Merchant's Wake – Lisbon, Cádiz & Mallorca

About this cruise

The kind of trip where you lose track of what day it is, and nobody cares. 11 nights from Southampton on August 20, 2026, visiting IJmuiden (Amsterdam), Zeebrugge and Le Havre (Paris), with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean. The sailing ends in Barcelona. There's a stretch of back-to-back port days, so those days are busy, but the sea days around them give you time to recharge. The Western Mediterranean route takes in Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, 5 countries, and the differences show up in the food, the architecture, and the mood. Most ports give you about 10 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, Norwegian Sky keeps you well fed. 8 places to eat, with 4 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. 11 nights is long enough to build a routine on board: favourite restaurant, favourite deck chair, favourite people. It starts to feel like a floating village. A proper voyage for people who like to take their time and hate rushing through destinations. It's peak season, so the weather is at its best and the ship will be full. That's part of the fun. If you've been thinking about a cruise, this 11-night sailing is a strong place to start.