Norway to Portugal: The History & Traditions of Europe

Your European journey begins in the World Heritage-listed city of Bergen, where you’ll be greeted at the airport and escorted to your 6-star ultra-luxury yacht. Upon boarding, meet Scenic Eclipse’s world-class crew and settle into your luxury suite before sharing a Champagne toast on the Observation Deck as you set sail and start following the stunning Norwegian coastline down to Stavanger. Please book your flight to arrive into Bergen prior to 02:00 PM.

Join the Captain on the bridge as we sail into Stavanger. The open bridge policy provides an opportunity to learn about the technical abilities of your Discovery Yacht while enjoying one of the best viewing areas on the ship. Stavanger is renowned for its spectacular fjords, towering cliff faces and long white sandy beaches. It’s a fascinating mix of old and new with museums for everything from Vikings to sardines. Explore the well-preserved Old Town, where you can see quaint white cottages with beautiful gardens as you walk cobblestone streets and visit Norway’s oldest cathedral, the medieval Stavanger Cathedral.

Start your day with a class in the PURE: Yoga & Pilates studio, where sessions include Aerial Yoga, TRX suspension training and Tibetan sound bowl healing, or work out in the fully equipped gym, where one-on-one fitness coaching sessions are available. We’ll arrive at Skagen around lunchtime, so you are free to enjoy a leisurely or active morning before going ashore. Denmark’s northernmost town, Skagen, has inspired many Scandinavian painters with its distinctive light and became an artist colony at the end of the 19th Century. See the world’s largest collection of Skagen painters including works by P.S Krøyer and Anna Archer in the Skagens Museum.

One of Scandinavia’s brightest jewels, Copenhagen is a city full of exceptional architecture, art, history and food. The Danish capital embraces conscious and sustainable living and is one of the world’s best cities to explore by bike. Use one of Scenic’s complimentary eco-friendly e-bikes (electronically assisted bicycles) and let it do the hard work for you as you take in the citys incredible sights. Our late-night departure allows you to see the Tivoli Gardens transformed into a wonderland of lights. One of the oldest theme parks in the world, it was founded in 1843. Enjoy from nostalgic experiences to thrill seeker rides, including a wooden rollercoaster from 1914.

Sail through the world’s busiest man-made canal as your Discovery Yacht travels from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. Join expert guides in the state-of-the-art theatre to learn about the engineering feat that created the Kiel Canal. The 98km canal is used by up to 130 ships a day and is as busy as the Panama and Suez Canals combined. Join the captain and his crew on the bridge for some of the best views of the canal. Alternatively, take a seat in the Observation Lounge and sip specialty Kusmi teas and aromatic illy coffee or lie back in one of the cabanas near the Sky Bar and watch dozens of ships go by.

Enjoy a relaxing day at sea before arriving in Scheveningen in the evening. After breakfast on your private verandah or in the Yacht Club, perhaps book a massage^ at the Senses Spa. The gold leaf spa reception welcomes you to a space where you can be pampered with ESPA treatments^ blending traditional holistic therapies and modern-day techniques. Select a treatment from the extensive list of facials, massages, body treatments and more. The 550m2 facilities also include women’s and men’s infrared saunas and signature thermal lounges inside, and temperature-controlled plunge pools and sun beds on the spa terrace. When we arrive in Scheveningen, take a stroll along one of the world’s best piers, making the most of the ample time youll have in the Netherlands’ most popular seaside town during this overnight stay.

Part of The Hague, Scheveningen attracts young and old visitors with its long beaches and seaside attractions including a SEA LIFE aquarium and Museum Sculptures at the Sea. The Scheveningen Pier has shops, restaurants, and rides including a luxury VIP gondola with a glass bottom on the 40m high Ferris wheel. The historic city centre of The Hague is only 7km from the pier. Walk along broad avenues lined with 18th century baroque and classical buildings in the justice capital of the world.

This evening we will arrive for our overnight stay in Honfleur, one of France’s most popular seaside towns. Indulge in 6-star ultra-luxury in another day at sea before we arrive in Honfleur. Ask your butler to bring you breakfast in bed after perusing the comprehensive 24-hour in suite dining menu and enjoy another relaxing day on board your Discovery Yacht. Watch a movie on your suite’s HDTV, read books and play games in the Observation Lounge, and learn more about the places you’re about to visit through the on board lecture and education program. Or for those artistically inclined, take the time to appreciate the carefully curated artwork on board, including Tea Time by Francois Bertrand, a cocktail dress made from more than 4,000 spoons in Lumière, and three custom installations by British graffiti artist Carl Hush in Koko’s.

One of the prettiest ports in France, Honfleur is where the River Seine meets the English Channel on the Normandy Coast. The port dates back to the 17th century and the historic waterfront features colourful and tile clad buildings including boutique shops, cafes and restaurants. Stroll streets where Claude Monet and his mentor Eugene Boudin once set up their easels to paint and visit the Museum Eugene Boudin to see paintings by both artists and their contemporaries.

Spend the morning exploring the enchanting town of St Peter Port. The steep cobbled streets are best explored with a local expert. Alternatively, go at your own pace browsing specialty shops and boutiques. The 800-year old Castle Cornet is where historic gardens and four museums share panoramic views. Nearby at Hauteville House step, Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables and more in during his time in exile. Hugo designed the eclectic home himself, which is unlike anything you will see again. As we sail out in the afternoon, enjoy a drink in one of your Discovery Yacht’s nine all-inclusive bars. Sip French Champagne at Lumière’s Champagne Bar, an aged whiskey at the Scenic Lounge Bar or a cocktail in your cabana from the Sky Bar.

On the last sea day of your journey, embrace all of your favourite things to do on your ultra-luxury Discovery Yacht. Check your daily entertainment and education program to see what activities and discussions you’d like to join, and spend the rest of the time as relaxed or active as you’d like. Be led through a meditation or crystal sound therapy beside large amethyst clusters in the PURE: Yoga & Pilates studio or raise your heart rate on the stationary bikes and rowing machine in the POWER: Gym. Read a book in the Observation Lounge or in a cabana and take a dip in the outdoor pool near the Panorama Bar or the Vitality Pool outside the Senses Spa. In the evening, enjoy the on board entertainment in the lounge after dinner and drinks with fellow guests and new friends.

A welcoming blend of seaside town and old town, Vilagarcía de Arousa has soft sandy beaches and an old quarter where some buildings date back to the 12th century. In Vilagarcía de Arousa, stroll through the town’s parks and gardens including the Pazo of Rubiáns where more than 4,500 camellias grow in a historic garden. Try one of the seafood restaurants along the seafront before our late night departure or have dinner at your favourite restaurant on board.

One of Portugal’s largest sea ports, Leixões is just 8km from the heart of Porto, where the city shares its name with one of Portugal’s best-known exports, port wine. Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a World Heritage-listed city of baroque splendour, Gothic cathedrals, and incredible food. Wander through winding alleys lined with houses decorated with Portuguese tiles, see the city’s street art, and take in the views from the cable car and funicular.

Welcome to Lisbon, Portugal’s coastal capital where you can walk along mosaic streets, visit ancient ruins and white-domed cathedrals and feast on Portuguese tarts. Savour one last breakfast on your ultra-luxury yacht before saying farewell to the crew and your fellow travellers, taking memories from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula with you as you go. Please book your flight to depart out of Lisbon after 12:00 PM. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Scenic cannot guarantee the cruise will operate unaltered from the itinerary stated above. Please refer to our terms and conditions for further information.