Experience the world’s most renowned yachting playground on a spectacular journey where you’ll dock alongside other luxury yachts at entrancing ports and secluded harbors, as well as go deep into Spain to explore Madrid. The magnificent ports of the Rivieras each have their own distinctive allure — from the casinos and castles of Monaco to the glitz and glam of Cannes to the stunning vistas and charm of Portofino. What’s special about this journey is that it takes you deeper into Spain. In Madrid, you’ll have two full days and four nights to explore the capital’s key attractions and immerse yourself in its vibrant culture with a 5-star hotel as your home base. Beat the crowds with early entry to the Prado Museum, where you’ll revel in Spanish masterpieces and the largest collection of Italian art outside of Italy. Learn to cook tapas at a boutique cooking school. Enjoy a fiery flamenco show while enjoying a three-course dinner created by a Michelin star chef. You’ll also spend a day in Segovia, a medieval city (also UNESCO World Heritage site) featuring an ancient Roman aqueduct that winds around the edge of town. Get a guided tour through the city’s Gothic-style Cathedral, stopping at the iconic Alcázar castle. Indulge in a wine tasting at the Cavas Cordoniu cellars in the beautiful Penedés wine region of Catalonia, where you’ll learn the art of wine tasting and the secrets of the 450-year history of the winery over a delightful lunch. Your travel between Barcelona and Madrid will be in Comfort Class via high-speed train. To make your trip even more convenient, Windstar picks up your luggage and ensures it will be waiting for you when you arrive at your hotel. It’s the final touch on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Upon your arrival at Madrid-Barajas International Airport, you’ll pick up your reserved car and drive to your 5-star hotel. Check in and you’ll have the entire afternoon and evening to spend at your leisure with world-class shopping and dining just steps away on the iconic Gran Via (the “Spanish Broadway”).
 
(includes transfers from the airport to your hotel and overnight in Madrid hotel)
 

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll kick off your day with a visit to the Royal Palace, an awe-inspiring architectural wonder and the largest functioning palace in Europe. You’ll learn about the site’s rich history, capture pictures at Armoury Square, get a chance to walk the iconic marble Grand Staircase, and explore majestic rooms and spaces displaying sculptures, paintings, tapestries and jewels offering insight into the 18-century Spanish Monarchy. Next, you’re free to enjoy lunch on your own at any of Madrid’s restaurants. The tour continues at the world-famous Santiago Bernabéu stadium—host to Real Madrid CF since 1947. Fans of the football (aka American soccer) will go wild over the panoramic view of the inside of the renovated stadium, with admission to the Real Madrid CF Museum, where you’ll learn about the history of the club and its members, take pictures next to famous trophies and watch the club’s most iconic moments. In the evening, you’ll head to renowned tablao Corral de la Morería (Madrid’s “Cathedral of Flamenco) to see a fiery flamenco show performed by some of Spain’s top dancers and musicians, while enjoying a three-course gourmet meal created by a Michelin Star chef.

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll head right to the Prado Museum to take in the world’s richest and most comprehensive collection of Spanish works from Spanish masters Valázquez, El Greco, Goya and El Bosco. The museum also houses a vast collection of classical European paintings and sculptures, including the largest collections of Italian art outside of Italy. Next, you’ll be immersed in a unique culinary experience at a boutique cooking school. You’ll learn the art of preparing tapas, then enjoy them along with a chef-prepared entree and two desserts for a 5-course tasting menu served with a bottomless wine pairing of five different Spanish wines. In the afternoon, you’ll head to the famous “El Retiro Park,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering a vast green oasis in the heart of the city. Stroll through a variety of gardens with interesting monuments, view a nearly 400-year-old Mexican conifer, sit by the lake or rent a rowing boat, and explore the exhibitions halls, including the Glass Palace, a glass pavilion built in 1887, regarded as one of Spain’s finest examples of cast-iron architecture.

You’ll have breakfast at your hotel in Madrid before taking off for an incredible day in Segovia, a medieval city located in Castile and Leó, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll look back in time as you admire the incredible Roman Aqueduct winding its way around the edge of town. You’ll visit Plaza Mayor, a town square framed by the beautiful pinnacles of the apse of the Cathedral, built in Castilian Late Gothic style, then head inside to meet your guide and tour the Cathedral, learning about its historical significance and architectural highlights that have earned it the name Lady of the Cathedrals. Next, you’ll enjoy a classic Segovian lunch at a delightful restaurant, followed by a stop at the renowned Alcázar of Segovia, a medieval castle built in the 12^th century that has served as home for 22 kings and inspired the design of castles in shows and movies, including Cinderella’s castle. You’ll travel back to Madrid, where you’ll catch the high-speed train to Barcelona, traveling in Comfort Class, with your luggage waiting for you at your hotel Barcelona hotel. Upon arrival, you’ll be driven to your 5-star hotel, where you’ll enjoy a Catalan dinner and can share stories about the day.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be driven to the Penedés Region in Catalonia, where almost all cava and wine is produced due to the region’s favorable climate for growing grapes—mild temperatures, intense sunshine and moderate rainfall. This also makes it great region to visit. This tour will bring you to one of the most renowned Spanish wine cellars: Codorniu. You’ll learn the traditional process of how a bottle of cava is created and the history of the cellars dating back 450 years. Surrounded by the winery’s beautiful architectural complex and gardens, you’ll take an intensive wine tasting course. By the time you head to a delicious three-course lunch, you’ll have learned the art of wine tasting and discovered the secrets of Cavas Codorniu. Later, you’ll travel to Barcelona and take a panoramic tour of the city before embarking on the ship.
(Includes breakfast, lunch, wine tasting, transfer to the ship)

The old meets the new in this sunny Catalan metropolis, where narrow alleyways contrast with grand boulevards, trendy cuisine meets homemade tapas, and everywhere you’re greeted by the warm, welcoming smiles of the fashionable locals. Don’t miss UNESCO sites like the mind-boggling architecture of Antoni Gaudí or La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, with its eight decorative spires soaring hundreds of feet into the sky.

When daydreamers long for “the south of France,” this is what they imagine. Set on the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean and flanked on three sides by the Pyrenees foothills, this beautiful harbor is home to the prestigious vineyards of Banyuls. Taste the wine, along with the wonderful seafood.   (Whether you’re in Port-Vendres or Collioure, you’ll experience the beauty of the south of France – the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees foothills, the prestigious vineyards and a beautiful harbor. 

France’s sunniest city, located on the French Riviera, was originally a small fishing village and still is adorned by a large collection of traditional wooden fishing boats. This is the home of a group of local artisan fisherman who sell their catch daily on the pier and where Jacques Cousteau had a residence, the Villa Baobab.

Glide into port in one of Europe’s most exclusive harbors. Mingle with other privileged yachtsmen or step ashore and start walking. The glittering Grand Casino, legendary for its exotic setting on screen and off, is a must see, as is the royal family’s palace and the tomb of Philadelphia-born Princess Grace in the Cathedral.

Spend a day wandering among the rich and famous in the chic epicenter of the French Riviera — a world of exclusive boutiques, palm-fringed boulevards, sun-drenched beaches, and elegant sidewalk cafés. Be sure to visit the Avenue of the Stars, where you can place your hands in the prints of international celebrities. An optional escorted walking tour guides you through the best of this extraordinary and stylish city. 

With its golden ochre and terracotta buildings, designer shops, and chic cafés, Portofino represents the height of Italian artistry and sophistication. Sip a cappuccino along the fabled marina or enjoy a day of shopping in one of the town’s tempting little boutiques. As you look out over the harbor from the famous Hotel Splendido, it’s hard not to admire the sleek, streamlined beauty of your Windstar ship.

Pine-scented forests and miles of sandy beach await your arrival on the tranquil island of Elba. Enjoy a glass of local Moscato with the fresh catch of the day before pondering your next move. Perhaps you’ll visit the nearby countryside with its small fishing villages and dramatic mountain passes. Or see the calming beauty of Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.  Or maybe you’ll decide to walk to the nearest beach and dip your toes into the warm Mediterranean.

In this enchanting city the past and present intersect in perfect harmony. Casually intermingled among ancient ruins and majestic cathedrals are the trappings of a modern metropolis: Skyscrapers,cafes, boutiques selling designer footwear. But of course what you seek first in the heart of Rome is its breathtaking history.  A good place to begin is the Vatican, with its Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Works by Bernini, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael are just a few of those on display, any one of which is worth hours of contemplation. Then the ancient ruins—Colosseum, Forum, Circus Maximus. And of course the Trevi Fountain for the obligatory coins promising your return to the Eternal City.