European Cruise Around the Iberian Peninsula

Introduction

Cruising again??? Absolutely! This time on board the Celebrity Eclipse sailing from Amsterdam to Barcelona on its 12 Night France, Spain and Portugal itinerary.

I’ve included a small selection of photos from my journey. You can view all the pictures in the dedicated album which you can also find in my website Gallery.

You just can’t beat a second passenger sails free promotion, so I took advantage of it for myself and my husband. Of course, free is relative and it does mean that someone has to pay the taxes, and that was my husband! He basically sailed for “free”. We’re not big drinkers, but we did add on WIFI and prepaid gratuities. I also confirmed one of my favourite room categories – the Aqua Class giving us access to the Blu restaurant reserved for those confirmed in Aqua Class and it comes along with other excellent perks. I’m looking forward to considering upgrading to the suite category for our next cruise adventure – nothing like getting spoiled from beginning to end!

The ambiance, the entertainment, the food, and the extra wonderful activities such as glass blowing and those wonderful little niches all make cruising on Celebrity a relaxing or jammed packed experience – you choose! One of the enjoyable experiences was my high tea at sea. It was wonderfully presented and definitely relaxing!

We arrived in Amsterdam one day prior to sailing so we could go out and explore this amazing city. Its canals beckon you onto the waters, there’s food experiences everywhere and the museums are first class! Of course, cyclists rule the roads here, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. Our hotel, the Amsterdam Movenpick was a two-minute walk from where the ship was docked, making the easiest embarkation experience I have ever had. I’d stay there again.

The Cruise

The Celebrity Eclipse left Amsterdam at 5:00 pm with easy access to our stateroom and plenty to explore before we sailed.

Travelling out of Amsterdam we had to pass through the IJmuiden Sea Locks which bring us from Amsterdam and the protected waters of the North Sea Canal to the North Sea as we sailed toward Dover, England. There was a definite change in the sea as the waves picked up, and it became much choppier.

Dover, England

Yes, that Dover – as in the White Cliffs of Dover. They really are white! This is the most crowded shipping lane in the world, and we could certainly see the evidence of that with countless ships always visible. What surprised me about the cliffs was not only their natural beauty, but the part they played in the Second World War. They served as Britain’s frontline against Germany. So many fortifications, gun batteries, tunnels and military installations are carved into them serving as staging areas, barracks and even hospitals. The cliffs also had a complex radar system in place atop them, and were invaluable in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of the British, French, Belgium and other Allied troops from Dunkirk. But more than that, they stood as a morale booster for the pilots returning from a run – they we home, there was hope and there was safety. The medieval Dover Castle overlooks the English Channel and sits on the cliffs. Founded in the 11th century, it defenses were expanded to defend against World War II and the Cold War amoung others. It houses a network of secret tunnels. There is an old Roman lighthouse as well dating back to AD43 highlighting its ancient history as well.

Our excursion from Dover took us to Kent and Canterbury. It was a beautiful, scenic drive stopping in Deal, a very quaint former fishing, mining and garrison seaside town. A walk along this very rocky beach, with a dangerous stretch of water just beyond offered a different point of view to life near the waters. The water between the town and the Goodwin Sands offered the perfect shelter for ships as protection against unfavourable winds from the North Sea. However, a dark secret lies in how the sands, consisting of chalk, ship’s anchors would drag in the sands and strand the ships, causing some to sink. We continued to Canterbury where once the Romans occupied in AD43 and the “new” city was built on top. It has wonderfully preserved some of its medieval character and the Canterbury Cathedral stands at the center of town for all to explore. I would have loved more time hear to explore the most amazing place.

Paris (Le Havre), France

If we had not already visited Paris, it would have been quite difficult to choose which excursion would have been best for us. Having said that, we have been to Paris. Our full day excursion took us to the D-Day Landing Beaches. Only one excursion included Juno beach, so our bus was full of Canadians! This was the most moving and inspirational day of discovery and remembrance. We learned of the incredible and precise timing necessary of the infamous June 6, 1944. We visited the remarkable American Cemetery of Colleville, where row on row really stands as a testament. At Pointe du Hoc the American 2nd Ranger Battalion heroically climbed 35-meter (110-foot) cliffs of D-Day coming face to face with German bunkers and machine guns. The waters here are rough, and rugged cliffs embrace the shoreline. The Americans were charged to take Omaha Beach where there is an expansive beach and calm waters. Here the expanse of the beach and the tides made it difficult to come ashore. The soldiers who first came ashore faced heavy German fire, and the progress inland was slow with many lives lost. Today, the beach remains a remarkable historical site with remnants of the German bunkers, tanks, the Memorial Museum and more stark reminders of war. We had a lunch break at Arromanches port. This now picturesque seafront holds a dark history in the war. Here it was not possible to have a natural harbour, so the British had two temporary portable harbours developed, unloaded and built during the Invasion of Normandy immediately after D-Day. This allowed for the unloading of heavy equipment to aid in the war effort and there are still ruins of these amazing feats of engineering present. Gold Beach, one of the five areas of the Allied Forces with the British set to take control of this beach. Their mission was to capture Bayeux and take control of the Caen-Bayeux road and to link up with Canadians at Juno Beach and American forces at Omaha beach clearing mines along the way. 381 Canadians died on Juno Beach and the surrounding areas. On that day, 574 were wounded and 47 were captured. The Canadians also sent in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and experience 21 deaths in their initial attack. In order to cause confusion, “fake” parachute battalions were dropped. This was a very emotional stop for all of us. This is another long, sandy beach flanked by remnants of the war – bomb holes, German bunkers, heavy machinery such as tanks. We were told the story of an interview with a survivor when asked if he was bothered by seeing sunbathers on the beach were so many people lost their lives – his response was “that’s why we landed here.” The British landed at Sword Beach, the most eastern flank of the attack on German occupied Normandy. The British focused on sea transport of soldiers and equipment, mine sweeping and bombardments. The Polish and Norwegian and other Allied navies were also involved in the D-Day attach on the Germans. Our final experience – the Pegasus Bridge, where the British Parachute Brigade landed on June 6, 1944. It now stands as a war memorial. Here the bridges of Ranville and Benouville were recaptured as a vital hold over the Caen Canal. Its capture prevented German forces from counter attacking the Allied landing forces. On our drive back to the ship, our informative day continued with understanding how the radar towers played a part for the people returning to Dover. What I dismissed as “cell towers”, were so much more. This was the most remarkable day.

Bilboa, Spain

We decided to take the day off and just go and explore on our own and I am so happy we did! Bilboa is a charming as it gets, but when you arrive there on their 9-day Aste Nagusai (Great Week) festival, it’s amazing! Just going for a walk, we got to experience a true cultural event – traditional Basque music, dancing, street performances, food and even water polo taking place in the Nervion River. Street vendors were everywhere selling their trinkets and of course, we had to purchase the little blue traditional scarf that everyone was wearing! We found a great square encircled by tiny restaurants enticing us in with their selection of Pintxo (tapas served in the Basque region of Northern Spain). Every bite was delicious! A lunch well earned during a very enlightened celebration of culture. And the cheesecake! O my goodness, the best ever!!!! I love my stop here.

Lisbon, Portugal for Two Nights

What stands apart here is just how accessible Lisbon is to the dock – even more amazing it’s on the Tagus River!! The port is one of the busiest in Europe with both cruise ships and container ships travelling along it’s route to the Atlantic Ocean. The view of the city is impressive from the ship. The Castelo de Sao Jorge, the Arco da Rua Augusta, the Belem Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries and the charming historic neighbourhood of Alfama (yes, I found dinner here) can all be seen from the ship. We were able to get excellent views of the Belem Tower and the Monument of Discoveries as we left Lisbon as we sailed right by them. The Belem Tower stands as a 16th century fortification that once served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers. It’s undergoing a renovation at this time. The beautiful Monument of Discoveries is a tribute to and celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. As I travel freely around the world now, I was moved by this powerful symbol of discovery. Two of the impressive bridges that span the Tagus River play an integral part for Lisbon. The Vasco da Gama Bridge is the longest in Portugal spanning an incredible 17.2 km. The 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge that connect Lisbon to the municipality of Almada. It’s cable style resembles the Golden Gate Bridge. Much like the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil, Lisbon too has its representation of Christ with arms outstretched protecting the city of Lisbon. The Sanctuary of Christ the King monument and shrine is dedicated to the Sacred heart of Jesus. Its massive, standing 28 meters high, on a pedestal 75-meters high. It’s located in Almada on the far side of the River and can be seen from most of Lisbon.

Our first day in Portugal brought us to Fatima, a major Catholic pilgrimage site since 1917. I’ve been here before hosting a group but revisiting it again was a powerful reminder to me of the strength of faith, an important part of my life. Here you can immerse yourself in the story and lives of three young children who encountered Mary and listened to her pleas for peace. Their tombs are located in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary built in 1928. So many pilgrims make the journey here that a second basilica was built – the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity which can hold 9000 people. The Shrine marks the location of the visitations of Mary to the children. In the museum, you can find a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary and in her crown, you will see the bullet that shot Pope John Paul II in a failed assassination attempt. The whole complex is also the site of the Miracle of Sun, when on October 13, 1917, tens of thousands of witnesses, experienced the sun appearing to spin, change colours and zig zag across the sky before appearing to fall towards the earth. It’s a powerful place to get lost in prayer and contemplation.

Our second day in Portugal brought us via a guided bus tour through some parts of Lisbon and beyond. We started with a brief introduction to Lisbon’s most famous sites and then continued the beautiful coastal drive through to Cascais and Sintra. The drive is stunning! The River Tagus follows us for a bit and then we meet the wonderful Atlantic waters with its waves crashing against rock and, surprisingly, sand dunes caressing the highway the sand strew across the road. We passed through the resort of Estoril, said to be the inspiration for Sir Ian Fleming’s first James Bond adventure. Cascais, once a sleepy, small fishing village is now a glamours resort town. And it feels like that! Restaurants and shops seem to cater to the rich and famous although I did discover some excellent shopping and snacks here. The beaches here are wonderful – history tells of “the King’s Beach” and “the Queen’s Beach” right beside each other. The play on the stones used for the walkway, is so expertly placed that it really looks like the roads and sidewalks are twisted and warped. Our next stop of Sintra. I really liked it here. It’s like a fairytale town with narrow cobblestone streets, wonderful shopping and dining opportunities. The town is “crowned” by the fortress walls of the Moorish Castle which was first hidden by marine fog and later peeked out for a wonderful opportunity for us to see it. Our big bus had to drop us off, leave and then come back for us at a designated time – it’s not built for over-tourism for sure! Both Lord Byron and Hans Christian Andersen praised the beauty of this charming town.

Cadiz (near Seville), Spain

Again, we opted to do our own walkabout in Cadiz, choosing not to go to Seville. Here, we discovered the Cadiz Cathedral, the Torre Tavira watchtower, the Roman Theatre, the Oratorio de las Santa Cueva, fortresses and so much more! Of course we had to check out the Central Market, finding our delicious lunch stop amoung the vendors there. The Cadiz Cathedral holds a fragment of the True Cross and one of the thorns from Jesus’ crown of thorns. Its crypt is a true gem to walk through. It was built in 1722 after the original one was destroyed by fire, and you can spend hours discovering and exploring the religious treasures housed there. You can climb to the top of the watchtower via is very narrow, steep and winding stairs and be rewarded with the most amazing view. A walk through the Roman ruins just takes a few minutes, but we actually got to witness a family “play” taking place with parents and children laughing along with the performers. I’m a super fan of the markets! Every day people doing everyday shopping – seafood a plenty, meats, cheeses, fruit and vegetables and so much more all in one place, each vendor selling their speciality. Of course, you can also order the most amazing foods to enjoy and, of course, we did! Yummmmm.

Gibraltar, UK

This was different from everywhere else we had been. English speaking and very familiar in its nature. I am quite claustrophobic, and most excursions visited the Cave of St. Michael. I could not. I stayed on the ship in the morning while my husband went out exploring on a “taxi tour”. Following his return, we set out on foot to explore Gibraltar, attend Mass and seek out some excellent food for lunch. This British Overseas Territory and Spain’s south coast is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar. The Rock is a 426-meter-high limestone ridge and looks different from any angle you look at it. It’s stunning. From this Territory, on a clear day, you can see Africa and the coast of Morocco. Unfortunately, it was not a clear day – we were fogged in for most of it. Towards the end the day we were rewarded with our view across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa and treated with dolphins playing in front of the Celebrity Eclipse as it sailed forward towards Palma de Mallorca. There’s so much to explore in this small territory, outposts from 1700’s, fortifications, remains of a 14th-century Moorish Castle, 18th-century Great Siege Tunnels which were expanded in WWII, the stunningly beautiful St. Michael’s Cave, the cable car that reaches to the top of the rock, the Apes’ Den with its famous Barbary Macaques, the Europa Point & Lighthouse. I absolutely loved walking along the main street in Gibraltar lined with historical markers telling the history of Gibraltar, and of course, being in a British Territory, I had to use the phone!

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Our last port of call. Unfortunately, we both caught someone else’s something and chose to stay on the ship. We missed out here, and it was quite disappointing. It was hot – 36 degrees! We were kinda happy to find a quite place on the ship, head into our air-conditioned stateroom and recharge after our 1.5 day something. So, what can you do here? Well, the beaches are magnificent! The Palma Cathedral dominates the skyline as does the Royal Palace. I always love walking the historic Old Town and Palma even has remnants of Arab Baths. You could even board the El Tren de Soller and enjoy the natural beauty aboard the centenary train – Palma’s unique tram. Palma is all about relaxation. The underground lake and Caves of Drach are a must-see experience and you could jump on the hop-on, hop-off bus or rent a bike and go explore! I wish I could share with you a more personal experience, but it just wasn’t meant to be. I can tell you – I’d go back!

Barcelona, Spain

Our cruise ended in Barcelona, one of my favourite cities. I actually planned a 3-day extended visit in Barcelona – read my next Chronicle on Barcelona!

Summary

This was one of the best cruises, lining up with the Panama Canal and Alaska. Of course, I really can’t find too much to complain about with any cruise I’ve been on! Celebrity Cruises never fails to be the right fit for me, and it did not disappoint. I had the opportunity to visit ports of call I had not been to before and I’m already looking forward to our next adventure. I hope you enjoyed your journey to these ports of call as well, and when you are ready, I’ll be there to help you find your right fit!

If the small sampling of photos included in this post have sparked an interest to see more, then you can view all the pictures in the dedicated album which you can also find in my website Gallery.

Thanks for coming along!