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Historic Shores of France & Spain
France and Spain aboard M.S. Andrea |
| 9 Days / 8 Nights • August 21-29, 2007 |
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On this late summer cruise, explore Europe’s medieval seaports, where French and Spanish mariners departed on some of the earliest voyages of exploration. In the cities and towns that grew around these important ports, you’ll visit magnificent cathedrals, castles and resorts, and enjoy the taste of exceptional local wines. In the span of nine days, experience a variety of scenery—tranquil harbors, steep cliffs, quaint fishing villages and deep-valley pastures and vineyards—as well as friendly locals who will welcome you to their towns.
Begin your voyage in Honfleur, an inspirational seaport to a host of Impressionists, before heading into the English Channel and the island of Sark, which interestingly still operates with a feudal government. Hugging the coast, the Andrea pauses at a host of beautiful medieval French seaports not typically visited by large cruise vessels.
Saint Malo—a fortified island in the Middle Ages—is now permanently attached to the mainland, and is dominated by the massive Citadel. Once inside the walls, you will find a lively center of galleries, shops and cafés, popular with the summer crowd attracted to the beautiful beaches and bracing sea air.
In roughly 70 square miles that refuse to give in to mass tourism, Belle-Ile offers an incredible array of prairies and fields, rocky coastline, moors, placid beaches and colorful gardens. Claude Monet and Henri Matisse painted here, swept away artistically by the dramatic scenery. From Arcachon—a resort town with its own distinctive style of Victorian architecture—take an excursion into the Bordeaux wine country and a visit to one of the outstanding local vineyards.
As you cruise south through the Bay of Biscay, enjoy the wild indented coastline of beaches and thick forests. This is the heart of Basque country—home to an ancient people of uncertain origins. Saint-Jean de-Luz is an authentic Basque fishing and spa town that succeeds in preserving its 17th-century heritage. Its narrow streets are flanked by centuries-old homes, many constructed in the traditional Basque style with hand-hewn beams.
The architecture and customs take on a decidedly Basque, then Spanish complexion as the Andrea visits Santander, a port that grew wealthy during Spain’s colonial heyday. Today, it is an attractive resort town with beautiful urban beaches.
Similarly, the town of La Coruña is rimmed with attractive beaches. And like many of the other ports-of-call along this itinerary, the culture is anything but typical; the town’s origins are Celtic.
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INFO |
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| SHIP
STATISTICS |
| Flag:
Liberian
Nationality of Officers: European
Nationality of Crew: European
Number of Crew: 48
Official Language:
English
Passenger Capacity: 120
Ship Speed: 18 knots
Tonnage: 2,620 GRT
Length: 287 Feet
Beam: 43,5 Feet |
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| DAY |
PORT
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ARRIVAL |
DEPARTURE |
August 21-29, 2007
| 1 |
Honfleur, France
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EMBARK |
6:00 PM |
| 2 |
Sark, Channel Islands
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7:00 AM |
6:00 PM |
| 3 |
Saint Malo, France
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7:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
| 4 |
Belle-Ile, France
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10:00 AM |
4:00 PM |
| 5 |
Arcachon (Bordeaux wine tour), France
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7:00 AM |
6:00 PM |
| 6 |
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France
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7:00 AM |
5:00 PM |
| 7 |
Santander, Spain
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7:00 AM |
6:00 PM |
| 8 |
La Coruña, Spain
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2:00 PM |
RON |
| 9 |
La Coruña, Spain
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DISEMBARK |
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| sCruise Rates (per person) |
Category
4 Inside
3 Outside
2 Deluxe
1 Master
Suite
Sup. Single
Std. Single
Port charges: |
Rate
$ 2,489
$ 3,280
$ 4,360
$ 5,280
$ 6,240
$ 4,320
$ 3,560
$ 95 |
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