Enjoy a glass of sherry while learning to make authentic tapas at the Bodega Casa del Marques, a 19th-century palace built for a wine merchant. The elegant residence is decorated with period furnishings that lend it an ambiance so authentic that it feels as if you were transported to another time. While there, you will learn to make tapas, some traditional and others topped with surprisingly inventive ingredients. These small-plate snacks reflect the local cuisine and are typically served with a glass of sherry, especially in Jerez, which has been producing the fortified wine for more than 175 years. The exact tapas that you will prepare will depend on which ingredients are freshest and most flavorful. They might include fried fish, meatballs or something a bit more unusual such as stewed ox tail. Be sure to add favorite ingredients, as you will dine on the tapas afterwards.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Participate in a hands-on culinary class at a 19th-century palace built for a wine merchant.
• Learn to prepare authentic, small-plate tapas with traditional and unusual ingredients.
• Dine on the finished tapas and enjoy a glass of sherry as an accompaniment.

Stroll through the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter on the way to a nightclub, where you will watch a mesmerizing flamenco performance that tells a passionate story. After walking from the pier, you will continue at a leisurely pace toward the narrow, cobbled streets of the Old Quarter, which the Phoenicians founded in the 12th century. Being the oldest continuously occupied city in Western Europe, Cadiz exudes history, as you will soon discover in the Plaza of San Juan de Dios, a square that originated in medieval times.

As you meander the labyrinthine streets of the Old Quarter, you will pass one architectural treasure after another. Highlights may include the Neoclassical-style Cadiz Cathedral, which boasts a tile dome that appears Moorish, and Calle Ancha, a wide boulevard that is considered the heart of the city. In time, you will arrive at Taberna Flamenco La Cava, a nightclub that showcases the art of flamenco. Before taking your seat, be sure to notice the photos on the wall of some of the most acclaimed flamenco performers in the past 50 years. UNESCO honored flamenco by recognizing it on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Andalusia, especially Cadiz, is the heartland of flamenco, an electrifying art form that fuses expressive songs, passionate dancing and emotional music. To enhance your immersion into the local culture, you will be served traditional tapas that may include Serrano ham and Manchego cheese.

Explore two lively markets in downtown Cartagena; one for food and the second a favorite locale for handmade jewelry and crafts. While walking to the Santa Florentina covered market, you will pass landmarks such as Conception Castle and several leafy parks. Long a staple for shopping, the market offers every imaginable culinary ingredient, and you can expect the atmosphere to be extraordinary lively as the residents and vendors interact and socialize. The guide will lead you to stalls where you can taste tapas topped with favorite ingredients. You might try one of these small-plate appetizers with fried squid, anchovies, artisanal cheese or vegetables, as produce is a specialty. Continuing on to the nearby Artisan Center, which is housed inside an 18th-century palace, you will browse stalls full of locally made arts and crafts. The ceramics, jewelry and glassware are particularly noteworthy. Chances are, you will see artisans making their pieces by hand.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse the stalls of the Santa Florentina market, which is revered for its fresh produce.
• Sample small-plate tapas at the market, topped with local specialties such as squid and cheese.
• Shop for hand-made jewelry and glassware at the Artisan Center, another favorite venue.

Enjoy this taste of Spain with the best of Spain presented in dancing, horses and food. This is a treat not to be missed! Spanish horses are pure breed and gifted with an ability to learn the intricate steps of Spanish dressage. Schooling of the Andalusian horses requires much time and patience on the part of their professional trainers. They will show you how the horses are trained. You’ll also enjoy fantastic local produce here served with a selection of typical Spanish tapas with wine, offering the best ingredients of the region in a beautiful garden setting. Just before returning to the pier, your guide will give you an orientation tour through Cartagena, a panoramic drive from the bus. Learn about the intense history of the city since Carthaginian and Roman times, the military history of the city and the prosperous Modernist period in Cartagena.

Your panoramic drive through some of the most important avenues of the city such as Paseo Alfonso XIII, Plaza de España and Calle Real, will give you the opportunity of admiring the University area, the beautiful building of the Regional Assembly, the Military Arsenal, as well as some notable Modernist buildings such as the Maestre House.

Just before entering back to the pier, there is also a drop-off optional stop: Next to the Main Street (Historical, shopping and restaurant area) you will have the opportunity to finish your tour and descend from the bus if you decide to stay in the city center, at your own leisure, to stroll or have a coffee (at own expenses) before making your own way back to the ship, if not, just remain seated and the bus will drive back inside of the pier to finish the tour.

OVERVIEW

This unique tour combines a tour of Gibraltar’s unique sights with a sampling of its delicious Spanish culinary flavor. Setting out from the pier by panoramic coach, you’ll take a scenic drive out to Gibraltar’s unique airport runway, which doubles as the border between this small British colony and the Spanish mainland. Traveling on toward Catalan Bay along the colony’s eastern flank, you’ll admire spectacular views that reach all the way to Spain in one direction and Africa in the other. Passing the American War Memorial that honors Britain and America’s winning alliance in World War I and the Trafalgar Cemetery from far earlier, you’ll work your way toward the land’s very tip at Europa Point. From this viewpoint, with the coast of North Africa just 12 miles across the famous Strait, you’ll fully appreciate why this territory has always been of such strategic importance to the British Navy. Having drunk in all these sights, your next stop is at a local dining venue where you can sip a glass of wine and indulge in a delicious selection of traditional tapas. This colony may be English, but the cuisine is pure Mediterranean.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle back for a driving tour that circles Gibraltar in search of its most intriguing views.
• Drive the highway that crosses an airport runway and see Europa Point, from which North Africa is so close you can usually make out Morocco’s Rif mountains.
• Relax and enjoy a selection of traditional tapas and a glass of wine at a scenic local restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

View landmarks of Palma de Mallorca and thrill to an authentic flamenco performance while being treated to delicious traditional tapas. Make your way to the city center aboard your coach, passing alluring sights during a comfortable, panoramic ride, and get acquainted with this lively city. Stop for some pictures in front of La Seu, the city’s utterly magnificent cathedral, located by the sea and impressed by its spectacular gothic architecture. Relish some free time. Prior To experience the true spirit of Spain: you’ll savor a typical tapas lunch served with sangria, all while enjoying a rousing flamenco performance. Applaud this exhilarating dance, a stirring blend of clicking heels and castanets, Spanish guitar and emotive bravado, a perfect encapsulation of the impassioned and irrepressible soul of this magical land.

This definitive tour of Malaga showcases landmarks such as Gibralfaro Castle, but also leaves free time for shopping and exploring in the historic city center, where Picasso was born.

Starting off from the pier you'll drive due west along the coast to Malaga, an Andalusian city with Moorish roots and an illustrious past that was founded in the 8th century by the Phoenicians. Arriving in Malaga, your tour begins with a panoramic drive that passes by numerous city landmarks en route to your first stop, the imposing Gibralfaro Castle. Perched high atop a hill, it offers commanding views of the city, the bay and the mountains and has stood sentinel over Malaga for more than 1,000 years. During your visit, you might walk the ramparts, take in the panoramic views or immerse yourself in the castle's turbulent history in its museum, a building once used to store gunpowder.

Next, you'll travel back to the heart of Malaga where another historic landmark awaits you in the city center, the limestone Cathedral of Malaga. Built on the site of a former mosque, construction on the cathedral started in 1528 and dragged on for the next 255 years, until completely halting in 1783 due to a lack of money. To this day, the cathedral's second planned tower hasn't been built, giving rise to the nickname: manquita or "one-armed woman." It's an iconic building, as is the nearby Picasso Museum.

Continuing on, you'll enjoy an enlightening walking tour of the architecturally rich city center before stop for a tapas lunch at El Pimpi, a traditional Andalusian bodega. Afterwards, you'll have some free time to explore on your own, before driving back to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Experience the magnificent landmarks of Bilbao and a mouthwatering sampling of pintxos (how locals call tapas), on this captivating walking tour. Travel to Bilbao’s renowned Guggenheim Museum, an architectural masterpiece clad in swooping titanium plates and curving glass panes conjured by starchitect Frank Gehry. Gaze in awe at this marvelous creation, which fractures the sunlight into an effervescent shimmer. After your outside visit to this remarkable structure, continue to Bilbao’s Old Quarter for a repast of traditional Basque pinxtos accompanied by regional wine. You’ll enjoy a walking tour of the city’s historic heart, passing alluring sights such as the splendid Teatro Arriaga, the bustling waterfront promenade of El Arenal and the lovely Cathedral of Santiago, which boasts a beautiful neo-Gothic tower. Time permitting, enjoy free time on your own, wandering Bilbao’s elegant boulevards dotted with medieval landmarks and ultra-modern subway stations designed by Norman Foster, another celebrated architect. Perhaps you’ll browse an inviting shop for a memento of this compelling city, which is firmly rooted in the past, yet plunging headlong into the future.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the swirling titanium and glass architecture of Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Bilbao.
• Sample the Basque region’s tapas, called pintxos, and wine.
• Immerse yourself in Bilbao’s scenic Old Quarter on a walking tour of its medieval and neoclassical landmarks.
• Delight in time on your own to find a perfect souvenir or further uncover Bilbao’s charms.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• If you wish to visit the cathedral during free time, dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

What better way to discover a destination up-close than on foot. This delightful and delicious tour allows you to not only experience the charming atmosphere of La Coruña, but its lively Galician food culture as well.

Your tour begins with a brief walk from the pier to the beachfront that runs along the Atlantic coastline. Along the way, you will pass by many conservatories and beautiful old homes that capture the character of La Coruña. From here, it's on to the San Agustín Market, which is the town's main food market. Every day, a huge variety of products are available for purchase here and the Market is especially well-known for its impressive and wide-ranging selection of seafood.

Next, you will have the opportunity to enjoy local tapas as your tour takes you around to two local taverns, know as tapas bars. During your visit, you will be treated to various tapas, which are typically made with fresh seafood and ham, accompanied by the best wines in Galicia, like Albariño or Ribeiro.

Following your visit to the tapas bars, your guide will escort you back to the pier where your tour concludes.

Browse one of the most vibrant markets in Alicante, where you will see an array of fruits, vegetables and seafood that will likely be ingredients on the tapas that you will enjoy later. After walking from the pier, you will soon arrive at the Central Market, a magnificent modernist-inspired building that holds nearly 300 stalls of every imaginable gastronomic offering. Almost all of the products are locally sourced, so they truly represent the ingredients found in the regional cuisine. Garden-fresh produce, seafood on ice, exotic spices, fragrant herbs—they are all here in perhaps Alicante’s most popular market place.

After meandering through the stalls, interacting with the vendors and sampling some of the delicacies, you will begin a tapas tour. These small-plate snacks will reflect the local cuisine and contain the absolute freshest, seasonal ingredients. Many of the offerings may be unexpected, as Alicante has become a foodie paradise and has attracted inventive chefs from throughout Europe. Because of Alicante’s prime location on the Mediterranean, tapas with seafood such as tuna belly and succulent red prawns are enormously popular.

OVERVIEW

Explore a series of caves that were once under the sea and indulge in an inspired wine tasting at a nearby restaurant. The Treasure Caves are named for their unusual geology, their Paleolithic Age wall paintings and the legend that the monarchs of the Almoravid dynasty buried treasure there in the 12th century. As you walk through the eerily illuminated caves, you will notice how seawater shaped the interior over the eons. There are still subterranean lakes in some of the chambers. A tasting of premium Spanish wines thoughtfully paired with tapas follows at the Valle Niza restaurant. Those pairings may include a sparkling wine served with a ham-and-cheese board, a fruity white wine with confit cod, a red wine with braised ratatouille, and a moscatel dessert wine with French toast and coconut ice cream. The chosen pairings will be representative of Costa del Sol’s extraordinary wines and cuisine.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the Treasure Caves, which were once completely under the sea.
• Sample several local wines paired with tapas at a restaurant.
• See Cueva del Tesoro, one of the only three caves of underwater origin known in the world and the only one in Europe.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spend a delightful afternoon at an estate in Almuñecar, where you will enjoy a traditional lunch and flamenco show that will add a cultural dimension. The venue will be Venta Luciano, an inland estate within Spain’s wind-sheltered Costa Tropical, which boasts a micro-climate that is ideal for farming. You will initially enjoy the bounty of the land by sampling a selection of tapas such as marinated Aliñadas olives, Alpujarra ham and local cheeses. As a sorbet of sorts between courses, you will watch a seductive flamenco show, a folkloric style of dance and music that originated in Andalusia 500 years ago. A lunch of classic dishes follows, which may include tomato-based salmorjo soup, chicken grilled over an oak fire and succulent cod, all prepared according to traditional Almuñecar recipes. The dishes will be thoughtfully paired with local red and white wines. Seasonal fruits from the estate’s eco-friendly farm will be served for dessert.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wonderful gastronomic experience & Flamenco show.
• Amazing lunch and the best wines.
• Excellent typical food at “Venta Luciano”.
• Amazing experience with delicious and typical tropical fruits.
• One of the most amazing tours all over Spain.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.