This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
This tour features a combination of escorted and independent travel. Part of your journey will be enjoyed as a group experience, led by expert tour leaders or local guides. The remainder is self-guided—whether by rail, cruise, or overland—allowing you the freedom to travel between destinations independently and explore at your own pace.
Make the most of your cruise and travel independently, with everything organised for you. Your international flights, pre-cruise stay, and cruise are organised so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time at sea. Of course, there is the option of extending your tour if you don’t want to head straight to the airport upon disembarkation.
✓ Includes return international airfares with a full-service airline
✓ Incredible sightseeing including Spain’s cultural capital Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona, and cruising the Mediterranean to stunning cities including Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, Florence, Rome and Naples
✓ 7-night Western Mediterranean Royal Caribbean cruise onboard Symphony of the Seas in an interior cabin (cabin upgrades available)
✓ 5 nights in centrally-located, 4-star hotels in Madrid and Barcelona
✓ 25 meals, including breakfast daily and all lunches & dinners while onboard the cruise
✓ Enjoy the luxurious, chic decor, all meals included and exceptional entertainment onboard Symphony of the Seas
✓ Guided tour in Madrid, including a “skip the line” visit at the Royal Palace and Prado Museum
✓ Half-day guided tour in Toledo, Spain’s former capital city
✓ Guided tour of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Park Guell in Barcelona
✓ Madrid Airport arrival transfers and domestic transfers as outlined in the itinerary
✓ Train travel from Madrid to Barcelona
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Prepare to be inspired. Depart today for your journey to Spain & Mediterranean cruising.
Welcome to Madrid! Upon arrival at the airport, your transfer will drive you to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure so settle in, relax and perhaps start exploring your surroundings.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before making your way to the starting point of your Royal Palace & Prado Museum tour. The starting point of this activity is an easy 800m walk or a short taxi ride from your hotel.
Skip the lines and dive right into the history of the beautiful Royal Palace which is approximately double the size than Buckingham Palace. Built in an Italian baroque style, the palace is the former residence of the Spanish Monarchy from 1766 to 1931. Nowadays, it still is a great example of the establishment of Madrid as the capital of the kingdom. It is also where the most important receptions of the Spanish Crown are held: know the audiences, dinner parties and important agreements were celebrated here through history. Walk around the Armory Square. Marvel at the beautiful tapestries and elegant furniture. Follow your guide through the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room and the Banqueting Hall, among others. Once the guided tour finishes, board your bus to go to the Prado Museum.
Follow your guide on a guided tour of the Prado Museum as you admire exquisite paintings. Admire great European artworks by El Bosco, El Greco, Velazquez, Goya and Rubens. Discover the aim of the original building and why it changed to hold one of the most important art galleries in the world. The current exhibition holds more than 1.000 paintings of four different centuries.
Your guided tour concludes at the Prado Museum, which is approximately 2km away from your hotel. Feel free to continue exploring this marvellous city on your own. Perhaps ask your guide for directions to a site that may be of your interest.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before making your way to the starting point of your guided tour of Toledo.
Board your bus and leave the city towards Toledo. Dive into its history and discover a perfect mix of Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures. Wander around its Old Town, declared a World Heritage City in 1986. Once the capital of Spain, the more than 2000 years of existence have given the city a huge historical importance. Get to know the city's fantastic heritage and discover how the coexistence of the three cultures throughout the centuries influenced its current architectural style.
Follow your guide through the city cobbled streets until you reach the Cathedral. Built on the remains of an Arab mosque, its construction started in the 13th century. Today, it is one of the most important Gothic Cathedrals of Spain. Admire the magnificent facade and the huge bell tower before continuing inside. Visit its interior and Sacristy, full of masterpieces of the former art museum it was. Amongst them, see fifteen paintings by El Greco.
At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to enjoy the city at your own pace before returning to Madrid.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Madrid train station in time to board your train to Barcelona. The train journey is unaccompanied and takes between 3 to 4 hours. Once in Barcelona your transfer will take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to start exploring Barcelona.
Today, make your way to the Sagrada Familia to join a guided tour of Sagrada Familia & Park Guell.
Skip the lines and enter the Sagrada Familia to start discovering the ultimate must-see landmark in Barcelona. Learn about the history and significance of Sagrada Familia by the hand of your local guide. Marvel at the astonishing interior, rich in symbolism inspired by natural wonders. Walk freely around the nave whilst listening to your guide’s explanations of Gaudi’s masterpiece. Take in all the details of the perfect fusion between architecture and spirituality. Tour the outside facades and wonder at the magnificence of details.
Explore Sagrada Familia until your heart's content before being transferred to Park Guell. One of the most important works by Antoni Gaudí, the park is set in a unique area with amazing views over the city. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, discover how the original project of Gaudi changed to build the current public park. Walk around the Monumental area of the park following your guide. Wander at Gaudi’s genius and see how he created a naturalistic and organic style, achieving a perfect fusion between architecture and nature.
Your guided tour finishes at Park Guell and you are free to continue exploring Barcelona on your own.
Today is free for you to continue discovering Barcelona on your own.
Hotel check out is at 11 am and you will be able to leave your belongings at reception until it's time to depart this afternoon.
Perhaps take a stroll along La Rambla’s pedestrian boulevard to experience the city’s pure essence. Souvenir shops, street artists, flower stalls, pavement cafes and Catalan folk sardana dancers set a lively scene. Its marvellous centrepiece, La Catedral, dates from the 1200s – and its tower delivers sweeping views of medieval Barcelona.
With seven beaches spanning more than two miles of Mediterranean coastline, Barcelona’s harbour-front is known for some of the world’s best sun-seeking and on-the-sea adventures.
At approximately 2pm, your transfer will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the port in time to board your Mediterranean Cruise.
The Spanish island of Mallorca offers towering mountains and dramatic cliffs rising over clear, blue water – but its hidden gem is Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital and largest city, where you'll find quaint historic streets, Gothic castles and gastronomic delights. Cruise to Palma de Mallorca and check out one-of-a-kind Palma Cathedral: The 14th-century Gothic spires of exterior contrast the modernist interior designed in the early 1900s by Gaudi. See the circular courtyard and Arab-inspired arches of Castell de Bellver, and take in the fresh scent of the miles of pine forest that surround it. Or hire bikes and pedal east to Palma Beach, where you can soak in the sun on the white sands and clear waves.
France's oldest city, Marseille blends ancient charm with Provencal beauty. In the morning, head to the fish market Quai des Belges, where trade has been going on for more than 2,600 years – stroll along the promenades and 18th-century warehouses, and grab a cafe au lait and a melon tarte from one of the cafes on the ground floor. Cruise to Provence and check out the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde: Built in the 19th century in a neo-Byzantine style, its golden statue of the Virgin and Child dominates the Marseille skyline. Then, take in the modern architecture and Mediterranean cultural artifacts at the MuCEM art museum, or see the craggy limestone cliffs of Calanques National Park, a half-hour drive outside the city.
The northern Italian port city of La Spezia, on the border of Liguria and Tuscany, offers an ideal gateway to two of the country's most famous cities: Pisa and Florence. Just one hour by car or train will bring you to Pisa, where you can check out the white-stone arches of the city's famous leaning tower and its sister-structure, the Pisa Cathedral. Or spend your day in Florence, about two hours away by train: Climb to the top of the famous Duomo ("dome"), the nickname for the Italian Gothic Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, for stunning 360-degree views of the city. Cruise to Florence to stroll through the San Lorenzo market with an espresso in hand and take in the smells of local spices and truffles as you people-watch.
Today you will arrive in Rome at approximately 7am. With 28 centuries of celebrated history, Rome holds the edge when it comes to unrivaled adventures. The city that sparked the world’s largest empire is very much alive today with a jumble of ancient ruins, world-renowned art and vivacious street culture. Here you can live 'la dolce vita', recalling the glory days of Ancient Rome and twirling forks full of pasta in a trattoria. Ride past centuries-old basilicas in a three-wheeled Ape Calessino, or stand in awe of paintings by Italian masters at Villa Borghese. Whether it’s Vatican City’s spiritual allure, Trastevere’s backstreet charms or the Colosseum’s embattled legacy – The Eternal City endures with endless adventures. Depart Rome by 8pm
Arrive in Naples at approximately 7am. With a skyline defined by towering Mount Vesuvius, Naples is a bustling Italian city brimming with beauty. Experience its rich neoclassical architecture at sites like Gesu Nuovo Church, with its lavish interior adorned with detailed frescoes, statues and gold inlay. Go even deeper into history at the San Gennaro catacombs, where Naples' first bishops were buried in the second century AD. Walk along the Miglio Sacro ('Holy Mile') and people-watch your way through the cafes and shops of the Sanita district with a zuccherato (sweetened espresso) in hand. Jump onboard a Naples cruise and take the short bus ride to the base of Mount Vesuvius – it's an easy 20- to 30-minute hike that will take you to the summit – and tour the ruins of Pompeii afterward. You will continue selling by 7pm.
Spend the day on board your cruise making the most of the variety of onboard entertainment on offer.
Perhaps grab your bravest friend and challenge them to a test of speed. The ride of your life awaits on twin racers Typhoon℠ and Cyclone℠ – part of The Perfect Storm℠: the boldest water slides at sea. As you speed through, long, translucent stretches offer sea views as exhilarating as the ride itself.
Arrive to Barcelona by 5am before disembarking by 11am and making your way to the airport to connect with your ongoing flight home. Cruise staff will be able to help you arrange transport to the airport as needed.
Arrive home today after your amazing adventure, we hope you have been inspired.
Go big on bold when you sail aboard the largest cruise ship in the world.
Get ready for a perception remixing, memory maxing mic drop – the new Symphony of the Seas® is all that and more. It’s your favourite onboard hits, including the ten-story test of courage, Ultimate Abyss℠ and twin FlowRider® surf simulators, plus revolutionary new firsts, like glow-in-the-dark laser tag. And deck-defying attractions aren’t the only things to look forward to when you sail onboard the newest cruise ship addition to the Oasis Class. Symphony of the Seas® is also loaded with delicious new ways to tempt your taste buds – like the matchday game-changing Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade – and larger-than-life ways to stay, like the Ultimate Family Suite. Go get your thrill on.
To know more about your ship, please click HERE.
Cabin Bedding and Upgrades
Bedding on board the cruise is restricted to the following configurations. If you wish to upgrade your cabin, the following amounts are payable in addition to the package price prior to travel:
Interior Cabin: INCLUDED
All staterooms and suites come complete with bathroom, vanity area, hair-dryer, TV and phone. Interior Two twin beds that convert to Royal King and bathroom. Up to 2 guests. Stateroom: 172 sq. ft.
Ocean View Cabin
Spectacular sights and amazing views from the comfort of your stateroom. Two twin beds that convert to Royal King and private bathroom. Stateroom: 179 sq. ft.. Upgrades from US$244 per person, twin share (subject to availability).
Ocean View Balcony
Breathtaking views to take in all the wonder and excitement of your destination. Two twin beds that convert to Royal King, sitting area, private balcony and bathroom. Stateroom: 1,268 sq. ft. Balcony: 41 sq. ft. Upgrades from US$682 per person, twin share (subject to availability).
Please request your cabin upgrade in the 'special requests' field. Availability and price will then be confirmed and added to your invoice upon acceptance.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package includes international airfares or has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city.
If international airfares are included this will be stated in the ‘Inclusions’ section
Alternatively, if international airfares can be added to your booking you will be able to select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and flights will be added to your booking.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Baggage
Included baggage differs based on your country of origin. Included baggage will be as per the following:
|
Country of Origin |
Carry-on Baggage |
Checked Baggage |
|
Australia |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
New Zealand |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
United States of America |
15lbs |
45lbs |
|
Canada |
15lbs |
45lbs |
|
India |
7kgs |
20kgs |
|
United Kingdom |
7kgs |
20kgs |
Baggage allowances provided by the airline might differ to the values stated above. However limitations are required due to transport storage restrictions on your selected tour or package.
Flight requests, amendments or preferences
We understand customers may wish to request changes to their included airfares. If you wish to fly with a certain airline, land at a certain time or change your flight in other ways we will gladly provide you with a personalised quote tailored to your specific requirements.
To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service? By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchase to make your request.
We would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for the following requests:
We are currently unable to provide a quote for the following requests:
If we can’t fulfill your request and you still wish to proceed with the booking, please select Land Only (excluding UK customers). This will allow you to travel on the land portion of the package without the included airfares. You will then be able to arrange your own flights separately.
FAQs
For more frequently asked questions please view our FAQs section.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity.
These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers. As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only and subject to availability. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $2,295.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not Available
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent in flight and is subject to change depending on the flight schedule, please refer to the day by day itinerary for the time spent on land.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Type - Partially Escorted
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
For all international voyages, it is the traveller's responsibility to ensure that they have a valid passport and they meet the visa requirement. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Click HERE for more information on weather in Spain.
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Australia
New Zealand
Canada
India
