37-night Western Mediterranean cruise: Lisbon to Istanbul on Seabourn Ovation
The 37-Day Mediterranean Exploration & Evening at Ephesus is a 37-night Western Mediterranean cruise aboard Seabourn Ovation, operated by Seabourn. Departing Lisbon on April 6, 2028 and arriving in Istanbul on May 13, 2028, the voyage visits 30 ports including Cadiz, Tangier, Morocco, Ceuta, Spanish Morocco, Spain. Fares start from $31,668 per person.
Fixed editorial images from the places on this itinerary. They stay stable each time you return to this sailing.
Lisbon
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a city open to the sea and carefully planned with 18th-century elegance. Its founder is said to be the legendary Ulysses, but the theory of an original Phoenician settlement is probably more realistic. Known in Portugal as Lisboa, the city was inhabited by the Romans, Visigoths and, beginning in the 8th century, the Moors. Much of the 16th century was a period of great prosperity and overseas expansion for Portugal. Tragedy struck on All Saints' Day in 1755 with a devastating earthquake that killed about 40,000 people. The destruction of Lisbon shocked the continent. As a result, the Baixa (lower city) emerged in a single phase of building, carried out in less than a decade by the royal minister, the Marques de Pombal. His carefully planned layout of a perfect neo-classical grid survived to this day and remains the heart of the city. Evidence of pre-quake Lisbon can still be seen in the Belém suburb and the old Moorish section of the Alfama that sprawls below the Castle of St. George.
Lisbon is a compact city on the banks of the Tagus River. Visitors find it easy to get around as many places of interest are in the vicinity of the central downtown area. There is a convenient bus and tram system and taxis are plentiful. Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon since medieval times, is an ideal place to start exploring. After a fire destroyed parts of the historic neighborhood behind Rossio in 1988, many of the restored buildings emerged with modern interiors behind the original façades.
The city boasts a good many monuments and museums, such as the Jeronimos Monastery, Tower of Belém, the Royal Coach Museum and the Gulbenkian Museum. High above the Baixa is the Bairro Alto (upper city) with its teeming nightlife. The easiest way to connect between the two areas is via the public elevator designed by Gustave Eiffel.
Cruising up the Tagus River to the ship's berth, you can already spot three of Lisbon's famous landmarks: the Monument to the Discoveries, the Tower of Belém and the Statue of Christ, which welcomes visitors from its hilltop location high above Europe's longest suspension bridge.
Tangier, Morocco
Set on the Maghreb coast, Tangier is Africa’s outstretched hand to Europe. With its bustling markets and lively waterfront, this city on Morroco's north is an energetic and invigorating place and an exciting immersion into an incredible continent. The location, on the highly strategic narrowing of the Strait of Gibraltar, made Tangier a vital Phoenician trading town - and the resulting city is an invigorating mesh of cultures and curiosities. View less
Part of the fun of Tangier is the well-rehearsed dance, as you dodge good-natured hawkers, and this is certainly a place to stroll with confidence and purpose. Delve into the mayhem of the walled Medina of Tangier for a rush of stimulation, as bartering and bantering echoes along the tight alleys. Crowded, noisy and busy, you’ll be sold to with a smile as you wander between stands of colourful spices, dried fruits and fabrics in this authentic Moroccan marketplace. Refresh and escape the sun with a fresh orange juice - or a sip of mint tea. Close to the city, you can find the Caves of Hercules, a coastal hollow that opens at both ends. The Phoenicians cut a window in the shape of the African continent, which reveals views of the Atlantic's waves, and legend says Hercules rested within its confines. From Tangier, you can also venture inland to the Rif Mountains, where gorgeous Chefchaouen - a village of bright blue alleyways - waits. Punctuated by blooming flowers, the entire town is a beautiful, moulded artwork of colour, spilling down the mountain like a waterfall.
Tarragona
Tarragona, port city of Spain, is located less than 100 km from Barcelona from the top of its walls, here you can admire one of the most important Gothic cathedrals in Catalonia and the immense amphitheatre, stage for gladiatorial combat in Roman times.
During your Mediterranean cruise, you will visit the Port of Tarragona; a true gem, with Roman ruins that are the pride of its residents and historical traditions that are part of the local folklore.
The Roman heritage is still part of the urban context in Tarragona. Here, you can watch the reenactments of the centurion parades and gladiatorial combat. During the stop in the port of Tarragona, proceed to the Praetorian Tower. On the first floor there is a model of the medieval town and its glory that was lost during a war that is still commemorated with solemn candles on the steps of the cathedral. If you have the time, watch the races of human pyramids that are organised in various districts of the city.
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Introducing Seabourn Ovation, the sister-ship to the already prestigious Seabourn Encore. Seabourn Ovation represents another welcome stage in the evolution of small ship cruising, which Seabourn pioneered and has consistently expanded and enriched for all of our small ship cruises. Both ships will deliver a wealth of new concepts, a fresh vision and a host of illuminating ideas to delight the world's most discerning travelers.
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