Detailed Itinerary
Embark Azamara Onward beginning at 1:00PM. All aboard by 3:30PM.
Welcome Cocktails & Briefing this evening. Meet your fellow participants and PerryGolf staff.
SIGHTSEEING: Barcelona is the 11th most visited city in the world according to MasterCard’s Global Destinations Index and 3rd most popular in Europe behind London and Paris. There’s a lot to like in this Olympic City (1992) from the food to the beaches, the weather and the night life. For many visitors however Barcelona is about architecture, especially the work of Antoni Gaudi. His Sagrada Familia in the city center is astounding. Construction began on the church in 1882; it is scheduled for completion in 2026 on the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. Azamara ships will almost always dock at the foot of Las Ramblas just steps from the Christopher Columbus statue. You will literally walk off the ship and into the city. No taxi required!
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: El Saler is located on the outskirts of Valencia within the Albufera Nature Park. Designed by Javier Arana, one of the most prestigious Spanish designers and opened in 1968, it sits nearby the beach occupying terrain dotted with pine trees and sand dunes and has a distinctly “links” feel. Its famous "cats claw" (not dissimilar to the Monterey Peninsula’s “iceplant”) is certainly to be avoided in the rough.
SIGHTSEEING: Valencia has come a very long way since 138 BC when it was founded as a Roman colony. Today it is Spain’s third largest city after Madrid and Barcelona. It has one of the world’s most prosperous local economies. The story you’ll probably take home however is about one of the most striking ranges of architecture imaginable. Of course you’ll find antiquity in many forms such as Valencia’s Gothic cathedral which was built over a mosque after the Christian reconOnward of 1238. You will also find the space-age City of Arts and Sciences, a massive project by neofuturistic architect Santiago Calatrava (World Trade Center Transportation Hub) whose showpiece is Oceanogràfic – one of the world’s biggest aquariums, with polar zones, underwater tunnels and an underwater restaurant. The juxtaposition is startling!
Enjoy Valencia on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
Lively Alicante, south of Valencia on Spain’s sun-kissed Costa Blanca, is renowned for its party atmosphere and beaches. Its prime hot spot is the Old Town in Barrio de la Santa Cruz, whose narrow streets lined with colorful buildings host unforgettable fiestas until the early hours. Start your day with a stroll along the bustling Explanada de España promenade. Take a hike (or the elevator) to the top of Mount Benacantil for majestic Mediterranean views from the medieval Santa Bárbara Castle.
Enjoy Alicante on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
SIGHTSEEING: Cartagena is strategically located amongst a number of historic sailing routes, and has been colonized by a veritable who’s who of Mediterranean superpowers over the millennia. The result is a rich and multi-layered cultural heritage, and a history both glorious and turbulent. From atop a hill, Concepción Castle served as a fortress for Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Castilians. The 13th century Old Cathedral stands on the remains of a Roman theater just discovered in 1987. More recent architectural contributions include modernist designs of public buildings and private dwellings by pupils of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.
Enjoy Cartagena on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Torrequebrada was designed by renowned Spanish architect José “Pepe” Gancedo, and is located in the heart of the Costa del Sol. It features large and undulating greens, and its fairways are lined with palm trees, fine trees, and olive trees. A number of elevated tees heighten the enjoyment of the delightful views of the mountains and Mediterranean Sea.
SIGHTSEEING: Malaga is found on Spain’s famous Costa del Sol along with its coastal and inland neighbors Rincon de la Victoria, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Alhaurin de la Torre, Mijas and Marbella. The important cultural infrastructure and the rich artistic heritage have culminated in the nomination of Malaga as a candidate for the 2016 European Capital of Culture. The internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso and actor Antonio Banderas were both born in Malaga.
Enjoy Malaga on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight – At Sea
GOLF: La Reserva was designed by acclaimed golf course architect Cabell B. Robinson and is carved into the hillside with stunning vistas down to the Mediterranean Sea and up to the Andalusian hills. Opened in 2003, its wide, sweeping fairways lead on to large greens with gentle but challenging undulations. It has fast become a must-play for any golfer visiting southern Spain and is a fitting next chapter in Sotogrande’s proud golfing legacy.
SIGHTSEEING: The Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold rising nearly 1,400 feet out of nowhere located in a strategic position at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. It overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and is linked to Spain by a narrow isthmus. Most of the upper Rock, starting just above the town, is a nature reserve with spectacular views accessible by cable car. Gibraltar is imposing but small. It measures less than six square kilometres and is inhabited by around 30,000 people made up of Gibraltarians, British, Moroccans, Indians and Spanish. There is a colony of the famous, camera-hogging Barbary apes who run free in a semi-wild state. Gibraltar is a British self-governing colony and a member of the European Union by virtue of Britain's membership.
Enjoy Gibraltar on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
Enjoy a scenic navigation of the Guadalete River on board Azamara Onward, an opportunity denied to larger ships.
Seville - the passionate nature of Sevillanos is evident in their devotion to bullfighting, flamenco, and fiesta. Food too, it appears, as Seville is credited with the invention of tapas. Join in with the locals as they graze from bar to bar, making an entire meal out of the experience. The city also has a rich history evident in its old quarters and landmarks. The great cathedral is immense, lavishly ornamented with paintings and sculptures, and copious quantities of gold. The Alcazar, the main palace, is exquisitely decorated in Moorish style, with themed gardens laid out in terraces.
Enjoy Seville on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: In Port – Seville, Spain
Enjoy a second day in Seville.
GOLF: Royal Seville Golf Club was designed by Jose Maria Olazabal. Its balanced and well-manicured layout is set through trees and lakes and hosted the 2004 World Cup of Golf, and the 2008 and 2010 Spanish Open on the European Tour. It is ranked among the top five in Spain by Golf Digest.
Overnight: In Port – Seville, Spain
An early morning departure from Seville as we make the scenic navigation of the Guadalete River on board Azamara Onward, as we head to sea for our sailing to Portimao.
Today it’s time to relax and reset. Make your reservations early for The Sanctum Spa, a world-class wellness facility offering a full range of health, beauty and restorative treatments. Complimentary fitness and nutrition classes are available along with a fully equipped gym on Deck 9 offering magnificent sea views. There’s room for everyone on the Pool Deck both in and out of the sun. Service to your lounge chair is available from The Pool Bar where the attentive staff is always ready to offer an inclusive cocktail, beer, bottled water, soft drink or fresh towel. The Patio restaurant serves casual fare during the day then completely transforms itself into a sit-down al fresco dining experience at night with table linens and candles. Elegant specialty dining is available for beef at Prime C and Italian at Aqualina. Windows Café serves casual buffet dining with every imaginable choice indoors and out at the sensational Sunset Bar.
What a way to spend a day!
Overnight: At Sea
Portimão is located in the District of Faro in the Algarve Region of Portugal, and is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally passes through, and there is also surfing and kite surfing. This is a great place for seafood restaurants with grilled sardines being the specialty.
Enjoy Portimão on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight – At Sea
GOLF: Oitavos Dunes is located on the most westerly tip of Europe and mixes wondrous views of the Atlantic Ocean with the stunning backdrop of the Sintra Mountains. Oitavos was designed by the renowned Arthur Hills and is one of only two European Courses that bear his name. The course is a recent addition to the area in golfing terms and was inaugurated in 2001 while now ranking in the world’s top 100 courses. Oitavos Dunes is a par 71 course that measure 6,300m from the competition tees. The course is a lovely mixture of woodland and links-type holes that make the most of the existing landscape.
SIGHTSEEING: Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbour made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to postmodern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.
Enjoy Lisbon on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: In Port - Lisbon, Portugal
9:00AM Disembark Azamara Onward.