LISBON – VALLETTA

A glorious mosaic of beauty, freedom and authenticity, Portugal’s capital is a stirring artwork of a city. Known for the seven hills it spreads across, and its stirring fado music, Lisbon is a pastel-colored blend of houses and beautiful tile artworks – and this creative city strikes a perfect harmony between natural and manmade beauty. Stroll along Alfama’s steep, cobbled streets as you explore one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods – where each house and door could be its own photograph. Look for the decorative tiles, with the distinctive blues and whites of Azulejo ceramics, and visit the dedicated museum to learn more. Afterwards, wind up to São Jorge Castle, where views out across Lisbon’s red rooftops unravel. Just one of many majestic viewpoints, you can also seek out Miradouro da Graça for perhaps Lisbon’s finest panorama, with the copper-colored suspension bridge stretching over sparkling water beyond the sea of buildings. The elegant Tower of Belém rises in the Tagus estuary and is a historic defender of these shores. The grand, carved cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery spread out close by, and there’s another UNESCO recognized location close by at Sintra, where a colorful town is set amid thick gardens and towering mountains – capped by the royal Pena Palace. Later, relax and take a quick break to drink Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur made from chocolate cups instead of coffee. Lisboetas have a sweet tooth, and the famous Pastel de Nata’s crumbling pastry and caramelized-custard topping is the essential accompaniment to any coffee stop.

Sprawl out and relax across thick wedges of glorious, golden sands, in Portugal’s sun-worshipping paradise. Portimão is a beachy heaven and a perfect encapsulation of the Algarve’s Atlantic appeals, offering easy access to the wonderful Praia da Rocha. Head straight for the long and wide expanse of this famous beach, where you can kick back and enjoy soft, honey-colored sands and gentle waves rolling ashore. A spectacular and spacious sandy expanse – located at the point where the Arade River unloads into the Atlantic – relax or wander the wooden boardwalk to a string of neighboring beaches, as you explore among dramatic, tank-like rock formations. Taste juicy hauls of sardines, cooked over open fires, with glasses of wine pressed from the vineyards nearby – as you lavish under the sunshine of the Algarve’s prime holiday region. Surrounded by offbeat fishing villages, stunning coastline and quaintly tiled old towns, there is a rich medley of life, culture and flavors to indulge in. Attractive mosaics pattern the scenic Ribeirinha promenade, breathing new life into Portimão’s rugged old docks, and creating a charming riverside stroll that leads to the showpiece beach. Elsewhere, the arches and sea-eroded lime-stone stacks of the monumental Ponta da Piedade coastline are close by, or you can make for Silves, a historical former capital of the Kingdom of the Algarve, crowned with a soaring sandy castle. The Moorish trading outpost of Lagos is also within reach, where you can visit a coastline dotted with gaping sea caves, set below crumbling coastal fortresses.

Whether you pronounce it Seville or Sevilla, this gorgeous Spanish town is most certainly the stuff of dreams. Over 2,200 years old, Seville has a mutli-layered personality; home to Flamenco, high temperatures and three UNESCO-World Heritage Sites, there is a noble ancestry to the southern Spanish town. Not forgetting that it is the birthplace of painter Diego Velazquez, the resting place of Christopher Columbus, the inspiration for Bizet’s Carmen and a location for Game of Thrones filming, Seville is truly more than just a sum of its parts. This city is a full experience, a beguiling labyrinth of centuries old streets, tiny tapas restaurants serving possibly the best dishes you’ll taste south of Madrid and a paradise of Mudejar architecture and tranquil palm trees and fountain-filled gardens.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So, whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

Seeing the Alhambra palace sprawling majestically beneath the snow-sprinkled backdrop of the Sierra Nevada’s range’s peaks is one of Spain’s most enchanting vistas. White sandy beaches welcome you ashore at Motril, and it’s a short jaunt to the legendarily beautiful, sun-soaked setting of Granada – where the famous and lush Moorish palace stands. Fountains sprinkle, archways soar, and intricate mosaics sparkle at the Alhambra – a fairy-tale palace, fortress and treasure of Spain’s Moorish architecture. The best view can be found at the magical Mirador de San Nicolas viewpoint – but you’ll need your wits about you to find it. The square sits perched amid the steep, historic labyrinth of the Moorish Albaicín district – a fiendishly labyrinthine – and gorgeously authentic quarter. You’ll also find Sacromonte mountain rising opposite, punctuated with cave dwellings. It’s here, within these atmospheric caves, where rhythmic claps echo, guitars are stabbed and strummed, and sultry flamenco performances play out by candlelight. They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but that’s not entirely the case in Granada – one of the last cities in Spain where you will usually receive a free plate of tapas when ordering. Everything from sandwiches to healthy helpings of carne con salsa – meat in tomato sauce – is dished out accompanying drinks. Enjoy a culinary tour of the city’s many tapas bars before heading back to Motril – no one leaves Granada hungry.

Algeria’s second city Oran is a beautiful costal city, steeped in history, its origins dating back to the 10th century. A cultural melting pot of Islamic, Haussmann and Spanish influences all still visible today.

The seafront features a long boulevard, said to be inspired by the promenade in Nice, France. It’s lined with tempting restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops and has great views of the harbor and coastline.

The Santa Cruz fort is one of Oran’s most famous landmarks, perched 400 meters up on Mt Aidour and visible from almost every corner of the city. It is well worth the hike or cable car journey for the 360° view of the coast and city spread below. Don’t miss the French built Santa Cruz chapel just below the fort, with a gigantic statue of the Virgin Mary gazing out over the city.

A perfect embodiment of Oran’s mixed and vibrant past is the church of Saint Louis d’Oran, since its 16th century beginnings it’s been a mosque, synagogue, church and a cathedral.

The Medina Jdida area is the commercial hub of Oran and where the massive market of the same name is found. Selling absolutely everything imaginable, popular with the locals, there’s a real buzz in the air. It’s a great place for trying street food, look out for the local specialty Kerentica, a tasty savory dish made of chickpea flour.

Madagh Beach, a sweeping, secluded bay, is a little gem. Actually, two golden beaches separated by a stream, backed by mountains and woodlands. The perfect place to ponder on all that history.

Along with museums and cultural sites, architecture offers a glimpse into Algier’s rich history, where French and Islamic influences exist side by side. Part of France from the mid 1800’s, in 1962 Algiers battled and won independence. Today it’s a city, full of contrasts, leaving no one indifferent to its charms.

The heart of the city is the ancient Casbah, a crowded hillside of homes, ancient palaces and mosques, nicknamed “Algiers La Blanche” (Algiers the white) because of the whitewashed houses. An urban maze of steep streets, smelling of spices and coffee, that twist and turn, down to the sea.

Along the Rue Didouche Mourad admire the French architecture, looking out for the wonderful Grand Post Office, now a museum. Surrounding streets are filled with excellent restaurants and coffee shops.

There are many beautiful mosques to visit from the oldest, the Great Mosque of Algiers built in 1097, to the Djamaan. El Djazair Mosque opened in 2020 with the world’s tallest mina-ret, a staggering 256 meters tall.

The fascinating 19th century Roman Catholic church, The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa is a testament to religious coexistence, on one wall is carved “Our Lady of Africa pray for us and the Muslims”. Worshippers of every faith have always been welcome, a place of unification in troubled times. It’s a haven of peace away from the noise of the city.

Built in 1982, the Martyrs Memorial Monument overlooks all Algiers, a highly visible reminder of the country’s struggle to regain independence.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So, whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shore side.

With more than 270,000 inhabitants Sousse is Tunisia’s third-largest city. Located on the coast and bordering the Gulf of Hammamet, it is about 140 kilometers south of Tunis. Sousse’s origin goes back to Hadrumetum, a Phoenician settlement in the Tunisian Sahel. It was later used by Romans, Vandals and the Byzantine Empire, but eventually destroyed in the 7th century during the Muslim conquest of North Africa. By the year 800 a border defense was set up at present day Sousse and it became an important commercial and military port under the Aghlabids. Located next to the port, several of Sousse’s old structures are still well-preserved and are listed as “Historic Monuments”, among them the Kasbah, the Medina of Sousse with the Great Mosque, the Bu Ftata Mosque and the Ribat, the most ancient and best-preserved fort and religious building. This complex has been considered to be a unique proto-type of military coastal architecture of the first centuries of Islam and one of the best examples of seaward-facing fortifications built by Arabs by UNESCO. This harmonious example of Arabian-Muslim urbanism was given World Heritage status. Although olive oil manufacture has been one of the main economic activities, tourism has played an important role since the 1960s. A harbor and beach promenade running for some 10 kilometers along fine sandy beaches and hotels is used by visitors and locals alike. The Archaeological Museum houses important Roman mosaics and artefacts from the Roman Christian catacombs.

As the largest island in the Mediterranean and centrally located, Sicily attracted interest from many historical powers. Greece was one state which established colonies here. Their legacy lives on as Porto Empedocle is named after a Greek philosopher. Later, the Romans made sure Sicily was part of their empire. Both ancient Greek and Roman art and culture are recognized in two outstanding World Heritage Sites on Sicily. The glory of the golden age of Ancient Greece is on show at the Valle dei Templi in the city of Agrigento. From the 6th Century BCE, Agrigento grew into one of the main cities of the Mediterranean. Despite the name, the site is a ridge, not a valley. Its many ruins include several temples constructed in the Doric architectural style. The magnificent Temple of Concordia is one of the best preserved of all Greek temples. Mosaics of out-standing beauty and preservation at the Villa Roman Del Casale are the finest in the Roman world. The luxurious villa dates from the 4th century CE. The mosaics were probably crafted by North Africans using local and North African stones. Hidden and protected beneath soil for centuries, the mosaic floors of the villa are now revealed. Look for the ‘Atrium of the Fishing Cupids’, the ‘Hall of the Great Hunt’, the ‘Vestibule of Eros and Pan’ and the ‘Cubicle of Children Hunting’. It is no surprise that the mosaic in the ‘Room with Girls in Bikini’ which shows young athletic women in small two-piece outfits is legendary. Does all fashion recycle?

Perched high on the imposing Sciberras Peninsula, Valletta immediately presents its massive, protective walls and vertical bastions to visitors arriving by sea. Rising to 47 meters in places, the fortifications protect lavish palaces, grand domes and illustrious gardens. Built by the Knights of St John on the narrow peninsula, Valletta is a compact, richly historical treasure trove of Baroque wonders. Ascend to reach the restful, flower filled Upper Barrakka Gardens, where cannons fire and boom in salute at noon each day, sending echoing cracks of noise out across the waves below. Recognized as 2018’s European Capital of Culture, Valletta is a fascinating and dense haven of his-tory and intrigue. A busy, bustling capital, the breathtaking St John’s Cathedral – commissioned in 1572 – is almost concealed among its narrow streets. The relatively modest exterior is counterpointed by a staggeringly opulent, gold-leaf bathed interior, containing a Caravaggio masterpiece – the shadowy vision of the Beheading of St John. Cinematic and magnificent, Valletta has served as a filming location for Game of Thrones – but real epic history abounds on this rocky isle too. From the prehistoric and megalithic sites of the Hypogeum of Paola and Tarxien, to the fascinating War Museum at Fort St Elmo. Mdina also waits nearby, and the former medieval capital is a striking contrast to the island’s main city. Cars are barred from its streets, and it offers endlessly atmospheric old-time wanders. With a strategic positioning in the Mediterranean, Malta is a jewel that many have wrestled for over the centuries. Independence from Britain was finally achieved in 1964, but the close allegiance remains evident, with English recognized as an official language, cars driving on the left, and red post boxes and telephone gleaming in Malta’s sunshine.

Post-Cruise arrangements are available.