About the cruise
Enjoy this foray to the year-round sunshine of the sparkling Atlantic Isles. The capital of Madeira, Funchal, has an abundance of natural delights with a picturesque backdrop of imposing mountains and deep valleys. Famed for its scenic splendours, stunning clifftop waterfalls, verdant pine forests and flora-covered mountains. To start your tour of the Canaries, is the island ‘with everything’, Tenerife. Dominated by lofty Mount Teide, it boasts Las Cañadas National Park with its oddly-shaped spires of coloured rocks and the lush Orotava Valley with its banana plantations and groves of pineapple. If you fancy a day at the seaside choose your mood - Puerto de la Cruz is sedate and elegant, whilst Playa de las Americas is huge, commercial and great fun.
La Palma is perhaps, the least known and loveliest of the Canaries. Santa Cruz, the main town, is simply delightful. But, with mountains rising to over 8,000 feet, La Palma is - in relation to its coastline - the most mountainous place of all. Which means you will see scenery of absolutely breathtaking beauty here. Gran Canaria is known as the ‘miniature continent’ due to its varying climates and landscapes. Its heart is the cosmopolitan, historic and prosperous port city of Las Palmas and here you can see where Columbus stayed on his way to and from discovering the New World. Back to the mainland now, with a visit to the Conquistador city of Cadiz. Travel inland to inspect the Moorish marvels of Seville or head for the town of Jerez and savour fine sherries in their birthplace.
Lisbon nestles against seven hills on the north side of the Tagus River. This vibrant capital has retained many of its classical squares, stately buildings and picturesque quarters. Enjoy a relaxing tram ride through the metropolis, passing the Parliament, Cathedral, Alfama District and Santa Luzia Belvedere. Before returning to Southampton, tour the beautiful medieval city of Vigo. Try the local fresh seafood served in one of the many excellent restaurants and stroll around the maze of cobbled streets in Bayona’s Old Quarters. Further afield, see the Cathedral of Santiago – one of the most important shrines in Christendom. Arrive back in Southampton on Sunday 10 December.