At the airport

Holiday starts here!
Bilbao

The airline I work for cancelled my flight then rebooked me on a rival airline with extra leg room, departing 3 hours later! Bilbao is an interesting city to visit.
Embarkation Day

Guggenheim Museum this morning, unusual art. Ready to sail this afternoon!
Sea Day

Captain and Chief Engineer Q&A - there’s a 3 metre swell so no outdoor activities today. Behind the scenes tour was very interesting - went into a kitchen saw how they prepare menu items, went intoRead more
Lisbon

Walking tour - Americans - when are we getting on the bus! Walked around the old town then the relatively modern area to contrast, listened to a lot of the history. Used the funicular to get to theRead more
Portimao

Tender port - 20 minutes in a life boat to get to land. Tour of the Algarve region including stops in the towns of Silves - castle and Roman bridge and Monchique - nice views. Praia da Rocha - massiveRead more
Cadiz

Day trip to Seville, lots of walking around, the Spanish square is spectacular as is the cathedral. Walked by the river which was nice. There’s a bullring and an odd looking sculptural building.
Gibraltar

Early start, caught the cable car to the top of the rock. Saw the monkey feeding station then into the rock. Through the Great Siege Tunnels. Very interesting, learnt that the term shrapnel originatedRead more
Motril

Day trip to Granada. A place where I never quite got my bearings, I trusted google maps, found a massive cathedral so went in for a look. Visited The Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex full ofRead more
Ibiza

Took the bus over to San Antonio, couldn’t club, all closed on a Tuesday afternoon. Then got the bus to Playa d'en Bossa, very long beach, walked almost to the end. Found a nice section and had aRead more
Ibiza 2

Quick lunch and then the bus into Ibiza town. Walked up to the fortress. 8.5 miles walked today.
Palma, Majorca

Flown here twice this month and now finally time to explore. Tour today with a stop at Bellver Castle (not Belvoir or Beaver). Next the town in the hills of Valldemossa - posh - Chopin music in theRead more
Barcelona

Spectacular views of the city from the top of Montjuic. Then to La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) Church. Begun in 1883, it is still unfinished. Another 10 years, some apartments to knock down thenRead more
Saint Tropez

A lot of the yachts have moved out of the harbour ready for sailing boats, there’s a race on Sunday. Walked the streets of the old town, looked in a couple of churches. Brought a towel but theRead more
La Spezia

Had a walk through the streets, found an elevator and funicular to the castle. It had a museum inside which had artefacts from before the Romans. Back to the ship for lunch. Walking tour in theRead more
Civitavecchia

Disembarkation Day. Final breakfast, final goodbyes to the friends and staff.