Readers’ tripFrom Lisbon to Bilbao on the “Sea Cloud Spirit”

Jill Grigoleit

 · 26.10.2026

The “Sea Cloud Spirit” has been in service since 2021 and combines traditional sailing with modern comforts.
Photo: Sea Cloud
From 22 to 28 May 2027, our readers’ cruise aboard the ‘Sea Cloud Spirit’ will take us from Lisbon to Bilbao. The itinerary includes historic port cities and a full day under sail.

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Martin Hager, editor-in-chief of BOOTE EXCLUSIV, will be accompanying the voyage with talks on board. Participants will spend six nights on the tall ship.

From the mouth of the Tagus to Galicia

The journey begins on 22 May 2027 in Lisbon. The following morning, the ‘Sea Cloud Spirit’ sets sail. As the ship leaves the Tagus, the scenery of this Portuguese seafaring city unfolds before your eyes. The next stop is Porto. There, the old town and the banks of the Douro are the focus of the excursion programme on offer, which includes exploring the area by historic tram or e-bike. In Vigo, the excursion options include trips to Santiago de Compostela or the Cíes Islands.

A whole day under sail

A full day’s sailing is planned between port calls. During this time, you can watch the crew carry out the traditional practice of setting the sails by hand. Wind and weather will determine how the sailing programme can be carried out at sea. Next on the Asturian coast is Gijón. From there, excursions to medieval Oviedo or to a cider cellar are planned. The trip ends on 28 May in Bilbao. In this Basque city, the tapas culture is also part of the programme.

The Sea Cloud Spirit

​The “Sea Cloud Spirit” has been in service since 2021 and combines traditional sailing with modern comforts. The three-masted ship has four decks with a wide range of facilities for passengers: the main deck, promenade deck, Lido deck, captain’s deck and sun deck. The 69 guest cabins are spread across three decks. On the Promenade Deck, alongside the reception and the elegant restaurant with a 270-degree view over the stern, there are 25 suites with private balconies. One deck below, on the main deck, there is an infirmary, a boutique and the wellness and spa area, including a steam room, sauna, hairdressing salon and relaxation area. Here, on the starboard side, a bathing platform can also be lowered, from which water sports activities can be enjoyed.

Prices and services included in the readers’ trip

BOOTE Exclusive readers receive a 250-euro on-board credit per person and an exclusive sailing excursion in Vigo when booking a new trip. Prices start at 4,990 euros per person in a Superior outside cabin; suites with a balcony start at 8,990 euros. The trip can then be extended with a two-day post-cruise programme in Bilbao and an excursion to the Rioja wine region. Travel to Lisbon and departure from Bilbao are arranged independently or organised for an additional charge.

Regarding the enquiry about the Journey from Lisbon to Bilbao When booking with Sea Cloud Cruises, please quote the booking code “BOOTE Exclusive Readers’ Trip”. The trip number is SCS-2717.

Which part of the route from Lisbon to Bilbao appeals to you most? Have you ever been on a ship like the Sea Cloud Spirit? Let us know in the comments.

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Jill Grigoleit

Jill Grigoleit

Editor Travel

Jill Grigoleit was born in Hanover in 1985. An early childhood memory is the large collection of YACHT and SURF magazines from her sailing and surfing enthusiast father. However, growing up in a small Swabian village on the Neckar, she had less to do with water sports in her childhood, apart from a few trips to the Baltic Sea with her family. After studying journalism in Bremen and Hanover, she went into television for a few years. Through a few lucky coincidences, she ended up on the water in 2011 and then returned to the written word professionally. For over ten years, she lived with her family on a houseboat in their own harbor south of Hamburg and wrote a book about houseboat building and life with children on the water. Since 2020, she has mainly been writing travel reports and features about people who live and work on and near the water for BOOTE. She has been a permanent member of the Delius Klasing water sports editorial team since January 2024.

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