Huge cruise ship by JUAN RAMON RODRIGUEZ SOSA

With this in mind then we need to examine why Spain has become so popular as a cruise destination? Essentially the country acts as a very useful and strategic gateway to the rest of Europe and Africa as well. A cruise starting from Spain can easily navigate its way through the rest of Europe from other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece to the likes of Germany and France and everything in between. Indeed, many cruises that start off from one of the many ports in the country will often take in the top of North Africa too while Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt very popular destinations for Spanish cruises.

Normally your Spanish cruise will begin to stop off at one of the 3 main ports in the country such as Malaga, Barcelona or Valencia however most itinerary’s will take in at least one of the islands as well with Ibiza or Mallorca very close by or, if you are heading to North Africa, then Tenerife with its volcano’s and scarred landscape is another popular destination.

Enjoying pool on the cruise ship with Tenerife in the background by David Lisbona

Gibraltar is a stopping destination that does not usually feature on many cruise routes but is worth a visit all the same. The ‘rock’ has been a point of contention between Spain and the UK for a while now but it is a recommended stop off point for cruises in the area. A cable car ride to the top of the rock can produce amazing views of the surrounding area and the Strait of Gibraltar and Mediterranean in particular. St. Michael’s Cave, 2 caves in actual fact, is also an attraction. The limestone caves have some fantastic natural beauty and a rich history as ‘cave art’ was recently discovered there dating back some 15,000 years.

A cruise from Spain can last anywhere from 1 week to over a month. A week long or 10 day cruise might see you start from Barcelona, take in one of the islands such as Mallorca before taking off to the tip of North Africa and perhaps at least one other Mediterranean country such as Italy as well. A month long cruise could see you go as far as Brazil or South America while also enjoying everything that Spain has to offer from culture in Barcelona to sunny beaches in the Costa Del Sol. A cruise that takes in Spain is as interesting as it is diverse and because the country features so many different climates, activities, cultural heritages and customs then it is one country that it is very difficult to get bored of.

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Spanish cuisine
Spaniards have a great fondness for food, so they put the care in its preparation. Spanish cuisine is a tasty and colorful. The basic food-stuffs which they use are fish and other seafood, beef, mutton, pork, but they use also poultry, rice, potatoes, beans, various vegetables and white bread. Spaniards also use to add their typically piquant spices and herbs that make their dishes come unmistakable taste. Their kitchen is divided into Catalan, Basque, Galician, Castilian, Andalusian, and more. Each of them is something typical and special. However in all of them you can find lots of garlic and olive oil. The best known Spanish dish is certainly “paella” which is a mixture of rice, vegetables, meat or seafood and spices. Furthermore, gazpacho – cold vegetable soup. National food is tortilla – raw potato omelette with eggs and onions. Typical Spanish cuisine is tapas – small savory snacks that are served before a meal during the day and especially night.

Spanish restaurants
In Spain, all restaurants are legally obliged to offer a “menu del Día“, which includes appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage. This dish is served only at lunch time and it is a popular and inexpensive way to eat well. Expensive restaurants sometimes offer a tasting menu, where you can taste the little bits of several courses. It is common that during the bank holidays, the restaurants are closed.

Spanish drinks
A typical drink in Spain is wine. It is usually served with both lunch and dinner. The oldest and best known wine cellars in Spain are in La Rioja. These wines can be compared with the quality of French wine from Bordeaux. They have also classic wine Jerez and popular Spanish sparkling wine Cava. The perfect complement to all the dishes is a sweet Sangria, which consists of a mixture of fruit with sweet red wine, a little liquor, fruit juice or sparkling wine. It is best chilled and with ice.

Accommodation
In Spain you can find a wide range of accommodation of all kinds. From humble “fondas” or guest houses to luxury five-star hotels. Great interest is enjoying rural accommodation, located on farms, in cabins or in the restored palaces. It is possible to do a variety of outdoor activities, horse riding, cycling or hiking.

Spanish unique accommodation is the “Parador” which is a chain of hotels which are located in different historic buildings or in national parks, with a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. It is also possible to stay in a bungalow or apartment, they are located mainly in the coastal tourist resorts. There are also youth hostels, which can be found throughout the country. It’s a cheap way of accommodation. In Spain there are also over 1400 camps of various categories.

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