Deluxe Stateroom
30% Ponant Bonus
19 m²
2
Iberian Shores
Lisbon - Barcelona
Dates:
24/09/2025
to
02/10/2025
days
nights on board
Gastronomic cruise in partnership with Relais & Châteaux and with featured guest chef João Oliveira from the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa.
PONANT invites you to discover sumptuous landscapes and exceptional cities during an 9-day cruise between Portugal and Spain. Be inspired by this unforgettable journey aboard Le Lapérouse as you visit major cities of the Iberian Peninsula.
Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, discover the Sagres fort, near Lagos; attend a cavalcade at a finca in Cartagena; or head off to admire one of the Cadiz region’s prettiest villages during a panoramic walk. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments (to discover the full range of excursions, go to the itinerary tab).
Setting sail from Lisbon, the seven-hilled Portuguese capital, you will head south to the beautiful Algarve region and call in Lagos. Its rich maritime heritage and spectacular coastline make this pretty coastal town with its hidden charm so fascinating.
You will then travel to Cadiz, one of the country’s oldest cities, built on a rock and surrounded by the sea. This call will allow those who wish to visit the superb city of Seville.
Le Lapérouse will then chart a course towards Marbella where you can discover a rich ancient heritage, before sailing towards Malaga, the lively cultural capital of the Costa del Sol. To the heart of the old town, its history can be read in its buildings, in particular the 10th century castle built by the Moors. You will also have the possibility of strolling through the picturesque town of Ronda and discovering its famous Puente Nuevo.
Further north, the coastline of Almeria’s preserved beaches emerges before you. The easternmost Andalusian city has a remarkable citadel and a cathedral whose towering structure stands in the very heart of the historic centre edged with narrow alleyways and traditional houses with whitewashed walls.
After a port of call in Cartagena, a city with a rich ancient heritage dating back to the Carthaginians and the Romans, you will head for Valencia, a city boasting remarkable architectural heritage.
Finally, you will sail towards Barcelona, your disembarkation port.
Ref : ER240925
Your itinerary
In partnership with Relais & Châteaux and with featured guest chef João Oliveira from the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa. During the cruise, two gala dinners and two culinary demonstrations will be orchestrated by...
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Additional services
For more peace of mind, PONANT selects stays and flights then takes care of your transfers for your trip as well as shore visits before and after the cruise.
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LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT
LE LYRIAL
LE LAPÉROUSE
LE CHAMPLAIN
LE SOLÉAL
01/11/2024 to the 16/11/2024
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Services provided
- 24-hour room service
- Inclusive Wifi internet access (availability dependent on navigation and latitude)
- Individually-controlled air conditioning
- Dressing room with shelves and closet
- Dressing table and hairdryer
- Diptyque Paris top-of-the-line bath products
- Minibar
- Nespresso coffee maker and boiler
- Electronic safe
- Direct line telephone
- Bose Bluetooth speaker
- Flat screen TV, international channels (availability dependent on navigation) and videos on demand
- 110V American (two flat pins)/220V European (round sockets with two round pins)
- Two ADA staterooms
Select your stateroom category
João Oliveira
Chef of the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa
João Oliveira was born in the Campo parish in Valongo. At the age of just 13, he would help his mother organise the meals, especially due to their trips to his grandparents. “I’d put a pan on the hob and add a piece of meat and a handful of rice”, he re- members, describing his first interactions with food and nature. His first ambition was to be a vet, possibly due to his close attachment to the sheep, pigs and chickens he looked after. There were no mobile phones or computer games back then. His days off were spent hunting birds, picking figs, grapes and quince, buying kid goats and sausages from producers and, at times during the year, fishing for carp with his father in Trás-os-Montes. At just 15, Oliveira enrolled at the Infante D. Henrique Professional School in Porto, after which his days consisted of train trips between Valongo and Invicta, practical training in the evenings and weekends at restaurants, and a refereeing course.
His professional career began at Casa da Calçada’s Largo do Paço, a restaurant he left and returned to after an adventure at Douro In in Régua. But it was when Ricardo Costa joined the restaurant in Amarante that his career took off, becoming the right hand man of the chef who led the famous Casa da Calçada from 2006 to 2010. The opening of The Yeatman was a boost to Ricardo Costa, as well as Oliveira, who chose to follow the cook to Vila Nova de Gaia, despite an invitation from the Michelin-starred Casa da Calçada to remain as Vítor Matos’s sous-chef. He spent four years at The Yeatman, where they won a star in their very first year.
In 2014, Oliveira wanted to stretch his wings and proposals flood- ed in, especially after a season at the two-starred Vila Joya in the Algarve. He was contacted by Gonçalo Narciso dos Santos, the general manager of Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, with the challenge of designing a new direction for VISTA, which had been open since 2011.
So in 2015, Oliveira moved to Portimão to head up a new project and hire an entirely new kitchen and dining room team. Some- thing innovative and different was called for.
The initial plan was to build something solid: to research the best produce, build ties with suppliers and develop consistency. VISTA began with a tasting menu, a daily menu, à la carte and classic dishes, such as Crayfish and Scallop Rice. A year later, the focus moved on to local fish, the tasting options were included in the Voyage Menu and the Mar Adentro event was held, putting Oliveira on the map as an ambassador for the sea. That year, VISTA gained ground as a gastronomic destination, and the more classic dishes were removed to provide space for the next stage: sustainability and identity. This led to just two menus: Voyage and Sea & Sustainability. Oliveira now had his own voice, a unique language, and could experiment with less appreciated and often discarded fish.
The dedication and resilience were rewarded at the end of 2017, when, at just 30 years of age, Oliveira won VISTA its first Michelin star.
In 2018 he added to this with GQ’s “Man of the Year Gourmet” award and a year later the International Academy of Gastronomy’s prestigious “Chef de L’Avenir”.
Language spoken: Portugese
Photo credit: Hayley Kelsing
Ideal clothes for life on board:
During the days spent on board, you are advised to wear comfortable clothes or casual outfits. The entire ship is air-conditioned, so a light sweater, a light jacket or a shawl may be necessary. When moving about in the public areas of the ship and the decks, light but comfortable shoes are recommended.
Informal evening:
In the evening, you are advised to wear smart-casual attire, especially when dining in our restaurants where wearing shorts and tee-shirts is not allowed.
For women:
- Simple dress
- Skirt or trousers
- Blouse
- Polo
For men:
- Pleated trousers or chinos
- Sports jacket
- Shirt
- Polo
Officer’s evening:
For all cruises longer than 8 nights, an Officer’s Evening with a white dress code may be organized. Therefore, we encourage you to bring a stylish white outfit for the occasion (otherwise black and white).
Gala evening:
During the cruise, two gala evenings will be organised on board. Thus, we recommend that you bring one or two formal outfits.
For women:
- Cocktail attire
- Evening dress (if you wish to)
For men:
- Dark suit
- Tie recommended, possibly bow tie (if you wish to)
SHOP:
A small shop is available on board offering a wide range of outfits, jewellery, leather goods and many accessories.
A laundry service (washing/ironing) is available on board, but unfortunately there are no dry cleaning services. For safety reasons, your cabin is not equipped with an iron.
ACCESSORIES:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Swimsuit (for the Spa on board)
- Gym wear (fitness)
- Battery charger and memory cards for your camera
- Mobile phone charger
- Hat/cap
HEALTH CARE:
- Sunscreen and after-sun lotion
- Medications and prescriptions
OUTFITS ON BOARD:
- Casual outfits for the day
- Smarter outfits for dinners
- Elegant outfits for Gala evenings
- White or black and white outfit
PRECAUTIONS:
In your hand luggage, remember to bring any medicines that you need, and possibly a small spare bag of toiletries (in case of delay in the delivery of your baggage by the airline). Remember to always have your travel documents with you in case you need them: hotel vouchers, cruise vouchers, return flight tickets... Never leave them in your hold luggage.
All our cabins have a safe. We recommend not to go ashore with valuable jewellery.
PONANT activities
Relais & Châteaux
Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of 580 landmark hotels and restaurants, operated by independent owners and often family-run, who share a passion for their metier and desire for authenticity in their relationships with customers.
Relais & Châteaux members are driven by a desire to protect and promote the rich diversity of the world’s cuisines and traditions of hospitality. They are committed to preserving local heritage and the environment, embodied in a Manifesto presented to UNESCO in November 2014.
Subject to withdrawal in case of force majeure
Highlights
- In partnership with Relais & Châteaux and with featured guest chef João Oliveira from the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa.
- During the cruise, two gala dinners and two culinary demonstrations will be orchestrated by chef João Oliveira of the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa.
- An exceptional cruise to discover major cities of the Iberian Peninsula.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the tower of Belém and the monastery of Jeronimos in Lisbon (embarkation port), the Silk Exchange in Valencia, the works of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona (disembarkation port).
- Make the most of an excursion included* per person per port of call during your cruise thanks to the selection made by our destination experts.
- The Andalusian city of Cadiz, one of the oldest cities in the Western Mediterranean.
- A port of call in Lagos, in the Algarve region, featuring geological wonders and a rich historical past.
- The opportunity to discover the Puente Nuevo de Ronda from Marbella.
- The ancient heritage of Cartagena.
*Pre-bookings open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests are processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Ports of Call & Excursions
24 September 2025 - Lisbon
Embarkation 24/09/2025 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 24/09/2025 at 19:00
Portugal’s capital city located on the banks of the Tagus, only a few kilometres from the Atlantic coast, is a city of exceptionally rich cultural diversity. At the mouth of the river harbour, impose two UNESCO World Heritage monuments, Jeronimos monastery and Belem tower. The Alfama hillside is also worth visiting: known for its fado bars and its Moorish streets, this district is the oldest one of the city and one of the most typical. Not far from there, Chiado’s elegant streets are home to big fashion labels and are an invitation to a bit of of luxury shopping.
25 September 2025 - Lagos
Arrival 25/09/2025 midday
Departure 25/09/2025 early evening
There stands a natural paradise called Lagos, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. With its picturesque and age-old town centre, and the Ponta da Piedade natural site sheltering paradisiacal beaches protected by captivating limestone cliffs in hues of ochre, Lagos enthrals, fascinates and enchants. In this interesting blend between nature and culture, do not miss the chance to stroll along the small paved streets of its historic centre, surrounded by impressive Moorish ramparts and edged with traditional white houses, with decorations sculpted in the stone. In particular, you will be able to admire the Manuelian-style Governor's Castle, the 17th-century Ponta da Bandeira Fort or the Church of Santo António in Baroque architecture.
26 September 2025 - Cadiz
Arrival 26/09/2025 early morning
Departure 26/09/2025 early evening
Andalusia’s Cadiz is located on the Costa de la Luz, in the south-west of Spain. From the beaches of Cortadura, to the flamenco bars of Santa Maria, through the colourful streets of la Viña, you will be amazed by this city, which is both steeped in history and extremely festive. In the medieval El Pópulo district, you will stroll along covered passages in the narrow gaps between houses. You will also be able to mosey around the lush Mina square. The star of the show is the magnificent cathedral and its dome crowned with yellow porcelain, presiding above the Ocean.
27 September 2025 - Marbella
Arrival 27/09/2025 early morning
Departure 27/09/2025 early evening
In the province of Malaga, Marbella is a renowned seaside resort on the Costa del Sol. The remains of early Christian and Roman sites around this former mining town, located at the foot of the Sierra Blanca mountains, bear witness to a rich history. With its white houses on flowery little streets, the old town is perfect for a pleasant stroll. The Plaza de los Naranjos, former focal point of the city, is near the 10th-century Arabic castle and the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación. Not far from here, you’ll be able to discover the magnificent viewpoints offered by Ronda, a picturesque town perched 700 metres (2,296 feet) high. Its Puente Nuevo bridge majestically crosses the gorges of the Guadalevin River that cuts the town in two.
28 September 2025 - Málaga
Arrival 28/09/2025 late evening
Departure 28/09/2025 early morning
A historical and festive town, Malaga is located in Andalusia, on the Costa del Sol. Between the marina and the beaches, the seaside promenade of La Farola offers an ideal setting for strolling and relaxing. Set slightly further back, the Malagueta bullring is one of the emblematic sites of the city. From the hill overlooking the old town, one can see Gibralfaro castle and the Alcazaba, two fortified ensembles rising out from the cypresses and maritime pines. To visit Pablo Picasso’s birthplace, you will go first to the courtly plaza de la Merced. A few streets back from here, you can explore the museum dedicated to the artist, in the Buenavista palace.
29 September 2025 - Almeria
Arrival 29/09/2025 midday
Departure 29/09/2025 early evening
On the Mediterranean shore, the easternmost Andalusian capital, the legendary Almería (from the Arab Al-Mariy-yat, meaning watchtower), has a coastline of preserved beaches with an interior characterised by its typical desert ecosystem. In the past an important port for the Caliphate of Córdoba, Almería has a remarkable citadel and a cathedral whose imperious structure stands in the very centre of the old town. This old town, with its narrow streets, will charm you with its lime washed walls and its rich historical and cultural heritage.
30 September 2025 - Cartagena
Arrival 30/09/2025 early morning
Departure 30/09/2025 late afternoon
Surrounded by hills, the natural site of the Bay of Carthagena presided over the fate of this former fortress which has been home to the greatest European civilisations. Today, these Phoenician, Roman, Carthaginian, Moorish and Christian influences form a rich architectural heritage. Its Roman theatre is one of the most significant and best conserved in Spain. You will also be able to cross the landscapes of vines and citrus groves stretching endlessly towards Murcia, to visit this dynamic regional capital.
1 October 2025 - Valencia
Arrival 01/10/2025 early morning
Departure 01/10/2025 late afternoon
Valencia - the city of Art and Sciences. Two hearts beat in this Spanish city: one is modern, avantgarde and almost futuristic; the other is more provincial, more traditional and nostalgic. Valencia has the temperament of a great Mediterranean city whose wide avenues form a border around the old town. The city has an abundance of architectural styles that coexist harmoniously, but above all it resolutely embraces the 21st Century with the futuristic structures of its Agora congress centre and City of Arts and Sciences, emerging from a crystal blue pool.
2 October 2025 - Barcelona
Arrival 02/10/2025 early morning
Disembarkation 02/10/2025 at 08:00
Located on the seashore between the mountains of Montjuïc and Tibidabo, Barcelona offers its many visitors a perfect blend of tradition and modernism. Truly an open-air museum, the “prodigious town” reveals an astonishing range of artistic treasures and museums, combining Roman ruins, medieval districts and a number of avant-garde elements from the 20th Century. Over the years, it has been marked by some of the greatest artists, such as Picasso, Miró or Gaudí, most of whose work has been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Take the time to stroll along the Ramblas and enjoy the gentle, typically Mediterranean lifestyle of the capital of Catalonia.
Ponta da Piedade & Sagres
Dating back to the time of the Roman conquest, it was in the 15th century that Sagres reached its apogee, thanks to Prince Henry the Navigator who stayed there, linking this picturesque fishing port forever to the period of the Discoveries.
On Ponta de Sagres, a giant finger of rock pointing to the ocean, stand the Vila and defensive fortress of Henry the Navigator, buildings which evoking the past of this place, which ha that is become a key part of the history of the world, remembering the Vila and the defensive fortress founded by Henry the Navigator.
Nearby, at one of the most westerly points of the European continent (after Cabo da Roca), is the Cape of St. Vincente (a sacred place for the Roman's that named it Promontorium Sacrum), which opening opens on to a vast horizon of sea and sky.
From here, walk to the Rocky coastal area to visit the magnificent Ponta da Piedade, which offers fantastic views of the coastal cliffs and golden Rock formations before returning to the Lagos Marina.
-
This excursion involves about 1.25 miles (2 km) on mostly flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.
Included
According to availability, price per passenger.Le Lapérouse
Environmentally friendly, fitted with innovative equipment and complete with lounges designed to be largely open to the exterior, this new and intimately sized yacht offers a unique type of cruise experience.
Onboard this ship sailing under the French flag, you'll experience the incomparable pleasure of a cosily intimate cruise offering the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic chic ambiance.
The Blue Eye, an underwater lounge offering a unique experience unlike anything else in the world.
Decks
Gastronomy & Wine
Succumb to the pleasures of fine dining as you enjoy the delights dreamed up or selected by the most talented sommeliers and Michelin-starred chefs of their generation. They will share with you their passion for the art of eating through gala dinners, tastings, workshops and fascinating talks. Special attention will be paid to the wines offered to you during these Gastronomy and Wine cruises: an exclusive wine list, expert wine and food pairings... As you visit the carefully selected ports of call in cities with a rich cultural heritage, the exceptional culinary and wine-tasting experiences are sure to surprise you.
Guest Speaker
Aboard your ship, an English-speaking lecturer will enlighten you about the culture and history of your destination to deepen your knowledge of the origins of local traditions, the history of emblematic sites, and stories involving famous personalities and those of major historical significance. During on-board lectures or on your shore visits, this expert will be there to share their precious knowledge with you throughout your PONANT cruise.
Excursions included
During your journey, enjoy an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. Whether this is the visit of an emblematic museum or a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an activity in the heart of nature or a tasting of local products, or one of many other highlights, you will benefit from a careful selection of activities throughout your itinerary.
Pre-bookings will open around two months before the start of the cruise; requests will be processed on a first-come first-served basis, subject to availability.
Shore excursions, Pre/Post & Overlands
Ponta da Piedade & Sagres
Dating back to the time of the Roman conquest, it was in the 15th century that Sagres reached its apogee, thanks to Prince Henry the Navigator who stayed there, linking this picturesque fishing port forever to the period of the Discoveries.
On Ponta de Sagres, a giant finger of rock pointing to the ocean, stand the Vila and defensive fortress of Henry the Navigator, buildings which evoking the past of this place, which ha that is become a key part of the history of the world, remembering the Vila and the defensive fortress founded by Henry the Navigator.
Nearby, at one of the most westerly points of the European continent (after Cabo da Roca), is the Cape of St. Vincente (a sacred place for the Roman's that named it Promontorium Sacrum), which opening opens on to a vast horizon of sea and sky.
From here, walk to the Rocky coastal area to visit the magnificent Ponta da Piedade, which offers fantastic views of the coastal cliffs and golden Rock formations before returning to the Lagos Marina.
-
This excursion involves about 1.25 miles (2 km) on mostly flat ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Pre-booking is required to participate in this tour.
Included
According to availability, price per passenger.