Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll arrive in Lisbon and have the day to explore on your own. Walk through the historic districts of Baixa, Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Alfama to see Roman theaters and Moorish fortresses tucked into the old streets. The Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery are both UNESCO-listed sites worth checking out before you board MS Fridtjof Nansen in the evening to start your expedition cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Optional Lisbon Pre-Program - 6-hour sightseeing tour of the city and surrounding areas
- Extend your stay an extra night in Lisbon
Landmarks Belém Tower Jerónimos Monastery Baixa Bairro Alto Alfama - Day 2
Porto
The ship docks at Leixões and a shuttle takes you to Porto, the famous port wine city with its UNESCO historic center. You'll see the distinctive pastel houses and colorful tiled facades as you stroll through Ribeira Docks. Cross the iconic Dom Luís I bridge, try local petiscos (small bites) at restaurants, and spend time tasting port wine at the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia across the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Shuttle bus to Porto
- Wine tastings at port cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia
- Walking tour of Ribeira Docks promenade
- Cross the Dom Luís I bridge
Landmarks Dom Luís I Bridge Ribeira Docks Vila Nova de Gaia Leia Lighthouse Boa Nova Chapel Praia Azul - Day 3
Ferrol
Ferrol offers one of Spain's best-preserved 18th-century port cities with grid-pattern streets in Barrio de la Magdalena. You can walk around the maritime museums or head out to see the coastal landscapes of Costa Artabra. If you're interested in visiting Santiago de Compostela or walking part of the El Camino Inglés pilgrimage route, those options are available. Try pulpo á feira (grilled octopus) at beachside eateries.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Explore Barrio de la Magdalena's grid of streets
- Visit maritime museums
- Venture to Costa Artabra coastal landscapes
- Sample pulpo á feira at beachside eateries
- Visit Santiago de Compostela UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Follow the El Camino Inglés pilgrimage route
Landmarks Santiago de Compostela Barrio de la Magdalena Costa Artabra Playa de Doniños Playa de San Xurxo - Day 4
Gijón
Gijón gives you a chance to experience Asturian culture in this Roman-era port city. Wander through the old-town charm of Cimadevilla and Barrio del Carmen districts where you'll find beautiful Baroque churches and historic plazas. You can hike around the Cimadevilla peninsula for exercise or relax on Playa de San Lorenzo's golden sands. Waterfront restaurants serve fresh fish and local cider if you want to grab lunch there.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Stroll through Cimadevilla and Barrio del Carmen districts
- Visit beautiful Baroque churches
- Explore Plaza del Marqués
- Hike the Cimadevilla peninsula
- Relax on Playa de San Lorenzo beach
- Enjoy fresh fish and Asturian delicacies with local cider
Landmarks Cimadevilla Barrio del Carmen Plaza del Marqués Playa de San Lorenzo Bay of Biscay - Day 5
San Sebastián
San Sebastián in the Basque Country has something for different interests. Head to Parte Vieja district with its Gothic church and Baroque facades, or spend time on the beautiful La Concha beach. Take a cable car up Monte Igueldo for views over the bay. The city's traditional Basque pintxos are small bites served at bars throughout town, and you can wander from place to place sampling them as you explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Visit historic Parte Vieja district
- Relax on La Concha beach
- Take cable car to Monte Igueldo
- Climb Monte Urgull for views from its fortifications
- Sample traditional Basque pintxos
Landmarks Parte Vieja La Concha Beach Monte Igueldo Monte Urgull - Day 6
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage old town with a lot to see. You can check out the famous water mirror at Place de la Bourse, visit the Gothic St. André Cathedral, or go to Kunsthalle art museum. But wine is really what defines Bordeaux with over 8,500 châteaux and producers in the region. You'll find everything from stellar reds to sweet Sauternes, and you can taste from different appellations to compare.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Visit Place de la Bourse water mirror
- Explore St. André Cathedral
- Visit Musée des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux
- Wine tastings at local châteaux and producers
- Visit vineyards a short tram ride from town
Landmarks Place de la Bourse St. André Cathedral Musée des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux Kunsthalle - Day 7
Île d'Yeu
Île d'Yeu is a charming island with rocky shores, dunes, pine forests, and meadows. The island has been inhabited for over 5,000 years and still has preserved dolmens and menhirs along with medieval castles and lighthouses. You can rent a bike to cover more ground or walk through the tiny villages. Weather permitting, the ship's small RIB boats will take you ashore to explore the island.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Bike rental to explore the island
- Walking tours of the island
- Visit historical dolmens and menhirs
- Explore medieval castles, lighthouses, and small villages
Landmarks Île d'Yeu - Day 8
Morbihan
This day focuses on Breton culture in the Morbihan region. You'll see jagged cliffs at Côte Sauvage and the medieval city of Vannes. The famous Carnac Stones rival Stonehenge in scale. The ship anchors at either Quiberon Bay or Belle Île, where you can visit the 17th-century Citadelle Vauban in Le Palais if at Belle Île, explore the coastline, or see Les Aiguilles de Port Coton, the rocks Claude Monet painted.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Visit Côte Sauvage cliffs
- Explore medieval city of Vannes
- Visit Carnac Stones
- Explore Quiberon Bay historic sites
- Visit Citadelle Vauban fortress at Le Palais
- Walk along the coast
- Relax on Donnant beach
- Visit Les Aiguilles de Port Coton
Landmarks Côte Sauvage Vannes Carnac Stones Quiberon Bay Belle Île Citadelle Vauban Le Palais Donnant Beach Les Aiguilles de Port Coton - Day 9
Douarnenez or Brest
You'll visit Douarnenez by small RIB boat, a seaside town with colorful quays, sandy beaches, and steep cliffs that inspired painters like Renoir and Boudin. The maritime museum has boats from around the world. If weather doesn't cooperate, you'll go to nearby Brest instead, where you can see medieval fortifications and the National Maritime Museum inside Château de Brest, then walk the lively modern quays.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Visit Douarnenez maritime museum
- Explore fishermen's huts and seamen's chapels
- Visit Brest medieval fortifications
- Visit National Maritime Museum at Château de Brest
- Scenic stroll along Brest quays and docks
Landmarks Douarnenez Brest Château de Brest National Maritime Museum - Day 10
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is an impressive fortified town with gently sloping beaches around it. Walk the ramparts for the best views of the town and surrounding islands. The cobbled streets inside the old city walls are worth exploring, and Demeure De Corsaire tells the story of the town's corsairs and pirate history. At low tide you can walk out to Île de Grand Bé to see an ancient fort and where the writer Chateaubriand is buried.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Circular walk along ramparts
- Explore cobbled streets within old city walls
- Visit Demeure De Corsaire
- Visit Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
- Walk to Île de Grand Bé at low tide
Landmarks Saint-Malo Ramparts Demeure De Corsaire Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey Île de Grand Bé - Day 11
At Sea
Today you're at sea as the ship crosses the English Channel, one of the world's most important maritime passages handling about a quarter of global maritime trade. The Expedition Team will share knowledge about these historic waters and their role in European history and shipping.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
- Day 12
Harlingen
Harlingen is a charming Frisian port city with canals and harbors on the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk or bike around the old harbors of Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven where traditional sailing ships and historic warehouses sit along the waterfront. The Harlingen Aardewerkmuseum shows distinctive Frisian pottery, and you can visit the last traditional pottery factory still operating in the Netherlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Walk or bike around Harlingen
- Visit Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven harbors
- Visit Harlingen Aardewerkmuseum
- Explore traditional pottery factory
Landmarks Harlingen Noorderhaven Zuiderhaven Wadden Sea Harlingen Aardewerkmuseum - Day 13
Hamburg
Your expedition ends in Hamburg, Germany's second-largest city known as the 'Venice of the North' for its picturesque canals. Explore the Altstadt district to see St. Nikolai Memorial and historic Deichstraße. You can check out UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Chilehaus and Speicherstadt, the world's largest historic warehouse district. Kunsthalle art museum is also worth a visit if you have time.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Lunch (Lunch, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants), Dinner (Dinner, including beverages, in the Aune and Fredheim restaurants)
Included Activities
- Escorted landings with small boats (RIBs)
- In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
Optional Activities
- Visit St. Nikolai Memorial in Altstadt
- Walk historic Deichstraße street
- Visit Chilehaus UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore Speicherstadt warehouse district
- Visit Kunsthalle art museum
Landmarks St. Nikolai Memorial Deichstraße Chilehaus Speicherstadt Kunsthalle Hamburg Altstadt
