Summer Magic on the Atlantic Coast - Spain, France & Germany Sailing Cruise

Description

Embark on a captivating journey through the ancient trading cities and enchanting nature of Flanders, Brittany, and the Basque Country. This remarkable cruise offers the perfect blend of nature, art, and culture, along with an unforgettable sailing experience. In Antwerp, the city of the arts, witness the fascinating fusion of past and future as old guild houses stand alongside modern architectural icons. Experience the idyllic charm of Guernsey in the English Channel, with its steep headlands and picturesque bays near the French coast. Explore the defiant walls of the fortified town of Saint-Malo and the awe-inspiring Mont-Saint-Michel, a mountain abbey in the midst of mud flats. Discover the serene beauty of the Breton island of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, with its rugged cliffs and charming harbor towns. Conclude your journey in San Sebastiàn, a gourmet hotspot and cultural capital, where a seaside resort, film city, and foodie mecca come together in one incredible destination. This voyage promises an unparalleled experience, transporting you through history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes that will leave you with cherished memories.

Trip Name

Summer Magic on the Atlantic Coast - Spain, France & Germany Sailing Cruise

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Three-mast full-rigged ship Length: 138 meters Passenger Capacity: 136 Built: 2021 Building a three-mast full-rigged ship with traditional rigging in the 21st century may seem a little unusual. For SEA CLOUD CRUISES it is a commitment to true passion for sailing. With her clear, classic line she follows the example of her elegant windjammer sisters, but goes completely new ways. An entire deck with balcony cabins, an exclusive wellness and SPA area, a fitness room with sea view, a bistro on deck as an evening alternative to “fine dining” in the restaurant – the youngest member of the SEA CLOUD family offers plenty of room for individuality in addition to genuine windjammer romance. The SEA CLOUD SPIRIT combines traditional windjammer experience with 21st century comfort with up to 136 passengers. Cabins: 69 outside cabins (22 junior and 3 owner suites with balconies) and 7 de luxe lido outside cabins with panoramic windows that can be opened Cabin equipment: Bathrobes, hair dryer, telephone, adjustable A/C, private safe, minibar, coffee machine, TV with entertainment system, WI-FI, exclusive cosmetics, dressing table, bureau Public areas: Restaurant (180° panoramic view) with free seating and one sitting, lido Bar and bistro, lounge with Steinway grand piano, library with comfortable sitting area, sun deck with sunbeds and shower, boutique, hospital, WI-FI Fitness, wellness & spa: Generous wellness and spa area with two treatment rooms, Finnish sauna, steam bath, relaxation room, multi-sensory shower as well as various massages, beauty parlour and hairdressing salon, fitness area with ocean view and the latest cardio equipment, swim platform, watersports equipment, 4 zodiacs

Itinerary

Day 1 - DAY 1 | HAMBURG/GERMANY

Departure 06.00 pmHamburg has seen many ships in its time. Richly laden Hanseatic cogs, famous 19th century windjammers and giant vessels have dropped anchor in its port. The beautiful banks of the Elbe form prominent cordons for ships sailing in or out of the port of Hamburg. Moving towards the mouth of the Elbe, they glide by the patrician villas on the Elbchaussee, the Treppenviertel in Blankenese, the Airbus site and the picturesque banks of the Elbe with their green dykes and white beaches. You can catch charming harbor views of the little villages all along the banks of the Elbe.

Day 2 - DAY 2 | DAY AT SEA

Spend the day sunbathing, enjoy the fresh wind breeze, and relax into the day!

Day 3 - DAYS 3 - 4 | ANTWERP/BELGIUM

Arrival 05.00 pmAntwerp in Belgium is the third largest port in Europe, traditionally a center for the diamond trade, a romantic Renaissance city, and a stronghold of young designers and couturiers. For centuries the town, whose most famous citizen was Peter Paul Rubens, has been a place where an elegant lifestyle, appreciation of art and cultural variety are right at home. Following on from its rich past, in the last few years Antwerp has developed into a modern vibrant city and been given a strong impetus towards the future.

Day 4 - DAY 5 | DAY AT SEA

Enjoy fitness, cosmetics, massage or sun and sea with a good book in the deck chair. This day beneath full sails gives you all the options for your perfect personal wellness program.

Day 5 - DAY 6 | ST PETER PORT/GUERNSEY

Arrival 01.30 pm, Departure 07.00 pmA piece of France fallen into the sea and grabbed up by the English' is how Victor Hugo described his place of exile in the Bay of St. Malo, which is closer to the northern coast of France than the south coast of England. Guernsey, the second largest British Channel Island, later inspired Auguste Renoir to produce a whole series of paintings. Narrow, meandering roads bordered by hedges and embankments wind through the interior of the island, which boasts luscious vegetation courtesy of the mild Gulf Stream climate, while in the south, green hills give way to rocky cliffs on the sea's edge. Here, spectacular crags, bays and sandy beaches have been shaped by the vast tidal range pummelling the rock. The pretty island capital of St. Peter Port overlooking the large sheltered harbor and castle boasts a fascinating mixture of styles in a tangle of terraces and stepped gardens.

Day 6 - DAY 7 | SAINT-MALO/FRANCE

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 09.00 pmThis former 'corsaire' town in northern Brittany has always had a close relationship with the sea. Although the buccaneers have left, St. Malo is now the start or end point for many famous sailing regattas. Behind the legendary town defences lies the historic center, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has always been impregnable. On one side of the town walls you will see the narrow alleyways and tall houses of the old town which bear testament to the prosperity of past traders and sailors. The other side offers exquisite views of the emerald sea, dazzling white sandy beaches, harbor and forts. Tidal variations in the Bay of Saint-Malo provide an impressive natural spectacle with twelve meters difference between high and low tides.

Day 7 - DAY 8 | DAY AT SEA

Spend the day sunbathing, enjoy the fresh wind breeze, and relax into the day!

Day 8 - DAY 9 | LE PALAIS/BELLE-ÎLE-EN-MER

Arrival 01.30 pm, Departure 07.00 pmAt 54 square miles, Belle-Île-en-Mer, south of Lorient is the largest of Brittany's islands. For a few weeks every summer, the storms and crashing waves subside and the island takes on a laid-back holiday atmosphere, with lots of bicycles, beach towels and music. On the west coast, the waves break on the rocks causing white crests to dance on the water. Small, idyllic bays and beaches nestle in deep inlets in the rocky coastline, sometimes only accessible from the sea. The island's capital is the port of Le Palais with its imposing citadel and countless street cafés along the harbor and in the Place de la République. Claude Monet spent two and a half months on the island, producing 39 paintings of the wild Côte Sauvage.

Day 9 - DAY 10 | LA ROCHELLE (LA PALLICE)/FRANCE

Arrival 08.00 am, Departure 02.00 pmThe Vieux Port dock and the beautiful front, which teems with cafés, form the center of the picturesque old town. Two imposing towers once served as lookout posts for the harbor and town, and are now the symbol of La Rochelle. The medieval town walls, town hall, churches and shipowners' offices bear testament to its former glory. Today, the Les Minimes marina is one of the largest examples of its kind in Europe. A bridge spans the 3km gap between the mainland and the Ile-de-Ré. With its enchanting beaches and dunes, little villages, cottages with green shutters and alleyways lined with hollyhocks, the 'White Isle' is a paradise for cyclists.

Day 10 - DAY 11 | SAN SEBASTIÁN (PASAJES)/SPAIN

Arrival 02.00 pm, Departure 11.00 pmWith its beautiful beach bay, the surrounding mountains and the extraordinary gastronomic offer, the seaside resort of San Sebastián (in Basque: Donostia) is one of the most popular towns on the Basque coast. Only a few kilometers to the east there is a more peaceful atmosphere – and this is exactly what makes Pasaias (Castilian Pasajes) so charming. In this traditional port city, small fishermen's houses are squeezed between the water and green hills on both sides of the river. The district Donibane is especially pretty: A small road leads past old stone houses with colorful wooden balconies – and to quaint bars and fish restaurants.

Day 11 - DAY 12 | BILBAO/SPAIN

Arrival 08.00 amBilbao has always been an important port and industrial city. In 1993, Bilbao was a pilgrimage destination for lovers of modern art and avant-garde architecture. The Guggenheim Museum, with its idiosyncratic and unique design by famous architect Frank O Gehry, showcases everything that is important within its 11,000 square meters (118,403 foot). Steel used to be manufactured in Bilbao and it now plays a major role here, since other renowned architects have also been inspired to give Bilbao an attractive, distinctive look. Cross the futuristic Calatrava Bridge to reach the old town, where you can take a delightful stroll round the lanes and enjoy the art of Basque cuisine.

Day 12 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Great “cruise cocktail”: ideal mix of nature, art, and culture in combination with a wonderful sailing experience
Past meets future: old guild houses and modern architectural icons in Antwerp, city of the arts
Enchanting idyll in the English Channel: Near the French coast, the island of Guernsey inspires with steep headlands and picturesque bays
Defiant walls: the fortified town of Saint-Malo and the Mont-Saint-Michel, mountain abbey in the mud flats
Rugged cliffs, charming harbor towns: the serene flair of the Breton island beauty Belle-Ile-en-Mer
San Sebastiàn, gourmet hotspot and cultural capital: seaside resort, film city, and foodie mecca all in one