DAY 1 / SEVILLE / EMBARKATION 

Embark in the evening, settle into your cabin, enjoy a welcome cocktail, and meet the crew. Following dinner, the evening is yours to discover the flamboyance and charisma of Seville at your leisure. Mooring overnight.

DAY 2 / SEVILLE / CÁDIZ 

This morning, set off on a guided walking tour of sunny Seville—a city which, according to Greek myth, was founded by Hercules three thousand years ago. You’ll see the city’s numerous cultural and historical landmarks, from the vast Gothic palace of Alcázar to the Giralda minaret towering over the utterly awe-inspiring Cathedral next to it. On your walk through the city, you’ll also discover the dreamily lush gardens at the Parque de María Luisa.

In the afternoon, set sail on the Guadalquivir—a name which comes from the Arabic al-wadi al-kabir, which translates to “great valley.” The name is just one of many remnants leftover from the Moor kings, who reigned over Andalucía (then al-Andalus) from 711 to the fall of Granada in 1492.

Upon arrival in Cádiz, follow one of our guides to see this fortified seaside city by night.

DAY 3 / CÁDIZ / PUERTO DE SANTA MARÍA 

This morning, you’ll have the chance to see more of Cádiz, one of the oldest cities in all of Europe. In the city’s historic centre, discover old-world mansions with pastel-coloured façades and ornate wrought-iron balconies. Finally, see the majestic Baroque-style cathedral, which took 116 years to build. Back on board the ship, spend the evening cruising to Alcoutim.

After cruising to Puerto de Santa María, embark on an excursion to Jerez de la Frontera, where you’ll be treated to sights of the town’s colossal medieval fortress and the Catedral de San Salvador, which sits perched atop a rocky hill. After, visit a ganadería, where you’ll have the chance to come face to face with a living symbol of Spanish culture: the bull. As you tour the property, you’ll learn about the process of preparing a bull for its “career” in the ring. Tonight, a Spanish-themed dinner is served on board.

DAY 4 / PUERTO DE SANTA MARÍA / SEVILLE 

In the morning, set off on foot on a tour of the Bodegas Osborne. In business since 1772, this family-owned winery is one of the oldest in all of Spain—chances are you’ll recognize the black bull which has been the winery’s emblem since 1956. Following a tour of the estate’s massive cellars, enjoy a wine tasting.

The latter half of the day will be spent cruising to Isla Minima, passing through Doñana National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and established nature reserve. The Guadalquivir joins the Atlantic Ocean at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where you may choose to disembark for a tour of a genuine Andalusian hacienda followed by an evening equestrian show. Tonight, cruise to Seville.

DAY 5 / SEVILLE / GRANADA 

Today, set off by coach for Granada, the Iberian Peninsula’s last Muslim stronghold. Internationally recognized for its Moorish architectural heritage, contemporary Granada is mysterious and alluring. Your tour begins at the magnificent Alhambra palace, with its idyllic gardens and trickling fountains. Next, the summer residence of the Narid Emirs, which also boasts lavish gardens, before enjoying a lunch of local fare in a nearby restaurant. After lunch, explore this fascinating city—from the Albayzín district to the Sacromonte gypsy caves—at your own pace before returning to the ship. Mooring overnight in Seville.

DAY 6 / SEVILLE  

Depart by coach for a guided visit of La Rábida Friary in Palos de la Frontera. Founded in 1261, this Franciscan monastery hosted Christopher Columbus for two years prior to his historic voyage. A Spanish National Monument, the sites many buildings encompass nearly two thousand square feet.

Next, explore the Wharf of the Caravels, an outdoor museum featuring replicas of the ships Columbus sailed to the Americas: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. Return to the ship for lunch, after which you’ll have free time to get lost in Seville’s endlessly enchanting streets.

Dinner will be followed by Flamenco music and dancing. Mooring overnight in Seville.

DAY 7 / SEVILLE / CÓRDOBA 

Córdoba is home to one of the world’s greatest feats of Islamic architecture: the Mezquita. This vast mosque-turned-cathedral represents a forgotten when Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived side by side in Islamic Spain’s sophisticated and cultured capital. Explore the narrow streets of the former Jewish quarter, along with its 14th-century synagogue—the only one in all of Andalucía. After lunch, you’ll have free time to succumb to the sensual charms of this storied city. Back on board the ship, you’ll be treated to a gala dinner in celebration of your final night.

DAY 8 / SEVILLE / DISEMBARKATION  

After a leisurely breakfast, say farewell to the crew and your fellow travellers and disembark in Seville. Your journey ends here.   

• The cruise on full board from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the final day
• Drinks including water, wine, beer, fruit juices and coffee served by CroisiEurope during meals on board, drinks served at the bar (excluding Champagne and wines on the wine list)
• Accommodation in a double cabin with shower and WC
• The welcome cocktail
• The assistance of our hostess on board
• Onboard entertainment
• The flamenco evening
• The gala evening
• The insurance for medical repatriation
• Port taxes

Travel Documents / Visas

1. Passport

Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the last date of travel to enter Spain or Portugal (EU).

Citizens of other countries should consult with their travel agent or our office.

2. Visa

No visa is required for citizens of Canada travelling to Spain or Portugal for leisure stays of up to 90 days.

Packing List

A handy checklist of what to bring on your trip can be downloaded here.

Insurance

We very strongly recommend the purchase of appropriate travel insurance for any trip outside of Canada. Information on travel insurance options can be found here.

Smoking

Not permitted anywhere indoors. There are designated areas on the outside decks.

Weather

April / May – warm days usually in the high 10’s to low 20’s. Occasional rain.

June to September – warm to hot days in the mid to high 20’s. Evenings in the low 20’s. Mostly dry.

October – cool days in the low to mid 20’s. Minimal rain.

Arrival / Departure

Upon booking, we will provide detail instructions on how to meet your ship on embarkation day. If you have not made any pre or post tour arrangements with us, you will have to arrange your own transportation to and from the port of embarkation. We are happy to provide advice or to assist in arranging transfers.

The ship will not be ready for check-in before mid-afternoon. If you have luggage that you need to deposit so you can enjoy some free time in port, the purser may be able to accommodate you provided we know in advance.

The cruise will finish in the morning (usually around 9am) on the final day. It is necessary to have settled your onboard account and to have disembarked by this time as instructed by the cruise director on the day before.

Money

The currency is the EURO. It is uncommon for local shops and restaurants to accept any other currency.

Credit cards are acceptable for larger purchases in retail shops, but often not in restaurants or cafés.

ATM’s accepting most international debit and credit cards can be found in abundance.

Gratuities (Tipping)

As always, gratuities are at your own discretion. If you feel the service has met or exceeded your expectations, the ship suggests an amount of EURO $ 5-10 per person per day.

Laundry

Unfortunately there are no laundry facilities on board so bring what you need for the cruise.

Excursions

Most of our programs include a full complement of excursions. Some additional excursions may be available on board at an extra cost. Please check with us or consult the purser onboard for additional information.

Excursions will usually involve a lot of walking, often on cobblestone streets. If you have difficulty walking any distance, please let us know in advance and we will advise how best we can accommodate you.

Regrettably, most of our excursions are not suitable to those confined to a wheelchair.

Activity Level / Strenuousness

Light – At most, participation in the shore excursions requires the ability to walk reasonable distances and some stairs.

Food

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your cruise fare so you shouldn’t be too hungry. It is worthwhile to sample the local cuisine though.

Food in Andalusia is among the best in Spain. A few things that you must try include ‘Secreto Ibérico’ which is a superb local ham that melts in your mouth. Similar to this is the ‘Serranito’ which is a sandwich made with salty Serrano ham, green pepper and tomato.

On the sweet side, Torrijas are kind of like a tastier form of French toast. Bread dipped in eggs and deep fried served with honey or sweet condensed milk. Delicious!

The wines of Andalucia are also very well known for their quality. Both white wines like Crianza and red wine varieties like Temperanillo are prevalent in this area. Of course sherry also finds its home here, particularly in the “Sherry Triangle” in the area around Cadiz.

Language

Your shipboard staff all speak English of course, but when you are wandering through the shops in small villages, the local folk may have little English. If your Spanish is limited to “Buenos Dias” or “Una cerveza por favor”, you might want to have a phrasebook or .

Medical Facilities

There are no medical personnel onboard the ship. However, the purser can contact onshore medical people for emergency and non-emergency situations and rapid evacuation can easily be facilitated in the most urgent cases.

Phone & Internet

There is a phone in each cabin. As is typical, the charges for overseas calls are relatively high.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the main public areas of the ship but not necessarily in all cabins. As internet is provided through a mobile network, bandwidth (speed) will vary depending on the number of concurrent users, the proximity to a cell tower and other factors.

If you would like to have regular data and phone connection, we suggest either arranging an overseas roaming plan with your mobile operator, or pick up a local SIM card if you have an unlocked phone.

Health / Vaccinations

There are no vaccinations required to travel to France. As always, we recommend being in good health prior to any long distance travel. Consult your physician with any specific concerns in regard to this program.

Safety & Security

Despite recent events, France is extremely safe. Particularly the small cities and towns on this voyage, you should have nothing to be concerned about. This being said, being constantly aware of your surroundings and not taking unnecessary valuables with you is always recommended. Leave your passport, extra money and any other belongings you do not need during the day in the safe in your cabin.

You can access current information about the security situation in France by referring to the Canadian government travel advisory site at https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/france 



Suggested Reading

In the Valley of the Rhone

Wines of the Northern Rhone

Rough Guide to the Rhone Valley