Historic Ports of The Western Seaboard - Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain & Portugal Cruise

Amsterdam is a gorgeous Dutch city where a boat cruise along the canals gets to the heart of things. Yet, the magic also unfolds while strolling through narrow streets and crossing the hundreds of bridges. It houses a treasure trove of fabulous art museums, including the Rijksmuseum, adorned with Dutch Masters, conveniently located near the Van Gogh Museum. To the south, picturesque stretches of countryside with windmills line the canals.

Once a retreat for European nobility, Oostende's charm lies in its sandy beaches, boardwalk, racetrack, 19th-century Belle Époque architecture, beachfront cafés and a harbour with seafood stalls. The Atlantikwall, a network of WWI and WWII bunkers, is now an open-air museum. Other museums include the Ensor Museum with James Ensor's maritime artworks, the Mercator aboard a 1930s three-masted ship, and Mu.ZEE, displaying Belgian art from the 1830s.

Honfleur in Normandy has attracted artists for centuries, including Impressionist Claude Monet. Set on the Seine estuary, in the department of Calvados (known for apple brandy), this picturesque harbour town has cobbled streets and colourful 16th- to 18th-century townhouses around the Vieux Bassin (old harbour). An hour away is Bayeux, home of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, a 70m-long embroidery depicting the Norman conquest and Battle of Hastings.

The medieval coastal city of Saint-Malo is a labyrinth of streets. Dating back to the 12th century, Saint-Malo was once a haven for pirates and a stopping point for merchant ships. Today, colourful shops sit alongside aromatic markets, cafes and restaurants serving oysters, crêpes and cider. Intra-Muros, the ancient walled town, forms the heart of Saint-Malo, where the striking Gothic and Romanesque Cathédrale de St Malo dominates the skyline.

The charming French port of Roscoff sits on a peninsula at Brittany's tip. Despite a history of privateers and smugglers, the little city is known for its richly decorated merchants' houses. Near the port, a local hotelier created an exotic garden growing more than 3,500 species of plants from the Southern Hemisphere. Roscoff is also the origin of Onion Johnnies, Breton farmers who crossed to England to sell Roscoff pink onions on their bikes.

The picturesque French port city of Concarneau is in the Finistère department of Brittany. On a tiny islet, Its medieval walled city has narrow alleys and ramparts. Nearby, the artist village of Pont Aven, discovered in the 1860s by American painters, became a popular stop for French artist Paul Gauguin who set up the École de Pont-Aven art movement known as synthetism. The local speciality, galettes are melt-in-the-mouth Breton butter biscuits.

Royan, a French Atlantic coastal gem, features five beaches nestled between dunes and pine forests at the broad mouth of the Gironde. La Grande Conche, a 2 km stretch of golden sands, lures sun-seekers. Royan endured significant damage during an allied bombing on January 5, 1945. The town's charm continues to shine through its blend of belle époque villas and vibrant postwar architecture, including the distinctive Notre-Dame de Royan church.

Bilbao, the de facto capital of the Basque region, is an industrial city renowned for its culture, skyscrapers and the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked the city's revitalisation. The city’s many pintxo bars are a mainstay of the culinary scene, while the lively La Ribera Market dates back to the 14th century. Spain’s famous La Rioja wine region is a full-day trip from the port.

Santander, known for its beaches, unveils tales of a bygone era through medieval alleyways and ancient architecture. The Paseo de Pereda is a lush haven of gardens and sculptures. The city's history, dating back to Roman times, is marked by landmarks like the 13th-century Gothic cathedral, Catedral de la Asunción, and the Palacio de la Magdalena, a former royal summer residence. Santander is also renowned for traditional Basque cuisine.

With a rich seafaring history and scenic beaches, Ferrol, in A Coruña, Galicia, on the Atlantic coast, champions the Ferrol Naval Museum and the 16th-century San Felipe Castle. Nearby, La Coruña, dubbed the Crystal City for its glass-fronted buildings, showcases the 1st-century Hercules Tower, a UNESCO landmark. Santiago de Compostela, a famed pilgrimage centre, houses the cathedral believed to hold the remains of St. James the Great.

Famed for its port wine and bridges over the river Douro, Portugal’s second city, Oporto (Porto) is a city of two halves. On the left bank is Gaia's famed port houses such as Graham’s and Taylor’s offer cellar tours and port tastings. Ribeira, on the right bank, has rows of colourful old houses that line the riverfront and narrow streets, while a vintage tram trundles to the Foz district. Blue azulejo tile murals cover Igreja de Carmo church.

Spread over seven hills with São Jorge Castle views, bustling Lisbon is one of the world's oldest cities. Elegant Baixa, hilltop Alfama with its yellow tram, and scenic Graça overviewing pastel buildings, are top areas. The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém is a World Heritage Gothic site. The classic Portuguese pastel de nata custard tarts are a local treat. Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Ponte 25 de Abril, crosses the river Tagus.

Itineraries are subject to change.