MS Zuiderdam
April 16, 2028

Lisbon, Portugal, offers docking at Lisbon Port. Travelers explore Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Excursions visit Sintra’s Pena Palace. Local markets sell pastéis de nata. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Manueline architecture and Tagus River vistas. Dining onboard includes bacalhau, a Portuguese favorite. Souvenirs, like azulejo crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Age of Exploration history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Lisbon’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Portuguese stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic landmarks and scenic rivers, making Lisbon an engaging destination.

Returning to Lisbon — see Day 1 above for port info.

Leixoes, Portugal, has docking at Leixoes Port with excursions to Oporto. Travelers explore Porto’s Ribeira district and Livraria Lello. Excursions visit Douro Valley vineyards. Local markets sell port wine. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather. Photography captures Douro River views and azulejo tiles. Dining onboard includes francesinha, a Porto dish. Souvenirs, like cork crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Portuguese history. Light layers suit the temperate climate. Comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Leixoes’ access to Porto offers a vibrant Portuguese stop, blending culture with riverfront charm.

La Coruña, Spain, offers docking at La Coruña Port. Travelers explore Tower of Hercules and María Pita Square. Excursions visit Santiago de Compostela. Local markets sell pulpo a la gallega. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Roman lighthouses and Atlantic vistas. Dining onboard includes empanada gallega, a Spanish favorite. Souvenirs, like scallop crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Galician history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. La Coruña’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Spanish stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of ancient landmarks and scenic coasts, making La Coruña an engaging destination.

Bilbao, Spain, docks at Getxo Port, 10 kilometers from downtown, with shuttles for 20-minute rides. The city, population 340,000, features the Guggenheim Museum with Frank Gehry’s titanium design. Travelers stroll Casco Viejo for pintxos bars. Excursions to San Sebastián, 1 hour east, explore La Concha Beach. Local markets sell Idiazabal cheese. Peak season June to September; taxis 10-15 EUR. Dining includes bacalao at old town taverns. Souvenirs feature Basque berets.

La Roche-Guyon, France, has docking at a Seine River port. Travelers explore Château de La Roche-Guyon’s medieval fortress. Excursions visit Giverny’s Monet Gardens. Local markets sell camembert. The peak season, April to October, brings mild weather. Photography captures castle cliffs and river views. Dining onboard includes coq au vin, a French favorite. Souvenirs, like lavender sachets, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norman history. Light layers suit the temperate climate. Comfortable shoes enhance castle tours. La Roche-Guyon’s historic charm offers a serene French stop, blending heritage with scenic beauty.

Dun Laoghaire (Dublin), Ireland, has docking at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Travelers stroll the Victorian pier. Excursions explore Powerscourt Estate’s gardens. Local markets sell Irish cheese. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather. Photography captures Dublin Bay. Dining onboard includes boxty. Souvenirs, like shamrock trinkets, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover maritime history. Light layers suit temperate conditions. Dun Laoghaire’s coastal charm offers a serene Irish stop near Dublin.

Cobh (Cork), Ireland, offers docking at Cobh Port with excursions to Cork. Travelers explore St. Colman’s Cathedral and Blarney Castle. Excursions visit Kinsale’s harbor. Local markets sell soda bread. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures colorful waterfronts and Irish Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes Irish stew, an Irish favorite. Souvenirs, like wool crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Gaelic history. Light layers and waterproof boots suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. Cobh’s maritime charm offers a vibrant Irish stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic landmarks and scenic harbors, making Cobh an engaging destination.

Plymouth, England, provides docking at Plymouth Port. Travelers explore the Mayflower Steps and Plymouth Hoe. Excursions visit Dartmoor National Park’s rugged moors. Local markets sell Cornish pasties. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures maritime landmarks and Devon vistas. Dining onboard includes fish and chips, an English favorite. Souvenirs, like nautical crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Plymouth’s maritime history. Light layers and waterproof shoes suit the temperate climate, while sturdy shoes enhance moor hikes. Plymouth’s historic charm offers a vibrant English stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of maritime heritage, scenic landscapes, and coastal beauty, making Plymouth an engaging destination for exploring England’s southwest history.

St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, offers docking at St. Peter Port with tenders to shore. Travelers explore Castle Cornet and Hauteville House. Excursions visit Sark Island. Local markets sell Guernsey gâche. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for coastal tours. Photography captures harbor views and English Channel vistas. Dining onboard includes bean jar, a Guernsey favorite. Souvenirs, like wool crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norman history. Light layers and waterproof shoes suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance castle walks. St. Peter Port’s historic charm offers a vibrant stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of maritime heritage and scenic islands, making Guernsey an engaging destination.

Le Havre (Paris), France, offers docking at Le Havre Port with excursions to Paris. Travelers explore Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum. Excursions visit Normandy’s D-Day beaches. Local markets sell crêpes. The peak season, May to September, brings mild weather for city tours. Photography captures Parisian landmarks and Seine vistas. Dining onboard includes coq au vin, a French favorite. Souvenirs, like beret crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norman history. Light layers and sun protection suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Le Havre’s urban gateway offers a vibrant French stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of iconic landmarks and historic beaches, making Le Havre an engaging destination.

Amsterdam, Netherlands, offers docking at Amsterdam Port. Travelers explore Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House. Excursions visit Keukenhof Gardens. Local markets sell stroopwafels. The peak season, April to September, brings mild weather for canal tours. Photography captures historic canals and North Sea vistas. Dining onboard includes haring, a Dutch favorite. Souvenirs, like delftware, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Dutch Golden Age history. Light layers and waterproof shoes suit the temperate climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Amsterdam’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Dutch stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic museums and scenic canals, making Amsterdam an engaging destination for exploration.

Hardangerfjord, Norway, no docking; ships cruise the orchard-lined fjord. Travelers spot waterfalls like Vøringsfossen. Zodiacs explore Utne. No facilities; provisions from ship. Peak season June to August; mild weather. Photography captures apple blossoms. Dining onboard includes cider pairings. Souvenirs, like fjord postcards, in ship shops. Briefings on tendering. Kayaking to shores. Light layers for summer. Hardanger’s fruit farms and mountains offer Norway’s scenic heartland.

Eidfjord, Norway, has docking at Eidfjord Port. Travelers marvel at Vøringsfossen waterfall. Excursions explore Hardangervidda National Park’s plateaus. Local markets sell brown cheese. The peak season, June to August, brings mild weather. Photography captures fjord cliffs. Dining onboard includes smoked salmon. Souvenirs, like fjord postcards, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norwegian nature. Light layers suit summer conditions. Eidfjord’s stunning fjord offers a classic Norwegian coastal stop.

Ålesund, Norway, offers docking at Ålesund Port. Travelers explore Jugendstil architecture and Aksla Viewpoint. Excursions visit Geirangerfjord. Local markets sell svele. The peak season, June to August, brings milder weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Art Nouveau buildings and fjord vistas. Dining onboard includes fårikål, a Norwegian favorite. Souvenirs, like troll crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Viking history. Light layers and waterproof boots suit the cool climate, while sturdy shoes enhance fjord hikes. Ålesund’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Norwegian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of architectural beauty and scenic fjords, making Ålesund an engaging destination for exploration.

Nordfjord in Norway has no docking; ships cruise to Olden or Stryn. Travelers view the Briksdal Glacier’s icy slopes from the deck. Zodiacs explore Loen Lake’s turquoise waters. No facilities are available; provisions come from the ship. The peak season, June to August, brings mild summer weather. Photography captures glacier-carved valleys and fjord cliffs. Dining onboard includes fresh trout. Souvenirs, such as fjord postcards, are sold in ship shops. Briefings detail tendering procedures. Kayaking reaches remote shores. Light layers suit the temperate climate. Nordfjord’s serene waters and glacier views deliver a quintessential Norwegian fjord experience steeped in natural beauty.

Nordfjordeid, Norway, provides docking at Nordfjordeid Port. Travelers explore the Sagastad Viking Museum and Nordfjord’s scenic fjords. Excursions visit Briksdal Glacier’s trails. Local markets sell brunost cheese. The peak season, June to August, brings mild weather for fjord tours. Photography captures glacial landscapes and Viking ships. Dining onboard includes raspeballer, a Norwegian dumpling. Souvenirs, like wool sweaters, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Viking history. Light layers and waterproof boots suit the cool climate, while sturdy shoes enhance glacier hikes. Nordfjordeid’s fjord and Viking heritage offer a vibrant Norwegian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of natural beauty, historic artifacts, and scenic trails, making Nordfjordeid an engaging destination for exploring Norway’s fjord landscapes and cultural legacy.

Bergen, Norway, offers docking at Bergen Port. Travelers explore Bryggen Wharf and Mount Fløyen. Excursions visit Hardangerfjord. Local markets sell fiskesuppe. The peak season, June to August, brings milder weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Hanseatic buildings and fjord vistas. Dining onboard includes fårikål, a Norwegian favorite. Souvenirs, like troll crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Viking history. Light layers and waterproof boots suit the cool climate, while sturdy shoes enhance fjord hikes. Bergen’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Norwegian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of UNESCO landmarks and scenic fjords, making Bergen an engaging destination for exploring Norway’s west coast.

Returning to Amsterdam — see Day 14 above for port info.