CRUISING LIST

Travel Checklist — Europe Cruise May 2027

📋 Pre-Trip Bookings & Reservations

✈️ Flights & Hotels

Book flights to Lisbon (arrive May 19 or earlier)Lisbon airport: LIS · Allow 1–2 nights before boarding

Book hotel in Lisbon (May 19–20, 1–2 nights)Best areas: Baixa-Chiado or Alfama · Budget €80–130/night · Mid-range €130–200

Book post-cruise hotel in London (May 29+)May rates rise fast — book well in advance

Book flights home from London

Notify bank & credit cards of travel dates and countriesPortugal, Spain, France, Belgium, England

🇵🇹 Lisbon & Sintra — Pre-Cruise

⭐ Book Sintra + Pena Palace + Wine Tasting Tour — GetYourGuide~$90/person · 4.9★ · 184 reviews · Max 8/van (2–3 vans for your group) · Free cancellation · Reserve now, pay later

Book Pena Palace timed entry — only if NOT doing the guided tour aboveparquesdesintra.pt · Sells out in peak season · Skip this if tour is booked — entry included

Check São Jorge Castle hours — castle.pt~€15/adult · Taxi up recommended (steep hill)

🇵🇹 Porto — Friday, May 21

Book port wine cave tour — Vila Nova de GaiaGraham’s Vintage Room requires advance booking · Cálem & Taylor’s usually available closer to date

🇪🇸 Vigo — Saturday, May 22

Book Albariño wine tour from cruise pierviator.com or eatandwalkabout.com · €65–85/person · Pier pickup available

🇪🇸 Bilbao — Monday, May 24

Book Txakoli winery tourviator.com or foodtoursbilbao.com · €45–65/person · Terminal pickup available

Book Guggenheim Bilbao entry (if going inside)guggenheim-bilbao.eus · Advance recommended

🇫🇷 Bordeaux — Tuesday, May 25

Book Bordeaux wine château visitAll require advance reservation · Book via Ophorus or Viator · Médoc €55–80/person · Saint-Émilion €95–150

Confirm transport to Bordeaux city (Le Verdon port is 2 hrs away)Shuttle bus or taxi · Account for travel time both ways in your plan

🇫🇷 Paris — Thursday, May 27

⚠️ Book Paris train tickets NOW — sncf-connect.comLe Havre → Paris Saint-Lazare: ~2 hrs · Prices triple as May approaches

Book Palace of Versailles timed entry — chateauversailles.frSells out weeks ahead · €32/adult

🇬🇧 Dover & London — May 29+

Book Tower of London — hrp.org.ukAdvance discount + limited capacity · £37/adult

Book Windsor Castle — rct.ukAdvance saves £4/person

Book Dover Castle — english-heritage.org.uk

⚠️ Book Stonehenge timed entry — english-heritage.org.ukNO walk-ups · Sells out months ahead · ~£22–25/adult

Book Stonehenge Stone Circle Experience (optional — highly recommended)Only 30 spots per sunrise/sunset slot · £70/adult · Books out fastest of all

Book private driver Dover → Stonehenge → London~£600–800 for 7–8 people · Arrange 3–4 months ahead · Book via Viator or UK transfer company

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Cornwall Extension — Optional Add-On

Book train London Paddington → Penzance — gwr.com~5 hours direct · Advance from £30–60 standard · £60–100 first class

Book hotel in Penzance or St Ives (2 nights minimum)

Book Kernow Tours “Best of the West” — kernowtours.co.uk · Tel: 07762260274Small-group tour · 5 hours · Book as early as possible

Book St Michael’s Mount timed entry — nationaltrust.org.uk£14/adult · Recommended in peak season

📄 Documents & Insurance

Check passport expiry — must be valid 6+ months beyond travel dateCheck this now — renewal can take weeks

Purchase travel insurance (medical + trip cancellation)

Download / print cruise boarding documents

Make photocopies of passport, insurance card, and cruise docsStore separately from originals · Email scans to yourself too

Set up WhatsApp group with all 10 couples before departure

🧳 Packing List

⚠️ Cobblestones are everywhere — Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Vigo, La Coruña, Bruges, Bilbao. Wear cushioned, grippy, well-broken-in shoes. Heels are dangerous. New shoes will destroy your feet by day 3.

👗 Clothing — 10-Day Mix

5–6 comfortable walking outfits (pants, jeans, travel skirts + tops)

2 nicer outfits for evenings / formal cruise nightsCheck Carnival’s dress code for formal night requirements

Lightweight down jacket or fleeceEvenings can be 12–15°C even in May near the coast

Waterproof / windproof outer layer — rain jacketNon-negotiable in Galicia, Belgium, and Cornwall

Cardigan or lightweight wrap for churchesCovered shoulders & knees required in most churches — carry a scarf

Swimsuit + cover-up (ship pool / sea days)

1 formal / dressy outfit for Carnival formal night

👟 Footwear

1 pair cushioned, grippy-soled walking shoes — WELL BROKEN-IN before you travelThis is the most important item on this list. New shoes on cobblestones = disaster.

1 pair comfortable slip-on shoes for evenings on the ship

Compact travel umbrella

📄 Documents & Money

Passport

Travel insurance documentation

Cruise card and boarding documents

Photocopies of all key documents (stored separately)

Euros — for Portugal, Spain, France, BelgiumDraw from ATM on arrival in Lisbon for best rate · Aim for €200–300 per person

British pounds — for England (Dover, London, Cornwall)

Credit card (Visa/Mastercard) — notify bank of travel dates and countries

💻 Tech

Universal plug adapter — Type C (EU) AND Type G (UK)You need BOTH types on this itinerary

Portable battery pack / power bankLong days ashore — your phone will need recharging mid-day

Phone with WhatsApp installed and group chat set up

Download Google Maps offline for each port cityDo this before sailing — ship Wi-Fi is expensive

Download Rick Steves Audio Tours app (free)Excellent free guides for Bilbao, Paris, Bruges, and London

Camera + charger + extra memory cards

💊 Health & Comfort

All prescription medications — full supply plus a few extra days

Blister prevention — Body Glide or moleskin patchesMiles of cobblestones. Essential, not optional.

Travel-size ibuprofen / pain relief

Sunscreen (May sun is strong, especially on deck)

Motion sickness remedies if neededBay of Biscay (May 25–26 sea crossing) can be rough

Small day bag or backpack per person for port days

Hand sanitizer + wet wipes

Reusable water bottle

Lightweight travel cane or trekking poles (if needed for steep sections in Sintra or Porto)

🗺️ Port-Day Tasks

Run through each port’s list the morning you arrive. All-aboard is typically 30–60 min before listed departure — set your alarm early.

🇵🇹 Lisbon — Pre-Cruise (May 19–20)

Embarkation May 20 · Arrive at least 1 day early to explore

Confirm Sintra wine tour pickup time + meeting point

Draw euros from ATM on arrivalBest exchange rate · Aim for €200–300 per person for Portugal + Spain days

Set up WhatsApp cruise group — add all 10 couples

Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes — cobblestones everywhere

Board ship by 3:30 PM on May 20

🇵🇹 Porto (Leixões) — Friday, May 21

Arrive 9:00 AM · All-aboard 5:30 PM · ~9 hours ashore

Confirm port wine cave tour time + which lodge

Cash for the day: €40–60/person (wine tasting + lunch)

Metro or taxi to city center (20–25 min)Metro Line A from Matosinhos Sul: €2 · Taxi €20–25

Group split confirmed: who goes to which wine lodge?

⏰ Set alarm for 4:30 PM — ship departs 6:00 PM

🇪🇸 Vigo, Spain — Saturday, May 22

Arrive 8:00 AM · All-aboard 4:30 PM · ~9 hours ashore

Confirm Albariño wine tour — pickup at pier confirmed?

Cash for the day: €40–60/person (wine + oysters + lunch)

Try the oysters on the waterfront — Vigo is famous for them

⏰ Set alarm for 3:30 PM — ship departs 5:00 PM

🇪🇸 La Coruña, Spain — Sunday, May 23

Arrive 8:00 AM · All-aboard 4:30 PM · ~9 hours ashore

Cash for the day: €30–50/person (very affordable port)

Visit Castillo de San Antón — only €2, book or walk-up

Walk or taxi to Tower of Hercules (UNESCO Roman lighthouse — free)

⏰ Set alarm for 3:30 PM — ship departs 5:00 PM

🇪🇸 Bilbao, Spain — Monday, May 24

Arrive 9:30 AM · All-aboard 6:00 PM · ~9 hours ashore

Confirm Txakoli winery tour pickup time + location

Cash for the day: €50–70/person (wine tour + pintxos + lunch)

Do the pintxos crawl in Casco Viejo (Old Town) — €2–3 per pintxo bar

Confirm Guggenheim entry time if attending

⏰ Set alarm for 5:30 PM — ship departs 6:30 PM

🇫🇷 Le Verdon / Bordeaux — Tuesday, May 25

Arrive 7:30 AM · All-aboard 4:30 PM · ⚠️ Port is 2 hours from Bordeaux city

Confirm château visit reservation + transport to/from Le Verdon2 hours each way — plan tightly to make it back in time

Cash for the day: €80–100/person (château tour + wine + lunch)

Budget alternative: Blaye ferry (€5) + walk Citadelle de Blaye (free)

⏰ Set alarm for 3:00 PM — need travel time back to port

🇫🇷 Le Havre / Paris — Thursday, May 27

Arrive 7:00 AM · All-aboard 7:30 PM · ~13 hours — your longest port day

Confirm train tickets to Paris — both directionsLe Havre → Paris Saint-Lazare: ~2 hrs · Last train back must arrive in time for ship

Confirm Versailles timed entry if attending

Cash for the day: €80–120/person (Paris is the expensive day)

Subgroups confirmed: Versailles / Paris city / Normandy alternative?

⏰ Set alarm for 4:30 PM — train back to Le Havre takes 2 hrs

🇧🇪 Zeebrugge / Bruges — Friday, May 28

Arrive 10:00 AM · All-aboard 6:30 PM · ~9 hours ashore

Take tram from port → Zeebrugge station → train to Bruges~25–35 min total · Tram ~€3 + train ~€1–4

Cash for the day: €50–70/person (Bruges is affordable)

Book canal boat ride on arrival — 30 min, ~€12, seated (great for moderate mobility)

Ghent detour? Gravensteen Castle — 30 min train from Bruges, €14 entry

Try: Belgian waffle, frites with mayo, and a Trappist beer

⏰ Set alarm for 5:00 PM — train + tram back takes 35 min

🇬🇧 Dover — Saturday, May 29 (Disembarkation)

Arrive 5:00 AM · Off the ship by 8:00 AM · Post-cruise day begins

Luggage packed and outside cabin the night before (May 28)

Passport in hand — required to disembark in the UK

Confirm private van driver name, contact, and pickup location

Confirm Stonehenge timed entry slot

Cash: bring £100–150/person (Dover Castle + Stonehenge + lunch + London travel)

Confirm London hotel check-in time

⚓ Ship Day Reminders

Run through this list every port morning before leaving the ship. The most common cruise mistake is getting caught out by the All-Aboard time.

🌙 Every Evening Back on the Ship

Check Carnival daily program for tomorrow’s departure time and events

Charge phone + battery pack fully overnight

Check tomorrow’s port arrival and All-Aboard times

Confirm tomorrow’s plan with your subgroup in WhatsApp

Set morning alarm (allow time to get ready and walk to gangway)

Make any dinner reservations needed for coming days

🌊 Sea Day — Wednesday, May 26

Rest, spa, pool, or deck time — you’ve earned it

Download offline maps for Le Havre and Paris (tomorrow)

Confirm Paris train tickets and Versailles reservations for Thursday

Confirm subgroup splits for Paris day (Versailles / City / Normandy)

Count remaining euros — Paris is the most expensive port day

🏁 Disembarkation Night — Friday, May 28

Luggage fully packed and set outside cabin before Carnival’s cutoff timeCheck daily program for the exact luggage pickup time

Settle any outstanding onboard charges at Guest Services

Keep passport, cruise card, and tomorrow’s essentials in carry-on (not checked luggage)

Save private van driver’s contact number to your phone

Return any borrowed items (towels, equipment, etc.)

Set alarm — Dover arrival is 5:00 AM on May 29

🚨 Emergency Contacts — Keep Handy

EU Emergency (Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium): 112

UK Emergency (Dover, London, Cornwall): 999

Carnival Cruise 24-hr line: 1-800-764-7419

US State Dept. overseas emergency: 1-202-501-4444

Travel insurance claim line: ________________ (fill in your policy number)