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Peregrine Travel Centre

Western Europe Cruise from Portugal to the Netherlands

Western Europe Cruise from Portugal to the Netherlands

From AUD $17,380

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Description

Embark on a Western Europe luxury cruise that sails from Portugal to the Netherlands, inviting you to relive the golden age of exploration. Starting in Lisbon, with its majestic seven hills and Gothic monastery, the journey concludes amidst Amsterdam’s iconic canals. The voyage weaves through celebrated European ports, offering immersive experiences that blend history and modern vibrancy. As the cruise sails from Lisbon, soak in the charm of Figueira da Foz, famed for its vast beaches, and immerse in Ferrol’s naval legacy and nearby UNESCO landmarks. In Bordeaux, the heart of wine country, discover architectural brilliance and world-renowned vineyards. Navigate through Cherbourg’s maritime past or indulge in artistic inspiration in Rouen and Bayeux. Finally, explore Oostende’s noble retreats before reaching Amsterdam, where windmills grace the canal-lined countryside. Throughout this elegant adventure, engage in activities that range from strolling along boulevards in Santander to savoring local delicacies in Gijón. Onboard, enjoy lectures from experts, refine your photography skills, or relax on the deck’s panoramic views. This luxury cruise blends discovery and leisure, offering a perfect balance of cultural enrichment and tranquil relaxation.

Trip Name
Western Europe Cruise from Portugal to the Netherlands
Days
12
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Ship Length: 125 meters Passenger Capacity: 192 Built: 2022-2023 Arriving in early 2023, SH Diana will be the largest ship in our fleet, providing elegant and spacious 5-star accommodation for 192 guests in 96 spacious staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies. Operated by an onboard team of 140 she will provide the highest levels of personal service and take Swan Hellenic back to its roots when she launches, exploring the Mediterranean and its famous sites of antiquity. Now sit back, relax and take a moment to get to know this amazing new ship, purpose-designed for our unique cultural expedition cruises. Named after the Ancient Roman goddess of light, the moon, hunting and the wilderness, SH Diana been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth. Building on the outstanding amenities of her sister ships, she adds a dedicated Multifunctional Room next to the Observation Lounge, a Private Dining Room for special occasions, and two tenders which bring guests a comfortable alternative to Zodiacs for expedition landings. A Polar Class 6 ice-strengthened hull combines with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as comfortable as possible. SH Diana has been designed for immersive experiences, with extensive outside deck areas, multiple observation points and bright, open and relaxing public spaces with unobstructed views. The pleasure and safety of our guests is paramount at all times, cared for by our attentive crew and seasoned expedition leaders. Cutting edge hygiene technology protects the health of all on board to the highest standards and includes air conditioning with UV sanitisation systems. SH Diana’s 96 staterooms , including 11 suites, are each a superbly comfortable home from home and all feature panoramic sea views, a flame-effect fireplace, original works of art, plush couches, premium pocket sprung mattresses, en-suite bathrooms with glass-enclosed rain showers, and Egyptian cotton towels, bathrobes and sheets. A pillow menu offers customised head and neck comfort during rest, while a large flat screen TV, espresso machine with Illy premium coffee, tea making facilities with the finest Kusmi teas, and a minibar with refreshments enhance relaxation at any time. In-room dining is of course available at all hours.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Days 0 - 1 Pre Cruise & Lisbon
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.
Day 2 - Day 2 Figueira da Foz
The oldest resort on Portugal’s Atlantic coast, Figueira da Foz, or Figueira, has a sandy, two-mile-long beach, the longest in Portugal. Once a centre for shipbuilding and deep sea fishing, the town became a popular tourist hotspot in the 1920s. Visitors come for walks along the promenade, stop at the beachfront cafes or wander north for seafood restaurants in Buarcos, a fortified town that’s known for its fisherman’s huts and for surfing.
Day 3 - Day 3 Ferrol
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.
Day 4 - Day 4 Gijon
The Asturian port city Gijon with colourful old houses is surrounded by green hills and is home to the Atlantic Botanical Gardens with over 2,000 plants. The monumental sculpture "Eulogy to the Horizon" by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida overlooks the sea. In the fisherman’s old quarter, Cimadevilla, the Campo Valdés Roman Baths date from around 100 AD. Local ciders are a speciality, best enjoyed in a traditional sideria.
Day 5 - Day 5 Santander
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.
Day 6 - Days 6-7 Bordeaux
Bordeaux, a key port city in southwestern France, is the heart of the French wine industry. The Cité du Vin, an interactive wine museum, and the UNESCO-listed 18th-century old city highlight its cultural and architectural significance. Surrounded by famed wine regions like Médoc, Graves, Sauternes, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux blends rich history with world-class gastronomy and markets like Capucins and Chartrons.
Day 7 - Day 8 Day at sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 8 - Day 9 Cherbourg
Cherbourg, on Normandy's Cotentin peninsula, packs maritime history at the Art Deco transatlantic terminal's Cité de la Mer—home to Titanic exhibits and the colossal submarine, Le Redoutable. Fort du Roule Musée de la Libération retraces WWII in Normandy. Nearby, the city of Rouen is celebrated for impressionist art and Rouen Cathedral, while Bayeux hosts the famous 70m-long Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman conquest and Battle of Hastings.
Day 9 - Day 10 Oostende
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.
Day 10 - Day 11 Amsterdam
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.
Day 11 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change.
Day 12 - DAY 12, EXPEDITION DE LONG ISLANDS
Five islands make up the uninhabited De Long archipelago. Zhokhov Island is renowned for its preserved mammoth remains found in the boggy tundra. On Bennett Island, plumes escaping from the melting permafrost are sometimes visible in space. Thought to be methane escaping, they remain scientifically unexplained. As global warming affects permafrosts, cliffs here are falling into the sea. Shore landings get you close to tundra wildflowers, with possible sightings of arctic fox, lemming and plenty of seabirds.
Day 13 - DAY 13, AT SEA
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.
Day 14 - DAY 14, USHAKOVA CAPE, WRANGEL ISLAND
Breaching grey and beluga whales, ringed seals and bearded seals swim close to the shore. Inaccessible for much of the year, changing weather conditions mean that in recent years the island is becoming ice-free earlier and earlier, and the occasional finback whale from Mexico has been spotted here. Tundra covers much of this huge island with coastal plains and central mountains creating a rich ecosystem with the highest level of biodiversity in the high Arctic.
Day 15 - DAY 15, CAPE FLORENS & CAPE BLOSSOM, WRANGEL ISLAND
Named for the colourful flora and wildflowers on the mossy tundra, such as yellow arctic poppies, Cape Florens helped give the island its unique status as the northernmost World Heritage Site. It is also one of the places we might get to spot foraging Siberian brown and northern collared lemmings (often hunted down by snowy owls), alongside Wrangel’s other inland fauna species - arctic foxes, wolverines, muskoxen and reindeer.
Day 16 - DAY 16, KRASIN BAY & CAPE WARING, WRANGEL ISLAND
Observe the only permanent colony of nesting snow geese in Asia as you hike across the tundra to the Mammoth River. Twitchers might glimpse other tundra- loving birds including spoon-billed sandpipers, peregrine falcons, arctic tern, gulls and skuas who feed on this ancient, protected natural reserve. Nearby are the relics of a 3,400-year-old Paleo-Eskimo camp. At Devils Creek, the 180° meridian passes through, although the International Date Line lies to the east of the island.
Day 17 - DAY 17, AT SEA
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.
Day 18 - DAY 18, PROVIDENIYA
The gateway to the Russian Far East, this former Soviet military port on Komsomolskaya Bay is at the southern limit of the Arctic ice pack. The town has a small museum charting the history of whaling and fishing and the displacement of the indigenous Siberian Yupik that caused irreversible cultural change. From seal fishing to their renowned dancing, we learn more about Yupik culture on a visit to a settlement at Novoye Chaplino overlooking a picturesque fjord.
Day 19 - DAY 19, NOME, ALASKA
Nome is the most famous gold rush town in Alaska (the town’s welcome sign is marked on the state’s largest gold pan). This wind-swept tundra landscape is a haven for wildflowers. Hardy muskoxen forage, bear and caribou roam, and the mountain streams provide a freshwater habitat for spawning wild Alaskan salmon. Excursions include mushing, panning for gold on the beaches and trips to the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.
Day 20 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $17,380Oceanview D4
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $18,180Oceanview M4
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $20,780Balcony D5
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $21,680Balcony M5
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $22,580Balcony D6
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $25,980Junior Suite
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $30,380Suite
14-05-202625-05-2026AUD $34,680Premium Suite

Inclusions

    • Venture off the beaten path to Ferrol, a city with a rich seafaring history.
    • Immerse yourself in Bordeaux's wine culture at the renowned Cité du Vin museum.
    • Explore the colossal WWII submarine Le Redoutable in Cherbourg.

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