Washington and Lee University
The names resound in the minds of world travelers: Mallorca, Granada, Gibraltar, Seville, and Lisbon. Each evokes something of the spell of Iberian beauty and legend. The legends are as deep as European history. Along the Iberian Peninsula, fortified medieval towns and modern cities still hold the artistic and architectural treasures influenced by those cultures that flourished during the seven centuries of Al-Andalus, during the epoch when the Moors occupied much of Iberia and the Mediterranean was largely a Moorish sea. Before the Moors, the Romans built their citadels, and before them the Phoenicians. This is a cruise itinerary so rich in history that the deluxe small ship M.V. Tere Moana may seem at times a time machine.
Embarking in Barcelona, we’ll sail the ancient trade routes of the Phoenician, Roman, and Moor mariners during a comprehensive itinerary to the coastal cities of Spain and Portugal during the best time of year. En route from Barcelona to Lisbon, we’ll visit four UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Portugal’s renowned Algarve region. We’ll see the spectacular sights that inspired works by Picasso and Gaudi, call on two of the enchanting Balearic Islands, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, then visit the masterful architecture and gardens of Granada. We’ll stand atop Gibraltar’s Top of the Rock to see the Pillars of Hercules spanning the Strait of Gibraltar, then cruise through the Andalusian countryside along the scenic Guadalquivir River into the heart of Seville. After a visit to the historic province of Algarve along the sunny southern coast of Portugal, we’ll disembark in Lisbon. The cruise offers optional extensions in Barcelona and Lisbon for those wishing to explore these great cities further.
The 90-passenger, five-star Tere Moana offers spacious, 100% ocean-view cabins, complimentary drinks, with a full lecture program and all excursions and gratuities included. This is an itinerary and a ship that are sure to please the savvy traveler who seeks a marriage of history, culture, and comfort.
Download the itinerary (HERE) and registration form (HERE)