Canary Islands & Madeira

Matosinhos is a delightful city to explore, where, during the winter months, the coastline offers a refreshing change of pace, with scenic walks along the promenade, sweeping ocean views and welcoming cafés overlooking the Atlantic. Venture further afield to Porto, and you’ll be offered opportunities to explore the narrow, cobbled streets and colourful houses of Ribeira, or perhaps take a boat trip along the Douro River to witness scenic landscapes of terraced vineyards and traditional wine estates known as quintas. Meanwhile, the city is well known for its production of Port wine, which can be sampled at one of the many wine cellars, or for enjoying Porto’s signature dish, Francesinha, a mouth-watering hearty sandwich of meat covered with melted cheese and a hot, thick sauce in an authentic Portuguese restaurant.

The glorious island of Madeira is known as the ‘Garden Island’ due to its array of subtropical flowers and plants that seem to burst from every direction. From Funchal, you’ll be able to witness the floral beauty of the island at the exquisite garden in Monte, featuring themed gardens and tropical plants, while its levada walking trails offer unique views of enchanting forests and flowing streams. During December, you will have the opportunity to sample traditional foods and the renowned fortified Madeiran wine or visit one of Europe’s tallest cliffs, Cabo Girão, standing 580m above sea level, with a suspended glass platform viewpoint.

The sun-kissed island of La Palma offers many opportunities to discover its magnificent landscapes, including strolling through the beautiful old town with its cobbled streets and colourful wooden-balconied houses or the spectacular views, hiking trails, and waterfalls of Caldera de Taburiente National Park. Meanwhile, volcanic black sand beaches beckon as the warm sea laps against the shore, and local restaurants tempt you to sample delicious local food like “papas arrugadas” (wrinkled potatoes) with spicy Mojo sauce and La Palma wine, produced on the island from vineyards perched precariously on steep volcanic hills.

The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the most spectacular annual meteor showers, typically peaking around December 13th to 14th. Geminids uniquely originate from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon and not comets and are known for their bright, fast-moving meteors, often producing up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak, making it one of the most active and reliable meteor showers to observe. Join us to witness this celestial display over La Palma, a world-renowned stargazing destination, and marvel at the meteors streaking across the sky from the Gemini constellation, best seen from the decks of your ship on clear winter nights in the Canary Islands.

The winter sun in the Canaries makes this the perfect time to explore Tenerife and its beautiful beaches, including the man-made golden sands of Playa de las Teresitas in the north and the volcanic black sands of Puerto de la Cruz.Spain’s highest peak, Mount Teide, dominates Tenerife’s skyline, and its summit can be reached by cable car for spectacular views across the island and beyond. Meanwhile, as the waters surrounding the island are home to a diverse range of wildlife, there will be opportunities to spot pilot whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. As you stroll through the streets of Santa Cruz, they will still be adorned with festive decorations to admire.

Exploring Vigo during the festive season presents the opportunity to experience the magical Christmas lights that the city is known for. As you stroll through its streets, you’ll be able to enjoy elaborate light displays and festive decorations, with the centrepiece being a giant Christmas tree, whose daily light show is perfectly timed with the beats of iconic Christmas songs. Venturing to the charming old town of Casco Vello offers the chance to experience Spanish festivities in tiny boutiques and artisan shops and to take part in the local tradition of eating fresh oysters at Oyster Street (Rua de Pescaderia). Meanwhile, Monte do Castro offers panoramic views of Vigo, which is particularly charming when lit up brightly at night.