Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

Arrive in Barcelona and transfer to the hotel. Gather this evening with fellow travelers for a festive welcome dinner.

Begin our day at Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia, begun in 1884 and as yet unfinished. Continue to the the oldest part of the city, Barrio Gotico, for a walking tour where we see the great 14th-century Barcelona Cathedral and Palau Guell, a private home designed by Gaudí. After lunch, drive to the top of Montjuic for panoramic views of the city and for a visit to the Museum of Catalan Art before transferring to the port to embark Emerald Sakara and set sail.

The tiny island of Menorca has a richly varied history stretching deep into the neolithic era. Visit to the prehistoric megalith at Talatí de Dalt, among the best preserved Talayotic settlements in the Mediterranean. Then, drive inland to the whitewashed town of Alaior. Walk the narrow streets of its historic Old Town to see the Gothic Santa Eulalia Church, the Aalort Palace, and the San Diego Convent.

This morning, explore Palma’s Old Town during a walking tour that includes Plaça Mayor, the arcade-lined central square; the 14th-century Bellver Castle, Spain’s only circular castle—one of the few in Europe; and the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, a former Muslim citadel that now serves as a headquarters of the military. Step inside Palma’s enormous cathedral, nicknamed La Seu, to take in the magnificent Gaudí-designed interior. After lunch back on the ship, spend the afternoon at leisure in Palma or opt to join a trip to Bodegas José L. Ferrer for wine tasting and tapas.

In addition to being famous the world over for its nightlife and dance clubs, Ibiza is an important historical site. Its Old Town, Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally settled by the Phoenicians. Tour the old town, including its cathedral and castle, as well as the necropolis, which once served as a burial ground for Carthaginian nobility from around the empire. Enjoy time at leisure, perhaps visiting MACE, Ibiza’s trend-setting museum of contemporary art.

During our time in Cartagena, we focus on its Roman sites, beginning with a tour of the city’s emblematic Roman Theater, a monument to the role of Cartagena in the defeat of Carthage in the second Punic War. Continue to Casa de la Fortuna, the remarkably well-preserved home of a wealthy Roman family of the 1st century BCE.  Following this exploration of Roman Cartagena, drive to the Castillo de Concepcion, a fortress on a hill overlooking the city and providing panoramic views.

After a morning at sea, drive through the scenic Andalusian countryside to Granada, home to the incomparable Alhambra. On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a stroll through the splendid Generalife Gardens, a summer retreat for the sultan. Inside the palace, marvel at the Sala de los Hermanos, one of the most beautifully decorated rooms in the Alhambra. We also pay a visit to Huerta de San Vicente, the summer home of the García Lorca family, where Federico García Lorca wrote some of his major works. Back in Malaga, stop at the Gibralfaro Castle to watch the sun set over the Costa del Sol.

Disembark the ship for a short drive to Cap Spartel, which overlooks the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar and offers extraordinary views over the point at which the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Return to Tangier to see important sights such as the Kasbah, traditional residence of the sultan and his harem and now one of the most fashionable residential areas in the city; the American Legation, the oldest United States diplomatic property abroad; and the Grand Souk, once filled with traders, musicians, storytellers, and snake charmers and still a bustling hub of activity.

Occupied by the Romans, conquered by the Moors, and ruled by a succession of Catholic monarchs, Seville is one of Europe’s most important and affluent maritime cites. After docking in the city along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, enjoy a tour of the Alcazar, the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy some time at leisure as the ship remains docked overnight.

This morning, tour Seville’s large and fanciful Gothic Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the burial site of Christopher Columbus. See the Cathedral’s main points of interest, including the Capilla Mayor and La Giralda, the intricately detailed bell tower that is the city’s most well-known symbol. Next, wander the historic Barrio Santa Cruz, a neighborhood of labyrinthine streets and alleys dating to the Middle Ages, when it was the old Jewish Quarter. In the afternoon, reboard  and cruise down the Guadalquivir River on the way to Portugal.

Portimão is our gateway to the Algarve and to the town of Lagos, which played an important role in Portuguese exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries. Tour the Old Town, including the extravagant Church of Santo Antonio and the 16th-century town walls. Then, learn about the complicated history of Prince Henry the Navigator as we visit the Antigo Mercado de Escravos and the Valle de Gafaria with a Portuguese anthropologist. Have lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the ship.

After breakfast aboard, disembark and transfer to the airport for flights homeward.