Western Mediterranean Discovery Cruise

Day 1 - Southampton

Arrive: Wed 13 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 13 May 2026

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - La Coruna, Spain

Arrive: Fri 15 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 15 May 2026

The name of Coruna's cruise dock - Transatlantic Quay - reflects its location on the northwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsular making it - you might be surprised to learn - the closest European port to New York. It is a charming mixture of old town and new town also with a couple of beaches along the two-mile stretch of coastline it overlooks. The colonnaded Maria Pita Square is at the heart of the old town, with many shops, bars and restaurants all around. There are various fascinating museums including the interactive House of Mankind plus an aquarium and planetarium. La Coruña is also the main Atlantic gateway to one of the most ruggedly scenic regions in Spain - Galicia. Among its attractions is one of the worlds great pilgrimage destinations: Santiago de Compostela, with its Romanesque cathedral.

Day 4 - Leixoes, Portugal

Arrive: Sat 16 May 2026 / Depart: Sat 16 May 2026

The Port of Leixões is one of Portugal's major seaports, located 4 km north of the mouth of the Douro River, in Matosinhos municipality, near the city of Porto. Leixões Sport Club, commonly known simply as Leixões, is Matosinhos' sports club.

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - Tangier

Arrive: Mon 18 May 2026 / Depart: Mon 18 May 2026

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that's now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulatee

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - At Sea

Day 9 - La Valetta, Malta

Arrive: Thu 21 May 2026 / Depart: Thu 21 May 2026

The new cruise port in the grand harbour of Maltese capital Valletta is an impressive introduction to this fascinating Mediterranean island. Late medieval and baroque architecture abound in this UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ancient city walls, many churches and palaces. Fort St Elmo, created by the Knights of St John and once the most impregnable in the world, houses in its National War Museum the famous George Cross that was awarded to Malta during World War II to mark the bravery of the besieged islanders.

Day 10 - Sicily

Arrive: Fri 22 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 22 May 2026

The island of Sicily is separated from Italy by the Strait of Messina, and retains an air of independence from its motherland. Messina, has wide avenues, a stunning harbour and is located close to the classical ruins of Tindari and the ancient city of Taormina. A mountainous and rugged land, Sicily is dominated by Europe's largest volcano, Mt. Etna. With four live craters around its summit, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Day 11 - Salerno

Arrive: Sat 23 May 2026 / Depart: Sat 23 May 2026

Salerno is a port city southeast of Naples, in Italy. Atop Monte Bonadies, the centuries-old Arechi Castle has sea views, plus Museo Medievale del Castello, exhibiting medieval ceramics and coins. In town, built on the ruins of a Roman temple, is Salerno Cathedral. It has Byzantine bronze doors, a baroque crypt, and a marble altar. The terraced Minerva’s Garden has been growing medicinal plants since the 14th century.

Day 12 - Rome

Arrive: Sun 24 May 2026 / Depart: Sun 24 May 2026

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter. Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 13 - Ajaccio

Arrive: Mon 25 May 2026 / Depart: Mon 25 May 2026

Even on the beautiful island of Corsica, towns don't come much prettier than Ajaccio, Napoleon's birthplace, where the warmth of Italian Dolce Vita and the style and cuisine of France combine to create an atmosphere that's quite unique.

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - Alicante

Arrive: Wed 27 May 2026 / Depart: Wed 27 May 2026

Built around a natural harbour, the main city and cruise port on Spain's Costa Blanca, Alicante, is also a top beach resort in its own right. It has a sophisticated Mediterranean feel with its restored old town adding to its charm and the attraction of its sandy beaches. Dubbed the 'City of Light' when founded by the Romans, Alicante is still a relaxing place to walk around. Down from the impressive Castillo de Santa Barbara fortress, which offers impressive views across the city, most activity centres in the streets around the Ayuntamiento, a plaza area buzzing with restaurants and tapas bars. There are also many cafes along the seafront. Works by artists including Dali, Miro and Picasso are on show at the Museo de Arte Siglo and there is also an archaeological museum.

Day 16 - At Sea

Day 17 - Lisbon

Arrive: Fri 29 May 2026 / Depart: Fri 29 May 2026

Some of the best views of the Portuguese capital come as your ship cruises along the Tagus River. You pass the Belem Tower and the impressive Monument to the Discoveries with its statue of Henry the Navigator before arriving at the Lisbon cruise terminal. Although small for a European capital, this city does sprawl a little so you would do best to concentrate on three districts - Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama, each with its own distinctive style, making Lisbon cruises a must see. Baixa has busy streets of inviting shops, cafes and restaurants while Alfama is the atmospheric old town with narrow cobblestone streets, medieval and Moorish-style buildings, wrought-iron balconies with trailing flowers and a mix of small shops and bars. Bairro Alto is another historic district with narrow streets and is a steep climb from Baixa so look out for the 100-year-old lift (Elevador do Carmo) near Rossio Square. With such a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Lisbon bring to your holiday a balance of both modern and historical grounds.

Day 18 - At Sea

Day 19 - At Sea

Day 20 - Southampton

Arrive: Mon 01 June 2026 / Depart: Mon 01 June 2026

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.