Regional Coach Transfers available on this cruise – a comfortable, scheduled return service to the London Tilbury International Cruise Terminal. To find out more about the service and available pick-up points, click here.

Spring comes early in Iberia. While February in the UK means grey skies and woolly jumpers, down south the Algarve's almond trees are covered in blossom, Galicia's camellias are in flower and the café tables in Lisbon and Cadiz are back out in the sunshine. 

This 12-night cruise aboard Ambience takes you to six beautiful ports across Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar, delivering a well needed reprieve from the British winter weather. You'll see the Algarve's golden cliffs, the 3,000 years of history packed into Cadiz and the famous Rock of Gibraltar, all without a single plane journey. Arrive before the spring crowds, so there's more room to linger over a pastel de nata and wander the old quarters at your own pace, and embrace time to unwind on board during relaxed sea days at either end of the sailing. 

CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

Leixoes 
Leixoes is the gateway to Porto, one of Portugal's most characterful cities. Lose yourself in the Ribeira district's winding lanes, browse the historic Bolhão Market or step inside São Bento train station, its walls covered in thousands of hand painted blue and white azulejo tiles. Head across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the famous port wine lodges line the waterfront, or slow the pace down with a trip to the seafront at Matosinhos, known for its restaurants that serve locally sourced grilled fish. 

Lisbon 
Visiting Portugal’s sunny capital in February lets you explore with mild temperatures and fewer crowds than the summer season. One of the oldest capitals in the world, Lisbon’s pastel facades and cobbled hills line the historic neighbourhoods of Alfama, Bairro Alto and Baixa. Head to Belém to admire the Jerónimos Monastery or the fortress-like Belém Tower by the riverside. Back in the centre, ride the ironwork Santa Justa Elevator, built in 1902, for sweeping rooftop views, or wander the grand Rossio Square and the shop-lined Rua Augusta.  

Portimao 
February is almond blossom season in the Algarve, when the countryside inland from Portimao is often dusted in pink and white. Local legend says a Moorish king planted the trees for his northern bride, who was homesick for snow, so she'd wake to see the hills turned white. Near the port, the golden cliffs and sea stacks of Praia da Rocha make for a gentle clifftop stroll, and the old fishing quarter is the place to go for fresh grilled fish. The medieval town of Silves is just a short trip away, home to the striking castle constructed from red sandstone. 

Cadiz 
Almost entirely surrounded by the sea, Cadiz has been welcoming visitors by ship for around 3,000 years. It’s easy to explore on foot, with its narrow streets of the old town opening onto sunny squares and seafront promenades. Climb the Torre Tavira - one of the city’s 100-plus watchtowers - for a bird's-eye view over the rooftops, admire the cathedral's golden dome or wander Playa de la Caleta, the beach that once stood in for Cuba in a James Bond film. The mild, sunny conditions common in February are ideal for exploring the old town at your own pace. 

Gibraltar 
Gibraltar offers a little piece of Britain, with red post boxes, pounds in your pocket and plenty of familiar charm. Take the cable car up the Rock where you can see all the way across to Africa on a clear day. At the top, meet the famous Barbary macaques and explore St Michael's Cave and the Great Siege Tunnels, which were dug by hand in the 18th century. Back at the bottom, the Alameda Botanic Gardens are really coming into their own in February as spring gets going. 

Vigo 
Known as the gateway to the Atlantic, Vigo is Galicia’s liveliest city situated in Spain’s green northwest. It’s a world away from the sunny south, which is exactly its appeal. Wander down to Oyster Street to watch vendors shuck oysters fresh from the Vigo Estuary, admire the grand neoclassical façade of the co-cathedral of Santa Maria or spot the striking bronze horses cascading above Praza de España. Fittingly, the humble scallop shell found along these shores has long marked the route to Santiago de Compostela, the storied pilgrim city that curious visitors could venture inland to discover.