Day 1 - Tuesday - Jun 18, 2024
Welcome to Paris, the City of Light. The French capital is home to some of the world's most famous monuments, from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe; museums that contain masterpieces such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Van Gogh's Self Portrait; and iconic public spaces from elegant tree-lined Champs-Elysees to its urban oasis Jardin des Tuileries. Whether it's your first or fiftieth time to this romantic city, there is always something new to discover. Your journey will also culminate in Paris where you'll have the opportunity to scratch the surface a little more. Upon arrival, transfer to your Scenic Space-Ship where your friendly crew await to welcome you onboard. Relax in your luxurious suite or take a beverage to the Sun Deck.
Day 2 - Wednesday - Jun 19, 2024
This morning will be spent cruising towards Les Andelys. This riverfront medieval town is set on one of the prettiest bends of the Seine, resplendent with well-preserved Norman-era houses and exquisite public buildings and overlooked by the imposing ruins of King Richard the Lionheart's castle, Chateau Gaillard. Take a stroll alongside the river, admiring the striking limestone cliffs rising from it, or through the charming center of town where the buildings are a living catalogue through time. As you enjoy your relaxing cruise, be sure to download the Scenic Tailormade app to listen to river commentary and gain insight to the villages and sites you're passing along the way.
Day 3 - Thursday - Jun 20, 2024
Rouen is the vibrant capital of the Normandy region. With a fascinating history of Roman and Viking settlement, it has also played a pivotal place in history as the town where Richard the Lionheart was crowned Duke of Normandy and Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. Much of Rouen was sadly destroyed in World War II, but much of the city has been faithfully restored, including the exquisite Old Town. It's an engaging and historically rich destination, packed with museums, stylish bistros and coffee shops, and a wealth of churches, including the famed 12th-century Rouen Cathedral. Back onboard this evening, listen to a fascinating lecture about WWI with an expert. WWI Lecture - Day in the life of Tommy: Join a lecture on WWI with a speaker who is dressed up in a soldier's uniform. During this interactive evening, you will be able to gain understanding into the life of a soldier on the Western Front and learn why this was known as 'the Great War'. From the curious 1914 Christmas armistice football match to the horrors of trench warfare involving machine guns, tanks, mining, and the deadly flamethrower, you will experience the war through the eyes of an allied soldier, 'a Tommy'. Try on his equipment and weapons and taste his rations. This immersive journey is bound to be an emotional one that will bring the history of war to life.
Day 4 - Friday - Jun 21, 2024
Today, you'll have the opportunity to join an excursion to the Somme Battlefields or take a walking tour from the ship to Rouen's Fine Art Museum.
Day 5 - Saturday - Jun 22, 2024
This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship will dock right in the center of Honfleur, a colorful coastal town that has been described as having one of the prettiest harbors in France, Le Vieux Bassin. Originally built for trade, the port was chosen for its strategic position on the southern bank of the Seine estuary. Over the years the town has captured the imaginations of countless artists and was the birthplace of impressionism. The bustling harbor and cobbled streets are a confection of half-timbered houses, restaurants, gourmet shops, and art galleries. It's an easy walk from the ship to explore the harbor area and network of laneways beyond. Back onboard this evening, join a lecture about WWII to gain a better understanding ahead of your full-day excursions tomorrow. Lecture on WWII: History comes alive tonight with an interactive lecture on the battles of WWII. Discover what life was like during the campaigns of D-Day; learn about Operation Fortitude, the plan created to deceive the Germany Army on the location of D-Day; and see how technology had evolved since WWI.
Day 6 - Sunday - Jun 23, 2024
Why not ask your butler to wake you with a coffee delivered to your suite, followed by a leisurely breakfast at Crystal Dining before heading off on your Scenic Freechoice excursions. You could choose to learn about the D-Day Landings, where tens of thousands of allied troops came ashore to free north-western Europe from Nazi occupation. Six weeks of heavy fighting and losses followed, but this strategic campaign ultimately ended the war.
Day 7 - Monday - Jun 24, 2024
| Caudebec-en-Caux , France |
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Your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive in Caudebec-en-Caux this morning. This small town is set on a curve of the Seine and the riverfront is lined with handsome homes, stately gardens, and crumbling stone walls. Caudebec-en-Caux dates back to the Middle Ages and a handful of historic buildings survived the bombardments of WWII, including the ornate 15th-century Notre-Dame de Caudebec-en-Caux. Later, you'll set out to explore more of the Normandy region.
Day 8 - Tuesday - Jun 25, 2024
This morning, your Scenic Space-Ship will arrive in Vernon, a historic border town between the Duchy of Normandy and the Kingdom of France. Today it's a great base to explore nearby Giverny, known for its most famous resident, artist Claude Monet, who turned this quiet riverside town into an artist pilgrimage. After exploring these beautiful gardens during this morning's touring, you may feel inspired to create a masterpiece of your own during an onboard painting class. This afternoon, your Scenic Space-Ship will sail towards La Roche-Guyon, where this evening's exclusive Scenic Enrich experience will take place.
Day 9 - Wednesday - Jun 26, 2024
Wake this morning in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, a medieval town located at the confluence of the River Seine and Oise. Though it's just a short distance from the center of the city, it feels a world away. A castle was built here by monks in the 9th century to protect the relics of Saint Honoratus, from whom the town gets its name. It became a popular pilgrimage site in the 11th century, a practice which lasted for more than 700 years. Wander the quiet streets and the riverside pathway, sip coffee at an open-air cafe, and admire the beautiful ancient church. From here, you can explore some of the outer regions of Paris. This afternoon, you'll spend time onboard as your Scenic Space-Ship cruises back to Paris. Relax with a regional wine or beer in the Panorama Lounge & Bar, take some time out in the wellness center, where you can enjoy a massage, or head to the state-of-the-art gym for an invigorating workout.
Day 10 - Thursday - Jun 27, 2024
Welcome back to Paris, where you will spend the day exploring this great city. First timers will love the highlights tour, which allows you to tick off bucket-list items such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, while return visitors may want to discover the trendy Marais District or Opera Garnier, an opulent architectural masterpiece built in the 19th century. Or take a tour south-east of the city to an exquisite chateau. This afternoon is free to explore Paris at your own leisure. Perhaps you'd like to people-watch on the Champs-Elysees from a sidewalk cafe, head to the top of the Eiffel Tower for a bird's-eye view of the city, or venture to Montmartre, the artist's district and where the famed Moulin Rouge is located. Otherwise you can relax back onboard your luxurious Scenic Space-Ship.
Day 11 - Friday - Jun 28, 2024
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Lisbon. Settle into your hotel before meeting your tour director and fellow travelers for a welcome drink.
Day 12 - Saturday - Jun 29, 2024
Take a guided tour of Lisbon this morning, including the National Tile Museum, which explains the significance and traditions of Portuguese tile work - from geometric patterns to intricate artworks - that adorns the facades of the city's historic buildings. This museum, founded in 1509, displays five centuries of decorative tiles. You will also visit Jeronimos Monastery, a masterpiece of 16th-century architecture in which lies the tomb of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Enjoy a taste of pasteis de nata, Portuguese custard tarts, which were first invented by local monks right here in the 18th century.
Day 13 - Sunday - Jun 30, 2024
| Vila Nogueira de Azeitao, Portugal |
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Head to Evora today, traveling through the winegrowing region of Setubal. Stop in Azeitao to visit a traditional tile manufacturer, one of the most important in the region. From here continue to Evora, where you will spend the next two nights. Once an important trading route and religious center, this walled city is dotted with crumbling Roman ruins, whitewashed buildings and elaborate cloisters and cathedrals lining its narrow, cobbled streets. Here, you will enjoy a guided tour, where you'll see the Evora Cathedral, a large Gothic-style medieval church completed in the 13th century. It boasts an impressive marble portal and a Renaissance organ, one of the oldest in Europe.
Day 14 - Monday - Jul 1, 2024
| Herdade do Esporao, Portugal |
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Travel through landscapes blanketed with lush vineyards and olive groves to the estate of Herdade do Esporao. Enjoy a tour of this exclusive estate and enjoy a World of Wines workshop, where you'll learn about the wines produced in this region. Sample some during a relaxing long lunch in the Galeria do Esporao restaurant. Return to Evora later this afternoon for time at leisure. Wander the ancient streets to see the ruins of the Roman Temple of Diana built some 2,000 years ago, pay a visit to the Chapel of Bones, which is decoratively adorned in human bones, or spend time in Giraldo Square, with a coffee or a regional wine or beer.
Day 15 - Tuesday - Jul 2, 2024
Today, you will travel to Siera de Aracena, a mountain range that straddles the Portuguese and Spanish borders and is famous for its production of Iberian pork. You'll visit the little village of Jabugo, famous for its cured jamon (ham), before visiting a renowned local producer for a tasting. Enjoy a lunch of fine Spanish delicacies before heading to your hotel in Seville, Spain. This Andalusian city was built on the Guadalquivir River, the only navigable river in Spain, which made it an important trading center. Today it is renowned for its Moorish buildings, having the world's largest Gothic cathedral, which houses the tomb of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, a breathtaking palace that has been built over 11 centuries, and flamenco dancing.
Day 16 - Wednesday - Jul 3, 2024
Your exploration of Seville starts with a walking tour of Barrio de Santa Cruz, a labyrinth of winding streets that lies within the historic center. Once the old Jewish quarter, this district leaves a lasting impression with impressive landmarks including the immense Seville Cathedral and Real Alcazar, which has a 1,000-year history and is still a working palace to this day. Within these atmospheric streets you'll also find tapas bars and a flamenco museum.
Day 17 - Thursday - Jul 4, 2024
Enjoy a scenic drive to Ronda, an Andalusian town dramatic in scenery and history. Teetering on a clifftop above the El Tajo Gorge, an 18th-century bridge spans the 100-metre drop to connect the town. Located on the site of an ancient Iberian settlement, it's home to original Arab baths that were used for 600 years, and Spain's oldest bullfighting ring, which is said to have inspired Ernest Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon. Soak up the splendor of this town on a walking tour, visiting the bull ring constructed entirely of stone and Casa Don Bosco, a local mansion with views across the canyon. Continue to Granada, where you will spend the evening. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and nestled between two rivers, Granada is one of Spain's most striking cities, resplendent in Islamic architecture and overlooked by an impressive hilltop fortress.
Day 18 - Friday - Jul 5, 2024
During a morning tour of Granada, you will visit the Alhambra, the 13th-century palace and fortress set against the peaks of Sierra Nevada. The complex of ancient buildings is a sight to behold, built on a high plateau above the city, and is a remnant of the Nasrid Dynasty, the last Islamic kingdom in Western Europe. It's also home to Generalife Gardens, featuring manicured flower beds, water features, colonnades, and pavilions. Afterwards, you will travel to the mountain village of Alfarnatejo, where you'll sit down to a home-hosted lunch with hospitable locals who will share insights into the customs and traditions of the region. After lunch, you will continue to Cordoba where you'll stay overnight. Cordoba is the only city in the world to have four UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sites, ahead of Rome and Paris. It includes the archeological site of Medina Azahara, a 10th-century city, the UNESCO-protected Patio Festival, when floral blooms adorn the city, the Historic Centre, and its 8th-century Great Mosque, which boasts a breathtaking sea of orange-and-white-striped arches. You will see the latter two on a city tour this afternoon. After an exciting day of touring, enjoy time to relax tonight at your unique hotel.
Day 19 - Saturday - Jul 6, 2024
On your way to Madrid this morning, you will stop in the fascinating 2,000-year-old city of Toledo, which sits on a gorge of the Tagus River and was the former Spanish capital before Madrid. Within its historic center, you'll find mosques, synagogues, and cathedrals coexisting, which gave the city its name the 'City of Three Cultures'. Continue to Madrid for a two-night stay. At almost precisely the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1562 and has held the role continuously since 1606. All of Spain's roads lead to Madrid, quite literally. The square at the center of the city is named Puerta del Sol, serving as 'kilometer zero'. And while the city has a storied past, it has a youthful energy, exciting nightlife, excellent gastronomy, and is home to some of the best art galleries and museums in the world. On arrival, join a guided tour to see the 17th-century Austrian Quarter (Madrid's oldest surviving district), as well as other significant sites. This evening in Madrid, you will enjoy dinner at a well-known local restaurant featuring tuna folk music, traditional Spanish music typically performed by students. The tradition is said to date back to the 13th century.
Day 20 - Sunday - Jul 7, 2024
The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore Madrid on your own. Perhaps this evening, you'd like to find a cozy tapas bar and enjoy these popular bite-sized foods with a regional wine or beer, dine at Sobrino de Botin, the world's oldest continually operating restaurant and one of Hemingway's favorite haunts.
Day 21 - Monday - Jul 8, 2024
After breakfast, transfer to Madrid Airport for your homebound flight, taking with you memories of a remarkable journey. This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such, the journey may operate altered from that stated above.
