Spain Biscay Basque Country Cruise from Bilbao to Hamburg — 12 Days

11 nights · Spain Biscay Basque Country · Departs Bilbao-Getxo (Spain) · Visiting La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Brest, Saint-Malo, Honfleur, Antwerp, Hamburg · Aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on the ms Europa 2

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ms Europa 2
Bilbao, Spain La Rochelle Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Bordeaux Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Expert Guide Brest France | France Cruise Port
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Image courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ©

Cruise lineHapag-Lloyd Cruises
Shipms Europa 2
Duration11 nights
Port calls8
Departures1 sailings
Year built2013
Guests516
Cabins251
Crew370
Length225 m
Beam26 m
Cruising speed21.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Bilbao-Getxo, Spain

    Bilbao rewards visitors who look beyond its celebrated Guggenheim Museum. Cruise ships berth at Getxo, roughly 20 kilometres from the city centre. A taxi or arranged transfer brings you into Bilbao, where Frank Gehry’s titanium landmark rises beside the Nervión River. Beyond the museum, explore elegant boulevards and the seven streets of Casco Viejo. Stop at La Ribera Market, then sample pintxos with a glass of crisp txakoli.

  2. Day 2

    La Rochelle, France

    La Rochelle rewards a day ashore with a handsome harbour, salt air and a history built on Atlantic trade. Its Vieux Port is framed by medieval towers, once guarding the entrance to one of France’s most important maritime cities. Walk beneath arcades to the market, then choose oysters or seafood beside the water. For a change of pace, the Aquarium brings Atlantic marine life within easy reach of the quays.

  3. Day 3

    Bordeaux, France

    Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.

  4. Day 6

    Brest, France

    Brest stands at France’s western edge, where the Atlantic has shaped a formidable naval port. Rebuilt after extensive wartime destruction, the city has broad avenues and a distinctly modern feel. The harbor’s Château de Brest houses the National Maritime Museum, a vivid introduction to France’s maritime past. Visit Océanopolis for a different view of ocean life, then look beyond the city toward Brittany’s rugged coast.

  5. Day 7

    Saint-Malo, France

    St-Malo rises from the Breton coast in granite, its old town enclosed by formidable seventeenth-century ramparts. Walk the walls for sea views, then enter Intra-Muros, where narrow lanes lead to cafés, shops and the cathedral. Privateers once sailed under royal authority; their story gives the city a character beyond its handsome stones. St-Malo’s tides rank among Europe’s highest, lending each visit a changing edge; save time for oysters and Breton crêpes.

  6. Day 8

    Honfleur, France

    Honfleur’s old harbour is one of Normandy’s most distinctive waterfronts, framed by narrow, slate-fronted houses. Walk its quays, then step into Sainte-Catherine, France’s largest wooden church, built by local shipwrights. Art belongs here: painter Eugène Boudin was born in Honfleur, and its light helped inspire the Impressionists. Beside the Seine estuary, this compact port invites an unhurried visit, with excellent seafood and Normandy’s rich local produce.

  7. Day 9

    Antwerp, Belgium

    Antwerp pairs a major working port with a rewarding historic center. At the Cathedral of Our Lady, Rubens’s paintings share space with centuries of Gothic stonework. Nearby, the Grote Markt frames guild houses and the ornate City Hall, with cafés offering an easy pause between visits. The Museum aan de Stroom explores Antwerp’s history and its enduring relationship with the river. Make time for a meal; Antwerp’s food culture is as compelling as its maritime heritage.

  8. Day 12

    Hamburg, Germany

    Hamburg rewards visitors who look beyond its grand harbor to discover a city shaped by trade and water. From the Speicherstadt warehouses and canals to the Elbphilharmonie’s sweeping river views, Hamburg pairs historic character with modern ambition. Stroll around the Rathaus and lakeside paths, then sample fresh fish or coffee in a city with enduring maritime energy. Allow time for a harbor ferry: it offers a memorable view of Hamburg’s working waterfront.

ms Europa 2 Cruises

Published August 31, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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