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Cultures & Cuisines of the Mediterranean

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Virgin square in Valencia, Spain
29 Oct 2024
Southampton
14 nights
Borealis

Your cruise at a glance

Hand-crafted highlights

Cruise from Southampton aboard Borealis to Spain and Portugal, where a diverse range of architectural marvels await your discovery. Explore the highlights of Barcelona, including the iconic and unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral and colourful Park Güell, and from Cádiz, enjoy a tour to Seville to visit the magnificent Plaza de España and Seville Alcazar. Immerse yourself in the vibrant Spanish lifestyle, by experiencing the passion of flamenco in Cádiz with a local bailaora, feasting on tapas and Jerez sherry, or sampling a traditional paella in Valencia, its place of origin. Castells originate from Tarragona and are fascinating to watch as brave locals form human towers lin the city that lives and breathes the tower building spirit. You can also explore historic Roman landmarks such as the Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco in Tarragona and Cartagena’s Amphitheatre.

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Highlights

La Lonja de la Seda, Valencia

Spain's charming cities and old towns

Our journey planners have designed your cruise aboard Borealis to highlight the region's rich cultural traditions. Join us on a tour to Barcelona to explore the Gothic Quarter with its winding medieval streets, majestic cathedrals, and hidden squares; while in Tarragona, explore Part Alta's Roman ruins and medieval buildings. Valencia blends the beautiful architecture of ancient buildings such as La Lonja de la Seda with innovative and futuristic buildings such as the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. There will also be opportunities to explore the riverside charm of Leixoes and the Andalusian gem of Casco Antiguo in Cadiz. Each Spanish district is a treasure trove of architectural wonders and cultural delights, inviting deeper exploration.

Closeup of a traditional tasty Spanish dish paella

La Buena Vida

Translating as "The Good Life", you will have an abundance of opportunities to fully immerse yourself in 'La Buena Vida' on this cruise aboard Borealis. In Andalusia, experience the passionate flamenco, whose rhythm, melodies and dance will permeate your soul, sample delicious tapas and enjoy lively conversation with your fellow cruisers over a glass of Rioja. Meanwhile, Valencia is home to paella, bringing together flavours of saffron, seafood and rice in a celebration of communal dining. In Tarragona, you may have the chance to witness a Castells display, which embodies community spirit and resilience, and is seen as a traditional symbol of unity and strength. 

Itinerary

Cruise Itinerary

Explore the Itinerary
Map Image

Life On Board

Introducing Borealis

Sister ship to Bolette, Borealis is perfectly suited for enjoying scenic cruising of the world's lesser-known waterways. From cruising past remarkable landscapes and historical sites to capturing the beauty of the natural world. 

Borealis at sea at sunset
Borealis at sea at sunset

Borealis

Sister-ship to Bolette, Borealis is perfectly suited for taking guests on a journey around the globe, enabling more exploration in more exciting ports. Her smaller size, spacious public areas, open deck spaces and impressive array of restaurants make her perfect for longer voyages, and shorter journeys alike.

702 cabins
1,360 guests
662 crew
61,849 GT
25kts max speed
Explore Borealis

Sample Shore Tours

At each port of call on your cruise, we carefully research and hand pick Shore Tour options for you, designed for you see as many of the world's best destinations as possible.

Below, you will find some sample Shore Tours which will give you an example of what to expect on your cruise. Your Shore Tours will be available to book approximately 8-13 weeks prior to departure via your My Cruises account.

 Flamenco Experience

Flamenco Experience

Learn about the history of flamenco and visit an authentic tablao-tavern to learn how to master this passionate dance from a local expert. 

££££

Cádiz

Beautiful Seville in the sunshine

Splendours of Seville

Explore the wonders of Seville on this Andalusian capital tour. Journey through picturesque landscapes, passing sherry vineyards and agricultural fields. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic city tour, including Plaza de America and Plaza España. After free time for lunch or a drink, embark on a walking tour, discovering Santa Cruz neighborhood and the Gothic-style Seville Cathedral.

££££

Cádiz

History of Paella

History of Paella & Scenic Boat Ride

Journey into the heart of València’s rice-producing region where paella was born. Witness a demonstration of how to prepare an authentic paella before enjoying the Spanish dish for lunch.

££££

Valencia

City of Arts with an Architect

Embark on a tour starting at the iconic Veles e Vents building by architect David Chipperfield. Witness the transformation along the River Turia and cross futuristic bridges linking Valencia's old and new districts. Listen to your guide highlight architectural marvels throughout the city.

££££

Valencia

History of Licor 43

History of Licor 43

Visit the factory where the golden elixir Licor 43 is produced to enjoy a tour and a tasting of various flavours.The recipe is a closely guarded secret bought by the Zamora family in 1946, which only three people know even today.

££££

Cartagena

Roman Cartagena with a Local Expert.

Roman Cartagena with a Local Expert

Travel back in time and discover the splendour of Roman Cartagena, joined by a specialist guide with great archaeological knowledge.

££££

Cartagena

Flavours of Andalusia

Flavours of Andalusia

Journey through Málaga's varied hinterland with a visit to a traditional Spanish Finca where you will be introduced to the flavours of the produce which is grown in the so-called "Sunshine Valley" and enjoy local refreshments. 

££££

Málaga

Your Guest Speakers

We’ve arranged for some wonderful guest speakers to join us for this cruise. They will be delivering a programme of insightful talks and activities to deepen your cultural, artistic and historical understanding of the destinations we will be exploring, well as helping you to enjoy the natural beauty of the places we visit.

Carla Ionescu
Ancient History

Carla Ionescu

Historian Carla Ionescu will be on hand throughout the cruise delivering a series of talks on the Roman dominance within the ports of call we will be visiting on this cruise.

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Peter Allan
Astronomy

Dr Peter Allan

With a PhD in Astrophysics, Dr. Peter Allan is an expert Astronomer and has used many of the world’s major telescopes on Earth and in space. As we explore the Mediterranean together, Peter will be joining us on board delivering insightful talks on astronomy and space science.

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Spanish Culture

Melanie Smith

Melanie is passionate about languages, culture and travelling, and speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. She will be joining us throughout your cruise to deliver a series of engaging talks about Spanish culture and their way of life.

Cuisine

Sue Baic

Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, Sue has 30 years of experience working in healthcare, and will be joining us to deliver a series of talks about the cuisine of the Mediterranean.

Treats & Pastimes

In addition to our Signature Experiences, we have a selection of lovely Treats & Pastimes for you to enjoy when on board. Just check your Daily Times each day for full details.

Discover our Treats & Pastimes

Cabins, Prices & Offers

Cabin Options On Your Cruise

* Prices correct as of 21:00 26/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on two people sharing a twin cabin. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

* Prices correct as of 21:00 26/04/2024, based on the lowest available Cruise Only fare, and on sole occupancy. Please call +441473746175 for live availability & prices.

Cabin Grades

Standard Pricing Solo Pricing
Suite

Balcony Junior Suite (BJ)

Borealis' Balcony Junior Suites have a private balcony and sitting/bedroom area.

Freedom Fare From £3,899 pp
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Suite

Balcony Junior Suite Wheelchair Adapted (BJD)

Borealis' Balcony Junior Adapted Suites have a balcony and sitting/bedroom area.

Freedom Fare From £3,899 pp
Please Call
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Suite

Balcony Suite (BS)

Located on decks 6 & 7, Borealis' Balcony Suites have a private balcony.

Freedom Fare From £3,999 pp
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Suite

Premier Suite (PS)

Borealis' Premier Suites are located on Deck 7, and have a private balcony.

Freedom Fare From £5,299 pp
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Suite

Premier Suite Wheelchair Adapted (PSD)

Borealis' Premier Adapted Suites are spacious and stylish, and located on deck 7.

Freedom Fare From £5,299 pp
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Suite

Olsen Suite (OW)

The Olsen Suite is the largest suite on Borealis, with a private balcony and sitting area.

Freedom Fare From £6,999 pp
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Cruise Offers

Solo traveller offer available   Saver Fare
Freedom Fare

FREE On Board Spend OR Door-to-Door transfer up to 150 miles   Freedom Fare

What's Included

SO MUCH ALREADY INCLUDED

As well as our Signature Experiences, there are a host of other treats to enjoy on board our ships.

  • À la carte breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Daily buffet dining options
  • Late night Supper Club
  • Afternoon tea
  • Self-service tea & coffee
  • In-cabin dining & snacks
  • Evening shows
  • Live music & dancing
  • Dance classes
  • Lectures & talks
  • Cookery demonstrations
  • Traditional deck games
  • Daily games & quizzes
  • Swimming Pools
  • Jacuzzis
  • Fitness Centre
  • Fitness Classes

Enhance your cruise

Each of our cruises has been carefully designed for you to get the very best out of your time on board; and now you can enhance your cruise to make it even more special.

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