Viking Oceans Cruises – NEW! Spain & Portugal Discovery (Portugal, Spain, Morocco) 8 Days

Lisbon, Portugal
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. Lisbon has inspired explorers for centuries with its stunning setting at the Tagus River’s mouth. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city prospered greatly from its trade. And today’s streets are lined with the legacies of wealthy builders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, stunning works that introduced Manueline architecture. Savoring local cuisine and port wine are favorite pastimes here. On any evening, the strains of fadospill from clubs in the historic Alfama District.

Lisbon, Portugal
Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this proud city’s story. Along the riverfront, in Praça do Comércio, an equestrian statue at its center represents Portugal’s King José I, who capably rebuilt the city following the devastating 1755 earthquake. Among the most recognized of Lisbon’s monuments is the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the banks of the Tagus River, displaying statues of more than 30 contributors to exploration, whose bravery and spirit still shape the culture of this vibrant European capital.

Shore Excursions – Lisbon City Drive
Duration: 4 hours 
Witness the enduring legacy of the Age of Discovery in Portugal on this tour of Lisbon’s grandest landmarks. On the banks of the Tagus River, gaze up at the Monument to the Discoveries, inaugurated on the fifth centennial anniversary of explorer Henry the Navigator’s death. Nearby is Belém Tower, a UNESCO Site and a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the New World. Another UNESCO Site is the Jerónimos Monastery at the entrance to Lisbon’s harbor. You can also see the 25th of April Bridge, named for the date of the revolution that restored democracy to Portugal. With your guide, view the riverside statue of Christ the King looking over the city, and pass beautifully landscaped Eduardo VII Park, named for England’s king, who visited here to improve Anglo-Portuguese relations. After your insightful tour, return to your ship.

Seville (Cádiz), Spain
Cádiz lies on Spain’s breathtaking province of Andalusia and gained incredible wealth during the 18th century; riches from the Americas were unloaded here after the Guadalquivir River to Seville silted up. This scenic southern region is the home of the matador and world-class equestrian art. Seville, city of polyamorous suitor Don Juan, boasts plenty of its own glories. Its grand cathedral, Alcázar Palace and Tower of Gold were built from the coffers of Spanish kings, but its fiery flamenco defines its true spirit. It is best to ponder it all while sipping sherry at a bodega.

Shore Excursions – Cádiz Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours  
Admire some of this historic city’s most ornate sites on a pleasant and enlightening stroll with a local guide. Cádiz is one of the oldest continually inhabited places in Southern Europe. Situated on a narrow promontory of land surrounded by water on three sides, it is an easy city to get around. You will navigate passageways that connect elaborate plazas, stopping to explore Plaza de San Antonio de Padua, Plaza de España and Plaza de Mina. Pause also to admire the Torre Tavira. Merchants once looked out to sea from this tower in search of their returning ships. Visit the Catedral Nueva, or New Cathedral, with its elaborate baroque exterior. Its gold dome reflects the wealth that poured into this city from the New World after the river that led into nearby Seville silted up in the 18th century. If the cathedral is closed, you will instead visit the fascinating Diocesan Museum.

Tangier, Morocco
A pivotal port city linking Africa and Europe, Tangier lies just nineteen miles across the Strait of Gibraltar from the Iberian Peninsula. Long coveted for its strategic location where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet, numerous empires called it their own throughout history. The city’s vibrancy and multicultural air attracted all manner of artists in the late 20th century, including Henri Matisse and Paul Bowles. Tangier’s ancient, walled medina brims with the pleasures of Morocco, from intricate carpets and finely made slippers to fresh dates.

Shore Excursions – Snapshots of Tangier
Duration: 3 hours
Admire the culture and historic monuments of Tangier’s colorful medina. Start at the Casbah, the former fortress that dominates the northern section of the medina. Inside, tour the Casbah Museum. Its exhibits showcase artifacts spanning Morocco’s history from the Romans through the Islamic dynasties and include textiles, manuscripts and antique ceramics. Then, walk through a fruit and vegetable market while perusing stalls displaying local produce. You will pass through the medina’s main gate and into the Grand Socco. Once the city’s main market, today its plaza, lined with palm trees, is more of a meeting place and transportation hub. Mingle with the local vendors, sip a coffee in a nearby café or escape the noise and relax in the Mendoubia Gardens—a quiet sanctuary that is home to a reportedly 800-year-old banyan tree. Afterward, you will have time to shop before returning to your ship.

Granada (Málaga), Spain
Granada is a splendid canvas of Moorish architecture, rich Andalusian tradition and remarkable history. It was the last stronghold of the Moorish Nasrid dynasty, whose 250-year reign ended during the 1492 reconquest of Spain by Catholic monarchs. The grand Granada Cathedral is a soaring celebration of that victory; its Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand, the celebrated pair who oversaw the triumph. Their magnificent fortress-palace, the Alhambra, was long the stronghold of Moors, and so offers a magnificent blend of Islamic and Christian detail.

Shore Excursions – Málaga Overview & Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours    
Explore the seaside Andalusian city of Málaga, one of the oldest cities in the world, by motor coach and on foot. Your informative guide will explain the city’s rich history as you pass grand 19th-century buildings such as City Hall, the Old Justice Court and the Central Post Office. Witness the remnants of the 14th-century Gibralfaro Castle, a reminder of the legacy of the Moors. You will briefly stop here to take in superb views of the city below. Back in Málaga’s city center, you can take some photos of the birthplace of one of Málaga’s most famous native sons, Pablo Picasso. Continue on your walk past the ruins of a former Roman Theater and to the foot of the beautiful Alcazaba Palace, the best-preserved citadel in Spain. It was built during the 11th century and once served as a residence for Arabian caliphs. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Murcia (Cartagena), Spain
The charms of Murcia lie in its embrace of its rural pleasures. Surrounded by farmland and fertile huertas, Murcianos are never at a loss for produce freshly plucked from “Europe’s orchard.” They, in turn, live by the patient cycle of the harvest, going about their days at a leisurely pace. The Moors founded the city in 825 and introduced a vast irrigation network for crops and for city use. They were expelled by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1243. Murcia province remained a vassal kingdom until 1812 and became an autonomous region of Spain in 1982.

Shore Excursions – Ancient Roman City of Cartagena
Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes 
Enjoy a scenic drive to Cape Palos, part of a small peninsula formed by long-ago volcanic activity. At the Mar Menor’s most southerly tip, the picturesque village is centered around a quaint marina, rocky coastline and wonderful array of restaurants and cafés. Stop for a photo, then continue your drive to Cartagena. Enjoy free time to explore the charming coastal city and its abundance of sights as you wander through the Old Town’s narrow cobblestone streets. You will visit the fascinating Museum of the Roman Theater. Cartagena’s 6,000-seat Roman Theater, built as an entertainment venue in the 1st century BC, when Rome was at the height of its power, lay undiscovered for more than 2,000 years until its ruins were identified in 1990. The museum is ingeniously designed to take you on a journey through time, as you explore the exhibits and displays. After your guided tour, return to your ship.

Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Visitors flock to this spectacular haven for sun, relaxation and Mediterranean breezes. Remnants of past civilizations abound: the massive La Seu Cathedral in Palma was built over a mosque, and the Almudaina Palace was originally constructed as an Arabian fort. The picturesque village of Valldemossa invites long strolls and samplings of the island’s jellied breadsticks. Here, at the foot of forested mountains, a Carthusian monastery housed devout monks for 436 years. Composer Frédéric Chopin spent the winter of 1838 writing some of his best work in this tranquil setting.

Shore Excursions – Scenic Mallorca
Duration: 4 hours  
See an excellent overview of Palma de Mallorca, from its capital to its most beautiful mountain-ringed village. Join your local guide for a panoramic drive around Palma. Along the stunning seafront, pass the honey-colored La Seu Cathedral and Almudaina Palace. Inside the city walls, you will see the Paseo del Born, Gran Hotel, Teatro Principal as well as the tree-lined Rambla with its colorful flower market. A drive through pine forests and almond groves delivers you to Valldemossa, a mountain village overflowing with charm and beauty. You will have time here to explore at your leisure. At the monastery-museum of La Cartuja, visit the church and pharmacy and see the monks’ cells. You will also ascend to circular Bellver Castle for spectacular views of Palma and the seafront. Please note: on Sundays the church is closed to visitors.