Star Collector: Culinary Capitals of Spain & France

From $5,405 per person

22 days

Ship: Star Legend

Star Collector: Culinary Capitals of Spain & France
Windstar Cruises

Sip and savor delicious European cuisine paired with famous destinations and little-known fishing villages during this deliciously delightful exploration of Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Browse more than 155 works spanning 83 years, including ceramics created by Picasso at the Fundación Museo Picasso de Málaga. Ride in a scenic gondola to Gibraltar’s summit and enjoy panoramic strait views in the company of resident Barbary apes. Dip a paddle blade in the Minho River during a guided kayak tour near Vigo, Spain. Sail up the river to overnight in Seville where many varieties of tapas beckon. Tour globally renowned wineries and indulge in steak au poivre paired with spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon dominant red wine blends from Bordeaux’s famed left bank during an extended 2-night Bordeaux stay. Walk amid the ruins of German concrete fortifications above the beaches of Normandy near Caen. Overnight in St-Malo ensuring time to visit UNESCO site Mont St Michelle. Admire the French countryside during a cruise up the Seine River, culminating in a romantic overnight stay near Paris and the well-known wine and food delicacies.

Journey Summary

  • Day 1 - Aug. 14, 2025, Thu. - Amsterdam
  • Day 2 - Aug. 15, 2025, Fri. - Zeebrugge (Bruges)
  • Day 3 - Aug. 16, 2025, Sat. - Zeebrugge (Bruges)
  • Day 4 - Aug. 17, 2025, Sun. - Rouen
  • Day 5 - Aug. 18, 2025, Mon. - Rouen
  • Day 6 - Aug. 19, 2025, Tue. - Rouen
  • Day 7 - Aug. 20, 2025, Wed. - Honfleur
  • Day 8 - Aug. 21, 2025, Thu. - St-Malo
  • Day 9 - Aug. 22, 2025, Fri. -
  • Day 10 - Aug. 23, 2025, Sat. - Lorient
  • Day 11 - Aug. 24, 2025, Sun. - Bordeaux
  • Day 12 - Aug. 25, 2025, Mon. - Bordeaux
  • Day 13 - Aug. 26, 2025, Tue. - Bordeaux
  • Day 14 - Aug. 27, 2025, Wed. - Bilbao
  • Day 15 - Aug. 28, 2025, Thu. - Bilbao
  • Day 16 - Aug. 29, 2025, Fri. - El Ferrol
  • Day 17 - Aug. 30, 2025, Sat. - Vigo
  • Day 18 - Aug. 31, 2025, Sun. -
  • Day 19 - Sep. 1, 2025, Mon. - Cádiz
  • Day 20 - Sep. 2, 2025, Tue. - Gibraltar
  • Day 21 - Sep. 3, 2025, Wed. - Málaga
  • Day 22 - Sep. 4, 2025, Thu. -

Detailed Itinerary

Day-by-day description of your cruise and cruise activities.

Day 1 - August 14, 2025

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, the Venice of the North, where more than 1,500 bridges arch gracefully over scenic canals. The stately 17<sup>th</sup> century homes of Dutch merchants line the canals and museums are everywhere, filled with masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age. Most of the sightseeing essentials are conveniently collected in the Canal Ring, the central area of the city which is designated as a UNESCO site. Here you&rsquo;ll find the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace, the Red Light District, and most of the museums. Mind all the bicycles!

Day 2 - August 15, 2025

Zeebrugge (Bruges)

The entire city center of Bruges has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with Flemish and Renaissance architecture made all the more beautiful when reflected in the city&rsquo;s many canals. Shop for legendary lace, or a pint of Belgian beer.

Day 3 - August 16, 2025

Zeebrugge (Bruges)

The entire city center of Bruges has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with Flemish and Renaissance architecture made all the more beautiful when reflected in the city&rsquo;s many canals. Shop for legendary lace, or a pint of Belgian beer.

Day 4 - August 17, 2025

Rouen

This port city on the Seine River and gateway to Paris is full of beautiful architecture and is an art-lover&rsquo;s delight. Museums are plentiful here including the Historial Jeanne d&rsquo;Arc and the Musee des Beaux-Arts with the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. Stroll the many local markets full of fresh produce and flowers and dine at one of the incredible restaurants featuring fresh ingredients from this region.

Day 5 - August 18, 2025

Rouen

This port city on the Seine River and gateway to Paris is full of beautiful architecture and is an art-lover&rsquo;s delight. Museums are plentiful here including the Historial Jeanne d&rsquo;Arc and the Musee des Beaux-Arts with the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. Stroll the many local markets full of fresh produce and flowers and dine at one of the incredible restaurants featuring fresh ingredients from this region.

Day 6 - August 19, 2025

Rouen

This port city on the Seine River and gateway to Paris is full of beautiful architecture and is an art-lover&rsquo;s delight. Museums are plentiful here including the Historial Jeanne d&rsquo;Arc and the Musee des Beaux-Arts with the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France. Stroll the many local markets full of fresh produce and flowers and dine at one of the incredible restaurants featuring fresh ingredients from this region.

Day 7 - August 20, 2025

Honfleur

Sitting on the estuary where the Seine River meets the English Channel, the charming character of this harbor town has been the subject of artists like Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin. The 15<sup>th</sup> century St. Catherine&rsquo;s church is an interesting vaulted timber structure built by shipbuilders. And a walk along the edge of the Honfleur Estuary will pass town gardens, beaches, and a view of the Normandy Bridge. You can also find the intriguing local cider along the Route du Cidre.

Day 8 - August 21, 2025

St-Malo

Once notorious as the home of pirates, St.-Malo today is better known for the UNESCO site monastery and town of Mont St. Michel and the famous oysters of nearby Cancale. Walk the city&rsquo;s ramparts, or pass the time at a seaside boulangerie sampling a fresh and buttery croissant.&nbsp;

Day 9 - August 22, 2025

Day 10 - August 23, 2025

Lorient

A unique feature in this seaport steeped in maritime history is that only one cruise ship a day can come here so a visit to this town is exclusive. Visit the Church of Our Lady of Victory, a UNESCO site with a bell tower made of concrete. Also find the Tour de la Decouverte and climb the 216 steps to a panoramic view of the port and sea.

Day 11 - August 24, 2025

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has long been known as La Belle au Bois Dormant, Sleeping Beauty. &nbsp;And while the beauty part is undeniable, the sleeping part could be argued. Sure, the region is filled with treasures from long ago, including more than 350 historic monuments and buildings in the city alone. But the capital of Aquitaine is also home to a vibrant culture and, as oenophiles well know, is the gateway to some of France&rsquo;s most famous vineyards. In this UNESCO World Heritage city, 13th century cathedrals and 18th century palaces are commonplace. Venture beyond the city&rsquo;s borders to the chateaux of the Médoc region or to Saint-Émilion, a breathtaking medieval village set among the vineyards that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 12 - August 25, 2025

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has long been known as La Belle au Bois Dormant, Sleeping Beauty. &nbsp;And while the beauty part is undeniable, the sleeping part could be argued. Sure, the region is filled with treasures from long ago, including more than 350 historic monuments and buildings in the city alone. But the capital of Aquitaine is also home to a vibrant culture and, as oenophiles well know, is the gateway to some of France&rsquo;s most famous vineyards. In this UNESCO World Heritage city, 13th century cathedrals and 18th century palaces are commonplace. Venture beyond the city&rsquo;s borders to the chateaux of the Médoc region or to Saint-Émilion, a breathtaking medieval village set among the vineyards that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 13 - August 26, 2025

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has long been known as La Belle au Bois Dormant, Sleeping Beauty. &nbsp;And while the beauty part is undeniable, the sleeping part could be argued. Sure, the region is filled with treasures from long ago, including more than 350 historic monuments and buildings in the city alone. But the capital of Aquitaine is also home to a vibrant culture and, as oenophiles well know, is the gateway to some of France&rsquo;s most famous vineyards. In this UNESCO World Heritage city, 13th century cathedrals and 18th century palaces are commonplace. Venture beyond the city&rsquo;s borders to the chateaux of the Médoc region or to Saint-Émilion, a breathtaking medieval village set among the vineyards that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 14 - August 27, 2025

Bilbao

The industrial port of Bilbao is surrounded by lovely green mountains, fertile landscapes with lush forests, steep coasts and the Bay of Biscay. Famed for the curvy, titanium-covered Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, other sites of Bilbao include the Euskalduna Conference and Music Centre, Norman Foster&rsquo;s Underground, towers designed by architects Arata Isozaki and Cesar Pelli, and an airport designed by Calatrava.

Day 15 - August 28, 2025

Bilbao

The industrial port of Bilbao is surrounded by lovely green mountains, fertile landscapes with lush forests, steep coasts and the Bay of Biscay. Famed for the curvy, titanium-covered Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum, other sites of Bilbao include the Euskalduna Conference and Music Centre, Norman Foster&rsquo;s Underground, towers designed by architects Arata Isozaki and Cesar Pelli, and an airport designed by Calatrava.

Day 16 - August 29, 2025

El Ferrol

After entering the estuary mouth, pass through a narrow canal where the twin castles of San Felipe and La Palma welcome you to what was the main base for the Spanish Navy in the 17th century. Spend a pleasant day rumbling around the old Magdalena neighborhood, or make your own pilgrimage to the nearby UNESCO site of Santiago de Compostela or head to Lugo to see the Roman Walls &ndash; another UNESCO site.

Day 17 - August 30, 2025

Vigo

See the twisting streets, old mansions, and beautiful plazas of the old district, parts of which have survived since medieval times. Dine on fresh seafood found all over Vigo but especially in the famous El Berbes Quarter. Or head further afield to Santiago de Compostela, where a magnificent cathedral has greeted pilgrims since the 9th century.

Day 18 - August 31, 2025

Day 19 - September 01, 2025

Cádiz

Cádiz is the most southern province of the Iberian Peninsula. It is extremely rich in natural beauty and some of the most important Natural Parks of Spain and Europe are found here including Sierra de Grazalema and los Alcornocales. Both are rich in flora and fauna, including species under threat of extinction. Many birds find their resting and feeding place here just after or before making the jump from or to Africa.

Day 20 - September 02, 2025

Gibraltar

It&rsquo;s an odd bit of Britain here at the toe of Spain, with Barbary apes and miles of tunnels as well as traditional red phone boxes. Legend says Gibraltar was one of the two pillars erected by Hercules to mark the edge of the world. Take the cable car to the top to see if you can see it from here. No, that&rsquo;s not it. That&rsquo;s just Africa. What a view.<br />

Day 21 - September 03, 2025

Málaga

Here, on the shores of Costa del Sol, the Andalusian spirit thrives. Be sure to include an optional visit to see the brilliant and comprehensive collection of Picasso&rsquo;s work at Museo Picasso Málaga, a tribute to this artistic genius in the city of his birth. Or you may choose to opt for a visit to the beautiful village of Mijas, where picturesque Andalusian country life creates some of the world&rsquo;s best wines.&nbsp;

Day 22 - September 04, 2025

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Aug 14, 2025

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