Western Europe’s Coasts in Best Springtime Spirits From Nice to Cuxhaven 12 days/11 nights

May 13, 2009 A Gourmet Cruise on the MS Columbus

    The sun smiles gently as it shines down on Western Europe, and the Columbus cruises with you to sacred sites and to cities filled with the joy of life. Step onto Mont St. Michel, which rises from the waves between high tide and ebb tide, “pilgrimage” to the end of the Way of St. James in Spain or enjoy the colourful awakening of spring in the streets of Seville. Nor will the charm of the Portuguese seafaring metropolis Lisbon remain hidden from you. Once the Columbus reaches the North Sea, you can look forward to such pleasures as Belgian chocolate, Dutch cheese and the sight of the placid canals of Amsterdam. Welcome to delightful days in May.

    Highlights

    • Historical Spain-Explore Cartagena and its history stretching back more than 2,000 years, all the way to the ancient Romans, and stroll through the narrow streets of Murcia, travelling through time under Spain’s sun.

    • Impressions of Morocco-Artists have sought inspiration here, merchants offer their goods at the Grand Socco and in the streets of the medina, and the ancient kasbah with the former sultan’s palace dominates the entire scene: thrilling encounters in Tangier.

    • The Flair of Andalusia-The bell tower Giralda rises into the skies of proud Seville, in Jerez elegant thoroughbreds stamp with their hooves and sherry bodegas invite you to pay a visit. The most beautiful of the white villages invites visitors to magical encounters in the Sierra de Cádiz – a magnificent day in Andalusia.

    • Lisbon, Portugal’s Pearl-The splendid capital city displays its history, its promenades, its monuments and its joie de vivre. Palaces and parks which delighted Lord Byron lure you to enchanted Sintra and to the rococo palace Queluz with its marvelous park.

    • Santiago de Compostela – High Point of the Way of St. James

    • Sacred Island Between the Tides-The monastery island Mont St. Michel calmly rises off the coast, washed by ebb tide and high tide, built at the command of God’s finger, visited by countless pilgrims. A fantastic example of French medieval architecture.

    • Bruges and Gent – Belgium’s Medieval Jewels

    • Amsterdam, City of Canals-The multicultural metropolis takes you into the heart of its Old Town, the Dam with the “Nieuwe Kerk” and the “Koninklijk Paleis” and on to its historical centre, which today looks like a gigantic open-air museum. They have been built on top of thousands of piles: the typical, narrow residences and warehouses along the picturesque canals.

    Daily Itinerary

    • Thursday 5/14/09 Nice, France Departure 7:00 pm-Relax at Sea
    • Friday 5/15/09 Cartagena, Spain-Construction work on the magnificent cathedral of Murcia continued for many centuries. But the historical city has much more to offer: the classical facade of the casino or the monastery La Fuensanta also provoke exclamations of wonder.
    • Saturday 5/15/09 Gibraltar/Great Britain am &Tangier/Morocco, pm -Free-roaming Barbary macaques in a British overseas territory on the southern tip of Spain? Welcome to “The Gib” with its famous animal inhabitants.
      The “Gateway to Africa”, Tangier, is only a few nautical miles away from Europe. A city tour will take you to the rocky Atlantic coast with the Hercules Grotto as well as to the twisting narrow streets of the medina.
    • Sunday 5/17/09 Cadiz, Spain-A small Spanish beauty rules over the Gulf of Cadiz: stroll through the picturesque Old Town of Cadiz or explore Seville, the fiery capital of Andalusia. The idylls of the white villages and the taste of the delicious sherry point the way to Arcos and Jerez.
    • Monday and Tuesday 5/18-19/09 Lisbon, Portugal-The Tejo once carried the explorers’ ships back to the capital from the Atlantic, and even today the 35-metre-high “Torre de Belem” is witness to the former power of this impressive seafaring metropolis. During a city tour you will “lose” yourself in the magic of the Old Town Alfama with its twisting narrow streets. Alternatively, you can give into the romantic charms of Sintra and Queluz before the city’s gates.
    • Wednesday 5/20/08 La Coruna, Spain -Spend a pleasant day in the Galician capital with a walk and tapas. The famous Way of St. James is impressively crowned at the end of a 850-kilometre-long journey on foot by the pilgrims: marvel alternatively at the mighty cathedral and the Old Town of Santiago de Compostela.
    • Thursday 5/21/09 Relax at Sea.
    • Friday 5/22/09 St. Malo, France -In 708, Saint Aubert began construction of a work which is regarded today as the “Christian rock amongst the waves”: the towering Benedictine monastery on the island Mont St. Michel*. You will be treated to pleasures for the palate on this excursion: enjoy Cancale with an oyster tasting.
    • Saturday 5/23/09 Ostend, Belgium-King Leopold II himself promenaded along the boardwalks of this city, and you can take the day to explore the Flemish “Queen of the Sea Resorts” on your own. Or choose between these two appealing destinations: medieval Gent or Bruges with an historical city centre which is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Sunday 5/24/09 Ijmuiden (Amsterdam)/Netherlands -The many bridges and canals are what give Amsterdam its very special atmosphere – and so you will also glide along the famous canals during a panorama trip. Gouda and The Hague offer another attractive excursion: visit the city of cheese with the oldest Gothic town hall in the country and the seat of the Dutch government.
    • Monday 5/25/09 Cuxhaven -arrival 8:00 am
      Individual departure

      • Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Gibraltar, Holland, Morocco, Active Travel, Hapag Lloyd, MS Columbus, Coastal Cruises