Treasures of Spain and Portugal

13 Days

Treasures of Spain and Portugal

Set sail for a 13-day Spain and Portugal cruise adventure aboard your Windstar yacht, view monuments to heroes past in Lisbon at Jeronimo’s Monastery church, Belém Tower and the Coach Museum or the Maritime Museum. Drive to Sintra for a palace visit and indulge in the village charms of seaside Cascais. Explore the countryside towns and rock formations of Portimão and get a taste of local life at a family owned vineyard. In Spain, take a sightseeing tour of old Seville, sizzling with a passionate flamenco performance; experience British traditions and monkeys in Gibraltar; and in Malaga, sip sherry and sample tapas as you watch a private horse show at a typical Andalucían manor house before exploring the city where Pablo Picasso was born.

The Moorish Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens take your breath away during a full day ashore in Granada and on the island of Palma de Mallorca, visits to the Cathedral and Bellver Castle share the day with a private Windstar-hosted afternoon in the Old Quarter. A two-night stay in Barcelona bookends this Iberian cruise to introduce you to Catalan cuisine and wow you with a private visit to the Music Palace, a walk in whimsical Parc Güell, and an opportunity to view the fantastical images of Gaudí’s la Sagrada Familia; a choice of Barcelona sightseeing excursion includes a look inside the medieval maze that is Barri Gòtic or a walking tour of the amazing architectural highlights along Passeig de Grácia. Welcome aboard!

Only With Tauck

A visit to a typical manor house in Malaga for a sherry tasting and a private Andalucían horse show

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.

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Lisbon. A transfer is included from Lisbon Airport to the InterContinental Lisbon,

located in the heart of the city overlooking the Tagus River. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at the hotel.

Meals – Dinner

Lodging – InterContinental Lisbon

A vision of carefully planned, elegant streets steeped in history, Lisbon’s city center welcomes with an 18th-century ambiance that bears witness to its days of glory during the Discovery Age. A guided tour this morning showcases the downtown Baixa area and Trade Square and visits Edward VII Park, named in honor of the king of England who visited here in 1902, and Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. The monastery, commissioned in 1501 soon after Vasco da Gama’s return from his historic voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, was built with “pepper money,” profits made from the spice trade. Stop for a picture of 16th century Belém Tower, built as a fortress in the middle of the Tagus River, before returning to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Meals – Breakfast

Lodging – InterContinental Lisbon

Enjoy a choice of visits to the Maritime or Coach museums before heading to Sintra for a tour of eclectic Sintra National Palace. Considered Portugal’s best preserved medieval Royal Palace, it was continuously inhabited by Portuguese royalty from roughly the early 15th to late 19th centuries, and is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive to seaside Cascais, then head back to Lisbon to board your Windstar yacht for the start of your cruise; have dinner aboard ship tonight.

Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

Today, you’re free to enjoy all the amenities of Windstar’s 5-masted flagship Wind Surf – the world’s largest sailing yacht, and a sight to see with her tall sails billowing – fresh from a recent renovation, as you spend an entire day at sea, bound for Cádiz, Spain.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake up this morning for your ship’s arrival in Cádiz, Spain, and drive to historic Seville, standing on the banks of the Rio Guadalquivir. Guided exploration includes visits to the pavilions of the 1929 World Fair on the grounds of Maria Luisa Park; the Palacio de San Telmo built as a university in 1682 to train ships’ pilots, navigators and high ranking officers; 13th century Moorish Torre del Oro, towering over the port; the bullring; and the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Walk through Barrio Santa Cruz, Seville’s old Jewish Quarter, to the Cathedral to see Christopher Columbus’ tomb and visit the royal palaces, Reales Alcazar. This afternoon brings a special dance performance at the Museo del Baile Flamenco, where the passion of the dancers resonates with the soul of Andalusia. Dine aboard ship tonight as we chart a course toward Gibraltar.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Excursion – Choices Visit to Real Alcázar, Seville

ust 21⁄4 square miles, Gibraltar is a town that is also a British ruled country and has a recorded history that dates from A.D. 711. The massive limestone Rock of Gibraltar rises out of the sea to a height of 1,396 feet and is often referred to as the gateway to the Mediterranean. In Greek mythology Gibraltar was the northern bastion of the two Pillars of Hercules. Hercules is said to have stood with a foot on each “pillar,” pushed them apart, and formed a bridge across the straits. When the Phoenicians ruled here, the town that was called Calpe then, marked the end of the world, the point beyond which no trader should venture. Stay on “the Rock” today as you visit the storied sites of this legendary place, including streets steeped in British traditions. Dine onboard tonight and set sail for Málaga.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The land of dancing Andalucían horses and sherry welcomes you ashore in Málaga and invites you inside a typical manor for a tapas tasting and a private horse show at an Andalucían manor. This afternoon you have a choice of sightseeing – a panoramic tour of Málaga highlighted by visions of 14th century Gibralfaro Castle; Plaza Merced; the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, where the painter spent his early years, today the headquarters of the Picasso Foundation, and the ruins of the vast 8th century Alcazaba (Moorish castle). Alternatively, join us for a visit to the famed Picasso Museum. You’ll have a few hours to explore Málaga as you wish before returning to your ship.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your ship arrives in Almeria this morning for a scenic drive to 13th-century Moorish Alhambra Palace and the Generalife gardens in Granada, created to reflect the Moors’ vision of paradise on Earth. Explore them during a guided visit followed by lunch at the Alhambra Palace Hotel. Guitarist Andres Segovia described Granada, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, as a “place of dreams.” Return to your ship late afternoon and enjoy dinner at leisure onboard.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After Wind Surf arrives in Cartagena early this morning, you’ll set off again around midday, and have more time to experience the onboard pleasures of your Windstar yacht on another full day at sea, bound for Palma de Mallorca. An onboard lecture by your Tauck Director shares insights about the region you explore on this cruise; a spa visit pampers; and a chance to relax on deck with your favorite book is nothing short of heavenly.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark this morning in Palma, Mallorca, for a guided walking tour of the beautiful city of Palma, located on an island exceedingly rich in cultural treasures. Visit Gothic-style Bellver Castle as well as the Gothic Cathedral, La Seu, built of golden limestone and standing in a dramatic location near the waterfront; its interior was remodeled by Antoni Gaudí and it’s considered to be one of the most breathtaking buildings in all of Spain. This afternoon you have an opportunity to explore Palma as you please, or join us for a drive to the beautiful hilltop village of Valdemossa, an inspiration to many famed residents including Frédéric Chopin and George Sand. Dine at leisure tonight aboard your Windstar ship as you sail to Barcelona.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Disembark ship in Barcelona where you’ll spend the next two nights in the capital of Catalonia. In Barcelona, you will find a parade of historical monuments along with outstanding examples of the Modernisme period of art and architecture. Your discoveries begin on an orientation drive through the city, including visits to Gaudi’s unconventional, unfinished la Sagrada Familía, begun by the architect in 1882; and Gaudí’s whimsical Parc Güell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of colorful buildings embellished with glass and ceramic mosaics, sculpted animals and creative furnishings, set in a 50-acre garden city. Enjoy a guided culinary walking tour through the lively village-like neighborhood of Grácia where you’ll get an authentic look at daily Catalan life. Arrive at your hotel this afternoon and spend the remainder of the day as you wish.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

Lodging – El Palace Barcelona

Your day starts with a private visit to the Palau de la Musica Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that truly is a palace of music. The only concert hall in Europe lit by natural light, it is a Modernista celebration of tile work, sculpture and stained glass. This morning you’ll have choice of sightseeing excursions; visit the medieval quarter of Barri Gotíc, the historic heart of the city. Alternatively, explore the amazing architectural style of Passeig de Grácia on walking tour that also includes a visit inside Gaudí’s astonishing Casa Milá (La Pedrera). Bring your cameras with you as this afternoon brings you to the site of the 1992 Olympic Games on Montjuic, today towering over the harbor with art galleries and museums, an amusement park, nightclubs and a rose- studded open-air theatre. The views of the city and Mediterranean Sea from here are wonderful (day of visit may vary). Join us tonight for a very special farewell reception and dinner at an 18th-century Baroque-styled guild house recognized as a National Cultural Heritage Site.

Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

Lodging – El Palace Barcelona

Excursion – Choices Casa Milà Walking Tour, Barcelona

Tour ends: Barcelona. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Barcelona International Airport from El Palace Barcelona.

Allow three hours for flight check-in.

Meals – Breakfast

What's Included

  • All gratuities to Tauck Directors, ship staff and local guides
  • Traveling with Tauck's private group and the same Tauck Director on land and at sea aboard the ship
  • Tauck’s private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $3,277
  • Two nights each in Barcelona and Lisbon with guided city sightseeing
  • 8-night cruise aboard Windstar's Wind Surf
  • Your cruise may be a shared ship experience with non-Tauck guests onboard as well; all Tauck guests will be accompanied by one Tauck Director for approximately every 40 Tauck guests, and your itinerary will always be highlighted by exclusive, private Tauck shore excursions
  • Special flamenco dance performance at Seville’s Museo del Baile Flamenco
  • A tour of the Gothic Cathedral, La Seu, in Palma on the island of Mallorca
  • Private visit to Palau de la Musica Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Barcelona
  • Aboard ship – alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available throughout the day aboard ship including house wines and spirits; premium spirits and wines are available at extra cost
  • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
  • 30 meals on land and at sea
  • Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, and porterage

Nights1-2 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.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms! Nights 3 – 10

Wind Surf

Wind Surf sails with just 310 pampered guests in 154 total staterooms: 31 oceanview suites (376 sq. ft.) with his and her bathrooms, 2 ultra-luxurious Bridge Suites (495 sq. ft.), and 123 deluxe oceanview staterooms (188 sq. ft.). All accommodations feature a Queen Size bed with luxurious Egyptian cotton linens, fresh flowers and fresh fruit, waffle weave robe and slippers, flat-screen TV with DVD player, fully-stocked minibar/refrigerator, safe, direct-dial phone, Wi-Fi, bathroom with granite countertop and shower, granite vanity with magnifying mirror and chair, L’Occitane bath amenities, mirrored closet with ample drawer space, hair dryer and 110/220 outlets.

  • Wind Surf offers a wide range of dining options, from the elegant AmphorA restaurant to the more casual Stella Bistro and Veranda Restaurant
  • Alternate dining, Compass Rose and Tacht Club Sandwich & Expresso Bar; offer additional options for meals and snacks
  • Enjoy Watersports Platform that includes complimentary kayaks, paddle boards, water trampolines and water skis, weather permitting
  • Onboard Fitness Center and tranquil WindSpa provide guests opportunities for wellness and relaxation

Nights 11 – 12 Barcelona, Spain

El Palace Barcelona

Built in 1919 and located in the heart of the city close to Las Ramblas, the hotel is surrounded by boulevards, prestigious boutiques and many of the city’s main attractions; the hotel was once the home of famed artist Salvador Dali. Spacious guest rooms fully-equipped with the latest technology, decorated with the elegant and historical style of classic luxury. Renowned chef Romain Fornell, who received a Michelin star or his outstanding work at Caelis, oversees the Caelis Restaurant with a menu blending French nouvelle cuisine and emerging Catalan gastronomic trends as well as the more casual 19/Nineteen restaurant; Bluesman Cocktail Bar features live jazz. Mayan Luxury Spa is inspired by the Mayan Culture, a place where mind, body and soul become one – sounds, rituals and traditional Mayan treatments combine with the French exclusive and prestigious luxury cosmetics brand Anne Semonin. El Palace Hotel Barcelona is a proud and distinguished member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Treasures of Spain and Portugal