Spain & Portugal Cruise Holidays

On our Spain cruises, you might visit cultural hotspots like Barcelona, Fuerteventura or La Coruña.

On a special tour of Barcelona, you can discover some of Antoni Gaudí’s greatest works and explore the inspiration behind them. His must-visit architectural masterpieces include Park Güell where you can admire vibrant mosaics and gaze out from the hillside across the city to the glittering Mediterranean Sea. Afterwards, you could head to one of Europe’s most recognisable buildings, the Sagrada Família, and hear the fascinating facts of Gaudí’s unfinished colossal church.

In Fuerteventura, you could check out the old capital, Betancuria, as well as pretty villages such as Tascamanita and Ajuy, where you can also explore ancient caves. Walk on the wild side with a hike across magnificent volcano landscapes, or head off-road on a dune buggy adventure to explore more of the island’s rugged beauty. Prefer to top up your tan while taking in a new place? Why not spend a day hopping between some of the island’s most idyllic beaches? You could even walk among the massive mounds of the Corralejo Dunes Natural Park.

Make sure you savour the freshest glass of world-famous beer Estrella Galicia if you visit La Coruña (its place of origin). You can soak up spectacular views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean from clifftop spot Mount San Pedro and head to the nearby 2nd-century lighthouse the Tower of Hercules – one of La Coruña’s best-known monuments. In the heart of the city, explore Maria Pita Square, where historic structures surround the spacious plaza.

On our Portugal cruises, you might enjoy time in beautiful cities like Lisbon and Porto (from Leixoes).

You can get to the heart of Portugal’s City of Light with a scenic drive – take in the monument Pombal Square, chic Liberty Avenue, majestic Black Horse Square and the buzzing Rossio. From King Edward VII Park, marvel at the spectacular views across the city and out to the River Tagus. Jump on a cruise through the river to take in must-see landmarks like the 25th April Bridge and along the bank of the historic Belém district to the Monument to the Discoveries, the unique Belém Tower and the ornate Gothic-style Jeronimos Monastery.

You can also get a true taste of Portuguese cuisine with a hands-on gastronomic workshop in the world-famous Time Out Market and discover the Baixa district’s colourful Pink Street on a special P&O Cruises shore experience created with Time Out.

The decorative facades of many churches are sure to catch your eye if you explore the alluring city of Porto. Striking street art and contemporary galleries will vie for your attention. You could hire a bike and ride along the boardwalk beside the river Duoro until you reach the beach or indulge in a romantic cruise down the river for a port tasting experience. Sailing from the medieval Ribeira Quarter, you’ll meander past palaces and aristocratic residences before arriving at the city of Vila Nova de Gaia for a delicious tasting session. 

It’s always worth checking the local weather before you head off on your Spain and Portugal cruise holiday but, in the summer, you’ll generally need to dress for the heat (think dresses, shorts, t-shirts, sandals – and don’t forget your swimming costume), while days ashore in the winter might call for jeans and light jumpers.

During your days on board, you can dress in whatever you like. However, on all our ships, we have two dress codes that apply in the evenings: Evening Casual and Black Tie. On nights when the dress code is Evening Casual, you can bring out your best shirt, dress and smart, dark denim. For nights where the dress code is Black Tie, make sure you pack your best tux, suit or cocktail dress.

There are some venues on each ship where dress codes don’t apply, so make sure you check your Horizon paper that’s delivered to your cabin each day to check where these are, as they vary ship by ship. For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under.

A basic lunch and drink  would usually cost between €12 and €20, while an average dinner would usually cost around €15 to €40 depending on where you go and what you order (and how hungry you are).

You’ll find spirits and liqueurs in bars cost from €4 to €10, while local ciders and beers will be cheaper. 

Spain has three main climate zones – the south and east coasts that we visit have a Mediterranean climate, while our ships also head to the oceanic north and northwest parts of the country.

The oceanic climate makes ‘Green Spain’ wet and mild compared to the rest of the country, but it does still get warm and sunny in the summer. Winters can be rainy and cloudy, similar to the UK, but it’s warmer year-round.

In Mediterranean Spain, winters are much warmer than inland areas (Barcelona can reach highs of 23°C in October). It’s a great place to visit if you’re craving dry weather and sunshine in the winter, while autumn can be a bit rainier.

For the hottest weather in Spain, July and August are the months to holiday there. With minimal rain through the summer, the area tends to be quite humid but is made more bearable by mild winds bringing welcome relief from the heat.

While Portugal’s coastline faces the Atlantic Ocean, its weather is very similar to that of most Mediterranean countries. It’s hot and dry in the summer, while the winter months are temperate – which is why it’s so popular if you’re looking for winter sun.

Our popular cruise destination, Lisbon, can hit temperatures of 29°C in the summer, with very little rainfall from June to August. Although a nice breeze from the Atlantic will help to keep you cool. 

Spain and Portugal share the same currency, The Euro.

Citizens of the UK can go to Portugal or Spain without a visa.