Explora Journeys · 9-Night Cruise
A Journey of Iberian Scenery & Moorish Charm
9 nights aboard EXPLORA I, round-trip from Barcelona.
Journey Overview
9 nights, 5 ports, 2 countries.
Nine nights trace the western Mediterranean from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, where the Tramuntana mountains meet the sea. A restful day afloat precedes Andalusian Málaga and Tangier, where the Strait of Gibraltar divides Europe from Africa. An overnight in Lisbon lingers among tiled façades and the Tagus, before Alicante’s harbour and the Costa Blanca draw you back toward Catalan Barcelona, the voyage closing where it began amid Gaudí’s curving silhouettes.
The Itinerary
Barcelona, Spain
Embarkation 12:00 – 17:00 · Departure 20:00
Barcelona unfolds at the pace you set it. Wander the Gothic Quarter's narrow lanes toward the spires of the cathedral, then trace Passeig de Gràcia past Gaudí's undulating façades. Tapas and cava wait beneath plane trees on shaded terraces, and as evening settles, La Rambla and the harbour keep the city in easy, unhurried motion.
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
09:00 – 20:00
Palma rewards a slower eye. The honeyed sandstone of La Seu cathedral rises above the bay, while the old town's lanes give way to boutiques and quiet courtyards. Inland, the UNESCO-listed Serra de Tramuntana shelters terraced villages and the heritage train to Sóller, the limestone peaks falling toward coves of remarkably clear water.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
A full day at sea, and the ship becomes the destination. Time loosens against an unbroken horizon of blue: a long swim, an hour with a book on a sun-warmed deck, an unhurried lunch. The rhythm is yours to keep, and the only fixed point is the wake unspooling quietly behind.
Sea dayMálaga, Spain
09:00 – 23:00
Málaga is the gateway to Andalucía. Picasso was born here, and the old centre carries his legacy alongside Moorish stonework climbing toward the Alcazaba. Beyond lie Granada's Alhambra, Córdoba's great Mezquita and the cliff-split town of Ronda, while the daring follow the walkways of the Caminito del Rey through its gorge.
Tangier, Morocco
08:00 – 18:00
Where Europe meets Africa, Tangier keeps its bohemian, literary air. Watch the café crowd from the Petit Socco, then climb through the Kasbah past painted cedarwood doors and tiled walls. Café Hafa pours sweet mint tea above the Strait of Gibraltar, while the Librairie des Colonnes holds shelves bound to the city's writers and exiles.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
Another day given over to the sea. The ship carries you across open water with nowhere pressing to be, the horizon a steady companion from breakfast to dusk. Wellness, quiet corners and long meals fill the hours as you choose, the days at sea offering a rare licence simply to pause.
Sea dayAlicante, Spain
09:00 – 17:00
Alicante gathers around its harbour and the Explanada de España, its wavy marble paving fringed by palms. Climb the steps of the Santa Cruz quarter, where whitewashed houses and potted geraniums cling to Mount Benacantil, crowned by the thousand-year-old Castillo de Santa Bárbara and its long view over the Costa Blanca's glittering coast.
Barcelona, Spain
Arrival 08:00 · Disembarkation 09:15 – 10:30
Barcelona welcomes you back for a final morning. Return to the Gothic Quarter's worn stone, or take in the modernist sweep of Passeig de Gràcia once more before departure. A last coffee on a shaded plaza, the Mediterranean light over the harbour, and the Catalan capital sends the voyage off as graciously as it began.
Explora Journeys · All-Inclusive
Every journey includes
- All dining across the ship's six restaurants, cafés and 24-hour in-suite dining
- Fine wines, champagne, spirits, cocktails and specialty coffees, anywhere on board
- All gratuities and service charges
- An in-suite bar, replenished daily to your taste
- High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Curated shoreside experiences and port-to-town transfers where offered
Your Ship
EXPLORA I
Explora's ships are all-suite and ocean-front — there isn't an inside cabin on board. Pale, calm interiors borrow the codes of the grand European hotel rather than the megaship: six restaurants plus a dozen bars and cafés, four pools including a retractable-roof Conservatory, and one of the most generous spa and thermal areas at sea. At roughly fifty gross tons per guest, the space-per-person ratio is close to double that of a mainstream cruise ship.
More on Explora JourneysSuites
461–463
All ocean-front
Guests
~922
Double occupancy
Restaurants
Six
Plus cafés & bars
Pools
Four
Incl. the Conservatory
