London, Bordeaux & Iberian Charms

London England – Lisbon Portugal

Bookended by two nights in a choice of premier hotels in Lisbon and London, this 13-day small ship cruise aboard Ponant’s state-of-the-art Explorer ship, Le Dumont d’Urville, charms with Portuguese palaces and port, storytelling tiles and storied sites, Spanish pilgrimages and pintxos, French wines, and English cultural gems.

Only With Tauck

Visit to a grand castle in Sintra or Muscatel wine and cheese making in the village of Azeitão
Wine tasting in St. Émilion, exploration of Bordeaux and dinner at an acclaimed wine estate
Discovering Guernsey on a choice of sightseeing including a clifftop hike

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and cruise ship accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, sightseeing, special dinners, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, Ship’s Liaison, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Bar & restaurant beverages are included throughout the day aboard ship, including house wine & spirits. Transportation from Lisbon International Airport or the Santa Apolonia Train Station to the InterContinental Lisbon or the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks before the tour departure date. Transportation from The Langham, London Hotel or The InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel to Heathrow or Gatwick International Airports or St. Pancras or Waterloo Train Stations, is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from the airport may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.

ITINERARY

INCLUDED

INCLUDED HOTELS

Day 01 :

Arrive London

Tour begins: 5:00 PM, InterContinental London / The Langham, London. A transfer is included from Heathrow and Gatwick airports or London’s train stations to The InterContinental London or The Langham, London located in the heart of the city. Join us for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Meals -Dinner

Day 02 :

London Sights

A guided tour of England’s capital city takes you to see the Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Place, Hyde Park and more, giving you a good orientation of where you might want to spend your afternoon and evening at leisure.
Meals – Breakfast

Day 03 :

Hampton Court Palace and Embark Ship

Visit Tudor-style Hampton Court this morning. A tour and lunch at the 16th-century palace astounds with regal images of royalty, from its sophisticated redbrick façade to its impossibly perfect gardens with a 300-year-old maze and elegant art-filled interior. Drive to Portsmouth where your ship awaits your arrival. Dine onboard at your leisure and set sail for Guernsey.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 04 :

Gems of Guernsey

Located in the English Channel near the French coast, Guernsey is known for its beach resorts and scenic coastal cliffs, along with German fortifications, Victorian buildings and medieval architecture. A choice of included excursions here ranges from a sightseeing drive across the island ending with a visit to the Little Chapel in the center of Guernsey; a walking tour of Saint Peter Port that visits the gardens of Candie and its restored Victorian glasshouses; or an active clifftop hike from the seafront to colorful Moulin Huet Valley, passing landscapes that inspired writings from The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and works by Victor Hugo who dearly loved this area.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 05 :

An Idyllic Day at Sea

Enjoy an entire day at sea as your ship cruises towards France, taking advantage of the ocean views and attending a lecture by your Tauck Director in the ship’s theatre. Onboard delights include two dining venues, a swimming pool and fitness center and an innovative underwater lounge that lets you see what’s happening in the deep blue sea!
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 06 :

Wines in St. Émilion and Bonjour Bordeaux!

Disembark this morning for a drive to the alluring medieval village of Saint Émilion where a guided walking tour introduces you to its legends and limestone landmarks, highlighted by a taste of its full bodied wines at an acclaimed wine estate. This afternoon bask in the beauty of Bordeaux on a classic walking tour or sightseeing drive. Dinner tonight is at a country wine château that is magnifique in every way, enticing with a walk through the wine cellars that finishes with a glass of Cremant de Bordeaux on the lawn, weather permitting. Your ship sails for Spain late tonight.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07 :

A Day in Bilbao or a Taste of San Sebastián

Welcome to Basque country in northern Spain for an afternoon of sightseeing pleasures. Dock in Bilbao where you may wish to join a local guide for a guided walking tour that features the architectural gems of this port city and includes a visit to Bilbao’s Bellas Artes Museum. Or learn about the city’s transformation to a sought-after multi-faceted cosmopolitan destination from a local expert who shares secrets you won’t get from a guidebook, including where to find the best pintxos in the city, with tastings at every stop! Nearby the seaside resort of San Sebastián entices with surfing, medieval streets and culinary treats renowned the world over. Your third choice takes you to San Sebastián for a tasting tour of its famous Basque cuisine – and pinxtos!
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 08 :

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

Designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is one of modern architecture’s most iconic buildings. Besides sparking the attention of travelers from around the world, it put the city in the international tourism spotlight. View its head-turning architectural details, flowing canopies, cliffs, promontories, ship shapes, towers and flying fins, before venturing inside the museum to see its collection of contemporary art. Return to your ship for an afternoon cruise and dinner.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09 :

A Pilgrimage to Santiago

Wake up in A Coruña, Spain for a drive to the famous pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela, burial place of the apostle St. James, and the third-most-holy city of the Christian world after Rome and Jerusalem. Discover the sights your way, taking a walking tour back in time along flagstone streets to churches and shrines, listening to entertaining insights from your local guide, or following the “Little Way” on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino of St. James that ends at the Cathedral of Santiago. Everyone meets up for a private lunch at a restored 18th-century Franciscan convent hotel before time at leisure in town. Your ship charts a course towards Portugal tonight.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 :

Pretty Porto As You Choose

Arrive in the port of Leixoes for the excursion of your choice in oceanfront Porto; its historic center is designated a UNSECO World Heritage Site, with stunning Art Deco architecture, churches and a train station impeccably dressed iconic blue tiles. You may decide to join a local guide for a classic tour of the city, riding a private cable car up to the historic heart of the city for a walking tour or you may choose to explore the city by private cable car, with a water taxi to Gaia across the Douro and a cable car to the top of Luiz I Bridge for inspiring views. For a more active look at the city, join our local guide for a bicycle tour that follows the river before hopping off for a walking tour of historic downtown Porto.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 :

Disembark Lisbon / Sintra or Cheese Making

DisembarkshipinLisbonforachoiceofexcursionstoday. DriveoutsideofthecitytothevillageofSintrawherefairytale palaces, scenic landscapes and a visit to the grand 20th-century Quinta da Regaleira make your morning magic. Or satisfy your appetite with a taste of local specialties in the village of Azeitão, including a visit to a wine cellar famous for its Muscatel wine and a cheese making demonstration with samples, of course. Return to Lisbon for time at leisure and check into your hotel, the InterContinental Lisbon or the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, located atop one of the city’s seven hills close to must-see sights.
Meals – Breakfast

Day 12 :

Landmarks of Lisbon, Your Way

Explore Lisbon as you like today choosing from a sightseeing drive through the city that includes the Parque da Nações, the Baixa, Lisbon’s historic heart, and Avenue da Liberdade reminiscent of Parisian boulevards, to the Parque Eduardo VII stunning with views or a walking tour that takes you through the steep lanes of the Alfama neighborhood up to terraced sights and rooftops at Portas do Sol, the Mosterio São Vincente de Fora and the Triumphal Arch of Rua Agusta for rewarding panoramic views, ending with a rooftop cocktail at a charming hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13 :

Journey Home

Tour Ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Lisbon Airport or train station from the InterContinental
Lisbon or the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.
Meals – Breakfast

Nights 1-2

InterContinental London Park Lane

The epitome of modern luxury, InterContinental London Park Lane sits on one of London’s most prestigious corners between the elegant streets of Mayfair and the glamour of Knightsbridge. With uninterrupted views of the Royal Parks and in sight of Buckingham Palace, the hotel occupies one of the city’s most sought-after locations. The hotel is home to a plethora of award- winning restaurants and bars including Theo Randall at the InterContinental, Ella Canta, The Arch Bar, The Wellington Lounge, Theo’s Bar, Club InterContinental & Brunch at the InterContinental. The InterContinental London Park Lane offers 387 rooms and 60 expansive suites in one of the most sought-after locations in London. Guests benefit from high speed internet access and the latest technology along with InterContinental signature Agraria® bath products. The hotel also has Spa InterContinental, a stylish urban retreat with result-led skincare and grooming services for men and women designed around any schedule. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities and an expert team of therapists, the spa uses products from efficacy tested British spa and skincare brand, Elemis as well as Californian brand SUNDÃRI.

Nights 1-2 London, England

The Langham, London

Ideally situated in the heart of London’s West End near Regent’s Park, The Langham, London is convenient to a wide array of museums, restaurants, and notable attractions. The décor of the comfortable guest rooms reflects traditional English style. The indoor swimming pool was once a bank vault and the gym offers state-of-the-art exercise equipment. The elegant Palm Court restaurant appears today just as it did when the hotel opened as Europe’s first grand hotel in 1865; the tradition of afternoon tea was born right here! The Landau Restaurant’s dramatic design mixes modern Orientalism with the romance of Victoriana, while its cuisine entices with the finest contemporary European dishes, the best of British seasonal ingredients and a few intriguing twists. Enjoy a cocktail at Artesian, a glamorous cocktail bar featuring brilliant interiors that combine a taste of exotic Orientalism, the romance of nostalgia and decidedly alluring, contemporary touches.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Nights 3 – 10

Le Dumont d’Urville

Le Dumont d’Urville sports six passenger decks that include the elegant, panoramic main dining room serving French and international cuisine on Deck 4; the casual restaurant serving grilled specialties, salads and desserts on Deck 3; a main lounge offering a bar with evening entertainment, and a 188-seat theatre hosting informative lectures and entertainment and featuring the latest sound and lighting technology, both on Deck 3; a panoramic lounge forward on Deck 6; a spa and fitness center on the top deck (Deck 7); and multiple observation areas. Elevators serve all passenger decks. Staterooms (ranging in size from 204 to 296 sq. ft.) and suites (ranging in size from 296 to 484 sq. ft.) have ocean views; 95% have private balconies. Staterooms are decorated by French designers, offering individually controlled air conditioning, twin beds converting to a queen-size bed (or one queen-size bed), DVD / CD player, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, electronic safe and minibar.

AMENITIES

Two onboard restaurants, a main panoramic restaurant on Deck 4 and the more casual outdoor grill on Deck 3 offer a variety of options with specialty menus available for those with specific dietary requirements
All included bar and restaurant beverages available throughout the day aboard ship, including house wines and spirits
A state-of-the-art, 188-person capacity theatre provides an intimate space for lectures and entertainment equipped with the latest sound and lighting technology and a LED wall as the stage backdrop for projection of high-resolution images & videos
Spa and fitness center
24-hour room service
Elevators service all passenger decks

Nights 11 – 12 Lisbon, Portugal

InterContinental Lisbon

Located between Eduardo VII Park, Marques de Pombal Square and the luxurious Avenida da Liberdade, InterContinental Lisbon connects the heart of Lisbon society. With warm refinement, contemporary design and expansive views of the Tagus River, this fresh new addition to the Lisbon scene is the ultimate choice for experiencing Portugal’s vibrant capital. Experience Portuguese heritage from the cosmopolitan flavors at the restaurant Akla to the exemplary service of the hotel’s concierge team, who will help you bring insider Lisbon to life. Fully air-conditioned, contemporary guest rooms are equipped with upscale linens, marblebathroom,smartTV, largeworkingdesk,in-roomsafe,andteaandcoffee-makingfacilities.

Nights 11 – 12
Lisbon, Portugal

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Regally set atop one of Lisbon’s seven hills, the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon has long reigned as the city’s finest hotel. Welcoming guest rooms offer a private terrace, refrigerated private bar, in-room safe, plasma/LCD television with DVD/CD player, working desk, dual-line telephone, and a full marble bathroom with twin basins, a separate glass-enclosed shower, and plush cotton towels warmed on heated racks. The rooftop Ritz Spa Fitness Center, with three floor-to-ceiling glass walls providing extraordinary views of the city, is comprised of an exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment, two studios, an outdoor running track and a solarium. Guests can enjoy a spa treatment or take a dip in the swimming pool while gazing out over the hotel garden and Eduardo VII Park. The Varanda Restaurant is a popular venue for enjoying Mediterranean cuisine and lovely views among sophisticated local residents and discerning hotel guests.