The Sunlit Shores of Spain cruise is an epic 17-night journey around some of Spain’s most scenic spots, soaking up history and culture in the likes of Alicante and BarcelonaThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
The cruise will stop off in Barcelona to give holidaymakers the chance to see Gaudi’s iconic creations(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Spain is the number one most popular destination abroad among Brits, with a whopping 18 million UK holidaymakers jetting off to the Mediterranean hotspot each year. And one voyage from Newcastle gives travellers the chance to visit several of the country’s most popular destinations in one unforgettable trip.
Fred Olsen has just made the Sunlit Shores of Spain cruise available to book this month, with the 17-night journey setting sail from the Port of Tyne in April 2027. Passengers will board the Bolette, one of the largest ships in the cruise line’s fleet which is home to six restaurants, eight bars and two swimming pools as well as a fitness centre, spa, library, and boutique shops.
As well as journeying around Spain, the cruise, which is priced from £1,799 per person – working out at around £106 per night – will also visit France and Portugal. The first stop is the French city of St Malo, once a fortified island off the Brittany Coast now connected to the mainland by a causeway, followed by a landing in the bustling Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
From there it’s off to Spain, beginning in the “Andalusian gem” of Motril at the heart of the Costa Tropical, followed by vibrant Alicante with its golden beaches and scenic beaches, and then continuing on to spend a day soaking up the spectacular history and culture of Barcelona. The Bolette will sail on to Gibraltar, where holidaymakers can take a cable car to the top of the iconic Rock for views across to Africa and Spain while they meet the cheeky Barbary macaques, before the cruise makes its final two stops in the city of Cadiz and the port town of La Coruna on the Iberian Peninsula.
Fred Olsen writes of this luxurious getaway: “Spain in April brings gentle sunshine and a slower pace, perfect for seeking out quieter shores bathed in a warm glow. Take a welcome pause from routine, with time to enjoy good food, easy company and days touched by the first taste of summer.”
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This isn’t the only cruise departing from the Port of Tyne for Spain in 2027 – Ambassador is also offering the Autumn Mediterranean & Iberia Sailing trip in September 2027, another 17-night holiday that stops off in nine different places. Priced from £1,689 per person, this journey also includes visits to St Malo, Cadiz, Gibraltar and Lisbon, as well as the Spanish cities of Malaga, Ceuta and Almeria.
Back at Fred Olsen, meanwhile, for those seeking a shorter holiday, another option is the Cultures & Coasts of Northern Spain cruise, which includes 10 nights on board the Bolette in August 2027 from £1,199 per person. This cruise visits destinations across the northern coast of Spain, with stop-offs in Bilbao, Santander, Gijon and La Coruna.
Or for holidaymakers who don’t want to wait until 2027, while Fred Olsen is not running any cruises to Spain next year, there are a couple of other Mediterranean options including the River Cities of France & Portugal trip in April 2026, visiting Honfleur, Lisbon, Matosinhos, Bordeaux and Rouen, and the European Cities & Scenic Rivers holiday in September stopping off at several points across France and Belgium.
For anyone with their eye on a trip to Spain, it’s also worth bearing in mind that holidaymakers can fly directly to several sunny destinations across the country from Newcastle Airport, giving them the chance to spend more time in a destination of their choice or build their own tour of Spain. Here’s the full list of mainland destinations:
Direct flights to the Balearic Islands can also be caught from Newcastle Airport with holidays to the hotspots of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca. Or for an even hotter sun-soaked getaway, there is of course the Canary Islands too, with trips available to Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.