Explora Journeys · 11-Night Cruise
A Journey from Mediterranean Flair to Atlantic Splendour
11 nights aboard EXPLORA I, round-trip from Barcelona.
Journey Overview
11 nights, 8 ports, 3 countries.
From Barcelona, this eleven-night voyage follows the Atlantic’s edge south, trading Catalan glamour for the souks and surf-coast of Casablanca and Agadir. The Canaries unfold in turn: Lanzarote’s volcanic theatre, Fuerteventura’s dunes, Tenerife beneath Mount Teide. Madeira answers with terraced gardens above Funchal, before Cadiz draws you into Andalusian sherry country and flamenco. A gentle return north along the Spanish coast closes the circle where it began, in Barcelona.
The Itinerary
Barcelona, Spain
Embarkation 12:00 – 13:00 · Departure 16:00
Barcelona sets the tone with Catalan ease. Trace Gaudi's restless imagination from the Gothic Quarter's narrow lanes to the Modernista facades of Passeig de Gracia, then settle in a plaza over tapas and a glass of cava. As evening softens, La Rambla and its leafy promenade carry the city into the night.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
A full day at sea aboard Explora I, with nothing on the horizon but blue. The ship keeps its own unhurried rhythm: time to drift between the spa, a long lunch and a quiet deck chair, letting the Atlantic set the pace and the hours loosen.
Sea dayCasablanca, Morocco
08:00 – 17:00
Casablanca opens with the Hassan II Mosque, its minaret rising sheer above the water and its marble halls and Murano chandeliers open to visitors. Inland, the Habous quarter layers French Art Deco against whitewashed Moorish houses, small souks and olive stalls, while café terraces lend the city a worldly, unmistakably Atlantic poise.
Agadir, Morocco
09:00 – 18:00
Agadir wears its modern face lightly, rebuilt in clean, tree-lined boulevards after the 1960 earthquake. Wander the marina for fish by the harbour, find shade in the Valley of the Birds, then browse Souk El Had's spices, tajines and teapots. Above it all, the rammed-earth ramparts of the Kasbah Oufella survey the bay.
Arrecife (Lanzarote), Spain
09:00 – 21:00
Arrecife carries the imprint of Cesar Manrique, whose murals, cavern spaces and Tahiche home shaped Lanzarote's look. The MIAC gallery and the submerged sculptures of Jason deCaires Taylor reward the curious, while Timanfaya's lava fields beg for a 4×4 and the steady swell at Playa de Famara suits any surfer.
Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura), Spain
08:00 – 20:00
Fuerteventura is where desert meets ocean. Quiet old Betancuria and the stacked-stone Santa Maria church anchor the interior, while the dunes of Corralejo run down to turquoise shallows. Clifftop paths along the wilder west coast lead to black-sand coves and the ocean-carved hollows of the Ajuy caves far below.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
08:00 – 17:00
Santa Cruz de Tenerife pairs Spanish city life with the tropics, an active volcano on its doorstep. Tapas first, then the UNESCO-listed old town of San Cristobal de la Laguna, its tiled courtyards and carved balconies hidden behind ancient doors. Beyond lie half-moon bays, vineyards and lava tunnels, all in the shadow of Mount Teide.
Funchal (Madeira), Portugal
09:00 – 19:00
Funchal climbs steeply from the harbour. The cable car lifts you to the gardens of Monte Palace, where peacocks roam above the Atlantic, and a wicker toboggan steered by white-clad carreiros carries you back down. Pause over a glass of amber Madeira on Praca do Municipio before the laurel forests and black-sand beaches call.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
Another day at sea, the open Atlantic on every side. Explora I makes the most of the quiet hours, an invitation to read, swim, savour an unhurried meal or simply watch the light shift on the water as the voyage carries you gently onward.
Sea dayCadiz, Spain
09:00 – 20:00
Cadiz, one of Europe's older cities, unfolds in cobbled lanes and sea-girt ramparts. Tapas and Andalusian horses fill the day, while Jerez tempts with sherry bodegas and flamenco close by. Seville lies within reach too, its cathedral, palaces and Moorish architecture making the most of a day in Andalusia's heartland.
A Day at Sea
Cruising
A final day at sea as the ship turns north for Catalonia. The pace stays slow and the Atlantic wide, a last stretch of open water to savour the spa, the deck and the long view before the coast of Spain returns to the horizon.
Sea dayBarcelona, Spain
Arrival 08:00 · Disembarkation 09:15 – 10:30
Barcelona welcomes the voyage back. There is time yet for a last turn through the Gothic Quarter, a coffee on a sunlit terrace or a final look at Gaudi's spires before farewells. The Catalan capital sees you off much as it greeted you, with warmth and unhurried style.
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
