Spain Cruise: Valencia
In this third post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores the San Jose Caves in Valencia, Spain on her Spanish Wine Discoveries Cruise on Azamara.
My first full day of the cruise was spent in and around Valencia, Spain. We arrived and docked in Valencia early in the morning. After a delicious breakfast I headed out to my excursion to the Coves de Sant Josep (San Jose Caves). I then enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing afternoon. The evening wrapped up with a high-energy performance on the ship.
Spanish Wine Discoveries Cruise Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Cruise Day 1 in Valencia, Spain. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- Pre-Cruise Day 1 – April 7: Barcelona, Spain
- Pre-Cruise Day 2 – April 8: Barcelona, Spain
- Cruise Day 1 – April 9: Valencia, Spain
- Cruise Day 2 – April 10: Alicante, Spain
- Cruise Day 3 – April 11: Melilla, Spain
- Cruise Day 4 – April 12: Malaga, Spain
- Cruise Day 5 – April 13: Cadiz/Seville, Spain
- Cruise Day 6 – April 14: Lisbon, Portugal
Welcome to Valencia
It was a pretty arrival into Valencia. The sun was shining on the vibrant port city. Even though we were docked near an industrial area, the beautiful city was in view just beyond.
Coves de Sant Josep
Today’s excursion took me to the Coves de Sant Josep (San Jose Caves), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our bus took us about 45 minutes north of Valencia to visit the caves of de Vall d’Uixo. The visit to the caves happens in three parts: first, a gentle and quiet boat ride through the first part of the underground river; next, a short walk of about 820 feet (250 meters); finally, another boat ride completes the tour. The boat tour portions cover about a half mile (800 meters). The temperature in the caves remains a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius) throughout the year.
Click through the slideshow below to see some pictures of the cave tour:
This is the longest navigable underground river in Europe. The caves are so low in many places that you have to duck quite a bit! In fact, on the first part of the boat ride they prohibit people from taking pictures. As our guide explained, people got so interested in taking their pictures that they were not paying attention to the cave walls and many people got hurt! So now they ask you to wait and take pictures on the second half of the boat tour, which has a bit more clearance.
Click through the slideshow below to see some more pictures of the cave tour:
A Relaxing Afternoon
After a fun morning in the caves, I headed back to the ship for a relaxing afternoon. I soaked up the sun and admired the blue skies and blue water surrounding me. I belatedly got my “capture the flag” selfie…three days into visiting my country #36! A stop at the Mosaic Cafe provided a wonderful mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Another Amazing Dinner
Tonight was another amazing dinner in Discoveries, the main dining room on the ship. My choices for tonight:
- Starter: Ceviche (in the shape of a fish!)
- Main Course: Argentinian flank steak with chili potatoes and chimichuri
- Dessert: Apple tart with pecan ice cream
- Not on the Menu: A stunning sunset over Valencia!
Destination Immersion Celebration – Flamenco Show
My fabulous day in Valencia finished with a wonderful Destination Immersion Celebration on the ship. One of the many suite guest perks I got during the cruise was a special VIP event before the show – a champagne toast, VIP seats for the show, and a meet-and-greet photo opportunity with the two Flamenco dancers.
Local performers from Valencia joined us onboard and put on an amazing show. It was similar to a Cirque de Soleil show, with a story line throughout, some acrobatics, and Flamenco dancing (of course!). I was so mesmerized during most of the show that I only snapped a few pics. Scroll through the slideshow below for a few highlights:
Conclusion
I enjoyed a fun-filled day in Valencia! It had a bit of everything…a morning adventure exploring some beautiful caves, a relaxing afternoon in the sun, and an evening of delicious food and a mesmerizing performance. While I did not get to spend any time in Valencia itself, we did a panoramic tour on the bus back to the ship after the excursion. It is a gorgeous and vibrant city!
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Azamara:
