European Coastal Cruise

From the old‑world sophistication of Portugal and the artistic verve of Spain’s Basque country to the historic D-Day beaches of Normandy, France, and the regal majesty of London, a riveting canvas of influential seaports awaits you on this deluxe, small ship itinerary. Cruise with alumni and friends from May 3 – 12, 2025 and explore four European coastal nations — Portugal, Spain, France and England.

Visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including ancient Porto, the sacred Santiago de Compostela and the magnificent island monastery of Mont‑Saint‑Michel. Savor the Basque culinary delights of Bilbao, where you may also choose to tour Frank Gehry’s visionary Guggenheim Museum. Walk the hallowed D-Day beaches of Normandy with special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and cruise up the River Thames to spend one night on the ship a mere stone’s throw from Tower Bridge in the heart of London.

Travel aboard the specially chartered, World Traveller, featuring only 95 suites and staterooms. Dock in small ports of call inaccessible to larger vessels and enjoy luxurious, ocean‑view accommodations, globally inspired cuisine and attentive, personal service.

This amazing program features at least one included excursion in each port with options to customize your journey at no extra cost with a choice of activities. We urge you to reserve now while space and early booking savings are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details and to confirm your place today.

Request your reservation online today while space and early booking savings are available. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu or 866-525-8664 for more details.

Dates and Rates:

Date Range: May 3 – 12, 2025

Countries: Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom

Price Range: $6,695 – $20,295 per person based on double occupancy. Taxes are an additional $150 per person.

Traveling solo?  Stateroom Categories 6,7, 8 may be reserved by single travelers at 160% of the per person double price (per person rate x 1.6),  or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Deposit: $1,000 per person (https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms for complete terms and conditions)

Trip Type: Cruise

Activity Level:  Moderately Active

• Walking tours are at least 1.5 hours and require walking and standing on cobblestones, uneven paths and pavement and hills. Some excursions may require climbing stairs, which may not have railings.
• Disembarking the ship requires walking on narrow, and sometimes steep, gangplanks.
• Getting on and off coaches requires climbing or descending 3-6 steep steps.
• Depending on the excursion, more leisurely alternatives to active excursions may be available.

Trip Status: Confirmed & Open for Reservations. Request your reservation online today while space and early booking savings are available.

Contact: t GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu or 866-525-8664

 

Itinerary:

Day 1, May 3 | Depart Home City
Depart for Lisbon, Portugal. Please check your bags from your gateway city to your arrival city.

Day 2, May 4 | Lisbon, Portugal | D
Arrive at Lisbon International Airport in Lisbon. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage.  Those arriving early will transfer to a group hospitality room at a Lisbon hotel. After lunch on your own at the hotel or nearby, you will then travel with the group to embark the deluxe World Traveller. Those arriving later will transfer directly to the port for embarkation. This evening, attend a  Welcome Briefing and lifeboat drill, followed by a dinner on board the ship as we depart Lisbon.

Day 3, May 5 | Leixões/Oporto | B, L, R, D
Watch for stunning views over breakfast as we spend the morning cruising toward Leixões for a day of discovery. Disembark after lunch for an excursion to Oporto, Portugal’s second largest city. Oporto. Renowned for its port wine, Oporto has been occupied by humans since the 8th century B.C., when excavations show evidence of a Phoenician trading settlement. Situated high on a hill over the Douro River, this ancient city has been occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Normans and Moors over the centuries. Oporto is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Romanesque monuments, medieval old town and Stock Exchange.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions
Wine Tasting with Port & Cheese. Savor the famous wine that Oporto is known for with a tasting of port paired with cheese, hosted by a local purveyor with more than 200 years of history.

Medieval Monuments of Oporto. See some of Oporto’s most famous medieval structures on a tour that includes the 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace — a grand building with British Neoclassical and Palladian influences. Inside you will find elaborate paintings, sculptures, and décor of the period.

Later this afternoon, experience the lively Ribeira riverfront medieval quarter on a guided walking tour.

Free Time: After the tour, you will have time on your own to explore Ribeira, one of Oporto’s most popular and picturesque neighborhoods. Options abound, from shopping to strolling the medieval streets along the river.

Welcome Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Welcome Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening.

Day 4, May 6 | La Coruña, Spain/Santiago de Compostela | B, L, D
Wake this morning to breakfast on board and stunning views as the ship arrives in the historic Spanish port city of La Coruña for an excursion to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago de Compostela. Located in the autonomous region of Galicia, UNESCO-inscribed Santiago de Compostela has been a world-renowned pilgrimage site since the ninth century when a light was seen shining over a forgotten Roman tomb believed to be that of St. James the Great, one of Jesus’ apostles. Following the Camino de Santiago pathway, Christians soon began to descend on the area to repent for their sins and visit the tomb. Santiago de Compostela’s spectacular old town is filled with Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque monuments — all surrounding the Romanesque cathedral where the tomb is located. Your immersion into Santiago de Compostela begins with a guided walking tour to the city center at the Plaza de Obradoiro square, where you may admire the splendid Palacio de Rajoy. From there, you will visit the hallowed sanctuary of Spain’s patron saint — a legendary cathedral that holds the remains of St. James. Marvel at the ornate blend of styles on its interior, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque, as well as the site’s unique features. See the silver urn that contains St. James’ ashes and the ancient Portico de la Gloria entry to the cathedral — a famous masterpiece by 12th century European sculptor Master Mateo.

Join the group for lunch at an authentic local restaurant in Santiago de Compostela’s historic old town.

Free Time: After lunch, you will have time at leisure to continue exploring Santiago de Compostela at
your own pace. Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 5, May 7 | Santander/Bilbao | B, L, D
Enjoy breakfast on board and attend a lecture this morning as the ship cruises to Santander, where you will disembark after lunch for an afternoon excursion to Bilbao. European Coastal Cruise:  Bilbao. A member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the ancient port city of Bilbao has become famous for its cultural transformation and innovations in architecture, interior design and fashion. The once-gritty city has become one of Spain’s most popular destinations. Frank Gehry’s titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum is credited for ushering in Bilbao’s cultural renaissance while modernist marvels from Santiago Calatrava and Philippe Starck redefined the post-industrial skyline.

Traveler’s Choice | Choose one of the following included excursions.
Galleries of the Guggenheim Museum. Walk the galleries and explore the legendary Guggenheim Museum at your own pace, followed by a city tour to see some of Bilbao’s most iconic landmarks.

Aspaldiko Basque Cooking Demonstration. Travel to the rustic Aspaldiko restaurant for a Basque cooking demonstration. Taste the authentic dishes you create and enjoy the splendor of this charming property.

Return to the ship for dinner on board this evening.

Day 6, May 8 | Day at Sea | B, L, D
Wake this morning to breakfast and stunning views as you spend a day cruising the Bay of Biscay. Relax and enjoy some of the ship’s many luxury amenities as we sail north to France.

Day 7, May 9 | Saint-Malo, France/Mont-Saint-Michel | B, L, D
This morning you will disembark after breakfast at Saint-Malo, the fortified French port city where maritime explorer Jacques Cartier was born in the 15th century. From there you will travel to the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel, a pilgrimage site for more than 1,000 years. Mont-Saint-Michel. Rising from a tidal plain that appears to be suspended above the sea, the UNESCO World Heritage designated Mont-Saint-Michel began as a humble oratory and became a renowned center of knowledge during the Middle Ages. Cobblestone streets weave through the fortified village, culminating in the Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, a three-story Gothic masterpiece.

Climb up through the fortified medieval village to behold the glory of Mont-Saint-Michel—seemingly suspended above a saltwater marsh. Admire its storied cloisters; barrel-roofed réfectoire; Salle des Hôtes of the 13th century La Merveille; and the magnificent Église Abbatiale. Return to the ship for lunch and dinner on board.

Day 8, May 10 | Cherbourg for Caen and the Normandy Beaches | B, L, D
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning as the ship arrives in Cherbourg, where you will disembark for a day of excursions to the historic Normandy beaches, site of the largest seaborne invasion in history. Meet special guest speaker Dwight David Eisenhower II, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he leads you on a tour of the cemetery and other hallowed D-Day sites.
Return to the ship later this afternoon for dinner on board this evening.

Day 9, May 11 | English Channel/River Thames/London, England | B, L, R, D
Savor panoramic vistas as you cruise the English Channel across the Strait of Dover and up the River Thames to London. This day at sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s many luxury amenities.Watch from the deck as Britain’s history is revealed on this storied journey to remember. Dock on the Thames overnight alongside a famous D-Day-era warship in sight of the Tower Bridge.
Farewell Reception: Join your fellow travelers for a Captain’s Farewell Reception and dinner on board the ship this evening amid views of the London skyline.

Day 10, May 12 | London/Return to Home City | B
Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to Heathrow International Airport for your return flight home. Arrive in your home city and go through immigration and customs. If you have reserved the London Post-Tour Extension, continue to your tour of the Tower of London.

Inclusions:

• Transfer options with luggage handling abroad for participants whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s).
• Experienced, English-speaking local guides for included excursions.
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
• Complimentary bottled water in your Suite or Stateroom and on excursions.
• Hospitality desk aboard ship.
• Experienced team of Professional Travel Directors at your service.
• Complimentary use of an audio headset during guided excursions.

Highlights:

 

Not included:
 Airfare; Taxes; passport fees; visas and fees for obtaining visas; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; gratuities to ship and hotel personnel; optional sightseeing excursions; excess baggage charges on aircraft; local departure air taxes; airfare and associated local taxes*, airport facility taxes and federal inspection fees not listed int he “included features” section of the program brochure; transfers and baggage handling to/from airport/hotel on day(s) of arrival and/or departure if you are arriving earlier or later and/or departing earlier or later that scheduled group transfer(s); meals and and alcoholic beverages not listed as Included ; and all other services not specifically mentioned in the complete program terms and condition at https://www.gohagantravel.com/terms