Western Europe—from Amsterdam and Paris to Berlin and Barcelona—is familiar to many travelers, yet a cruise along the Atlantic coast reveals the region in a fresh, memorable way. Even during the busy coastal cruising season from May through October, the ports, islands, towns and villages along Europe’s western seaboard rarely feel overcrowded. They offer a steady succession of striking sights and authentic experiences. A west coast cruise is often the most convenient and cost-efficient way to visit multiple countries without the hassle of changing planes, trains or hotels. Beyond straightforward transportation, cruises provide comfortable accommodations, varied onboard entertainment and the chance to visit a distinctive destination almost every day.
Regent Seven Seas’ Copenhagen-to-Barcelona voyage from Sept. 20–Oct. 12 showcases some remarkable stops along the Atlantic seaboard. Highlights include Saint-Malo, France, in Brittany, which is close enough for an excursion to the iconic Mont Saint-Michel; Brest, home to Océanopolis, a unique ocean discovery center; Bordeaux and Le Verdon in the heart of France’s most famous wine region; Bilbao, Spain, with its celebrated Guggenheim Museum; La Coruña, where the Roman Tower of Hercules casts a light visible for miles out to sea; and Porto, Portugal, the world center for Port wine and a city with a UNESCO-listed historic center. This 22-day itinerary also features Northern Europe and Mediterranean calls—St. Petersburg; Malmö, Sweden; the English Channel; Lisbon; Seville; and the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship, the 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager, is an exceptionally luxurious vessel whose fares commonly include round-trip airfare, unlimited shore excursions, beverages and gratuities. Regent is also offering a shorter 10-night sailing from London (Southampton) to Barcelona Oct. 4–14 with comparable coastal stops.
Many luxury lines reposition their ships along Western Europe’s coast as they move between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, so Atlantic coast itineraries can be something of a rare treat. Windstar Cruises, for example, plans a single Best of Europe’s West Coast sailing next year aboard the 312-passenger Wind Surf from Dublin to Lisbon. Departing Dun Laoghaire on Aug. 31, this eight-day passage visits Waterford in Ireland and England’s Isles of Scilly before calling in Brest, France, and two notable Spanish Atlantic ports: Vigo, with its medieval El Berbés quarter, and El Ferrol, former base of the Spanish Armada and the maritime heart of the twin historic towns of San Felipe and La Palma. The Wind Surf continues to Portugal with overnights in both Porto and Lisbon.
Azamara Club Cruises © Azmara Club Cruises
Azamara Club Cruises has designed a Western Europe itinerary tailored to wine lovers. The 12-night Wines of Western Europe voyage, scheduled for Sept. 4, 2017, departs Southampton aboard the 686-passenger Azamara Journey. It calls at St. Peter Port, Guernsey, in the Channel Islands and then spends three nights in Bordeaux and two nights in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Basque seaside town known for its royal marriage in 1660. From there the itinerary moves to Pasajes, the gateway to San Sebastián’s tapas and wine culture, then on to Bilbao, Porto and Lisbon, with shore excursions focused on regional wines and brandies.
Celebrity Cruises highlights a different side of Western Europe with a Southampton-to-Lisbon voyage emphasizing island culture and volcanic landscapes. On the 2,852-passenger Celebrity Eclipse, a 14-night journey that embarks in mid-September, passengers can explore Ponta Delgada in the Azores and several Canary Islands. On Tenerife visitors find Baroque architecture, lush gardens and parklands that have served as cinematic backdrops; Las Palmas recalls Columbus’s last stop before crossing to the New World; Fuerteventura offers UNESCO-recognized biosphere landscapes of wind-swept sands; and Lanzarote features volcanic scenery with museums, galleries, beaches and historic sites.
British-based lines frequently operate Atlantic coast cruises, catering to U.K. travelers while welcoming North American and continental guests. P&O Cruises provides roundtrips from Southampton from autumn into winter, offering weeklong itineraries to Spain, Portugal and the Canaries. Cunard Line runs similar sailings: for example, a 12-night roundtrip on Queen Mary 2 from Southampton (Dec. 3–15) calls on Madeira and Lisbon in Portugal, Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canaries, and Vigo in Spain. Queen Victoria operates comparable 12-night passages with slightly different port rotations. These Southampton roundtrips, often focused on the Canary Islands and milder winter climates, are popular extensions after European business trips or land tours.
Although voyages along Europe’s west coast remain less frequented than Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings, they offer a distinctive in-between experience that broadens travelers’ perspectives. Viking Cruises, known for river journeys, has made the Atlantic coast central to its new ocean itineraries aboard the 930-passenger Viking Star. The 15-day Passage Through Western Europe features five countries and 11 ports, private veranda staterooms and an onboard cultural program. Sailing from Bergen to Barcelona, the itinerary includes London; Le Havre for Paris; Cherbourg; La Coruña; Porto; Lisbon; and Seville. The company scheduled multiple Atlantic coast departures, reflecting growing interest in this varied and scenic stretch of Europe’s shoreline.