NCL Cruise | Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium & the Netherlands

This Portugal Getaways package includes 13 nights total: 1 night in a Lisbon hotel before boarding, an 11-night cruise aboard Norwegian Star with full board, and 1 night in a London hotel after disembarking. Also included are flights, airport transfers, and pier transfers between your hotels and the ship. A trip manager supports your booking.

• Day 1: Lisbon, hotel stay.
• Day 2: Transfer to the pier, board; departs at 4:00 PM.
• Day 3: Oporto (Leixões), Portugal, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Day 4: La Coruña, Spain, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Day 5: Gijón, Spain, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Day 6: Bilbao, Spain, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• Day 7: Le Verdon (Bordeaux), France, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Day 8: La Rochelle, France, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Day 9: Day at Sea.
• Day 10: Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Day 11: IJmuiden (Amsterdam), Netherlands, 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
• Day 12: Le Havre (Paris), France, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Day 13: Arrive in Southampton (London) at 5:00 AM, disembark, transfer to London hotel.
• Day 14: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Port times are set by Norwegian Cruise Line and can change.

The cruise starts in Lisbon, Portugal and calls at Oporto in Portugal, La Coruña, Gijón and Bilbao in Spain, Le Verdon, La Rochelle and Le Havre in France, Zeebrugge in Belgium and IJmuiden, the port for Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. It ends in Southampton, England, with 1 day at sea along the way.

Yes. The ship arrives in Southampton at 5:00 AM on Day 13, and a transfer takes you to your London hotel, about 2 hours by road (estimated). You have most of the day in the city, including Tower Bridge, Westminster and Buckingham Palace, plus a night in London before your flight home.

Norwegian Star was launched in 2001 and is one of NCL's mid-size ships. At about 91,700 gross tons and 2,348 passengers, it is much smaller than NCL's newest ships, with a relaxed atmosphere and an open-seating dining style rather than the scale of the largest ships.

Norwegian Star has the Thermal Suite therapy pool, the Mandara Spa and the adults-only Spice H2O area. For activity, there is a walking and jogging track and sports courts, and the ship also has a casino and a range of dining venues, from casual options to specialty restaurants.

Yes. Cabin categories on Norwegian Star range from interior and oceanview to balcony and suite options. You can select or upgrade your cabin during the booking process, or contact the Portugal Getaways team if you have a specific deck, cabin number, or location preference (midship, forward, or aft), and we'll check availability. The package price depends on the cabin type and deck selected.

Full board is included for the cruise portion, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the main dining venues and buffet. Drink packages and Wi-Fi are not included in the package price, but can be added during the booking process. At the hotels in Lisbon and London, breakfast is not guaranteed, but it can be prioritized on request.

Gratuities are not included in the base fare, but they can be prepaid during the booking process.

Shore excursions are optional and not included in the package price. They can be booked directly through Norwegian Cruise Line before or during your cruise, or arranged independently at each port. The Portugal Getaways team can help arrange tours before departure. Several stops, such as La Rochelle, Gijón and La Coruña, are easy to explore independently, while longer trips like Paris from Le Havre, Bordeaux from Le Verdon or Santiago de Compostela from La Coruña are best booked with a guaranteed return to the ship.

Yes. All countries on this itinerary, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, are established, frequently visited destinations, and none has an active conflict. As with any international itinerary, it's the traveler's responsibility to check current safety guidance on their government's official travel advisory site before departure, since conditions can change.

Standard hotels for this package are 3-star, with upgrade options up to 5-star in both cities, and budget-friendly options are available on request. The package price varies depending on the hotel selected. Exact properties are confirmed at booking or shown on the next step when you click See Dates and Prices. Locations vary by property, so ask the Portugal Getaways team if you prefer a specific area.

Yes, the package price is based on double occupancy, so solo travelers pay a single supplement. Contact the Portugal Getaways team directly and we'll make it easy. You can also check solo pricing by changing guests from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before clicking See Dates and Prices.

Checked luggage is not always included, it depends on the airline and fare type in your package. Some fares include one checked bag per person, others cover carry-on only. The package page specifies what is included. You can check and add luggage during the booking process, or contact the Portugal Getaways team for help.

Yes. The Portugal Getaways team can add extra nights in Lisbon before boarding or in London after disembarking. Contact the team with your preferred dates and we will adjust the itinerary, align your flights, and confirm any additional costs.

April, when this sailing departs, is early spring along the Atlantic coast. Typical highs are 17 to 21°C (63 to 70°F) in Lisbon and Porto, 13 to 18°C (55 to 64°F) in northern Spain and western France, and 11 to 15°C (52 to 59°F) in Bruges, Amsterdam and London. Crowds are smaller and showers are common, so pack layers and a rain jacket. June to September is warmer, at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F), and winter is cold and wet, with few sailings.

The land portion of your package, along with airfare and cruise fare, is non-refundable once booked. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended. This summary does not replace the full terms and conditions of your booking, which we encourage you to read before confirming.

For general support, contact the Portugal Getaways team at our regular number, available every day from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Outside those hours, an emergency number is provided in your trip documents. For local emergencies in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, dial 112, and in the United Kingdom dial 999. The ship's crew can assist while you are onboard.

Entry rules differ by country and by passport. The rules below apply to US and Canadian passport holders, and all of them also apply to cruise passengers. We recommend completing every requirement about 3 days before the cruise, and the UK ETA a little earlier.

• ⚠️United Kingdom (Southampton):  US and Canadian citizens must hold a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel, including cruise passengers who disembark in England. The ETA is currently around £20, is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and covers stays of up to 6 months. Apply on the official UK ETA app or at gov.uk/eta/apply, and allow up to 3 working days for a decision. Without an ETA, you may be denied boarding or entry.
• Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands (Schengen Area): US and Canadian passport holders do not currently need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. We recommend a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date, which is accepted at every port on this itinerary. ETIAS is not yet required and the EU has not confirmed a start date, so check the official ETIAS website before you travel. When it becomes mandatory, we will notify you via email. 

Travelers are responsible for checking each country's current entry rules before departure. US citizens can verify them on travel.state.gov, and Canadian citizens on travel.gc.ca.