Next Stop Madrid: Spanish Treasures Cruise Tour

Upon your arrival at Madrid-Barajas International Airport, you&rsquo;ll pick up your reserved car and drive to your 5-star hotel. Check in and you&rsquo;ll have the entire afternoon and evening to spend at your leisure with world-class shopping and dining just steps away on the iconic Gran Via (the &ldquo;Spanish Broadway&rdquo;).<br />
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(includes transfers from the airport to your hotel and overnight in Madrid hotel)<br />
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After breakfast at the hotel, you&rsquo;ll kick off your day with a visit to the world-famous Santiago Bernabéu stadium&mdash;host to Real Madrid CF since 1947. Fans of the football (aka American soccer) will go wild over the panoramic view of the inside of the renovated stadium, with admission to the Real Madrid CF Museum, where you&rsquo;ll learn about the history of the club and its members, take pictures next to famous trophies and watch the club&rsquo;s most iconic moments. Next, you&rsquo;ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The tour continues to the Royal Palace, an awe-inspiring architectural wonder and the largest functioning palace in Europe. You&rsquo;ll learn about the site&rsquo;s rich history, capture pictures at Armoury Square, get a chance to walk the iconic marble Grand Staircase, and explore majestic rooms and spaces displaying sculptures, paintings, tapestries and jewels offering insight into the 18-century Spanish Monarchy. In the evening, you&rsquo;ll head to renowned tablao Corral de la Morería (Madrid&rsquo;s &ldquo;Cathedral of Flamenco) to see a fiery flamenco show performed by some of Spain&rsquo;s top dancers and musicians, while enjoying a three-course gourmet meal created by a Michelin Star chef.<br />
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(Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and flamenco show, entrance to Bernabéu Stadium and Real Madrid CF Museum, overnight in Madrid hotel)

After breakfast at the hotel, you&rsquo;ll head right to the Prado Museum to take in the world&rsquo;s richest and most comprehensive collection of Spanish works from Spanish masters Valázquez, El Greco, Goya and El Bosco. Your early access allows you to skip the line and enter the museum one hour before they open. The museum also houses a vast collection of classical European paintings and sculptures, including the largest collections of Italian art outside of Italy. Next, you&rsquo;ll head to the famous &ldquo;El Retiro Park,&rdquo; a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering a vast green oasis in the heart of the city. Stroll through a variety of gardens with interesting monuments, view a nearly 400-year-old Mexican conifer, sit by the lake or rent a rowing boat, and explore the exhibitions halls, including the Glass Palace, a glass pavilion built in 1887, regarded as one of Spain&rsquo;s finest examples of cast-iron architecture. After enjoying the park, you&rsquo;ll have free time to explore and find lunch on your own. In the evening, you&rsquo;ll be immersed in a unique culinary experience at a boutique cooking school. You&rsquo;ll learn the art of preparing tapas, then enjoy them along with a chef-prepared entree and two desserts for a 5-course tasting menu served with a bottomless wine pairing of five different Spanish wines.<br />
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(Includes breakfast, dinner, early entrance to Prado Museum, cooking class, overnight in Madrid hotel)

You&rsquo;ll have breakfast at your hotel in Madrid before taking off for an incredible day in Segovia, a medieval city located in Castile and Leó, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You&rsquo;ll look back in time as you admire the incredible Roman Aqueduct winding its way around the edge of town. You&rsquo;ll visit Plaza Mayor, a town square framed by the beautiful pinnacles of the apse of the Cathedral, built in Castilian Late Gothic style, then head inside to meet your guide and tour the Cathedral, learning about its historical significance and architectural highlights that have earned it the name Lady of the Cathedrals. Next, you&rsquo;ll enjoy a classic Segovian lunch at a delightful restaurant, followed by a stop at the renowned Alcázar of Segovia, a medieval castle built in the 12^th century that has served as home for 22 kings and inspired the design of castles in shows and movies, including Cinderella&rsquo;s castle. You&rsquo;ll travel back to Madrid, where you&rsquo;ll catch the high-speed train to Barcelona, traveling in Comfort Class, with your luggage waiting for you at your hotel Barcelona hotel. Upon arrival, you&rsquo;ll be driven to your 5-star hotel, where you&rsquo;ll enjoy a Catalan dinner and can share stories about the day.

After breakfast at your hotel, you&rsquo;ll be driven towards the Penedés Region in Catalonia, where almost all cava and wine is produced due to the region&rsquo;s favorable climate for growing grapes&mdash;mild temperatures, intense sunshine and moderate rainfall. This also makes it great region to visit. This tour will bring you to one of the most renowned Spanish wine cellars: Codorniu. You&rsquo;ll learn the traditional process of how a bottle of cava is created and the history of the cellars dating back 450 years, where you will enjoy your tasting flight. By the time you head to a delicious three-course lunch, you&rsquo;ll have discovered the secrets of Cavas Codorniu. Later, you&rsquo;ll travel to Barcelona and take a panoramic tour of the city before embarking on the ship.<br />
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(Includes, breakfast, lunch, travel to Barcelona)

The beautiful, sunny port city of Tarragona has lovely beaches, a spectacular cathedral, and Spain&rsquo;s second most important Roman ruins of Tarraco, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many other ruins around Tarragona as well including an amphitheater by the sea. Also known as the city of human towers, Tarragona originated this deep-rooted tradition that has been recognized by UNESCO on their Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The city lives and breathes this tower building spirit which requires the commitment and bravery of many people.

Mallorca is steep, green, and fringed with enticing coves and more than 200 lush beaches. But all that natural beauty is just the beginning. Stroll along the tree-shaded Paseo de Born in search of tapas. Shop for a Siurell; a traditional red, green, and white clay whistle dating back to the time of the Moors. Watch the street performers on the piazza around the church, or cross the island to beautiful Sóller. Not to be missed is the cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This captivating city is best when savored slowly. Although Valencia&rsquo;s religious architecture is remarkable, and the Lonja, one of Europe&rsquo;s most elegant buildings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, take time for an optional experience &mdash; <em>paella</em>. You&rsquo;ll learn the local secrets of this gastronomic masterpiece as you cook it, eat it, and toast it with the region&rsquo;s perfectly matched local wines.
Want insider advice on where to find the tastiest restaurants, most unique local markets, authentic culinary shops, and hidden watering holes? <a href="http://blog.windstarcruises.com/2001/01/local-dining-tips-valencia-cultural-wonder/" target="_blank">Check out Valencia&rsquo;s <strong>Local Dining Tip Curated by Saveur</strong> on our blog</a>.

The walled town of Cartagena is a popular seaport with a large naval shipyard. The seashore offers a wide range of activities from windsurfing to good snorkeling to sailing. From Cartagena you can easily explore the ancient city of Murcia, the coastal resorts of Mazarrón, Cala Cortina, and Cabo de Palos or a little further north, the world famous resort of Mar Menor.

Here, on the shores of Costa del Sol, the Andalusian spirit thrives. Be sure to include an optional visit to see the brilliant and comprehensive collection of Picasso&rsquo;s work at Museo Picasso Málaga, a tribute to this artistic genius in the city of his birth. Or you may choose to opt for a visit to the beautiful village of Mijas, where picturesque Andalusian country life creates some of the world&rsquo;s best wines.&nbsp;

Here, on the shores of Costa del Sol, the Andalusian spirit thrives. Be sure to include an optional visit to see the brilliant and comprehensive collection of Picasso&rsquo;s work at Museo Picasso Málaga, a tribute to this artistic genius in the city of his birth. Or you may choose to opt for a visit to the beautiful village of Mijas, where picturesque Andalusian country life creates some of the world&rsquo;s best wines.&nbsp;

Fascinating Tangier is a traveler&rsquo;s delight with beautiful vistas, lovely unspoiled beaches, intriguing history and friendly people. Separated from Spain by only 20 miles across the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier is considered by many to be the gateway to Africa. With its cosmopolitan mix of African and European influences, there are many interesting sites in Tangier. &nbsp;The two UNESCO sites of the Medina (the old-walled city) a bustling place, and the Kasbah which offers beautiful views and fine Moroccan art, and the Place de France in the heart of the new city is an entertaining place to sip mint tea and enjoy the view.

The rhythm of Lisbon invites you to join its captivating dance. This splendid capital city on the banks of the Rio Teja offers a warm welcome and an unparalleled blend of architectural styles. Elegant outdoor cafés line the cobbled sidewalks. Turn-of-the-century funiculars climb the scenic hills. Find the UNESCO sites of the Tower of Belem and the Monastery of the Hieronymites. And, everywhere, the city engages you with its easy style and remarkable charm.