Lisbon to Barcelona on Silver Ray

After included VIP airport lounge access, fly directly to Lisbon where, on arrival, you'll take your transfer to the port to embark the ship. Settle into your suite before the first of your included dinners tonight. Alongside the wooden-decked resort-style pool and Jacuzzis, a luxurious spa and several opulent lounges, the excellent array of gourmet restaurants include everything from authentic Italian taken al fresco in La Terraza to Silver Note for international tapas, accompanied by the resident jazz and blues band.

Stay: Silver Ray

Your first full day at sea offers an excellent chance to get to know the ship. Perhaps head to the the Arts Café to browse the excellent art showcase before an indulgent treatment in the spa or a dip in the pool. Come evening, gather for a cocktail or two at the outdoor bar before settling down for another included dinner – perhaps sampling ultra-fresh seafood at Seishin or a taste of Italy at Spaccanapoli for authentic pizzas and pastas. It’s all best culminated at the luxurious Connoisseurs Corner bar, perfect for a post-dinner tipple or nightcap.

Stay: Silver Ray

You'll anchor in to Cádiz today, a bustling, ancient town of cobblestone streets lined with rugged beaches and several fascinating museums and architecture. Take advantage of the excursions on offer that can be organised directly from the ship – there's everything from sightseeing tours around Seville to famous Jerez wine and sherry tasting to scenic drives through the city or to the ultra-scenic hilltop houses.

Stay: Silver Ray

With its bustling markets and lively waterfront, this city on Morroco's north is an energetic and invigorating place. The location, on the highly strategic narrowing of the Strait of Gibraltar, made Tangier a vital Phoenician trading town - and the resulting city is an invigorating mesh of cultures and curiosities. Delve into the mayhem of the walled Medina of Tangier for a rush of stimulation, as bartering and bantering echoes along the tight alleys. Crowded, noisy and busy, you’ll be sold to with a smile as you wander between stands of colourful spices, dried fruits and fabrics in this authentic Moroccan marketplace. Close to the city, you can find the Caves of Hercules, a coastal hollow that opens at both ends. The Phoenicians cut a window in the shape of the African continent, which reveals views of the Atlantic's waves, and legend says Hercules rested within its confines. From Tangier, you can also venture inland to the Rif Mountains, where gorgeous Chefchaouen - a village of bright blue alleyways - waits. 

Stay: Silver Ray

Immortal lines from the silver screen may have imprinted a warm, fuzzy visage of old Casablanca into our minds, but this thriving city is an example of what Morocco’s modernity looks like. Glistening white art deco buildings line the wide pathways that sweep through Casablanca, as the sea sparkles like a thin mirage on the horizon. There’s an aura of creativity amid Casablanca’s culture and chaos, helping to make the city one of Morocco’s most curious and compelling. The Hassan II Mosque took a staggering seven years and 10,000 artists to craft its legacy as the country's largest mosque, and to bring the world's tallest minaret to sky-high reality. A vision of cool to the touch marble, cavernous prayer rooms and intricate inlays, the mosque is extraordinary in scale and ambition. Retractable roofs let the sun flood in, while dizzying glass floors dazzle, and the blue Atlantic waves surge below your feet. After that humbling visit, stroll along La Corniche - where surfers glide across rough and tumble waves, and chic cafes offer front-row seats for sweet peppermint teas with a side of people-watching. Casablanca is a diner's city - boulevards laced with French-fusion restaurants, buzzy beachfront joints, and raw seafood bars provide gem-like offerings fresh from the boat. Those seeking a slice of that golden-age Hollywood romance can wander through the medina, with its unabashed ramshackle feel, and maze of alleyways punctuated with busy barber shops and butchers.

Stay: Silver Ray

Gibraltar is a unique and historic peninsula, crowned by the iconic Rock of Gibraltar mountain. Bright red phone boxes gleam, Union Jacks flutter in the breeze, and cones of fish and chips are scoffed in the sun in this most British of outposts. Gibraltar's cathedral-like Rock towers 400 metres above the waves and the stark limestone mountain watches out across a narrow, strategic strait between the European and African continents. The Rock is a symbol of this unique place, and you can hike it - or take the convenient cable car - to enjoy the views and meet the mischievous colony of Barbary macaques, Europe's only wild monkeys. The Siege Tunnels bring to life the struggles for this land, with the plucky British boring tunnels through the rock by hand, effectively converting it into a giant watchtower, capable of defending the distant territory. Natural caves inside droop with stalactites, while a squat Moorish castle stands proudly at its summit. 

Stay: Silver Ray

Your next stop, Malaga, has much more to it than its sandy shores to which tourists flock each summer. Surrounded by greenery, its centre is home to restored historic buildings, art galleries and an excellent food scene, from Michelin-starred harbour-side spots to cosy family eateries. Across two days here you can choose from a wide range of included excursions, from kayaking among the hidden caves and turquoise waters accessible only via kayak to exploring the Picasso museum and indulging in traditional tapas and wine tasting. Or discover the art of Andalusian cooking with award-winning chefs as part of Silversea's S.A.L.T.  (Sea and Land Taste) culinary programme. 

Stay: Silver Ray

On the crossroads of cultures, this Murcian port has endless ancient stories to share. A valuable natural harbour attracted many civilisations to this sun-bathed, southeasterly setting - following its foundation by the Carthaginians in 227 BC. Blending the imprints left by countless cultures on this global junction, the presence of everyone from the Vandals to the Phoenicians and Moors can be felt as you explore, walking between ruins and celebrated modernist architecture along Calle Mayor. Cartagena is crowned by the soaring Castillo de la Concepcion - rise to the stout castle aboard a panoramic lift. Inside, look through reams of archaeological treasures, or admire the rolling views down over the port and across the waters. Cartagena's emergence as a visitor destination coincided with a stunning discovery in 1988 - the bowl of a gloriously preserved Roman Theatre. . 

Stay: Silver Ray

During the Civil War, Valencia was the last seat of the Republican Loyalist government (1935–36), holding out against Franco’s National forces until the country fell to 40 years of dictatorship. Today it represents the essence of contemporary Spain—daring design and architecture along with experimental cuisine—but remains deeply conservative and proud of its traditions. Though it faces the Mediterranean, Valencia's history and geography have been defined most significantly by the River Turia and the fertile floodplain (huerta) that surrounds it. The city has been fiercely contested ever since it was founded by the Greeks. El Cid captured Valencia from the Moors in 1094 and won his strangest victory here in 1099: he died in the battle, but his corpse was strapped into his saddle and so frightened the besieging Moors that it caused their complete defeat. Modern Valencia was best known for its frequent disastrous floods until the River Turia was diverted to the south in the late 1950s. Since then the city has been on a steady course of urban beautification.

Stay: Silver Ray

Conquered and liberated countless times over the years, since its Bronze Age founding, Palma de Mallorca is a gateway to ceaseless Mediterranean beauty, buzzy markets, and intense flavours. Dominated by the Santa María cathedral, which looms over the city and coastline, Palma is also drenched in history and culture. The labyrinth of the old town is a cobbled haven, which bustles with dripping ice creams and sun-lashed squares. Something about the sunshine here makes tomatoes extra sharp and delicious, while the seafood is consistently excellent. The creation of the mighty cathedral, Le Seu, began in 1229 and was eventually concluded in 1601. A perfect encapsulation of Palma de Mallorca’s blend of the historic and the contemporary, even Gaudi lent his hand to it, and the interior features a spectacular modernist take on the New Testament from artist Miquel Barcelo, which is painted across the chapel’s walls. The splendid Royal Palace of La Almudaina fortress stands nearby, a left-behind Moorish footprint of square towers and Arabic archways that now serves as an official summer residence for the King of Spain.

Stay: Silver Ray

After breakfast, disembark and take your included shared transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK. Alternatively, speak to one of our specialists about extending your stay in Barcelona.