10 nights · England · Departs Southampton · Visiting La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bilbao-Getxo, Gijon, La Coruna, Vigo, Lisbon · Aboard Oceania Cruises on the Oceania Sonata
Image courtesy of Oceania Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Oceania Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Oceania Sonata |
| Duration | 10 nights |
| Port calls | 8 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $6,649 per person |
| Year built | 2027 |
| Guests | 1606 |
| Cabins | 669 |
| Crew | 855 |
| Length | 255 m |
| Beam | 32 m |
| Cruising speed | 20.0 kn |
Southampton is a working port with a rich maritime past. Walk its medieval city walls, then visit SeaCity Museum, where exhibits explore the city’s connection to the Titanic. The Mayflower began its 1620 voyage from Southampton, and the Titanic sailed from here in 1912. Beyond the waterfront, the New Forest’s heathland and Winchester’s cathedral make rewarding excursions.
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.
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.
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.
Gijón is a working port on the Bay of Biscay and a fine introduction to Asturias. Behind it, the Cantabrian Mountains frame a coast shaped by sea and weather. Explore Cimavilla, the old fishing quarter, and San Pedro, its Romanesque church above the headland. Then follow the promenade beside San Lorenzo Beach and order Asturias’s famed cider in a local sidrería.
La Coruña rewards a shore day spent looking beyond the waterfront. In Galicia’s Atlantic capital, glass-fronted galerías brighten the marina. Old town lanes lead to quiet squares and the church of Santiago. Walk the headland to the Tower of Hercules, the world’s oldest working Roman lighthouse and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then settle over local seafood and Albariño, with the ocean never far from view.
Vigo is Galicia’s working Atlantic city, built around one of Europe’s finest natural harbours. From the quays, the old quarter climbs towards Castro fortress, with views across the Ría de Vigo. Follow Rua das Ostras for oysters opened to order, then browse the market and waterfront cafés. Beyond town, ferries reach the Cíes Islands, with white beaches and clear water inside a protected national park.
Lisbon is a city best approached with time and comfortable shoes. Its seven hills rise above the Tagus, linking tiled lanes, grand squares and viewpoints with wide river views. In Alfama, narrow streets preserve the feel of old Lisbon. In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower recall Portugal’s age of discovery. Pause for coffee and a warm pastel de nata between sights.
Published September 9, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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