Galicia to Casablanca - A Voyage around the Iberia Peninsula to Morocco

Fly by scheduled flight to Oporto. On arrival transfer to the MS Island Sky moored in Vigo. Sail this evening.

This morning we will have a choice of tours. You can choose to explore Oporto seeing the impressive St Francis Church and the Ribeira before continuing to a local port wine cellar. Here we will be able to learn all about these wines and how they are produced before we enjoy a tasting. Alternatively you can join the tour to Guimaraes, often referred to as the birthplace of Portugal, it is one of the country’s most historic cities being where the first king of Portugal was born and where the reconquest of the country from the Moors began. During the tour we will view the 10th century castle and visit the Palace of the Dukes. After a walking tour along the charming cobblestone streets and past the wonderful Medieval buildings we will return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon relax on board or explore Oporto independently.

Located at the mouth of the Modego River, Figueira da Foz is one of central Portugal’s prime beach resorts. However, the reason for our call is to visit the nearby city of Coimbra, the Medieval capital of Portugal for over 100 years. During our walking tour we will view the stunning buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries before we head to the University which was recently appointed UNESCO status. Founded in the 13th century we will see the Chapel of Sao Miguel and the Joanine Library which houses over 300,000 works dating back to the 16th century. After a local lunch, you can choose to return to Figueira da Foz or stay in Coimbra and explore further independently.

Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, the city was rebuilt by the Marquis de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square. During our morning panoramic tour we will see the Monument to the Discoveries and Belem Tower and visit the famous Jeronimos Monastery. Alternatively, a full day tour will visit the Alentejo region. We will drive to Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a walking tour will explore the sights and Medieval history of this enchanting city. Evora is one of the oldest cities in the Alentejo region and we will see the well preserved Roman Temple, St Francisco Church and the Chapel of Bones before exploring the charming squares. Alentejo is a highly respected wine region traditionally growing red wines from the Tempranillo and Trincadeira grapes. We will enjoy lunch in a vineyard including a tasting before we return to the MS Island Sky.

Join our Guest Speaker in the lounge or find a spot on deck as we spend a relaxing day at sea sailing to Seville.

Having sailed up the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River in the early morning, we will dock this morning in the centre of vibrant Seville and enjoy a morning walking tour to explore the city’s greatest monuments. Enter the Alcazar Palace with its ornate Moorish interiors and exotic terraced garden. Built by Pedro the Cruel in the 14th century with the help of Moorish craftsmen, it is still used as a residence by the King of Spain. We also visit the imposing La Giralda, Seville’s cathedral, reputed to be the largest Gothic style church in the world with its distinctive Moorish  tower. We return to the MS Island Sky for lunch followed by an afternoon at leisure to continue exploring Seville independently. Alternatively there will be the opportunity to visit the city of Cordoba on a full day tour. This beautiful city demonstrates a past where Jews, Christians and Muslims peacefully coexisted and left a beautiful legacy of architecture to be appreciated for centuries to come. Visit the Mosque and the Synagogue, and enjoy a typical lunch and some free time for further exploration before returning to the ship. We will sail down the Guadalquivir River this evening.

Having passed the Strait of Gibraltar we arrive in North Africa and the port of Tangier. A short drive will bring us to the Donabo Gardens located on the coast with wonderful sea views. Divided into ten sections we can explore the Moroccan garden that celebrates the tradition of tea, the mint maze where multiple varieties blend their fragrances along the alleys, a rose garden thriving in the cool shade and a pollinators garden purposely designed to attract bees. Later we can explore the city where on a walking tour we will visit the Medina, enjoy the views from the Kasbah situated at the highest point of Tangier, and wander through the Grand Souk.

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.