MV La Belle des Océans, 7 Night Cruise through the Canary Island Archipelago, eternal Springtime ex Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spa

This superb itinerary takes you to six islands with wonderfully mild weather. Discover each island and the contrasts that set them apart. On Tenerife and Gran Canaria, flourishing gardens transport visitors to fresh, fragrant heights. Peaceful La Gomera and La Palma offer jungle-like, lush vegetation. Lastly, the gray, imposing cliffs on unrivaled Lanzarote emphasize the immense, infinite beauty of each. The uniquely landscaped, balmy paradise of Fuerteventura began to emerge from the ocean millions of years ago. Don't miss Timanfaya National Park and the lava flows on the lunar-landscaped Fire Mountains.

Day 1
Passengers are welcome to board our ship. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner and an evening of activities on board. Our ship will remain in port overnight.

Day 2
This morning, join us for an optional excursion to Timanfaya National Park. Lanzarote is truly a unique place. Seventy-five percent of the island’s surface is covered with craters and lava flows dating back to massive volcanic eruptions 270 years ago. The Fire Mountains in the park possess a singular beauty. At the heart of the stone and rock vineyards in Geria, we’ll enjoy a tasting of wine and cheese at one of the oldest bodegas on the island. This afternoon, join us for an optional excursion to learn about César Manrique, one of the most important artists in the Canary Islands. Jameos del Agua is the art, culture, and tourism center where his talents can be experienced firsthand. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Mirador del Rio to take in the outstanding views of the moon-like landscape. Lastly, we’ll visit the César Manrique House Museum, an incarnation of his talents. When La Belle des Océans casts off for its cruise through the Canary Islands, our crew will welcome you on the Sun Deck for a cocktail. Enjoy an evening of entertainment. Our ship will cruise to Fuerteventura overnight.

Day 3
Join us for an optional excursion called "The Secrets of Fuerteventura." We'll begin towards the northern part of the island at the Finca Torres, where we'll discover how local goat cheese is made. The internationally renowned goat cheeses produced in Fuerteventura have been awarded the highest "Golden Cheese Award" for five consecutive years. At the end of our tour, we'll enjoy a tasting of this famous delicacy. We'll then continue on to the small village of Tiscamanita to visit a cosmetics producer who uses aloe vera, one of the most prominent crops on the island. You'll learn everything you'll need to know about this surprising plant. Lastly, we'll experience Betancuria, the island's first colony and former capital. French explorer Jean de Béthencourt founded Betancuria at the beginning of the 15th century. He chose the area within the valley to be protected from pirate attacks. Despite his strategy, pirates razed the village in 1593.We'll spend the afternoon cruising to Gran Canaria. Lecture.

Day 4
In the afternoon, join us for an optional excursion to Teror and the Garden of La Marquesa de Arucas. Teror is a place of pilgrimage for all the island's inhabitants as it houses the statue of the patron saint of the island in its basilica, the Virgen del Pino. Afterwards, we'll head to Arucas, one of the most beautiful cities in Gran Canaria. We'll see the outside of the imposing, black cathedral and visit the lovely Garden of La Marquesa de Arucas, home to 400 species of tropical and subtropical plants.Our ship will cruise to La Gomera. Join us for an evening of dancing in the lounge. Our ship will cruise through the night.

Day 5
We'll spend the morning cruising. Take advantage of a quiet moment on LA BELLE DES OCEANS to catch some rays poolside or enjoy a treatment in our wellness salon. More active passengers can keep in shape in the fitness center, and history buffs can attend the lecture in the lounge.Join us for an optional excursion to the island of La Gomera this afternoon. We'll visit Garajonay National Park, which is blanketed with thick, bay-tree forests. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a striking contrast to the rest of the archipelago. The park sits under an almost constant haze of fog from the trade winds and the surrounding waters, which gives it an eerie atmosphere. We'll pass through the quaint villages of Hermigua, Las Rosas, and Agulo—whose sweet charm led to the nickname "The Bonbon of La Gomera." We'll stop for a typical island tea time and listen to a demonstration of Silbo Gomero, the whistled language used by the islanders. We'll enter Garajonay National Park to see the Roque Agando rock formation, the symbol of the island, jutting far above the greenery of the forests.Our ship will cruise to La Palma. Join us for dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Day 6
We'll spend the morning cruising. Lecture.In the afternoon, feel free to join us for an optional excursion to the heart of the island. We'll hit the road to the Caldera de Taburiente for some spectacular views. First, we'll visit the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves, a lovely whitewashed sanctuary housing the venerated Virgin of the Snows. Our tour will then take us along mountain roads and through extraordinary scenery to the Caldera de Taburiente. We'll stop at a traditional 17th-century farm—surrounded by gorgeous gardens and breathtaking views—for a refreshing snack. On the way back, a brief stop at the Mirador de la Concepcion overlook will give you an impressive view of the coast and northern part of the island.Our ship will cruise to Tenerife overnight. In celebration of our last cruise through the Canary Islands, join our crew on the Sun Deck for a cocktail together. Tonight is our festive gala evening.

Day 7
This morning, join us for an optional excursion to Teide National Park. Created in 1954, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The last time the volcano erupted was in 1909. You’ll experience an astonishing view from the top of the crater, and you will be able to stroll around a bit to experience it all from different angles. This afternoon, we’ll set off on an optional visit to Puerto de la Cruz and meander down the charming streets lined with gardens, beautiful homes, and quaint churches. We’ll stop at the Mirador de Humbolt, a lookout point with sweeping views of the Orotava Valley and its banana plantations before visiting the Orchid Garden Sitio Litre. For the last evening on board, enjoy the show of traditional songs in the Salon and Bar.

Day 8
Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

It has navigated the world’s seas, drawing its long and majestic silhouette on the most distant horizons. A prestigious Premium ship, the MV La Belle des Océans provides the perfect setting from which to discover new itineraries and visit dream destinations. The MV La Belle des Océans, an elegant and perfectly sized Premium ship measuring 103 meters long by 15 meters wide, has 7 decks. It can accommodate 130 passengers in 65 spacious cabins and suites, all with exterior views. On board, every step is an adventure. From the lounge / bar to the swimming pool and the fitness center, from the spa to the wellness lounge, between well-thought-out spaces and tailormade services, everything has been designed to offer high-end comfort and make the cruise unforgettable. The restaurant, where all meals are served during the cruise, offers delicate contemporary and international cuisine in a refined setting, where large windows allow guests to enjoy the panorama. A grill restaurant, as well as a bar / lounge, are also located near the pool.

CroisiEurope has a fleet of Prestige category boats with cabins, which ply the most beautiful rivers in Europe. Spacious and light, they offer a welcoming and refined setting. Accommodation capacity varies from 100 to 180 passengers depending on the boat's design. At the cutting edge of technology, their facilities offer comfort and safety.

Carefully maintained and partially renovated each year, the CroisiEurope fleet is largely made up of recently built vessels, less than five years old, all with Veritas certification. The leading European river tour operator, our company owes its international reputation to its seriousness, its dynamism, its sense of innovation and its recognised value for money of long standing.

Vessels are rated four-star and food is superb – as you’d expect on a French-owned cruise line, staffed by French chefs and with top French and German wines aboard. One cruise of the Rhone and Saone Rivers in France concentrates on gastronomy and traditional French cusine, visiting Collonges Abbey, renowned for its great French chef, Paul Bocuse.

CroisiEurope is a family-owned and operated firm, with brothers and sisters running different aspects of the company and keeping a close eye on all operations to ensure excellence.

River cruising offers much free fun. Wake in the morning and observe the passing riverside scenery through your cabin window – perhaps from your bed. Gaze upon village churches or a patchwork of fields sparkling in the morning sun.

CroisiEurope’s network traverses a phenomenal number of European rivers and waterways. They range from the Guadalquivir and Guadiana (flowing through Spain and Portugal respectively); the Douro in Portugal, the Po and Venice Lagoon in Italy; the Rhone in Provence, plus the Seine from Paris to the Normandy Coast. And there’s more: the Moselle, the Neckar, the Saar, the Oder, the Havel, the Baltic Sea, the Camarge, the Rhine, the Main and the mighty Danube; the Tisza and the Black Sea; the Belgian and Dutch waterways. Everything from tulip time in Holland to Christmas Markets in Germany.

Drinks included with on board meals: mineral water, house wine, beer, fruit juice, and tea or coffee.