Overnight: Trans-Atlantic flight

Morning arrival in Barcelona. Once through Spanish Customs and Immigration, meet your professional Washburn guide who will show you to our private motorcoach before going on tour.

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and host of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games. The city is neatly framed by the Mediterranean to the east and the hills of Montjuïc and Tibidabo on two of its other flanks. This morning enjoy a brief overview of the city to get your bearings. Attractions to be seen include the Plaça Catalunya, Cathedral, Gothic Quarter, Pl. Sant Jaume, Olympic Village, Olympic Port Olímpic, Montjuïc, Olympic Ring, visit to the Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village).

During the tour, lunch will be included before going to your hotel. Upon check in, the balance of the afternoon and evening will be free. Take a catnap before going out this evening to explore this marvelous city.

Overnight: Barcelona

Breakfast at your hotel.

Barcelona has become something of a Mecca for the world’s top architects, who have flocked here to conjure up an array of modern structures and avant-garde designs. Many have drawn their inspiration from the seminal work of Barcelona’s most famous son, the modernist architect, Antoni Gaudi. This morning visit the Barri Gothic which contains a major portion of Barcelona’s historic buildings. Visit La Sagrada Familia or Church of the Holy Family constructed by Barcelona’s most famous Moderisme artist, Antoni Gaudi and is still half finished.

This afternoon and evening will be free for you to return to some of your favorite sites and attractions, visit any of the numerous art museums and galleries, fashionable shops and boutiques, or simply savor the ambiance at a street side café.

Overnight: Barcelona

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning your private motorcoach will take you to the Barcelona cruise terminal to meet your ship, the MSC Cruise Line’s ms Orchestra, one of the newest ships in the MSC fleet.

Upon arrival, go may immediately to your stateroom, get unpacked and settle. The ms Orchestra is a shining gem among cruise ships. In an atmosphere of luxury cruising, she boasts 18 decks, the spacious Body and Mind Spa with serene meditation area and a large fitness center overlooking the bow of the ship. You can choose from five restaurants onboard the ms Orchestra.

Depart – 1:00 PM from Barcelona to Genoa, Italy. This is a great time to go exploring and get your bearings on your home for the coming week. Italian is the primary language of the ship. However, announcement will be provided several other languages including English. So much to do and see and the ship’s crew will help in anyway possible so don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Arrive – 9:00 AM

Cradled between land and sea, living and working in the port, breathing its past in her palaces, passionately fond of the terraced hills that embrace the city, Genoa has many different faces. A modern metropolis and a severe custodian of artistic heritage, an industrious marketplace that also has century-old parks to relax in. Genoa hides her riches in an historical centre that looks traditionally seaward yet at the same time exhibits a new beauty achieved by restoring the splendor of ages past.

Explore on your own or purchase a shore excursion through the ship. Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

6:00 PM – Depart Genoa

Today you can savor the full shipboard experience which cruising offers. Relax on deck with a good book, or spend some quality time in the spa, not to mention the jogging track, swimming pools, min-golf, solarium, or this evening dancing or gaming.

Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Arrive – 8:00 AM

On the southern tip of Spain and approximately 305 miles southwest of Madrid, the port city of Cadiz (pronounced CA-deeth) has been active since 1100 BC. During the days of the Roman Empire, its dancers were famous throughout the Mediterranean region. In the 18th century, Cadiz monopolized trade between Spain and America, and wealth was poured into its crowded-but-impressive town houses and gold-domed cathedral.

Today you can enjoy its two beaches, fortifications, seafront avenues and the salty air of its maritime history. The city is also a departure point for ferry boats to the Canary Islands. Cadiz has the liveliest Carnival celebration in Spain (with the possible exception of Tenerife in the Canary Islands).

Explore on your own or purchase a shore excursion through the ship. Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Depart – 5:00 PM

Overnight: MSC’s ms Orchestra

Arrive – 9:00 AM

Lisbon may have seven rugged hills and a major river but the city is still easily navigable with a combination of the impressive public transport system and walking around. Indeed the trams, ferries, funiculars and elevadors are all part of the fun of exploring the city and are something of an attraction.

A good starting point is Sao Jorge Castelo, which offers sweeping views of the city, opening up its rambling layout. Below the ramparts lurks the old town of the Alfama, with its local restaurants and tawdry bars. Further to the west is the Praça do Comercio, the city’s impressive main square. At one end of the square is the Baixa, a grid-like set of streets that breaks away towards another important square, the Rossio.
At the other end of Praça do Comercio is the Rio Tejo, the city’s aquatic lifeblood, without which none of the city’s glories would ever have been possible. The river today offers cruises, some of which take in the areas of Belem and Parque das Nações (two other tourist hubs).

Belem, on the city’s western extremities, is the heart of the old Portuguese Empire, with a string of attractions including the Torre de Belém, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Centro Cultural de Belém. The Parque das Nações, to the east of the city centre, is at the opposite end of the time scale – an ultra modern playground that is home to Europe’s largest Oceanarium, a huge shopping centre, river walkways and concert venues.

Explore on your own or purchase a shore excursion through the ship. Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Depart – 6:00 PM

Overnight: MSC’s ms Orchestra

Arrive – 2:30 PM

The Rock, which has been British since 1704, is only 2 miles long, but it has several attractions, among them St. Michael's Cave (outfitted as a hospital during World War II and now an auditorium), the Gibraltar Museum (historical displays from the Stone Age to the present) and a 12th-century Arab castle.

Be sure to read the tombstones at the town graveyard—many of the British sailors killed during the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-83) are buried there.

Also climb or take the cable car to the top of the Rock to see the view from Europa Point. At the halfway station, you'll meet the Barbary apes, Europe's only wild apes. There is also a laser show depicting famous battles for the Rock.

Gibraltar is so cramped for space that the airport runway is crossed by a main road—signals stop traffic long enough for airplanes to land.

Explore on your own or purchase a shore excursion through the ship. Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Depart – 7:00 PM

Overnight: MSC’s ms Orchestra

Arrive 1:00 PM

The resort city of Alicante is the capital of the Costa Blanca area. In addition to its relaxing atmosphere, warm weather and beaches, other attractions in this city include the imposing Castillo de Santa Barbara (perched on a hill, it commands a good view of the coastline), the Explanada de Espana (the palm-lined promenade along the harbor) and the old Barrio de Santa Cruz (the part of town that preserves some of its ancient past).

Alicante also has two fine museums: MARQ, the archaeological museum, takes an impressive, modern, multimedia approach to its subject. The Museo de Arte Siglo 2000 has a collection of works by Picasso, Miro, Tapies and other 20th-century artists.

Explore on your own or purchase a shore excursion through the ship. Meals provided: breakfast, lunch and dinner onboard the ship.

Depart - 6:00 PM

Overnight: MSC’s ms Orchestra

Overnight: Barcelona

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning board your motorcoach which will take you to the Barcelona Airport for your flight home.

Check in with the airlines for a morning flight to the U.S. for an evening arrival back in Kansas City.