A Solar Eclipse at Sea: Voyage Along the Iberian Peninsula

8 days from $9,830

Aboard the 264-guest Le Boréal

Voyage by Smithsonian Journeys and PONANT EXPLORATIONS

Experience the 2027 total solar eclipse aboard an elegant ship as you voyage along Spain and Portugal’s southern shores from the Algarve to the Costa del Sol. Venture into historic towns such as Coimbra and Cadiz, opt to explore the gorgeous coast by kayak and catamaran, and savor local wines and tapas. Watch the eclipse from an ideal spot: afloat on the Mediterranean within the band of totality.

Special Interest

Ocean Cruising

Highlights

The Smithsonian Journeys / PONANT Experience: Each cruise will be accompanied by two Smithsonian Journeys Experts. An excursion or activity is included in each port of call. You may have a choice of excursions in many ports, so that you can delve more deeply into subjects that interest you.

Total Solar Eclipse: Witness the 2027 total solar eclipse from the deck of an elegant small ship, poised in the band of totality off the southern coast of Spain.
Algarve: Choose to kayak along Portugal’s dramatic Algarve coast to the astonishing Benagil Cave, or enjoy wine tasting in timeless Silves, once a center of Moorish culture.
Andalusian Coast: Venture into the ancient center of Cadiz for a flamenco performance, and choose to sail a catamaran along the coast near Marbella. Tour the historic center of Málaga and discover the beautiful beaches of Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Figuera de Foz or Coimbra, Portugal: Admire the belle époque architecture of Figuera de Foz and learn about centuries-old traditions on a visit to its salt pans and oyster beds. Or visit the historic university town of Coimbra, a World Heritage site.
Food and Wine: Savor a range of Iberian wines and culinary specialties during tastings and tours in the Spanish towns of Marbella and Málaga and the Portuguese port of Figuera da Foz.

Itinerary

To see itinerary, please click on an option below.

Day 1 — Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive in historic Lisbon, set on seven hills where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic. Embark the ship in the afternoon and sail south toward Portugal’s Algarve region. (D)

Le Boréal

Day 2 — Portimão: Algarve Coast or Silves

Anchor in Portimão, on Portugal’s southern coast. Choose to explore the dramatic Algarve coast by kayak, discovering stunning rocky shores and secluded beaches, and visit the breathtaking Benagil cave. Or explore the former Moorish stronghold of Silves and enjoy a wine tasting. (B,L,D)

Le Boréal

Day 3 — Marbella, Spain

Sail west to Marbella, a historic resort town set on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Venture into the countryside for a tasting of local wines and olive oils. Later, enjoy time to relax on Trocadero Playa or cruise a catamaran along the coast and stop for a swim. As the ship departs late in the evening, you’ll have free time this afternoon and evening to discover the leafy squares and cobblestoned lanes of Marbella. (B,L,D)

Le Boréal

Day 4 — Eclipse Day: Málaga, Spain

The morning of the eclipse finds the ship in a prime position at sea, surrounded by the glittering waters of the Mediterranean. After breakfast, head out on deck to watch the solar eclipse, which begins at 9:30 and reaches totality around 11 a.m. Later, dock in Málaga, birthplace of Picasso and now a vibrant hub of cuisine and the arts. Venture into the historic center to tour its cathedral and take in city views, or take part in a tapas and wine tasting. (B,L,D)

*Note that visibility of the eclipse depends on weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Le Boréal

Day 5 — At Sea/Cadiz

A morning at sea brings you through the Straits of Gibraltar to Cádiz, one of Spain's oldest cities. Set off on a walking tour of the city followed by dinner and a flamenco show, or travel to nearby Jerez for tapas and a sampling of the town's eponymous sherry wines. You may also choose to spend a leisurely afternoon on Cadiz’s famous Barrosa Beach, whose sandy shores stretch almost four miles. (B,L,D)

Le Boréal

Day 6 — At Sea

Enjoy a relaxing day on board as the ship follows the Portuguese coast north. Attend lectures by your Smithsonian Journeys Experts, and cool off with a swim in the pool or read a book in the shade on the sundeck. (B,L,D)

Le Boréal

Day 7 — Figueira da Foz, Portugal

North of Lisbon, the port of Figueira da Foz was a popular seaside resort in the 1800s, and its streets are lined with belle époque and art nouveau architecture. It is also known for its extensive salt pans where salt has been harvested for centuries. Visit the salt pans and oyster farms along the coast to gain insight into two traditional Portuguese industries, or savor the wines of the Bairrada region of central Portugal during a winery tour and tasting. Alternatively, venture inland to visit Coimbra, an ancient university city that was once Portugal’s capital and is now a World Heritage site. (B,L,D)

Le Boréal

Day 8 — Lisbon, Portugal

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)

Slideshow

Full Screen

Optional Extension

Pre-Cruise Ext.: Lisbon

Historic Lisbon - 3 days, 2 nights

July 28-30, 2027

Portugal is most often introduced to students of history as the country that led the way in Europe's discovery of sub-Saharan Africa, India, and East Asia. But throughout much of the modern era, Portugal, like the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, was in the avant-garde of developments in the fields of art and architecture. This specially designed program will introduce you to monuments that celebrate both aspects of Portugal's past.

Day 1 – Lisbon, Portugal

Arrive in Lisbon, where you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Altis Avenida. Check-in time is 4:00PM. A local representative will be present at the hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and to offer suggestions for dining and independent exploration. Join fellow travelers this evening for a welcome reception at the hotel. Dinner is on your own.

Hotel Altis Avenida

Day 2 – Sintra

After breakfast, set out on a full-day excursion to the nearby village of Sintra, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its role in the early development of European Romantic architecture. Explore Sintra Palace, thought to have first been constructed in the 10th or 11th century when Sintra was under Moorish rule, with additions made by successive kings and queens. Since March 2025, ongoing restoration of the magnificent Hispano‑Moorish tile panels in the Arab Room, D. Afonso VI Chamber, and the Gruta dos Banhos has been underway, allowing visitors to view the intricate conservation efforts in progress. The Preta Garden, fully restored in recent years, continues to offer sweeping views over the Sintra Hills and historic town center.

After your visit to this fascinating place, drive to the center of Sintra for lunch at a local restaurant and time at leisure for browsing the many shops that offer handicrafts and Portuguese wines before reboarding your motorcoach for the return journey. Your route will take you through a nature preserve to Cabo da Roca on the Atlantic coast, the westernmost point of Europe. From there you will travel along the coastal road back to Lisbon. Dinner is independent and at your leisure.

Hotel Altis Avenida

Day 3 - Lisbon | Embark

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon that begins with a stop for photos at the 16th-century Belém Tower, the point from which many Portuguese explorers, including da Gama, set sail. Continue your journey to the imposing Jerónimos Monastery, where Vasco da Gama spent his last night before embarking on his voyage to India, and the finest extant example of the Portuguese architectural style known as Manueline. Enjoy some time at leisure in the historic Belém Quarter. Enjoy a local lunch before you continue to the National Azulejo Museum*, home to one of Lisbon’s most distinctive cultural treasures, showcasing an extraordinary collection of decorative ceramic tiles (azulejos) that trace Portugal’s artistic and architectural heritage from the 15th century to the present day. Next, transfer to the ship in the late afternoon for embarkation.

Your hotel:

The Hotel Altis Avenida is a charming boutique hotel, with an extraordinary location in the center of Lisbon, in Praça dos Restauradores. The architecture and decoration are inspired by the 1940s and draw on the concept of "urban chic," where the past and the future meet, creating an atmosphere of charm and glamor. The hotel has 123 rooms, a Lobby Bar, and a fine dining restaurant on the top floor of the hotel that features the cuisine of chef João Rodrigues.

Your program includes:

2 nights at the Hotel Altis Avenida (or similar).
Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on Day 1.
Transfer and luggage handling from the hotel to the ship on Day 3.
Welcome reception on Day 1.
Breakfast on Days 2 and 3.
Lunch on Days 2 and 3.
Sightseeing and program activities as noted in the itinerary.
Local English-speaking guide.
Gratuities for the drivers and local guides.

Your program does not include:

Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled arrival day.
Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program.

Please note:

It is imperative that your flight details are communicated at least 90 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
The official currency is the euro. Credit cards are largely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
*If the National Azulejo Museum is under renovation or otherwise unavailable, the visit will be replaced with the Gulbenkian Museum.
This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
The program is offered on a space-available basis.
The program is subject to change without notice.

Dates & Prices

Dates

Availability

Price

Jul 30 - Aug 6, 2027

Call to Join Waitlist

from $9,830

Ship: Le Boréal Experts: Janet Duncan Jones | Jim Zimbelman

Superior Stateroom

Superior stateroom (226 sq. ft.), picture window (cabins 302 thru 307) or porthole (300 and 301). Deck 3.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$9,830	$18,890
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Deluxe Stateroom

Deluxe stateroom (200 sq. ft.), picture window with door onto private partial wall balcony (43 sq. ft.). Deck 3.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$10,630	$20,490
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 4

Prestige stateroom (200 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$11,770	$22,770
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 5

Prestige stateroom (200 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$12,350	$23,930
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Prestige Stateroom - Deck 6

Prestige stateroom (200 sq. ft.), sliding glass door opens to private balcony (43 sq. ft.).

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$13,030	$25,290
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Deluxe Suite

Deluxe suite (290 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to private balcony (54 sq. ft.), sitting area with daybed. Deck 6.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$18,060	$35,350
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Prestige Suite - Deck 5

Prestige suite (398 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to larger private balcony (86 sq. ft.), two bathrooms, sitting area and sofa convertible to fixed queen.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$24,350	$47,930
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Prestige Suite - Deck 6

Prestige suite (398 sq. ft.), sliding glass door to larger private balcony (86 sq. ft.), two bathrooms, sitting area and sofa convertible to fixed queen.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$25,610	$50,450
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

Owner's Suite

Owner's suite, extra large suite (484 sq. ft), sliding glass door to private terrace (97 sq. ft.). Large sitting area with half bath, master bathroom has a separate shower, tub, and double sinks. Deck 6.

Occupancy	Double	Single
Price	$29,380	$57,990
Pre Ext.	$1,420	$1,930

A deposit of 25% of the cruise price is required to reserve space on a cruise. Deposits are applied toward final payment of the cruise price.

Rates include port taxes and fees. Most shore excursions are included in the rates.

Pre- and post-program options and optional excursions, where applicable, are available at an additional cost.

Prices are based on rates of exchange, airfare & fuel (where applicable), tariffs, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.

Experts

Departure: Jul 30 - Aug 6, 2027

Janet Duncan Jones

Archaeologist

Janet Duncan Jones, Professor Emerita of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Bucknell University, is an archaeologist with over 40 years‘ experience in the field. …

Janet Duncan Jones, Professor Emerita of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Bucknell University, is an archaeologist with over 40 years‘ experience in the field. She has participated in excavation projects in Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, and Jordan. Her experience as a glassblower out of college ignited a career long research interest in preindustrial technologies and the lives of early craft workers. While living in villages in the Middle East she became interested in the impacts of preindustrial technologies on the ancient environment and the evolution of cultural landscapes. Her publications include studies of the ancient glass from sites in Turkey and Jordan, and synthetic considerations of the landscape of ancient ruins and of the messages and impacts of ancient mega-engineering projects. Recently she has focused her work on the impact of the Moors in southern Spain on urbanism, architecture, technology, and intellectual history.

Janet has lived in Turkey and Greece, and has traveled widely with an eye toward the messages that landscapes send us about the values and concerns of past peoples. She holds degrees from the College of William and Mary and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she also acquired a devotion to ACC basketball. She lives in the mountains of central Pennsylvania with her geographer husband and hounds descended from those she originally imported from the Euphrates Valley in southeastern Turkey.

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Departure: Jul 30 - Aug 6, 2027

Jim Zimbelman

Geologist

James R. Zimbelman is senior geologist emeritus for the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, …

James R. Zimbelman is senior geologist emeritus for the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Jim has published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts, geologic maps, and book chapters. He is the lead author of The Volcanoes of Mars and he co-authored Dune Worlds: How windblown sand shapes planetary surfaces. He self-published a free pdf book with stories from his career which can be downloaded here.

Jim is the 2020 G. K. Gilbert Award winner from the Geological Society of America, the 2013 Ronald Greeley Distinguished Service Award winner from the Planetary Geology Division of GSA, and the 1995 Professional Achievement Award winner from Northwest Nazarene University. His research interests include analysis of high-resolution imaging data of Mars, studies of long lava flows on planetary surfaces, and planetary sand transport processes. From 2016 to 2020, he was lead curator for the new “Exploring the Planets” gallery at the National Air and Space Museum, which opened in 2022. He retired in 2020.

Jim holds a BA in physics and mathematics from Northwest Nazarene University, an MS in geophysics and space physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a PhD in geology from Arizona State University.

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Ship

Le Boréal

Slideshow Deck Plan

Guest Capacity: Up to 264 Guests Crew Size: 145 crew members Length: 466 feet Width: 59 feet Flag: France

The Le Boréal launched by PONANT is the newest generation of five-star small ships, featuring a sleek design and chic decor that resembles a high-end boutique hotel and complimentary WiFi throughout the ship. Spacious, Ocean-view Suites and Staterooms Ninety-five percent of the 132 large, deluxe, air-conditioned, outside staterooms and suites (from 200 to 484 square feet) feature private balconies. Most accommodations have two twin beds that convert to one queen-size bed. Each cabin has a private bathroom with shower (bathtub in limited number of staterooms) and the luxurious amenities of a fine hotel, including individual climate control, satellite flat screen television, wireless Internet access, safe, minibar, full-length closet, writing desk/dressing table, and plush robes. Chic and Casual Dining International and regional cuisine are served in the stylish, spacious La Licorne dining room in single, unassigned seating, alfresco in the casual indoor-outdoor La Boussole restaurant or from 24-hour room service. Continental and buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea, and a four-course dinner are served daily. Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included. Spacious Public Areas, World-Class Service, and Facilities Enjoy views from the Panoramic Lounge; nightly entertainment in the Main Lounge; and lectures, cultural performances and film screenings in the state-of-the-art theater. There is a library, Internet salon, Sun Deck, swimming pool, beauty salon, spa, Turkish bath-style steam room, full range of fitness equipment and two elevators. The infirmary is staffed with a doctor and nurse. The highly trained and personable English-speaking international crew provides attentive service. Two elevators service all stateroom decks. Respect for the Environment The state-of-the-art propulsion system and custom-built stabilizers provide an exceptionally smooth, quiet and comfortable voyage by minimizing vibration and engine noise. The ship company is proud of its 'Clean Ship' standing, an extreme rarity among ocean cruising vessels, as its commitment to energy efficiency and environmental protection of marine ecosystems is of paramount importance.

Tour Details

Activity Description

Expectations: Ocean-going cruise that may pull into a pier for embarkation and shore excursions and may use tenders at some ports. Excursions will be at a moderately active pace during the morning or afternoon. Some days will require early morning departures (8:30 or 9:00a.m.). Daily activities of three to four hours each day. Some touring is done on foot and includes standing and walking for periods of time (one to three hours) during outdoor activities and tours, city tours, and historic sites. Walking one to two miles will be over sometimes uneven terrain.

Appropriate for: Travelers who are physically fit, lead active lives, are comfortable participating in several hours of daily activities, and expect some physical exertion.

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Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.