Gardens of Iberia
Cruise 593
1-15 Jul 2024
15 days
Fares from �2675
| Fares for Cruise 593 | ||
| Cabin Grade: | Price per adult (�): | |
 |
Owners Suite | 5350 |
 |
Suite | 5100 |
 |
Deluxe | 4350 |
 |
Superior | 3815 |
| Standard two
bed: twin occupancy | ||
 |
A Deck outside | 3565 |
 |
A Deck outside aft | 3315 |
 |
B Deck outside | 3245 |
 |
B Deck outside aft | 3030 |
 |
A Deck inside | 2745 |
 |
B Deck inside | 2675 |
| Standard two
bed: single occupancy | ||
|
A Deck outside | 4991 |
|
A Deck outside aft | 4641 |
|
B Deck outside | 4543 |
|
B Deck outside aft | 4242 |
|
A Deck inside | 3569 |
|
B Deck inside | 3478 |
| Minerva deck plans for location of cabins | ||
GARDENS and FOOD
Visit famous and less well-known yet remarkable gardens from Tresco Abbey to the moorish gardens of southern Spain, to appreciate their wide variety of plants, contrasting design and, above all, their beauty.
Cuisine is the most accessible part of any nation's culture. Discover the wines and many tastes of Spain, and Portugal - where food is less influenced by fashion than probably anywhere else in Europe.
Dr Colin J Bailey
NADFAS lecturer who has lectured regularly in Britain and Spain on Spanish seventeenth century painting. A frequent visitor to Spain, he will talk on the art and artists associated with the towns visited on the cruise.
Frances Bissell
Cuisine is the most accessible part of any nation�s culture and our Speaker, who writes on food for the Times and has taught cookery courses in Andalucia, will help us discover the wines and many tastes of Spain and Portugal.
Caroline de Estradas
Her particular interests include the artistic legacy of the Muslim occupation of Spain and the architectural heritage and regional culture of the Iberian peninsula.
Patrick Taylor
Author of several books on garden history and garden design, he will share his knowledge as we visit Tresco Abbey gardens and the many splendid Islamic gardens of southern Spain.
Enjoy a delightful cruise up the River Tagus to the heart of Lisbon. A further pleasure will be the beauty of the
Sierra Nevada before you round off your voyage amongst the superb palaces and mansions of Valencia.
| Sun 1 Jul London | |
| In the afternoon join Minerva by Tower Bridge and settle in on board. We sail late evening passing by London's illuminated riverside sights on our way down the Thames. | |
| Mon 2 Jul At Sea | |
| Listen to our Guest Speakers' talks, explore the ship and enjoy her many facilities as Minerva heads for the Atlantic. | |
| Tue 3 Jul Tresco * | |
| From our anchorage off Tresco, the second largest of the Scilly Isles, we go ashore to visit the Abbey Gardens this morning where over 5,000 subtropical plants adorn the site of a former Benedictine Abbey. | |
| Wed 4 Jul At Sea | |
| Minerva's Library is one of the best afloat, and you will be certain to find something to enhance your holiday reading. | |
| Thu 5 Jul Vigo | |
| This morning's excursion from Vigo is to the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela visited by Christians for over 1,000 years, with its magnificent Baroque facades. Thousands travel here to pay homage to the relics of St James, housed inside the city's impressive cathedral. Or you may prefer to remain in Vigo to enjoy a morning's sightseeing at leisure. | |
| Fri 6 Jul Lisbon | |
| This morning's excursion from Vigo is to the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela visited by Christians for over 1,000 years, with its magnificent Baroque facades. Thousands travel here to pay homage to the relics of St James, housed inside the city's impressive cathedral. Or you may prefer to remain in Vigo to enjoy a morning's sightseeing at leisure. | |
| Sat 7 Jul At Sea | |
| Take a dip in the pool and enjoy the warm sunshine as Minerva cruises towards Madeira. | |
| Sun 8 Jul-Mon 9 Jul Funchal | |
| We arrive at the island of Madeira at lunchtime on Sunday, renowned for its luxuriant vegetation and spectacular landscape. Our afternoon excursion offers the opportunity to tour the island and enjoy a tasting of Madeira at a wine lodge. A supplementary off-road jeep tour will explore little visited parts of the island taking in the outstanding scenery. The following morning there will be an opportunity to explore Madeira's famed Palheiro Gardens or to experience the delights of Funchal town. Sail at lunchtime. | |
| Tue 10 Jul At Sea | |
| Minerva makes her way towards the Portuguese coast and Cadiz, the oldest city in Andalusia. Read about the sights that await us with a book from the Library, or enjoy a swim in the pool. | |
| Wed 11 Jul Cadiz (for Jerez de la Frontera) | |
| This historic city is famed for its seafood and to
work up an appetite for it, join our guided walking tour of Cadiz in the morning. In the
afternoon relax on the beach, or visit some of the region's bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera.
There will also be a supplementary full-day excursion to Seville, where we visit the immense
Gothic Cathedral, the moorish Alcazar and the romantic whitewashed district of Barrio de Santa
Cruz. There is a supplementary 2-day excursion visiting Seville, Carmona and Cordoba - exploring Andalusia in more depth. In Seville we discover the splendid Gothic Cathedral and the romantic old Jewish Quarter. In Carmona we see the Roman walls that protect the Old Quarter, and in Cordoba we explore the magnificent cathedral which is slotted into the centre of a Moorish mosque. | |
| Thu 12 Jul Malaga (for Granada or Ronda) | |
| From Malaga we drive across the Sierra Nevada for a full-day excursion to Granada, the last capital of the Moors in Spain, where we visit the beautiful Alhambra Palace and enjoy its spectacular gardens. Alternatively, take a day to explore Ronda, an attractive Andalusian town in a unique location straddling a gorge. | |
| Fri 13 Jul At Sea - Valencia | |
| A day at sea to relax, enjoy a film, be pampered in the beauty salon or listen to our Guest Speakers sum up the sights we have seen. Arrive in time for an evening ashore, an ideal opportunity to dine out. | |
| Sat 14 Jul Valencia | |
| Tour the city this morning, including a visit to the cathedral, a microcosm of Valencia's architectural history with Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance influences. Or you may prefer to relax on one of Valencia's sandy beaches. Valencia is the home of paella, so why not enjoy this local dish ashore at lunchtime? | |
| Sun 15 Jul Palma - London | |
| Minerva arrives on the island of Majorca this morning. Transfer to the airport for our flight to London. | |
| * Land by ship's boat or local tender | |
WHY CHOOSE THIS CRUISE?
- Enjoy a cruise full of variety - art and architecture, beaches, cities, gardens and spectacular scenery
- Stay up late on sailing and see the Thames' highlights like you've never seen them before, from the glass facades of Docklands to classical Greenwich, Tower Bridge to the controversial Dome and the mighty Thames Barrier's string of silver shells
- Dream of intrigue and romance in the Alhambra, the epitome of Islamic architecture, as you wander around its exquisite halls and courts cooled by tinkling fountains
