Day 1 – Cape Town, South Africa

Day 2 – Cape Town, South Africa

Departs 05:00 pm.

Day 3 – At Sea

Day 4 – Luderitz, Namibia

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

Day 5 – Walvis Bay, Namibia

Arrives 11:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 6 – At Sea

Day 7 – At Sea

Day 8 – At Sea

Day 9 – Jamestown, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan Da Cunha

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 05:00 pm.

Day 10 – At Sea

Day 11 – At Sea

Day 12 – Crossing the Equator

Day 13 – At Sea

Day 14 – At Sea

Day 15 – Dakar, Senegal

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 16 – At Sea

Day 17 – Mindelo, Cabo Verde

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 18 – At Sea

Day 19 – At Sea

Day 20 – Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Canary Islands

Arrives 09:00 am, departs 11:00 pm.

The Canary archipelago was sculpted by a period of intense volcanic activity; its islands possess a stark, near lunar beauty. Gran Canaria is the third-largest island in the group and is often described as the ‘Round Island’ for its near-circular shape. Las Palmas, its capital, is also the largest city in the Canaries numbering some 500,000 inhabitants. Despite the seemingly inhospitable landscape, farmers in Gran Canaria’s Angostura Valley cultivate abundant crops of tomatoes, onions, melons, and figs. Moreover the island’s climates, lack of rainfall, and fine beaches have long drawn Europeans seeking the winter sun.

Day 21 – Lanzarote (Arrecife), Canary Islands

Arrives 09:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Lanzarote is the fourth-largest island in the Canary chain. The most easterly of the Canaries, the island lies some 70 miles off the shore of North Africa. Like its neighbours, Lanzarote was shaped by a period of intense volcanic activity. The resulting landscape possesses a stark, near-lunar beauty: Over 300 now-dormant volcanoes left behind petrified lava seas and deep layers of volcanic ash. Today, visitors to these “Mountains of Fire” ride camels through the lava beds and even enjoy a volcano-broiled steak at the park’s restaurant. (Subsurface temperatures still reach 800F in the park.) Despite the seemingly barren land scape, island farmers grow abundant crops of tomatoes, onions, melons, and figs in addition to Malvasia, a clear yellow wine produced from malmsey grapes. Lanzarote’s rugged landscape, its warm climate, its lack of rainfall, and its beaches have proved attracted to travellers: Tourism dominates the island economy with some 2 million visitors arriving annually.

Day 22 – At Sea

Day 23 – Madeira (Funchal), Portugal

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

The capital of Madeira is named after the fennel (funcha) that once flowered there in profusion. The largest island in the Madeira Archipelago was discovered in 1419 by Portuguese explorers venturing south into the Atlantic. The island is nearly equidistant from Lisbon and the African coast, and its unique geographical position allowed Madeira to play a pivotal role in European discovery. Seamen such as Christopher Columbus gained knowledge and experience plying the routes of the island’s sugar trade. When sugar declined, the island’s famed wines continued to provide a robust trade. By the late 18th century, Madeira’s mild climate, rocky peaks, and lush valleys provided a winter haven to Europe’s aristocrats. Visitors still flock to the island today, drawn by its scenery and its weather.Funchal is noted for its superb hand-embroidery and wicker ware, both Madeira specialties. The island, of course, is also noted for its superb wines: they are perhaps the world’s most complex and long lasting wines.

Day 24 – At Sea

Day 25 – Lisbon, Portugal

Arrives 07:00 am.

Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies. Then, on November 1, 1755, a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city in the space of 10 minutes. Only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter, survived. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas.