14 DAYS CANARIES & AZORES CRUISE

Ship: Explorer of the Seas

Southampton, England | Ponta Delgada,Azores | Madeira (Funchal), Portugal |

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands | Tenerife, Canary Islands | Lanzarote, Canary Islands | Lisbon, Portugal |
Southampton, England

Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 : Departure Day

Southampton, England
Departs : 4:30 PM
Day 2 : At sea
Cruising
Day 3 : At sea
Cruising
Day 4 : Ponta Delgada, Azores
Arrives: 2:00 PM Departs: 11:00 PM
Day 5 : At sea
Cruising
Day 6 : Madeira (Funchal), Portugal
Arrives: 7:00 AM Departs: 4:00 PM
Day 7 : Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Arrives: 8:00 AM Departs: 7:00 PM
Day 8 : Tenerife, Canary Islands
Arrives:8:00 AM Departs: 5:00 PM
Day 9 : Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Arrives: 8:00 AM Departs: 7:00 PM
Day 10 : At sea
Cruising
Day 11 : Lisbon, Portugal
Arrives: 7:00 AM Departs: 6:00 PM
Day 12 : At sea
Cruising
Day 13 : At sea
Cruising
Day 14 : Southampton, England
Arrives : 5:30 AM

Ponta Delgada, Azores

Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel, is the regional capital of the Azores archipelago, a string of nine islands in the Atlantic
Ocean about 1,300 kilometers west of Portugal's mainland. Distinctive architecture of whitewash and black basalt
lend Ponta Delgada a monochrome complexion, but this is a town full of colorful character. Avenida Infante Dom
Henrique is the town's harbor front promenade. Igreja São Sebastião is the place to book a whale-watching cruise -
one of the "don't miss" things to do in Ponta Delgada. The most visited of Ponta Delgada's cultural attractions is
the Convent and Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope). The chapel is embellished with a
fabulous canvas of 18th-century azulejos tiles crafted by António de Oliveira Bernardes, the greatest master of the
genre. The altar, meanwhile, is a riot of gilded woodwork. The quirky collection of regional ethnography on display
at the Carlos Machado Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the customs and traditions of island life.

Madeira (Funchal), Portugal

The capital of the island offers a very charming and historical context, lying within a powerful landscape between
the sea and the majestic mountains. Its history can be witnessed bit by bit throughout the city which has brought a
cosmopolitan character to the city over the centuries. The many tall-ships, steamships and modern ships docking at
the busy port of Funchal have brought new customs to the city.Just wandering through the streets of Funchal, mostly
covered by “Calçada Portuguesa” (traditional and beautiful Portuguese stone sidewalk) is itself highly
recommended. Start by wandering through the narrow streets and discovering several museums and gardens. Be
sure to go swim in the crystal clear sea, visit the traditional Madeira wine cellars, the parish of “Monte” and try out
the local cuisine in the many restaurants that the city offers. The historic scenery that “Zona Velha” (Old Town) has
to offer, the “Mercado dos Lavradores” (Farmers Market) where there are all kinds of products from the island, the
splendor of the “Igreja do Colégio” (Church of St. John the Evangelist ) and “Sé Catedral” (the Cathedral) of Funchal,
are more than enough reasons to visit this beautiful city.
The municipal garden in Monte is extremely rich and is one of the most important places to visit in this parish. The
Botanical Garden (“Jardim Botânico da Madeira”) is also a top priority on this island of flowers! It invites you to
discover the fascinating world of plants throughout several gardens organized in specific collections and to admire
the way life manifests itself in nature.

Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Gran Canaria is a fantastic family destination with almost 60 kilometres of beaches and a Biosphere Reserve in the
west. It's a miniature continent where you'll find things to do that make every day special. Las Palmas de Gran
Canaria is the largest city on Gran Canaria, and the Canary Islands in general. Maspalomas is where you’ll find natural
sand dunes that reach the seaside, and one of the most beautiful views on the island. I never expected to see a
desert that met the ocean, and that’s exactly what Maspalomas is. The locals on Gran Canaria raved about their wine
and coffee, which is grown and produced in Agaete on family-owned farms, or fincas. Most of the farm owners are
happy to take visitors on tours of the farms and let them taste the finished products. Just below Agaete by the sea
is Puerto de las Nieves, a cute fishing village with a harbor that can take you to Tenerife by ferry. The seaside views
of Gran Canaria are breathtaking, but from Puerto de las Nieves you can even see Tenerife’s Mount Teide from afar.
Puerto de las Nieves is a great place to get some sun, explore the historical church, or catch a glimpse of the remains
of the Dedo de Dios, or God’s Finger rock that once stuck out of the ocean before it was partially damaged by a
storm.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Tenerife is the island of a thousand experiences. You can get lost in nature, relax on the beach, climb Teide, go
shopping, see a show, walk the old town cobbles, have fun at a theme park, play golf. Fill yourself with energy with
an endless selection of activities
Masca is one of the most surprisingly stunning areas of the Canary Islands let alone Tenerife. Masca is one of those
places which just blows people away the first time they see it. Even better in view is the El Palmar Valley from the
hills above. On a clear day with Teide adding gravitas to the verdant caldera, it is exquisitely beautiful enough to
make the vistas of the sparkling Atlantic and La Gomera off to the side seem ordinary by comparison.
Playa de las Teresitas from the viewpoint overlooking the golden sands is one of Tenerife’s standout vistas. As well
as the sweeping beach and turquoise water you get the fishing village of San Andrés tucked into the hillside, and
even the Tenerife Auditorium in the distance. The most dramatically beautiful section of Tenerife’s coast lies
between Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico where man and nature have done a decent job of complimenting each
other. Rugged cliffs, colonial haciendas, a ragged coastline and seas of banana palms combine to create a visual
treat, especially above La Rambla de Castro.

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Lanzarote, one of the Canary islands off the coast of West Africa administered by Spain, is known for its year-round
warm weather, beaches and volcanic landscape. Timanfaya National Park’s rocky landscape was created by volcanic
eruptions in the 1730s. Cueva de los Verdes has caverns formed by an underground river of lava. East-coast resort
Puerto del Carmen is home to whitewashed villas, beaches and dive centers. Hundreds of years ago, when volcanic
activity was commonplace in these parts, lava oozed from the top of the fiery mountains all the way to the sea,
expanding and reshaping the island’s coastline. Here at Los Hervideros, the waves thunder and crash against the
craggy black cliffs; a powerful reminder of our smallness in comparison to nature.
Not far along the road from Los Hervideros is Lago Verde, a sight so bizarrely beautiful that all you can do is stare in
the hope that you can comprehend it. Another result of volcanic activity, Lago Verde is a bright green lake located
in a volcanic crater on the black shore of El Golfo. Canary Islands, Timanfaya National Park is the best place to learn
about the volcanic history of Lanzarote. In the 18th Century, six years of volcanic activity wiped out whole towns and
devastated areas in and around Timanfaya. What remains is a desolate landscape filled with fiery-coloured sand and
miles and miles of lava.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is the stunning capital city of Portugal, and is one of the most charismatic and vibrant cities of Europe. It is a
city that effortlessly blends traditional heritage, with striking modernism and progressive thinking. There are many
scenery in Lisbon that will take your breath away. One is the São Jorge Castle. It is a beautiful view of Lisbon, with
deep history behind it. It’s a great place to start an adventure in Lisbon. The gardens are very scenic. The hidden
Lisbon terraces offer dazzling panoramic views of the bright and colorful city. Miradouros Lisboa – or, Lisbon lookout
points – can be found all over the city. The Miradouros often have shaded benches, are sometimes accompanied by
a small café, and are frequented by both tourists and locals. The small terraces offer the best views in Lisbon – and
seeking out at least one is a must-do for anyone visiting the city. There are a few Lisbon monuments
and churches that allow visitors to take a lift or climb to the rooftop for views. The Graca Lookout (called Miradouro
da Graca and Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andersen) is one of the most popular places for Lisbon panoramic
views. The easy-to-find location is near St. George Castle Lisbon (Castelo de Sao Jorge) – and the miradouro provides
one of the best views of the famous landmark castle. The terrace ranks as one of our favorite miradouros for wide
city views and watching the sunset in Lisbon.