Europe’s Atlantic Highlights—From Lisbon to Hamburg

Set out from this enchanting city

The Portuguese capital is rich in history and culture. Take a stroll through the classical districts of Baixa and Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Alfama, the old Islamic quarter, where there are remains of a Roman theater and a Moorish fortress. A bit outside the city center, you can visit the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery before you set sail.  

MS Fridtjof Nansen awaits you in the harbor. After being welcomed aboard, settle into your cabin and begin your adventure at sea.  

With so much to see in and around Lisbon, consider arriving early and joining one of our optional Pre-Programs.

Explore the UNESCO-listed historic center of Porto

Settle into life on board as we approach our first stop: Leixões, Portugal. From here, you can see the lighthouse of Leça, the Boa Nova Chapel, and the beautiful beach of Praia Azul.    

You can take a shuttle bus to Porto, which is famed for its port wine and UNESCO-listed historic center. It’s an undulating city made for walking where you'll fall in love with the pastel houses, colorful tiled façades, street art, ornate churches, and panoramic views across the Douro River.   

Here you can stroll along the bustling promenade by the Ribeira docks, cross the Dom Luís I Bridge, snack on delicious petiscos and enjoy wine tastings at the port cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia.

See Galicia's heritage in Ferrol

Enjoy a relaxing morning on board. Attend an engaging lecture with the Expedition Team in the Science Center or soak up the steam in the sauna or a hot tub before we enter the Ría de Ferrol. Admire the imposing forts of La Palma and San Felipe that sit on either side of the headland, protecting the city within. 

Ferrol is one of Spain’s best-preserved 18th century port cities. While you’re here, criss-cross Barrio de la Magdalena's grid of streets and explore the city’s maritime museums. 

El Camino Inglés, one of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes, starts in Ferrol.  You may also be able to join an excursion to Santiago de Compostela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important Christian sites in the world.

Savor a different cultural flavor in Asturias

Gijón has a prime position on the Bay of Biscay; it is the cultural heart of Asturias and has grown from a small fishing village settled by the Romans into a prominent port city. 

Experience its old-town charm on a stroll through Cimadevilla Park and the Barrio del Carmen district, exploring beautiful Baroque churches and the Plaza del Marqués. You can also hike up to Mirador de la Providencia, an unusual viewpoint shaped like the hull of a ship that offers incredible views of the surrounding landscape. 

Then you can relax on the golden sands of the beach at Playa de San Lorenzo, enjoy a coastal walk, or savor fresh fish and other Asturian delicacies accompanied by a glass of refreshing local cider.

Raise a glass in Bordeaux

Today we sail up the Gironde Estuary and Garonne River, arriving in central Bordeaux after lunch, where we’ll enjoy an overnight stay.  

Bordeaux's old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bursting with culture and art at every turn. From the famous water mirror at Place de la Bourse, to the Gothic St André Cathedral and the Musée des Beaux-Arts Bourdeax, if you love art and architecture, you're spoilt for choice. 

But it's wine that's the true soul of Bordeaux. With over 8,500 châteaux and producers in the region, and vineyards just a short tram ride from town, you can taste and compare some of the 60 appellations, from the stellar red Bordeaux Supérieur to sweet Sauternes.  

Explore the many charms of Île-d’Yeu

What Île-d’Yeu lacks in size, it more than makes up for in diversity of landscapes. This pretty little island is home to rocky shores, dunes, pine forest, and lush meadows.  

First inhabited over 5,000 years ago by farmers of the Neolithic period, the island has many historical sites, ranging from superbly preserved dolmens and menhirs to medieval castles and tiny villages. You can rent a bike, or just discover the island’s treasures on foot. 

Ports in Île-d’Yeu are too small for our ship, so if the conditions are favorable, we’ll anchor off the island and use our small boats to take you ashore.

Experience the pristine and rugged coastlines of the Quiberon peninsula 

Venture into the heart of Brittany’s untamed Atlantic coast on the Quiberon peninsula. To the west, craggy cliffs face the full force of the ocean. To the east, calm bays and sweeping beaches stretch along the coast.  

Explore this unspoilt landscape, rich in wildlife, wildflowers and local folklore. Nearby, you’ll find the ancient megaliths of Carnac. At this mysterious site, nearly 3,000 standing stones align across more than two miles, dating back more than 7,000 years. 

Inspiring coastal scenery and maritime history

We’ll use our tender boats to go ashore at the picturesque seaside town of Douarnenez, where you'll find the colourful quaysides, sandy beaches, and steep cliffs that inspired famous painters like Renoir and Boudin. As well as fishermen’s huts and seamen’s chapels, Douarnenez hosts a wonderful maritime museum with boats from around the world.  

While here, you can choose to discover the wild beauty of Pointe Du Raz, a promontory facing the elements of the Atlantic Ocean, where Finistère really does feel like the ‘End of the Earth’.  Or explore the charming Breton town of Quimper, whose skyline is dominated by the twin spires of Saint Corentin Cathedral. 

A beautiful Breton town steeped in history

Viewed from the sea, Saint-Malo is an impressive sight, fringed by fortified bastions and gently sloping beaches. We’ll anchor off the town and use our tender boats to go ashore. 

A circular walk along the ramparts offers the best views of the town and surrounding islands. Follow the historical trail within the old city walls through a maze of cobbled streets, and visit Demeure De Corsaire to learn about the feared corsairs and the town’s pirate heritage.  

You can walk to Île de Grand Bé at low tide or join an excursion to visit the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. The island has the remains of an ancient fort, and this is where the renowned local writer Chateaubriand is buried.

Reflect and relax on a calming day at sea

Enjoy the day relaxing while we navigate the waters of the channel that separates continental Europe from the British Isles.  

While the British call it the “English Channel,” it’s more commonly known in continental Europe as “La Manche,” or derivations of that. The Dutch may have the most diplomatic name for it: they simply call it “Het Kanaal,” or “the Channel.”  

Whatever the name, a quarter of the world’s maritime trade navigates through this passage. Our expert Expedition Team will be happy to share their knowledge about these historic waters with you.

Get to know the Frisian port city of Harlingen

Harlingen lies on the shores of the Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s home to the last traditional pottery factory in the Netherlands.  

It’s a city of canals and pretty harbors that you can explore on foot or by bike, and if conditions allow, we can take to the water and cruise the canals aboard our small expedition boats. You'll find traditional sailing ships and historic warehouses around the old harbors of Noorderhaven and Zuiderhaven. Don’t miss the Harlingen Aardewerkmuseum, where you can admire displays of distinctive Frisian pottery.

End your cruise in Germany’s second city

Your expedition cruise comes to an end as we arrive in Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany and one of the greenest urban areas in Europe. 

There’s much to see and do in Hamburg. If you have time, you'll find many attractions in the old town district of Altstadt, including the St Nikolai Memorial and the historic street of Deichstraße.