CRUISING SPAIN & FRANCE WITH PRINCESS CRUISES | OUR 8 DAY ITINERARY
We have always dreamed of cruising through Europe with thoughts of floating along the Mediterranean and waking up in a new European town each morning sounding like the perfect getaway for us - and this summer we finally did just that. We recently had the most incredible opportunity to venture to Spain, France and the UK on a 7 night cruise, exploring and adventuring with Princess Cruises.
Now, if you want to read all about the ship and what life was like on board the Sapphire Princess check out our other blog post here. However, if you are after a recap of where we sailed and what we got up to off the ship keep on scrolling!
SUBSCRIBE TO FLYING THE NEST ON YOUTUBE
The Itinerary
Southampton - La Coruña - Bilbao - Bordeaux - Guernsey - Southhampton
Day 1 - 2: Southampton & Sea Day
The cruise departed from Southampton, a port city on England's south coast. We landed in London the day before and caught the 2 hour train down as one of the benefits of leaving from the UK is how easy it is to find, book and board a cruise. Before we knew it we were checked in to our balcony room on the 14th deck and digging into a plate full of delicious food ready for a week of relaxing, adventuring (and more eating)!
We woke up the next day surrounded by water. It is such a surreal feeling looking out over your balcony with no land in sight. Today started the many mornings of enjoying breakfast in our state room with the rest of the day relaxing by the pool, playing bingo and having a few too many slices of all-you-can-eat pizza. Sea days are our favourite kind of day because you can just switch off.
Day 3: La Coruña, Spain
I think placing a cruise day as your first full day helps you wash off any stress so that you can be up and ready to go on an adventure. After an extremely relaxing start to the cruise, it was time to explore our first port stop - La Coruña. This was our first time in Spain and we still don't know why we had waited this long ... what a beautiful country! This was the perfect port to enjoy a morning stroll along the streets and avenues, discover breathtaking architecture and taste our first tapas.
A highlight for us was seeing the Tower of Hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse built in the 2nd century. This is the oldest Roman lighthouse in use today!
Day 4: Bilbao, Spain
Continuing along the coast of Spain, our second stop was Bilbao - Spain’s largest Northern city and the capital of The Basque Country. Today we opted for a Shore Excursion which we easily just booked directly with the staff on board, we got priority departure and jumped straight on the bus and headed to Gaztelugatxe (aka Dragonstone to all our fellow Game of Thrones fans).
As waves crash against the cliffs, we began our hike up the 241 steps along the stone stairway to the tiny church that sits atop the island. If you are heading out here we must say the hike does leave you breathless (both due to views and the steep steps) but when you do reach the top make sure you ring the church bell three times and make a wish... they say it will come true!
We spent the rest of the day enjoying Pintxos and Sangria, the perfect way to end a day in Spain.
SUBSCRIBE TO FLYING THE NEST ON YOUTUBE
Day 5: Bordeaux, France
We only had one thing on our mind when we arrived in Bordeaux... wine. Today we would be spending the day in the wine capital of France. We drove from chateaux to chateaux visiting local wineries, all producing deep fruit red wines, full-bodied, and full of flavour. To top the day off we enjoyed a delicious four course lunch inside the most stunning chateaux!
Bordeaux is by far the most beautiful place we have ever visited here in France, and after this small taste of the area we really want to plan a road trip across France, what do you all think?
SUBSCRIBE TO FLYING THE NEST ON YOUTUBE
Day 6: At Sea
Today was our final sea day and it was time to take full advantage. After all the adventures, hikes and 4 course meals in French Chateaux (they're hard work too okay) our plan was to spend the entire day lounging and relaxing at The Sanctuary. This hidden adults-only retreat serves up delicious beverages and healthy snacks, has its own pool, hot tubs and a day spa complete with massages, facials and more. We opted for a 50 minute body scrub and massage - and it was exactly what we needed after a week of exploring.
After our day of lounging we moved from the spa to the main pool where we rugged up in blankets, grabbed some popcorn and watched a movie under the stars.
Day 7 - 8: Guernsey, UK
The final port we docked in was Guernsey, the second-largest island in the Channel Islands. Guernsey is a spot that completely surprised us. With a mix of both British and French influence, this little island is home to stunning beaches, rugged cliffs and quaint streets full of cafes and boutiques.
We spent our day sipping tea, strolling the gardens, enjoying tax-free shopping and exploring the islands many beaches. Something that we love about cruising is that it can take you to places you never would have thought of visiting, and Guernsey was that for us.
LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT FOR LATER & SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!
IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE ALL THIS AND MORE, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT THE 8 DAY CRUISE WE DID ABOARD THE SAPPHIRE PRINCESS.
A big thank you to Princess Cruises for inviting Flying The Nest aboard the Sapphire Princess and sponsoring this incredible trip, as always all opinions are our own.