestic splendor overlooking the African coast. It contains three magnificent palaces and graceful gardens with ornate fountains. In addition to their rich cultural heritage, Malagueños are also very proud of their most famous citizens – Picasso, for whom there is a museum commemorating his birth here, and actor Antonio Banderas, so far without a monument.

Day 6 - Gibraltar

Arrive: Sun 21 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 21 June 2026 at 20:00

The towering Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Overlooking the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea from a height of 1,400 ft, it is a natural fortress, in a strategic position to control all naval traffic between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Only three miles long and a mile wide, this peninsula attached to the Spanish mainland juts out into the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates continental Europe from North Africa, a distance of only 14 miles. One feature most unusual for Europe is the troupes of semi-wild and curiously tailless Barbary macaques that have taken up residence on The Rock’s upper reaches.

Day 7 - Seville

Arrive: Mon 22 June 2026 at 13:30

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 8 - Seville

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 9 - Seville

Depart: Wed 24 June 2026 at 02:30

Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Day 10 - Lisbon

Arrive: Thu 25 June 2026 at 08:00

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

Day 11 - Lisbon

Depart: Fri 26 June 2026 at 18:00

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

Day 12 - Leixoes, Portugal

Arrive: Sat 27 June 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 27 June 2026 at 18:00

At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies the city of Porto, known mostly for its port wine trade. With origins dating back to the 5th century, there is plenty to see in this town that was named European Capital of Culture in 2001. Stroll the Ribeira neighborhood along the river, explore the Cathedral area, or tour the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river.

Day 13 - Ferrol

Arrive: Sun 28 June 2026 at 11:00 / Depart: Sun 28 June 2026 at 20:00

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - St Malo, France

Arrive: Tue 30 June 2026 at 07:30 / Depart: Tue 30 June 2026 at 18:00

The walled city of St. Malo is a quaint maze of fine old buildings, museums, and cafés serving Breton specialties of crepes and cider. Stroll along the ramparts, walk the cobblestone streets, and hear tales of corsairs, privateers grown rich off captured ships and their booty, authorized by the government during wartime, in order to hinder the enemy. Nearby is the rocky tidal island of Mont St. Michel. The perfect spot for a religious retreat, the first monastic settlement was built here in the 8th century, and the Romanesque church that is its crowning glory in the 11th.

Day 16 - Honfleur

Arrive: Wed 01 July 2026 at 07:30 / Depart: Wed 01 July 2026 at 18:00

Honfleur is a lively town and a bustling port, where fishermen can be seen hauling in the daily catch. The maritime influence is everywhere evident; even the handsome church of Sainte Catherine has an oak ceiling that resembles the hull of an overturned ship. The charming square surrounding the church gives way to narrow cobbled lanes of half-timbered houses, elegant manors, and tall, narrow town houses. The quality of light has long attracted artists, including a particularly illustrious group, among them Monet, Corot, Turner, Courbet, Millet, Seurat – all of whom stayed at a little thatched inn called the Saint Siméon, now Honfleur's most luxurious hotel.

Day 17 - Dover, UK

Arrive: Thu 02 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 02 July 2026 at 22:00

The white chalk cliffs of Dover face France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, a vulnerable position protected since the Middle Ages by Dover Castle. As recently as WWII its secret tunnels have been used as air raid shelters, a hospital, and military command center, and make for a fascinating visit. In a more contemplative vein are the charms of nearby Canterbury, its stunning cathedral the oldest in England. Famed as the setting of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, and the destination of those fictional pilgrims with their ribald tales created by Geoffrey Chaucer, it is steeped in tradition, but is also a modern and vibrant city.

Day 18 - Zeebrugge

Arrive: Fri 03 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 03 July 2026 at 20:00

In Bruges you can lose yourself in another time, wandering the maze of winding lanes or drifting along the canals of its medieval core, the whole of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can also have a wonderful time discovering the fascinating stories behind the products for which Belgium is famous, in an unexpected array of museums. For sparkle visit the Diamond Museum, and for exquisite artistry the Lace Center. At Choco-Story, learn all about chocolate’s origins and production. And for lots of fun and more tempting tastes, don’t miss the Frietmuseum, dedicated to Belgian Fries, and presented with no doubt as to who actually invented this universally adored snack.

Day 19 - Amsterdam

Arrive: Sat 04 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 04 July 2026 at 17:00

Amsterdam has a personality all its own, including a long time reputation for tolerance. You'll be thinking of tulips and wooden shoes, perhaps Heineken beer, and some of the city's past inhabitants: Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Anne Frank, who wrote her famous diary hidden in a canal-side house. But do you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice (connecting a jigsaw puzzle of 90 islands), joined by some 1280 bridges (many illuminated by fairy lights at night)? Or that it boasts the oldest stock exchange in the world?

Day 20 - Hamburg, Germany

Arrive: Sun 05 July 2026 at 14:00

One of the most important harbors in Europe, Hamburg is proud of its mercantile roots. It was a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, and has been doing business with the world ever since. It is both the wealthiest city in Germany, and its greenest, with many parks and nature reserves, a diverse collection of museums (from the working-class life of the St. Pauli district to the spooky Hamburg dungeon) and galleries (from famous masters to erotic art). Hamburg is also a gateway to Berlin, capital city of a reunited Germany, and home to major monuments and Cold War relics, including a section of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.

Day 21 - Hamburg, Germany

Depart: Mon 06 July 2026 at 20:00

One of the most important harbors in Europe, Hamburg is proud of its mercantile roots. It was a member of the medieval Hanseatic League, and has been doing business with the world ever since. It is both the wealthiest city in Germany, and its greenest, with many parks and nature reserves, a diverse collection of museums (from the working-class life of the St. Pauli district to the spooky Hamburg dungeon) and galleries (from famous masters to erotic art). Hamburg is also a gateway to Berlin, capital city of a reunited Germany, and home to major monuments and Cold War relics, including a section of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.

Day 22 - Kiel Canal

Arrive: Tue 07 July 2026 at 06:00 / Depart: Tue 07 July 2026 at 18:00

Day 23 - Fredericia

Arrive: Wed 08 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 08 July 2026 at 18:00

Flanked by miles of emerald Fjords and the Fuglsang Forest, the old port of Fredericia offers the perfect introduction to Jutland on your cruise of Denmark. A close second to the Danish capital, Federicia is a fortress town of historic and present day military importance to the Royal Danish Army. Walk the famed city walls on an hour long journey, stopping to view the statues, cannons, and gates along the city’s citadel. Climb Gunpowder Tower and take in stunning views of the sapphire sea from atop Fredericia’s oldest military building.

Day 24 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Arrive: Thu 09 July 2026 at 06:30 / Depart: Thu 09 July 2026 at 17:00

Copenhagen is known as a city of spires: the skyline of its medieval core is punctuated only by the steeples of churches and towers of palaces, though a modern building boom has overtaken other parts of the city. Today's Copenhagen is known for its excellent quality of life and environmental consciousness - with many parks, it is green both literally and in today's sense of the word. It is also bicycle-friendly, with bike paths lining almost every major street. After a ride or wander through the old town, stop for a local repast of Smørrebrød, traditional open-face sandwiches, or a mouthwatering Danish pastry.

Day 25 - Gdynia

Arrive: Fri 10 July 2026 at 14:00

Gda?sk is a 1,000-year-old port city on the Baltic coast of Poland, which, together with the city of Gdynia and the town of Sopot, makes up the metropolitan area Trójmiasto, “the Tricity”. Home to the Westerplatte, where World War II broke out in 1939, Gda?sk was mostly destroyed during the war, but there are still many impressive sights. Wander through cobblestone streets and mazes of red-brick buildings to discover the Upland Gate, St. Mary’s Church, the medieval Gda?sk Crane or the stunning façade of the Great Arsenal. Explore treasures of “Baltic Gold” at the Amber Museum or collections of paintings, fabrics, and furniture at the National Museum, housed in a former Franciscan monastery. Relax at a beer garden or restaurant and take in the beautiful coastline. Make your way to Gdynia, home of the Polish navy, to feast on seafood or a visit to a floating museum in the form of two ships—Dar Pomorza and Blyskawica.

Day 26 - Gdynia

Depart: Sat 11 July 2026 at 20:00

Gda?sk is a 1,000-year-old port city on the Baltic coast of Poland, which, together with the city of Gdynia and the town of Sopot, makes up the metropolitan area Trójmiasto, “the Tricity”. Home to the Westerplatte, where World War II broke out in 1939, Gda?sk was mostly destroyed during the war, but there are still many impressive sights. Wander through cobblestone streets and mazes of red-brick buildings to discover the Upland Gate, St. Mary’s Church, the medieval Gda?sk Crane or the stunning façade of the Great Arsenal. Explore treasures of “Baltic Gold” at the Amber Museum or collections of paintings, fabrics, and furniture at the National Museum, housed in a former Franciscan monastery. Relax at a beer garden or restaurant and take in the beautiful coastline. Make your way to Gdynia, home of the Polish navy, to feast on seafood or a visit to a floating museum in the form of two ships—Dar Pomorza and Blyskawica.

Day 27 - Klaipeda, Lithuania

Arrive: Sun 12 July 2026 at 07:30 / Depart: Sun 12 July 2026 at 14:00

Walk the cobblestoned Old Town in Klaip?da and you’ll see its German heritage in the half-timbered architecture, beginning at Theatre Square where Hitler once spoke. The old warehouses by the Dane River are now pubs and restaurants - try a traditional Lithuanian lunch of fish stew with warm black bread. There’s a museum in the remnants of Memelburg Castle with fascinating photos from WWII, the Blacksmith Museum with intriguing iron works, and the Clock Museum with, well, clocks.

Day 28 - Riga

Arrive: Mon 13 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 13 July 2026 at 22:00

Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its winding, wobbly lanes are beautiful to wander through. But the most outstanding are the avenues of art nouveau buildings some, with their adornments of femmes fatales and fiendish gargoyles, are so amazing you can’t pass without stopping.

Day 29 - At Sea

Day 30 - Tallinn, Estonia

Arrive: Wed 15 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 15 July 2026 at 22:00

Despite occupation at one time or another by each of its near neighbors, Tallinn is independent-minded and has creative ways of showing it - consider the Singing Revolution of 1988, the massive musical demonstration against Soviet rule that set Estonia on the path to independence. Visit St Olav's Church, once the tallest building in the world, at least until 1625. Then pull up a chair at one of the cafés in the charming town square, heart of the city for 800 years. After your coffee, explore St. Catherine's Passage, a quaint old lane, home to a collection of craft workshops, and check out the secret 17th C. tunnel system.

Day 31 - Helsinki, Finland

Arrive: Thu 16 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 16 July 2026 at 22:00

Helsinki is a successful blend of traditional and modern architecture and design, interwoven with the beauty of nature, and a few quirky, purely Finnish touches - such as a church built inside a giant chunk of granite, and a venue that is a unique combination of café, restaurant, bar, laundromat, and sauna. Classic Russian onion-domed churches share the stage with Nordic minimalism, and a large concentration of Art Nouveau buildings. Prominent globally in the fields of technology (think Nokia) and design (Marimekko and Aero), Finland has also recently topped the charts as having the world's best educational system.

Day 32 - Turku

Arrive: Fri 17 July 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 17 July 2026 at 20:00

Day 33 - Mariehamn

Arrive: Sat 18 July 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 18 July 2026 at 17:00

Formerly part of the Russian Empire (and named by Alexander II after the Empress Maria), Mariehamn, the capital of Aland, sits on an archipelago of over 6,500 islands at the entrance to the beautiful Gulf of Bothnia. Mariehamn’s scenic harbors, marinas, greenery, charming wooden houses, and wide, straight streets make it the perfect place to explore on foot. Be sure to stroll the Esplanade, an avenue accented with the aroma of lime trees stretching from east to west—harbor to harbor—across the peninsula.

Day 34 - Stockholm

Arrive: Sun 19 July 2026 at 08:00

Lively, cosmopolitan Stockholm sports an appealing mix of modern Scandinavian architecture and fairy tale palaces, watched over by a Board of Beauty, responsible for preserving the city. One third of its area is devoted to green space, and another third to waterways, providing lots of room to breathe. Gamla Stan is the oldest section, retaining the medieval layout of narrow meandering paths. For the contemporary take there's Sodermalm, known trendily as SoFo, with welcoming restaurants and pubs, specialty shops and boutiques. Stieg Larson fans hang out here, as it is the area of the city where most action in the Millennium novels takes place.

Day 35 - Stockholm

Depart: Mon 20 July 2026

Lively, cosmopolitan Stockholm sports an appealing mix of modern Scandinavian architecture and fairy tale palaces, watched over by a Board of Beauty, responsible for preserving the city. One third of its area is devoted to green space, and another third to waterways, providing lots of room to breathe. Gamla Stan is the oldest section, retaining the medieval layout of narrow meandering paths. For the contemporary take there's Sodermalm, known trendily as SoFo, with welcoming restaurants and pubs, specialty shops and boutiques. Stieg Larson fans hang out here, as it is the area of the city where most action in the Millennium novels takes place.