Biscay: North Sea, France, Spain, Portugal to Gibraltar

Channel Islands, France, and west coast Iberia, Lisbon and onto Gibraltar.

This near coastline is full of interesting gems.

Cruising can be so close, west coast France, Spain and Portugal.

FRANCE

This is an interesting coast of France, very different from the south of France. It has many WWII sites and many memories. It is often better known to booze cruisers and weekenders as they pop over, have mussels and chips and stock up with wine. But for cruisers, this section of cruising, takes us from the UK south. The Bay of Biscay (other wise known as the Golfe de Gascogne in Francemakes many a cruise smile, and check they have packed their sea sickness bands. It starts in France and rounds to Spain, joining the Channel (via the Celtic Sea) with the North Atlantic Ocean and down to Spain’s Cantabrian Sea.

Arrondissement de Lorient
overcast clouds
12.9 ° C
13.3 °
12.1 °
87 %
5.1kmh
100 %
Thu
12 °
Fri
21 °
Sat
20 °
Sun
19 °
Mon
16 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Tours available in Lorient

As always tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.

La Rochelle
clear sky
13.9 ° C
14 °
13.5 °
79 %
4.6kmh
0 %
Thu
14 °
Fri
20 °
Sat
17 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
15 °

Jean Cruises out of Belize City Port, by tender to her ship.

Belize is a South American nation and ships stop at the City Port which is right in the middle of the country.

Jean cruises into Cozumel, Mexico for Doris Visits – with an overnight

Jean cruises into Cozumel, Mexico for Doris Visits – with an overnight

Jean Cruises into Grand Turk, the only cruise port in Turks and Caicos – and what fun

Jean Cruises into Grand Turk for Doris Visits, where they have great beaches just a walk from the ship

A time machine back to. the swinging sixties – hidden in New York

TWA 1960’s Hotel, Air Crew Uniforms and 1960’s Advertising Posters shown in this film, and found at

Jean Cruises into Montego Bay, Jamaica and finds Margaritaville and the beach as part of her very cheap tour

Jean Cruises into Montego Bay, Jamaica and finds Margaritaville and the beach as part of her very cheap tour, what a great day.

Jean Cruises into the Cayman Islands

Jean Cruises into the Cayman Islands for Doris Visits and walks to the town & a nearby beach.

Bordeaux
light rain
15.2 ° C
15.2 °
14.1 °
67 %
2.6kmh
0 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
22 °
Sun
23 °
Mon
21 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Tours available in Bordeaux include Wine Tours by Bicycle!

Bordeaux, in France, is famous for wine. The historic streets are used as Paris in period films.

Bordeaux is famous for ……

One of the world’s wine capitals is so close


This area has been inhabited since the old stone age, or Middle Palaeolithic period, which broadly means dating back to 300,000 years ago. It has subsequently changed hands with whatever roving power including the Romans. From Basque Spain, through the autonomous community of Asturias to Galicia which borders Portugal. Historic sites, major maritime and fishing history, and wine.

Bilbao
few clouds
16 ° C
16.1 °
15.5 °
52 %
9.4kmh
20 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
22 °
Sat
16 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
19 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

GREETER – the people who love to show you their city.

What is GREETER? Simply, it is an organisation of wonderful people who will greet you in their own town, city, or port.

Avilés
few clouds
14.7 ° C
15.8 °
14.2 °
84 %
2.6kmh
20 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
18 °
Sun
19 °
Mon
19 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

A Coruña
few clouds
14.9 ° C
15.4 °
14.2 °
76 %
2.7kmh
20 %
Thu
14 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
17 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
17 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

La Coruña Guide – a popular cruise port near home

La Coruna is an increasingly popular staging post for ships leaving the UK on the way to the Mediterranean,

Tours available in La Coruna

Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.

El Ferrol
overcast clouds
12.6 ° C
12.6 °
12.6 °
94 %
1.4kmh
100 %
Thu
14 °
Fri
20 °
Sat
19 °
Sun
19 °
Mon
20 °

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Gijón
overcast clouds
15.3 ° C
15.8 °
14.2 °
84 %
0.5kmh
100 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
18 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
19 °

P&O Ventura summer 2024 – Spain, Portugal and the Canaries – tips on the ports & how it works

The Ventura is a fantastic no-fly Grand Class ship based for much of her year, including summer 2024, running a mix of cruises from short 4 day cruises to two week cruises.

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Gijón
overcast clouds
15.3 ° C
15.8 °
14.2 °
84 %
0.5kmh
100 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
18 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
19 °

P&O Ventura summer 2024 – Spain, Portugal and the Canaries – tips on the ports & how it works

The Ventura is a fantastic no-fly Grand Class ship based for much of her year, including summer 2024, running a mix of cruises from short 4 day cruises to two week cruises.

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Vigo
light rain
16.1 ° C
16.1 °
16.1 °
55 %
0.5kmh
0 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
18 °
Sat
17 °
Sun
15 °
Mon
17 °

Jean Cruises out of Belize City Port, by tender to her ship.

Belize is a South American nation and ships stop at the City Port which is right in the middle of the country.

Jean cruises into Cozumel, Mexico for Doris Visits – with an overnight

Jean cruises into Cozumel, Mexico for Doris Visits – with an overnight

Jean Cruises into Grand Turk, the only cruise port in Turks and Caicos – and what fun

Jean Cruises into Grand Turk for Doris Visits, where they have great beaches just a walk from the ship

A time machine back to. the swinging sixties – hidden in New York

TWA 1960’s Hotel, Air Crew Uniforms and 1960’s Advertising Posters shown in this film, and found at

Jean Cruises into Montego Bay, Jamaica and finds Margaritaville and the beach as part of her very cheap tour

Jean Cruises into Montego Bay, Jamaica and finds Margaritaville and the beach as part of her very cheap tour, what a great day.

Jean Cruises into the Cayman Islands

Jean Cruises into the Cayman Islands for Doris Visits and walks to the town & a nearby beach.

Cadiz
overcast clouds
14.9 ° C
14.9 °
14.9 °
90 %
4.3kmh
100 %
Thu
16 °
Fri
17 °
Sat
18 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
22 °

Cadiz Guide

Cadiz does deserve the label historic Cadiz because Cadiz dates back to the 12th century BC

Tours available in Cadiz

Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show in the wonderful city of Cadiz.

Seville – Oranges and Opera or Muslims and Christians

Seville is about the same distance from CADIZ as it is HUELVA, two very

Museo del Titere – The Puppet Master of CADIZ – Francisco Peralta

This is the hidden gem of Cadiz.


It is one of the oldest and certainly the westernmost sovereign state of mainland Europe, almost all of it sitting on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It’s important position means it has been fought over since pre-historic times. There is much opportunity to see historic sites all along this coast. Lisbon being the number one stop, is built on seven hills, but so cruiser heavy the locals are sometimes a little miffed they can’t get on a tram. See the various posts and films for what to see. The daily transport ticket is often the best deal in town.

Porto
light intensity shower rain
16.7 ° C
16.7 °
15.5 °
60 %
2.2kmh
40 %
Thu
16 °
Fri
15 °
Sat
16 °
Sun
14 °
Mon
17 °


BRIEF: Known both as Oporto and Porto, it is Portugal’s second largest city.

CURRENCY: Euro

SHIPS HERE inc: Neue Mein Schiff 2, AIDAPerla, Silver Wind, mv Aegean Odyssey, Oceana Riviera

Lisbon
light rain
15.4 ° C
16.2 °
14.5 °
79 %
5.7kmh
40 %
Thu
15 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
18 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
19 °
  • BRIEF: Lisbon. Major City. Tourism and fishing are the main trades.
  • CURRENCY: Euro. Many places are card only.
  • LANGUAGE/PHRASES: Portugese. English spoken
  • VISA: Entry with cruise card.
  • SHIPS SEEN HERE REGULARLY: All, but SAGA, Cunard, Azamara and P&O are amongst many.
  • Tourist attractions. Squares. Hill, castle. Time Out Market. Queluz Palace.

The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.

The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.

Tours available in Lisbon

Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.

LISBON – best two deals in town

There is no doubt what the best two deals in Lisbon are.

LISBON trip to QUELUZ PALACE – by Train

Lisbon is a cruise port many regular sailors will visit over and over again, and whilst it has much to see, there are some adventures you may not have considered. Queluz Palace

Time Out Market Lisbon

The Time Out Market is a food and drink heaven. It is a grand food hall

Lisbon 2024. – Tarts, forts, a palace, a pop star, a tram, and the Time Out restaurant.

Lisbon is the richest region of Portugal. It has a palace that tells the story of the Redeemer statue in Rio, and a huge Time Out restaurant.

Lisbon Christmas Market in Baixa-Chiado then Gary Barlow in Concert on ship

The Baixa-Chiado Lisbon Christmas Market normally opens early, around mid November

Portimão
moderate rain
16.7 ° C
16.7 °
16.7 °
85 %
11.9kmh
100 %
Thu
16 °
Fri
16 °
Sat
17 °
Sun
18 °
Mon
17 °

  • BRIEF: Fishing is a main activity here.Artistes and writers as well as beach lovers flock to Praia da Rocha.
  • CURRENCY: Euro
  • LANGUAGE/PHRASES: Portugese. English spoken
  • VISA: Entry with cruise card.
  • SHIPS SEEN HERE REGULARLY: Seabourn Encore, Marella Discovery 2.