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
thunderstorm
29.9 ° C
29.9 °
27.1 °
53 %
4.1kmh
2 %
Fri
32 °
Sat
28 °
Sun
24 °
Mon
23 °
Tue
28 °

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
31 ° C
34 °
31 °
40 %
3.1kmh
0 %
Fri
31 °
Sat
29 °
Sun
21 °
Mon
21 °
Tue
27 °

An excursion from Portsmouth or Southampton – Isle of Wight?

An excursion from Portsmouth or Southampton – Isle of Wight?  If you landed in a foreign port you would investigate a island just off shore with a wonderful micro climate.

Chania, Crete, Greece – available TOURS

TOURS – studying tours on offer is perfect research for any port. Chania

Chania 2025 – Souda Bay shuttle to Chania Old Town, Venetian Harbour and Beach

The shuttle bus stop is by the port terminal. The fare is about 3.60 Euros return. It takes ten to fifteen minutes so get a seat!

Azura cruises great ports in the Med this summer 2025 – enjoy your holiday here on film – ship and ports

The MS Azura spends the first part of the summer cruising the Mediterranean, this is an exciting and useful prequel to your holiday..

Roy Paul – Cruise Ship Guest Speaker

Rarely have I laughed out loud at a guest speaker on a cruise ship, but Roy Paul has a wicked sense of humour.

Santorini, Greece – A Beautiful Island, but has it got Uber Expensive?

Santorini, Greece – A Beautiful Island, but has it got Uber Expensive? With some of the worlds richest tourists from the wealthiest countries, it is

Bordeaux
clear sky
33.2 ° C
34.6 °
33.2 °
33 %
1kmh
0 %
Fri
37 °
Sat
38 °
Sun
31 °
Mon
31 °
Tue
37 °

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
clear sky
33.6 ° C
35.1 °
33.6 °
32 %
1.1kmh
3 %
Fri
35 °
Sat
27 °
Sun
25 °
Mon
27 °
Tue
36 °

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
scattered clouds
21.7 ° C
21.7 °
21.7 °
83 %
2.1kmh
40 %
Fri
23 °
Sat
22 °
Sun
23 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
23 °

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
clear sky
22.2 ° C
23.2 °
21.1 °
78 %
3.1kmh
0 %
Fri
22 °
Sat
20 °
Sun
19 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
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.

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
23.9 ° C
23.9 °
23.9 °
65 %
2.7kmh
85 %
Fri
24 °
Sat
22 °
Sun
23 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
25 °

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
few clouds
20.9 ° C
20.9 °
20.9 °
83 %
2.8kmh
18 %
Fri
23 °
Sat
23 °
Sun
23 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
27 °

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
few clouds
20.9 ° C
20.9 °
20.9 °
83 %
2.8kmh
18 %
Fri
23 °
Sat
23 °
Sun
23 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
27 °

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
clear sky
19.7 ° C
25.1 °
19.7 °
76 %
3.1kmh
0 %
Fri
22 °
Sat
21 °
Sun
21 °
Mon
27 °
Tue
22 °

An excursion from Portsmouth or Southampton – Isle of Wight?

An excursion from Portsmouth or Southampton – Isle of Wight?  If you landed in a foreign port you would investigate a island just off shore with a wonderful micro climate.

Chania, Crete, Greece – available TOURS

TOURS – studying tours on offer is perfect research for any port. Chania

Chania 2025 – Souda Bay shuttle to Chania Old Town, Venetian Harbour and Beach

The shuttle bus stop is by the port terminal. The fare is about 3.60 Euros return. It takes ten to fifteen minutes so get a seat!

Azura cruises great ports in the Med this summer 2025 – enjoy your holiday here on film – ship and ports

The MS Azura spends the first part of the summer cruising the Mediterranean, this is an exciting and useful prequel to your holiday..

Roy Paul – Cruise Ship Guest Speaker

Rarely have I laughed out loud at a guest speaker on a cruise ship, but Roy Paul has a wicked sense of humour.

Santorini, Greece – A Beautiful Island, but has it got Uber Expensive?

Santorini, Greece – A Beautiful Island, but has it got Uber Expensive? With some of the worlds richest tourists from the wealthiest countries, it is

Cadiz
clear sky
35 ° C
35 °
35 °
24 %
6.8kmh
1 %
Fri
36 °
Sat
37 °
Sun
37 °
Mon
36 °
Tue
35 °

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
clear sky
20.7 ° C
20.7 °
20.5 °
78 %
4.6kmh
0 %
Fri
21 °
Sat
20 °
Sun
21 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
21 °


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
few clouds
25.5 ° C
26.4 °
23.7 °
58 %
4.6kmh
20 %
Fri
27 °
Sat
26 °
Sun
28 °
Mon
27 °
Tue
24 °
  • 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
few clouds
25.6 ° C
25.6 °
25.6 °
62 %
4.4kmh
12 %
Fri
26 °
Sat
28 °
Sun
28 °
Mon
24 °
Tue
25 °

  • 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.