Lifestyle & Relaxing Beats - Germany, Belgium, France & Spain Sailing Cruise

Departure 06.00 pm Hamburg has seen many ships in its time. Richly laden Hanseatic cogs, famous 19th century windjammers and giant vessels have dropped anchor in its port. The beautiful banks of the Elbe form prominent cordons for ships sailing in or out of the port of Hamburg. Moving towards the mouth of the Elbe, they glide by the patrician villas on the Elbchaussee, the Treppenviertel in Blankenese, the Airbus site and the picturesque banks of the Elbe with their green dykes and white beaches. You can catch charming harbor views of the little villages all along the banks of the Elbe.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

Arrival 01.00 pm, Departure 10.00 pm King Leopold II built the white palace and the long, wonderfully shady galleries on the beach. Like the casino and kursaal, they hark back to the Belle Époque when Oostende was the favourite summer resort of the aristocracy on the Flemish North Sea coast and was one of the most chic seaside towns in Europe. Although both world wars took their toll on the king's 'queen of seaside resorts', people still come in droves to stroll along the wide beach with its creamy sand and the long promenade. The lively old Hanseatic city of Bruges is captivating and its medieval atmosphere will enchant you. A rich historical heritage has been preserved inside its vast ramparts and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just enjoy the perfect sailing conditions with fitness, cosmetics, massage or with a good book in a teak chair.

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm A piece of France fallen into the sea and grabbed up by the English' is how Victor Hugo described his place of exile in the Bay of St. Malo, which is closer to the northern coast of France than the south coast of England. Guernsey, the second largest British Channel Island, later inspired Auguste Renoir to produce a whole series of paintings. Narrow, meandering roads bordered by hedges and embankments wind through the interior of the island, which boasts luscious vegetation courtesy of the mild Gulf Stream climate, while in the south, green hills give way to rocky cliffs on the sea's edge. Here, spectacular crags, bays and sandy beaches have been shaped by the vast tidal range pummelling the rock. The pretty island capital of St. Peter Port overlooking the large sheltered harbor and castle boasts a fascinating mixture of styles in a tangle of terraces and stepped gardens.

Arrival 09.00 am, Departure 02.00 pm Thanks to its sheltered position in the Bay of Brest, an exquisitely beautiful Atlantic inlet which extends deep inland, the Cité du Ponant has been an important naval port and base for the French Atlantic fleet for centuries. Almost entirely destroyed during the war and rebuilt from scratch, this modern university city now looks resolutely to the future and to its close ties with the navy and the sea. Maritime activities can be best observed from the promenade above the busy port or on the lively quayside itself. Below the old castle with the National Marine Museum is the marina Moulin Blanc, where the marine center "Océanopolis" provides mulitmedia and scientific up-to-date information about tides, weather and marine life in huge aquariums.

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 01.30 pm At 54 square miles, Belle-Île-en-Mer, south of Lorient is the largest of Brittany's islands. For a few weeks every summer, the storms and crashing waves subside and the island takes on a laid-back holiday atmosphere, with lots of bicycles, beach towels and music. On the west coast, the waves break on the rocks causing white crests to dance on the water. Small, idyllic bays and beaches nestle in deep inlets in the rocky coastline, sometimes only accessible from the sea. The island's capital is the port of Le Palais with its imposing citadel and countless street cafés along the harbor and in the Place de la République. Claude Monet spent two and a half months on the island, producing 39 paintings of the wild Côte Sauvage.

Arrival 09.00 am, Departure 11.00 pm Pauillac on the Médoc peninsula at the mouth of the Gironde north-west of Bordeaux is one of the oldest marinas in France. Its wide quayside is just under a mile long and takes a prominent position in the peaceful town center. However, it is Pauillac's location in the middle of one of the best wine-growing areas which has made it famous around the world. The town produces by far the most full-bodied wines in the Médoc and Bordeaux regions. On the outskirts of this town, which has its own 'appellation d'origine contrôlée', are no fewer than 18 of the 61 chateaux included in the list of Grand-Crus in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, as well as three of the five Premier Grand-Cru wine estates: Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton-Rothschild. An excursion to Bordeaux is more than just a visit to an exquisite city with an old town which features on the UNESCO world heritage list. It is a visual and gastronomic treat for gourmets and sightseers alike.

Relax on the sun deck and watch the crew climb into the shrouds and set sail. More than 4,100 sq m (44,100 sq ft) of sailcloth unfurl for a great day of sailing.

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 11.00 pm With its beautiful beach bay, the surrounding mountains and the extraordinary gastronomic offer, the seaside resort of San Sebastián (in Basque: Donostia) is one of the most popular towns on the Basque coast. Only a few kilometers to the east there is a more peaceful atmosphere – and this is exactly what makes Pasaias (Castilian Pasajes) so charming. In this traditional port city, small fishermen's houses are squeezed between the water and green hills on both sides of the river. The district Donibane is especially pretty: A small road leads past old stone houses with colorful wooden balconies – and to quaint bars and fish restaurants.

Arrival 08.00 am Bilbao has always been an important port and industrial city. In 1993, Bilbao was a pilgrimage destination for lovers of modern art and avant-garde architecture. The Guggenheim Museum, with its idiosyncratic and unique design by famous architect Frank O Gehry, showcases everything that is important within its 11,000 square meters (118,403 foot). Steel used to be manufactured in Bilbao and it now plays a major role here, since other renowned architects have also been inspired to give Bilbao an attractive, distinctive look. Cross the futuristic Calatrava Bridge to reach the old town, where you can take a delightful stroll round the lanes and enjoy the art of Basque cuisine.

Itineraries are subject to change.