Spanish cruising com

St Lucia – finally

Well here we are in St Lucia – we arrived at 21:04 (GMT-4) on Thursday 13th December – it took us a total of 16 days and 14 hours to cover the approximately 2,700 nautical miles from Las Palmas. Boy are we happy to be here. We're also amazed that we have succeeded in hand-steering Murphy for the last 2,500 miles and 15 days (an average of 3.8 days or 625 miles each). A few drinks were had after we arrived and then we all fell into a deep slumber, rising at around 7am to find a pretty marina, blue skies, light breeze and, weirdest of all, ground that doesn't move. We are all finding it quite hard to walk around without appearing drunk.

Now is the time to thank a few people:

My Wife

I could not have done this without Pauline's practical help and moral, financial and emotional back. There were a number of occasions when I contemplated pulling out (before we had even set off) and even though I know she would rather have had me with her at home she was the principal force that got me back on track. For example she knew that the thought of

Spanish Symphony

From Barcelona to Lisbon

Dates:
30 Oct - 7 Nov 2026
Duration:
8 Nights
Journey type:
Cruise only (please call for flight options)
No. of ports:
7
Ship:
Wind Surf
Cruise Line:
Windstar Cruises
Fares:

From £3,301 pp

From Barcelona to Lisbon

Dates:
30 Oct - 7 Nov 2026
Duration:
8 Nights
Journey type:
Cruise only (please call for flight options)
No. of ports:
7
Ship:
Wind Surf
Cruise Line:
Windstar Cruises
Fares:

From £3,301 pp

Voyage Itinerary

30 October

Setting sail from Barcelona

Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, is one of our favourite ports of dial. From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there's never a dull moment in this most beguiling of cities. Take a stroll along the Ramblas, soak up the wonderful art of Picasso and Miró, or experience the electrifying atmosphere of a match at the Camp Nou. Barcelona is truly a city with somethi

Before I went on my first cruise with Princess Cruises, I’d always wondered what made cruising such a popular way to travel. It wasn’t something that made me think ‘I really want to do that’, but I’m the kind of person who will try something at least once.

It often reinforces my preconceived idea that something is not for me, but in this case I was really surprised that I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I can safely tell that I am a cruise covert and you can study more about my experience as a first time cruiser.

So here I’ve laid out what it was like cruising Spain, France and the Channel Islands with Princess Cruises.

Table of Contents

The Cruise Itinerary

It was a 7-day cruise on board the Sapphire Princess, a recently refurbished 18-deck ship that accommodates 2,670 guests and 1,100 crew.

The trip included two days at sea and four days on land, exploring the different destinations in Spain, France and the Channel Islands in the UK. They included A Coruña and Bilbao in Spain, Bordeaux (Le Verdon) in Fra

Spain Cruises

The beauty of embarking on cruises in Spain is that no one time of year is better than the next, it’s all down to your preferences. In fact, you can embark on cruises around Spain at any time of the year, but certain parts of the country are best explored during particular seasons.

Spring is a wonderful time of year with pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds, which is perfect for exploring Spain’s coastline and thriving settlements during Mediterranean and coastal cruises. Semana Santa, also known as Holy Week, is a famous event in springtime offering an opportunity to experience one of the country’s most unique cultural displays, with grand processions and religious ceremonies.

On the other hand, summer is the busiest season for visiting Spain, because it’s the warmest time of year in the country. Because of this, Spain’s beauty shines brightly under the golden hue of the sunlight that floods its landscapes in summer, making it a gorgeous time to call on. You can explore any part of Spain during summer, making the most of its histori