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USAVirgin Voyages cruises to Spain will keep you endlessly entertained, whether you’re snorkelling in clear waters, hiking to the ultimate panorama or cooking up a Catalan feast.
Virgin Voyages cruises to Spain will keep you endlessly entertained, whether you’re snorkelling in clear waters, hiking to the ultimate panorama or cooking up a Catalan feast.
Virgin Voyages’ Mediterranean cruises all start and end in Barcelona, giving you ample opportunity to explore this glorious city pre- or post-sailing. Whether you’re staying up late at a beach party with locals or wandering around Gaudí’s iconic basilica, La Sagrada Família, or admiring the vibrant mosaics of Park Güell, the city has much to offer.
Of course, you cannot miss the culinary scene in Barcelona. Thanks to Virgin’s post-cruise shore excursions, not only can you extend your holiday experience, but you can also dive in and learn all about Catalan food and drink from the residents.
Immerse yourself in all things foodie with a cooking class. This includes a guided tour of the medieval El Borne district before guests head to a cooking lab. Under the tutelage of a local chef, you’ll sample delicious local dishes and take part in a tapas-making competition. Jokes about the size of your chorizo sausage to yourself, please.
If booze is more your idea of fun, then there are sparkling wine tours. You’ll drive to nearby Penedès, a region famous for its cellars and wineries, to taste a selection of cava – the Spanish version of champagne. You’ll find out how it’s made and even make some of your own! Just don’t sparkle so much you embarrass yourself on your flight home…
Virgin Voyages sails to Palma de Mallorca on its Spain itineraries. You might even benefit from a late-night stay or an overnight stop.
Palma, as it’s generally referred to, is a huge favourite among British holidaymakers thanks to its rich history, stunning landscape and limpid waters. Yes, you can eat, drink and relax here, but why not challenge yourself to a spot of adventure?
With Virgin’s shore excursions, you can sign up to kayak the Mallorcan coast with a guide, taking in secluded bays and enchanting caves and getting up close to wonders you’d be unable to access otherwise.
Not enough of an adrenaline rush? Check out the coasteering adventures which see you swimming, abseiling or zip-lining, climbing, rock scrambling and cliff jumping on what Virgin has dubbed an “intensely wet-and-wild adventure.” Blimey.
For a lower-key day in port, check out the former Islamic fort turned royal residence Palau de l’Almudaina or wander the medieval streets to discover markets, galleries and tapas bars tucked down cobbled lanes.
Make the most of your extended time in Málaga, on Spain’s southern coast, and visit the Alhambra in nearby Granada. The walled city was built in the 13th century and is one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the palace and fortress complex is home to beautiful courtyards and fountains set against an impressive backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Join a shore excursion to the Picasso Museum. Famous artist Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881, and his dedicated museum houses the maestro’s paintings, drawings, sculptures and more, dating back to 1890.
If the riot of colours and shapes of Picasso’s cubism all gets a bit much, fear not, next you can recuperate in a nearby tapas bar. Tuck into varieties of olive oil and Spanish cheeses while you pretend you definitely, definitely understood the meaning behind that last painting.
This slice of Blighty, poised between Europe and Africa, offers fish and chips, red post boxes and Barbary macaques alongside duty-free bargains and sea views.
If you fancy a spot of watery kicks, meet the sea creatures of the deep on a Scuba Diving Expedition during your Virgin Voyages call at Gibraltar. On a diving excursion, accompanied by a PADI-certified dive instructor, you’ll swim the sheltered waters brimming with marine life. You might spot boxfish, damselfish and Anthias, as well as pipefish, Atlantic Torpedo rays, octopus and cuttlefish!
If you aren’t a certified scuba diver, no biggie, you can take part in a try dive designed for beginners at a shallow, sandy bay alongside an instructor.
Of course, you can’t miss the famous Rock of Gibraltar wherever you are at this cruise port, but to really make the most of it, head to the top. You can hike up, but to make things easier for yourself, why not sign up for an e-bike tour? On your sustainable, electric-assisted bike, you can breeze to the peak to soak up the amazing scenery (rather than sweat from the trek on foot).
En route, you’ll likely meet the famed Barbary macaques – or Gibraltar monkeys as they’re commonly known. No one quite knows how these creatures first arrived in the region, but there are around 300 living in the area now, and they play a huge role in tourism. Just keep an eye on any snacks you’re carrying.
A Balearic island where you’re just as likely to stumble across a hidden church or secret cove as a club with DJs spinning until sunrise, Ibiza can be visited on all of Virgin Voyages’ Spain cruises and includes an overnight stay so you can really make the most of the stop.
Ibiza isn’t just about fiestas, though, the famous island’s pine-scented hills and hidden coves reveal a quieter side — one made for snorkelling, paddleboarding or sunbathing in peace. For a chilled day on the water, take a boat tour and relish a scenic cruise out of the harbour, followed by a visit to some of the best swim spots off the Ibizan coast.
Check out the marine life while snorkelling, try kayaking or grab a seabob (a jet-powered aqua scooter) should you really feel the need for speed.
Alternatively, hop on a motor yacht and head to Espalmador, an uninhabited island off Formentera, a small island just south of Ibiza. Here you can admire the gleaming white beaches, swim in clear waters or even try out stand-up paddleboarding.
As we said, no chance of you twiddling your thumbs on a Virgin Voyages cruise to Spain. What’s more, Med itineraries also take in highlights in France (from Cannes to Marseille) and Italy (from Carrara to Sardinia), so there’s plenty to keep cruisers entertained and happy. Olé!
