The vacation option of taking a cruise and spending a few days at or near the embarkation port and the disembarkation port has been a nice combination. The ability to investigate in detail a couple destinations on your own along with the ease and good food/drink of a criuse is a really nice combination. We tried this vacation model a couple times in 2023 and they were so good we have booked another in 2024.
This year's combo-cruise vacation starts with a flight to Heathrow, outside London. For five days prior to our cruise we plan to enjoy the non-hurried life-style of Winchester. We plan to take a bus from heathrow for the 1-hour bus ride. We visited Winchester in 2016 when I was on a business trip and fell in love with the ease-going life style of this cobblestone street village. Winchester dates back over 2000 years and is home to a world-famous Cathedral, with the longest medieval nave in Europe, and containing numerous ancient monarchs of Wessex and Winchester. We are returning to the same lodge we used in 2016 the Winchester Hotel and Spa (scroll down off this link to see images of this hotel). The plan is to recover from jet-leg before the cruise and their excursions. After rest and relaxing for five days we board the train that stops in the center of town for the short ride to the port.
Unfortunately the weather was not the best for our Winchester days. But when it was not raining we did get out and enjoy this beautiful village as you can see from our images.
Our cruise ship is the "Island Princess" disembarking from Southampton, England with the following itinerary. Cruise excursions are still being worked out. The ones that are booked are listed below.
Bilbao, Spain=>Bermeo, Bizcaia Coast & City Drive tour: A guided tour around Bilbao and then venture out into the beautiful Basque country for a visit to Bermeo, the provincial capital until 1602 and a charming old fishing port. In the heart of Bilbao, you'll stop at the renowned Guggenheim Museum for a look at Frank Gehry's stunning architecture. Stop at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe., which offers a panoramic view of the Biscayan coast en route to Bermeo. See the streets of the Old Quarter, the Gothic Church of San Francisco, the 18th-century Town Hall and the neoclassical Church of Santa Maria. Afterwards, enjoy lunch of Basque specialties accompanied by wine and dessert at a local restaurant. Re-boarding your motorcoach for the return to your cruise ship. Bilbao, Spain - images
Tangier, Morocco=>Tangier: The Door of Africa tour: Discover highlights of the kasbah on this half-day adventure that serves as a wonderful introduction to Tangier. Board the motorcoach for the short drive to the kasbah, located at the highest point of the medina. Disembark and set off on a narrated walk through Bab Haha gate to enter the kasbah on the Place du Mechouar. Your guide will lead you on an uphill walk, highlighting key buildings and sharing facts about this historic area, largely unchanged since Roman times. Once the home of the sultan and his harem, today it is a residential area. Visit the Kasbah Museum to learn more about the kasbah (fort) neighborhood and peruse the displays, mosaics and traditional courtyard. Continue your stroll through the medina (old town) and discover the Grand Socco, a lively marketplace where local color is on display and the scent of spices in the air. Pause for a refreshment, then reboard the motorcoach for a short drive to Saint Andrew's Church, an Anglican house of worship decorated in high Fassi style. With a camera filled with memories, return to the ship. Tangier, Morocco - images
Malaga, Spain=>Ronda tour: A walking tour of Spain's oldest city unveils historic - and breathtaking - views. You'll travel along Spain's famed Costa del Sol to Ronda, one of Spain's oldest city. You'll drive around the city's old fortified walls, then stroll to the Plaza del Toros, considered the birthplace of the modern Corrida del Toros. The arena, the largest and oldest in Spain, sits in an impressive 16-sided building that also houses the Antonio Ordoñez Bullfighting Museum. Next, you'll see the Santa Maria La Mayor Church, one of the most important sacred monuments of Ronda, and witness perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring views of the medieval city - the Puente Nuevo bridge that crosses the river Guadalevin and the El Tajo, a gorge that separates the old part of town from the new town. You'll cap off your day with shopping and lunch. Malaga, Spain - images
After the cruise we are spending a four extra days in Barcelona to see sights we missed in 2023. While in Barcelona we are staying at the Hotel Ginebra. The hotel is located in the heart of the city overlooking Plaça de Catalunya and steps away La Ramblas. The tours we have booked in Barcelona include the following:
Park Guell Guided Tour: A guided tour of Parc Güell, designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudí and arguably Barcelona's most beautiful public space. Follow your guide on an in-depth exploration of this magnificent site, checking out some of its most picturesque sights and learning fascinating facts about its eccentric designer, Gaudí. Along the way you're sure to enjoy the park's intricate tile work, colorful architecture, and stunning city views afforded by its hilltop location. Barcelona Gaudi - images
La Pedrera Essential Tour: Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the architect's last civic architectural project. It is a unique building, a masterpiece of nature that reveals Gaudi's boundless imagination. La Pedrera is also the only Gaudi interpretation centre in Barcelona and is an essential place to visitC in order to learn about the architect's entire body of work and his inspiration. In total, you will tour 4,500 square metres divided across five floors. On this tour you will be able to discover for yourself during the day all the parts of the building open to visitors.
Montserrat Monastery and Hiking Experience from Barcelona Tour: Leave behind the busy streets of Barcelona and spend the day exploring the natural wonders, culture, and history of Montserrat. This day trip combines a guided tour of the Montserrat monastery with hiking historic pilgrim pathways through the surrounding nature reserve. Montserrat Monastery - images