Cruise to Spain Portugal and Morocco: Ultimate 11- Day Itinerary

We just got back from an incredible cruise to Spain, Portugal & Morocco, and it was an adventure we’ll never forget!

From savoring tapas in Barcelona to exploring the picturesque streets of Porto and standing at the crossroads of Europe and Africa in Tangier, this journey was packed with unforgettable moments.

Over 11 days, we immersed ourselves in the rich culture, stunning architecture, and delicious cuisine of three amazing countries—all while enjoying the comfort and convenience of a luxurious cruise.

Let me share our personal tips, highlights, and must-see stops to help you plan your own dream itinerary!

Why Choose a Cruise to Spain, Morocco and Portugal?

Cruise travel is an excellent way to introduce yourself to world travel. It’s affordable & the concept of the floating hotel where you return to your same room daily is a nice touch.

I was introduced to cruises through my friend, Kim & wondered why I didn’t discover it earlier. I would spend double or triple the amount of money travelling to five countries, where a cruise will cost under $1200 to these countries. 

Celebrity  Cruises is my favorite as it covers multi countries in a short period of time. This is my third time cruising with them & they did not disappoint.

The clientele is around 30s-80 year old, barely any children on board. It’s a higher scale cruise line, partnered with Royal Carribean. Their shows are incredible & their food top notch.

Booking Your Flights

Using Flights by Celebrity

Eight of us boarded the plane from Atlanta, GA to Barcelona, Spain with Delta. It was an 8 hour straight flight.

There is an incredible feature called Flights by Celebrity where you can book your flights and should your flight be delayed, the ship will wait for you. If you find a lower price you can call them back & have them lower the price. 

For the best deals, use Google Flights to track prices. We secured tickets for $700, significantly lower than the $1,200-$1,800 range online.

When prices dropped, we acted fast, and another friend even managed to snag a ticket for $550 a month before takeoff.

Delta Airlines Experience

Delta is not my favorite international airline because, in comparison to world-class carriers like Qatar, Emirates, Turkish, or Korean Air, their offerings fall short in several areas.

Specifically, their restroom cleanliness, in-flight food service, and amenities are minimal. They did not offer us a toothbrush kit for an 8 plus hour flight.

When it came to meals, two options were provided—a pasta dish and later a breakfast burrito.Nothing fancy but it was tasty. However, what stood out as a significant drawback was the cost of upgrading to first class. Delta’s first class  seats are ridiculously expensive where else with other airlines, you can upgrade for $1200-$1400 each way. In contrast, Delta charged $4200 for the upgrade. 

Pre-Cruise Stay in Barcelona:Start Your Cruise to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco

Arrival at Barcelona Airport

Arriving in Barcelona was an adventure in itself. The passport control lines were ridiculously long, and since our group was split up, we spent over 30 minutes waiting to reunite.

The walk from our gate to passport control took about 20 minutes, so be prepared to stretch those legs after the flight! Thankfully, baggage claim was a breeze, with our bags arriving quickly, so we are happy about it.

Transportation: Airport Pickup & Getting Around Barcelona

To get around the city, we hired Indus PickUps from Viator.They were super affordable for our group of 8, costing just $20 per person.

The company is owned by a Pakistani gentleman and they have a fleet of around 10 drivers. We ended up hiring them throughout our two-night stay in Barcelona so we could all stick together.

Keep in mind that the currency in Spain is Euros, and while taxis might be cheaper if you’re okay with splitting up from your group, we found Indus PickUps to be convenient and reliable

Our first ride was a bit chaotic as the driver dropped us at the wrong side of the Sagrada Familia Airbnb, leaving us hilariously dragging our bags across the area.

However, the experience improved significantly with superb drivers for the rest of our trips, including transfers to the cruise port and airport. While taxis can be a more budget-friendly option if you don’t mind splitting up, Indus PickUps was ideal for our group.

Moving forward, we had superb drivers from the company. They respond fast & have great customer service. We hired them for our cruise port drop off & pick up & an airport drop off. 

Accommodation

I stumbled on this condo & I am so grateful. Only 85 feet from the renown Sagrada Familia church, it has a grocery store, Carrefour just downstairs, and plenty of places to eat walking distance. The location is unbeatable. 

It’s 15 minutes drive away from the cruise port, and customer service is very important to me. The owner, Li who is Chinese was prompt in all her responses.

This place sleeps 9 people, which includes 2 in the living room. It was $75 per person for a night which was affordable in Barcelona. The condo is practical, four bedrooms, two restrooms, and a nice living room.

The owner thinks of everything including charging ports for you, detergent for laundry, and basic necessities like a condo. Only complaint I got from team was there were no wash cloths, only towels. The view is incredible. Everywhere in Europe is tiny, unlike America so do keep that in mind. 

Visit Sagrada Familia

This is an absolute must-see! Make sure to book your tickets online at least a month in advance at Sagrada Familia. 

The tickets sell very fast & you don’t want to miss this opportunity. People are in line at 6am to enter in, but the line moves fast.

Note: American Visa cards are not accepted for ticket purchases, but Amex works.

We also selected the Nativity tower option as it shows the beauty of the city. We spent over an hour in the church as its architecture is awe-inspiring.

You can download an audio guide which leads you throughout the church. The experience was magical.

The Flamenco Dance Experience

 For an authentic taste of Spanish culture, we headed to Tablao Flamenco Cordobes for a flamenco show.

We booked our tickets through Viator for $134 per person. The experience started with some tapas & wine. It was an excellent introduction to Spain. They then sat us down around the stage for an hour Flamenco dance which is full of intensity & passion.

Just a heads up: it can get quite loud, so if you’re sensitive to noise, you might want to bring earplugs. 

Cruise to Spain, Portugal, Morocco Itinerary: Celebrity Equinox Adventure

Day 1: Depart from Barcelona, Spain (5:00 PM)

After our whirlwind tour of Barcelona, it was time to head to the cruise port! And let me tell you, the Barcelona Cruise Port was fantastic. This has been one of the best cruise port experiences I have had in all my cruises. Virgin Voyages does top it off but this is second. Everything was fast & efficient. The people were nice & they let us in early! Once aboard the Celebrity Equinox, we explored the ship and enjoyed a delicious lunch. The soups were a highlight!

Day 2: At Sea – Relax and Recharge

Day 2 was a relaxing day at sea. It was the perfect opportunity to recharge before our next adventure. We spent the day exploring the ship, indulging in delicious food, and enjoying the onboard amenities

Day 3: Seville, Spain (Docked: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

Our short stop in Seville was lovely. We booked a self-directed tour for $80 with Celebrity, which included a comfortable, air-conditioned bus ride with charging ports (no Wi-Fi, though) for the three-hour roundtrip journey from the port to Seville. Our bus fit about 35 people, and once we arrived, we had four hours to explore on our own.

The highlight of Seville was undoubtedly the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral. This magnificent Gothic structure is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world! It’s absolutely breathtaking, both inside and out. We purchased tickets at the entrance (the lines were about a 10-minute wait), and spent hours wandering through its vast interior, admiring the intricate details and soaring ceilings.

Sadly, we missed the Alcazar tour as tickets needed to be booked a month in advance – definitely something to keep in mind if you’re planning a visit! However, we did wander through the beautiful Seville Park and took some amazing photos of the cathedral. The architecture is truly magnificent, and I highly recommend a visit if you find yourself in Seville.

Day 4 & Day 5: Lisbon, Portugal (Arrived: 9:00 AM – Overnight)

The ship docked in Lisbon, offering us an overnight stay to fully immerse ourselves in this historic city. We chose the Fatima Religious Sight Excursion with Celebrity Cruises (details here).

The pilgrimage to Fatima was a unique experience. The story goes that three children had visions of Mary that foretold a few monumental events. Millions travel to Fatima to experience the magical moments. Some even walk on their knees to reach the church as they pray.

The drive was an hour and a half each way, but our guide was comical and kept our attention. I even got my passport stamped at one of the shops they dropped us at, which was a special souvenir.

We were in Fátima for a few hours, had lunch, and explored the small, quaint area with lots of shops.  We also visited the Christ the King statue, which offered beautiful views of the city.

You can find similar excursions for cruise to Spain, Portugal and Morocco offered by Celebrity Cruises here.

Day 6: Porto, Portugal (Docked: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM)

Porto was another charming port city that we thoroughly enjoyed.We did a city tour with Celebrity, the Panoramic Porto Excursion with Celebrity (details here), and our guide was excellent!

Porto is famous for being the place where J.K. Rowling found inspiration for Harry Potter. The Livraria Lello bookstore in the city inspired several aspects of the book, including the uniforms of the students. We also indulged in some yummy cod balls with wine and rounding off a perfect day in this enchanting city.

Celebrity Cruises offers a panoramic tour of Porto, which you can find here.

Day 7: At Sea – Relax and Explore

Another sea day allowed us to recharge and enjoy the ship’s amenities

Day 8: Tangier, Morocco (Docked: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

​​Tangier was a fascinating blend of European and African influences. It’s a beautiful gateway that connects the two continents, with the Strait of Gibraltar separating them by only 13 km. Tangier claims to be the only place in the world where you can see two continents at the same time (though Istanbul, Turkey, also makes this claim with its Bosphorus cruise).

We took a city tour with Celebrity ,the Taste of Tangier Excursion. We explored the bustling Medina, captured photos at the iconic spot where two continents meet, and enjoyed some yummy Turkish tea. 

It felt safe to travel in Morocco, and they readily accept US or Euro currency for souvenirs. There’s a lot of negotiation involved in shopping, but it’s all part of the experience. The people were beautiful, though a bit aggressive in their sales tactics, which is apparently part of the culture. Negotiating with local vendors was part of the lively shopping experience, giving us a taste of the local culture.

Discover similar “Taste of Tangier” experiences and a trip to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco by browsing the options available on the Celebrity Cruises website.

Day 9: At Sea – Final Day of Cruising

The last sea day was a chance to savor the ship’s offerings one final time. It is also Time for some final relaxation and reflection on our amazing journey!

Day 10: Return to Barcelona (6:00 AM)

Arriving back at Barcelona, we had one more adventure planned—visiting the Sagrada Familia with the Tower tour at 12:30 PM. Spending a final night in Barcelona allowed us to soak in the city’s beauty before flying home to Atlanta the next day.

Personal Highlights of the Cruise to Spain Portugal and Morocco

This journey was extra special, as it marked the celebration of my 93rd country visited. I had the privilege of sharing this milestone with friends, making the experience even more memorable.

To be able to explore three beautiful countries through cruise to Spain, Portugal and Morocco—in just 11 days was truly a dream come true. As a full-time employee, I only had two weeks off, so the ability to balance work with such an incredible adventure was a blessing.

Not only did I get to immerse myself in diverse cultures, but I also did it all within a manageable budget, making the trip both accessible and unforgettable and it brought back fond memories of my very first cruise experience. If you have any questions or want to hear more about this amazing experience, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram at @travelswithessie. I’d love to share more tips and insights!