Spain Siesta & the Solar Eclipse

The Spain Siesta & the Solar Eclipse is a 11-night United Kingdom cruise aboard Balmoral, operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. Departing Southampton on July 28, 2027, the voyage visits 5 ports.

Length: 11 nights
Departs: Jul 28, 2027
Returns: Aug 8, 2027
Ports of call: 5
Days at sea: 5

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Itinerary

Day 1 Jul 28, 2027 Southampton Cruises from Southampton are part of a storied maritime heritage. Famous ships have sailed from Southampton port and, before commercial air travel, it was the gateway to the world with Hollywood celebrities like Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor passing through to board a Southampton cruise. In its atmospheric Old Town, 12th-century churches, cobbled streets, and timber-framed houses like the impressive Tudor House & Garden sit side-by-side, surrounded by one of the most complete Medieval city walls in the UK where the Bargate – the ancient entrance – still stands intact. There are bustling marina-side bars, shiny shopping districts and a vibrant cultural quarter where the Mayflower Theatre puts on West End musicals and the SeaCity Museum catalogues Southampton’s seafaring past. Some of England’s most impressive landmarks are an easy drive away, including the Neolithic wonder Stonehenge, the picturesque spa city Bath or Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern and Tower Bridge in the bustling capital of London. Discover 5,000 years of history and more on a Southampton cruise. Southampton port guide Search cruises visiting Southampton

Day 5 Aug 1, 2027 Gibraltar Gibraltar is one of the most famous places in the world, linked to numerous legends. Here, the Mediterranean ended and with it the world, but fortunately today we know that’s not the case. Its strategic position meant that it was disputed over for many centuries by the seafaring nations who had political and commercial interests between Europe and Africa. The Spain cruise to Gibraltar reveals the charm of this colony with its Rock overlooking the sea where Neanderthal remains have been found, and where a rare breed of macaques roam free. The Rock is the main natural attraction for the number of plant species that flourish on its slopes (as many as 600!) and its colonies of migratory birds. The movements of storks and birds of prey are sight not to be missed and are thrilling to watch as they fly in flocks. More good reasons to climb to the top are the view from the Rock, a panorama that spans two continents set against the beautiful colours of the sea, and a visit to the monument to the Pillars of Hercules. In addition to the natural attractions, don't miss a walk to Europa Point, the lighthouse that still guides ships safely, and a shore excursion to the caves of St. Michael, caves that form the stage to numerous concerts and performances due to their perfect acoustics. Gibraltar port guide Search cruises visiting Gibraltar

Day 6 Aug 2, 2027 Cadiz More than a hundred watchtowers gaze out across the waves surrounding this ancient Andalusian city. Sprinkled with evocative cobbled side streets, you’ll explore 3,000 years’ worth of history, while stumbling across palm-tree lined plazas of shaded coffee sippers. Cadiz claims the mantle of Western Europe’s oldest city, and every piece of architecture - and every wrong turn - offers a chance to discover fascinating new tales. Founded by the Phoenicians in 1100BC, Christopher Columbus used the city as a base for his exploratory, map-defining voyages of 1493 and 1502. The port grew in importance and wealth as Cadiz’s strategic location close to Africa’s northern tip helped it blossom into a centre for New World trade. Catedral de Cádiz, is a display of the city’s wealth and importance, looming spectacularly over the Atlantic’s waves, with cawing seagulls sweeping between its twin bell towers. Inside, treasures from the city’s trading exploits in the West Indies and beyond - which helped fuel the growth of this historically prosperous city – are on display. Enveloped by ocean on almost every side, Cadiz has something of an island feel, and you can cool off from southern Spain’s unrelenting sunshine on the sweeping golden sand beach of Playa Victoria. The two towers of the new El Puente de la Constitución de 1812 mark a contemporary landmark in this most ancient of cities, in the form of a spectacular new road bridge. Torre Tavira, meanwhile, is the most famous of Cadiz’s army of watchtowers, and the highest point in the city. Reach the top for a view of the ocean fringing the city’s expanse, and to learn about the towers - constructed so trading merchants could survey the harbour from their lavish homes. The Central Market is a chaotic place of bartering, where flashing knives dissect fresh fish. Stop in at the orbiting bars to enjoy tapas, freshly prepared with the market’s produce. Cadiz port guide Search cruises visiting Cadiz

Cadiz photo — Day 6 Aug 2, 2027 Cadiz More than a hundred watchtowers gaze out across the waves surrounding this ancient Andalusian city. Sprinkled with evocative cobbled side streets, you’ll explore 3,000 years’ worth of history, while stumbling across palm-tree lined plazas of shaded coffee sippers. Cadiz claims the mantle of Western Europe’s oldest city, and every piece of architecture - and every wrong turn - offers a chance to discover fascinating new tales. Founded by the Phoenicians in 1100BC, Christopher Columbus used the city as a base for his exploratory, map-defining voyages of 1493 and 1502. The port grew in importance and wealth as Cadiz’s strategic location close to Africa’s northern tip helped it blossom into a centre for New World trade. Catedral de Cádiz, is a display of the city’s wealth and importance, looming spectacularly over the Atlantic’s waves, with cawing seagulls sweeping between its twin bell towers. Inside, treasures from the city’s trading exploits in the West Indies and beyond - which helped fuel the growth of this historically prosperous city – are on display. Enveloped by ocean on almost every side, Cadiz has something of an island feel, and you can cool off from southern Spain’s unrelenting sunshine on the sweeping golden sand beach of Playa Victoria. The two towers of the new El Puente de la Constitución de 1812 mark a contemporary landmark in this most ancient of cities, in the form of a spectacular new road bridge. Torre Tavira, meanwhile, is the most famous of Cadiz’s army of watchtowers, and the highest point in the city. Reach the top for a view of the ocean fringing the city’s expanse, and to learn about the towers - constructed so trading merchants could survey the harbour from their lavish homes. The Central Market is a chaotic place of bartering, where flashing knives dissect fresh fish. Stop in at the orbiting bars to enjoy tapas, freshly prepared with the market’s produce. Cadiz port guide Search cruises visiting Cadiz

Day 9 Aug 5, 2027 Vigo Few cities enjoy such a magnificent natural setting as Vigo. Arrayed along the sloping southern shoreline of its namesake estuary, it enjoys superb views not only of the bay itself, surrounded by green forest ridges, but also out towards the ocean. It’s undeniably magnificent when seen from your MSC cruise ship as it enters the harbour during its tour of the Northern Europe. These days, cruise passengers mingle with tourists arriving at the Estación Marítima de Ría off the Cangas ferry, and set off to explore the steep, cobbled streets that climb up into Vigo’s old city, known as O Berbés and crammed with shops, bars and restaurants. Along the seafront early in the morning, kiosks revive fishermen with strong coffee, while there and in the lively daily market hall nearby, the Mercado da Pedra, their catch is sold. Immediately below, on the aptly named Rúa da Pescadería, women set out plates of fresh oysters on permanent granite tables to tempt passers-by. A stiff but enjoyable excursion up from the old town, mostly along stone staircases, brings you to the top of the Castro hill. So named for the circular ancient ruins still visible on one side, and also the site of a seventeenth-century castle, the hill enjoys comprehensive views. The Museo Quiñones de León is the focal point of the large Parque de Castrelos, the extensive formal gardens and woodlands which begin 2km southwest of Castro hill. A nice excursion from Vigo is Pontevedra: a lovely old city, set slightly back from the sea at the point where the Río Lérez begins to widen out into the bay. A maze of pedestrianized flagstoned alleyways, interspersed with colonnaded squares, granite crosses and squat stone houses with floral balconies, the old quarter is always lively, making it perfect for a night out enjoying the local food and drink. Vigo port guide Search cruises visiting Vigo

Vigo photo — Day 9 Aug 5, 2027 Vigo Few cities enjoy such a magnificent natural setting as Vigo. Arrayed along the sloping southern shoreline of its namesake estuary, it enjoys superb views not only of the bay itself, surrounded by green forest ridges, but also out towards the ocean. It’s undeniably magnificent when seen from your MSC cruise ship as it enters the harbour during its tour of the Northern Europe. These days, cruise passengers mingle with tourists arriving at the Estación Marítima de Ría off the Cangas ferry, and set off to explore the steep, cobbled streets that climb up into Vigo’s old city, known as O Berbés and crammed with shops, bars and restaurants. Along the seafront early in the morning, kiosks revive fishermen with strong coffee, while there and in the lively daily market hall nearby, the Mercado da Pedra, their catch is sold. Immediately below, on the aptly named Rúa da Pescadería, women set out plates of fresh oysters on permanent granite tables to tempt passers-by. A stiff but enjoyable excursion up from the old town, mostly along stone staircases, brings you to the top of the Castro hill. So named for the circular ancient ruins still visible on one side, and also the site of a seventeenth-century castle, the hill enjoys comprehensive views. The Museo Quiñones de León is the focal point of the large Parque de Castrelos, the extensive formal gardens and woodlands which begin 2km southwest of Castro hill. A nice excursion from Vigo is Pontevedra: a lovely old city, set slightly back from the sea at the point where the Río Lérez begins to widen out into the bay. A maze of pedestrianized flagstoned alleyways, interspersed with colonnaded squares, granite crosses and squat stone houses with floral balconies, the old quarter is always lively, making it perfect for a night out enjoying the local food and drink. Vigo port guide Search cruises visiting Vigo

Day 10 Aug 6, 2027 La Coruna, Spain The fine port of La Coruña centres on a narrow peninsula that juts from Spain’s northern coast, 64km north of Santiago. A broad headland curves in both directions from the end of that peninsula to create two large bays: one facing across to Ferrol, and sheltering a large harbour, the other lying open to the Atlantic, lined by a long sandy beach. In the dynamic city in between, a five-minute walk by way of old stone alleyways, with tantalizing restaurants, tapas bars and nightspots jostling for attention, takes you from bustling modern port – where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return – to relaxed resort. The heart of La Coruña, poised between the old city and its modern sprawl just inland from the port, is the colonnaded Praza de María Pita. The narrow and atmospheric streets of the old town wind around the Romanesque churches of Santiago and Santa María del Campo, and are shielded from the sea by a high wall. The distinctive glass-fronted galleries of the sea-facing buildings, rising six storeys high along the Avenida da Marina in front of the port, form a magnificent ensemble . They were originally designed so local residents, whose lives were intertwined with the ocean, could watch the activity of the harbour in shelter. When sailing the Nothern Europe with MSC Cruises, the most obvious excursion from La Coruña is Santiago de Compostela, which ranks among the most beautiful cities in all Spain. A superb mix of twisting stone lanes, majestic squares and ancient churches, interspersed with countless hidden nooks and crannies, Santiago’s medieval core remains a remarkably integrated whole, all the better for being very largely pedestrianized. La Coruna, Spain port guide Search cruises visiting La Coruna, Spain

La Coruna, Spain photo — Day 10 Aug 6, 2027 La Coruna, Spain The fine port of La Coruña centres on a narrow peninsula that juts from Spain’s northern coast, 64km north of Santiago. A broad headland curves in both directions from the end of that peninsula to create two large bays: one facing across to Ferrol, and sheltering a large harbour, the other lying open to the Atlantic, lined by a long sandy beach. In the dynamic city in between, a five-minute walk by way of old stone alleyways, with tantalizing restaurants, tapas bars and nightspots jostling for attention, takes you from bustling modern port – where your MSC cruise ship awaits your return – to relaxed resort. The heart of La Coruña, poised between the old city and its modern sprawl just inland from the port, is the colonnaded Praza de María Pita. The narrow and atmospheric streets of the old town wind around the Romanesque churches of Santiago and Santa María del Campo, and are shielded from the sea by a high wall. The distinctive glass-fronted galleries of the sea-facing buildings, rising six storeys high along the Avenida da Marina in front of the port, form a magnificent ensemble . They were originally designed so local residents, whose lives were intertwined with the ocean, could watch the activity of the harbour in shelter. When sailing the Nothern Europe with MSC Cruises, the most obvious excursion from La Coruña is Santiago de Compostela, which ranks among the most beautiful cities in all Spain. A superb mix of twisting stone lanes, majestic squares and ancient churches, interspersed with countless hidden nooks and crannies, Santiago’s medieval core remains a remarkably integrated whole, all the better for being very largely pedestrianized. La Coruna, Spain port guide Search cruises visiting La Coruna, Spain

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Show all 48 cabin grades

Name	Supplier code	Type
Superior Balcony Cabin	BA	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	BC	Balcony
Superior Balcony	LBA	Balcony
Balcony Cabin	LBC	Balcony
Wheelchair Adapted	BD	CABIN
Wheelchair Adapted	BJD	CABIN
Wheelchair Adapted	GD	CABIN
Standard Cabin	GLH	CABIN
Superior Interior	G	Inside
Guaranteed Interior Higher	GTYIH	Inside
Guaranteed Interior Lower	GTYIL	Inside
Interior Cabin	H	Inside
Interior Cabin	I	Inside
Interior Cabin	IS	Inside
Interior Lower Grade	LIL	Inside
Interior Higher	LIU	Inside
2 Bedded Room	LLH	Inside
Superior Single Inside Cabin	M	Inside
Single Interior Room	N	Inside
Single Interior	SI	Inside
Superior Ocean View Cabin	A	Oceanview
Superior Ocean View Cabin	B	Oceanview
Superior Ocean View Cabin	C	Oceanview
Superior Ocean View Fully Restricted	CO	Oceanview
Picture Window Ocean View Cabin	D	Oceanview
Picture Window Ocean View Cabin	E	Oceanview
Porthole Ocean View Cabin	F	Oceanview
Guaranteed Ocean View Higher	GTYOH	Oceanview
Guaranteed Ocean View Lower	GTYOL	Oceanview
Superior Ocean View Single Cabin	J	Oceanview
Single Ocean View Cabin	K	Oceanview
Single Ocean View Cabin	L	Oceanview
Ocean View Lower	LOL	Oceanview
Ocean View HIgher	LOU	Oceanview
Ocean View Cabin	OS	Oceanview
Single Ocean View	SO	Oceanview
Superior Ocean View	SOS	Oceanview
Balcony Junior Suite	BJ	Suite
Junior Suite	GBJ	Suite
Single Balcony Suite	JB	Suite
Balcony Junior Suite	LBJ	Suite
Marquee Suite	LMS	Suite
Premier Suite	LPS	Suite
Superior Suite	LSS	Suite
Marquee Suite	MS	Suite
Owner's Suite	OW	Suite
Premier Suite	PS	Suite
Superior Suite	SS	Suite