MSC Virtuosa Western Europe Cruise!

The first stop on our incredible voyage was Bilbao:

You could walk into the outskirts of the city, it was a good 20-30 minute walk, each way. There was an option to take the shuttle bus (for a small fee), that may have taken you more into the centre, but we were happy with a nice walk. There are some stunning buildings to look at along the way, and on the harbour wall there are descriptions of each one, so that you can find out the history.

We stopped for a coffee, and watched the Bilbao river crossing cable car, the Vizcaya Bridge (Puente Colgante), a UNESCO World Heritage site that features a gondola suspended by cables to transport people and vehicles across the Nervión River. Visitors can ride the gondola or take an elevator to walk across the top for panoramic views.

We had a look around the shops, of which there were plenty and all high end and then headed back to the ship.

The next port was La Rochelle:

It’s a beautiful, typically, French town, cobbled streets, boutique shops, nice bars and restaurants.

We stopped for lunch (mainly because at lunch-time, all of the restaurants have an eating only policy), so you couldn’t just have a coffee. It was delicious, so glad that we did eat.

We went to the market, which was lively and full of traditional French produce, including a nice abundance of cheese!

There are a few museums to visit, and a lovely beach, but we were just happy to potter about looking in the many shops.

Now, I would advise getting a taxi back to the port, it was 25 Euro’s, but well worth it as the queues for the bus back were horrendous (with it being a larger ship).

We then visited Gijon, where we had booked an excursion, to kayak on the Sella River. This was amazing, and a must if you want to see some stunning scenery, and enjoy the leisurely paddle along the river.

It was quite a strenuous activity, but only moderately so. All safety equipment was provided, and you were taken by coach, through the beautiful Asturian countryside, then had a picnic lunch, before the 2-hour kayak down the river.

The last port of call was Cherbourg:

A charming French fishing port. Unfortunately it was the day of Storm Amy, so although we had a look around, we were drenched, so we didn't stay for long.

I have been before and they had a lovely market and some beautiful French pastry shops. Some beautiful bars and cafes, but not quite the same in the rain.

All-in-all, a great cruise, and would definitely recommend, especially in a suite, or MSC yacht club as that made it all the more special.