Hamburg, Cherbourg, Vigo, Lisbon, Barcelona, Marseille (Provence), Genoa

At the port of Hamburg, in the heart of the city, ships from around the world are bound. The city with the numerous bridges is a city full of contrasts that provides visitors with art and culture, theater and entertainment of high quality, unique shopping opportunities, lively nightlife and countless historical sites.

Cherbourg-Octeville is a city and former commune situated at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It is the most populated city in its department with 37,121 inhabitants.

Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is protected by Cherbourg Harbour, between La Hague and Val de Saire, and the city has been a strategic position over the centuries, disputed between the English and French. Cited as one of the "keys to the kingdom" by Vauban, it became, by colossal maritime development work, a first-rate military port under the leadership of Louis XVI and Napoleon, and holds an arsenal of the French Navy. A stopping point for prestigious transatlantic liners in the first half of the 20th century, Cherbourg was the primary goal of US troops during the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Along with its use as a military, fishing and yachting port, it is also a cross-Channel ferry port, with routes to the English ports of Poole and Portsmouth, the Irish port of Rosslare Harbour and St Helier on Jersey. Limited by its geographical isolation from being a great commercial port, it is nonetheless an important shipbuilding centre, and a working-class city with a rural hinterland. On Wednesday, 10 April 1912 the RMS Titanic crossed the English Channel and docked here at 7:00pm local time before raising anchor at 9:10pm local time and sailing to her final stop Queenstown, Ireland.

Vigo, which clings to the slope of Monte del Castro, overlooking a namesake bay, is the gateway to Santiago de Compostela, one of Christianity s holiest cities and the most venerated shrine in all Europe during the Middle Ages. An important fishing and commercial port, Vigo was first settled by Celts in 600 BC, whose legacy lingers on in the province's old legends - and in the bagpipes played on festive occasions. The city's medieval heritage is seen in the narrow streets and granite houses of the Ribera del Berbes, the old fishermen's quarter. Pilgrims from the four corners of Christendom followed the Way Of Saint James, flocking to the magnificent cathedral, built between the 12th and 13th centuries over St James' burial spotand. This enormous cathedral still draws thousands of daily visitors.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, on the southwest of the country, has been the main gateway for the rest of the planet for more than 19 centuries. Ships captained by Portuguese explorers like Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, skittered across the globe, hauling treasure home and making Lisbon a global capital. Draped across seven hills, Lisbon was once the center of a vast maritime empire that stretched from the west coast of Africa to the Spice Islands of the East Indies, until 1755, when a violent earthquake destroyed two-thirds of the city, leaving intact only the Alfama, the old Moorish quarter. Today, Lisbon is a stately city of Neoclassical buildings and wide plazas. Eternally linked to the sea, Lisbon's magnificent harbor is spanned by the longest suspension bridge in Europe. Among the city's landmarks are the iconic Castelo de São Jorge, the World Heritage Sites of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, both built in Lisbon's native Manueline architectural style.

Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures, a global capital of commerce, fashion, culture and sunshine. Cruise visitors should start with a walk down Las Ramblas, the glorious tree-shaded thoroughfare at the heart of the city, enjoy a dive in the wonderful beaches nearby, but, most of all, see what visionary architect Antoni Gaudi wrought. Seven of his creations have been honored as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including La Sagrada Familia, the Park Guell and Casa Mila. Time provided, you can also visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic, home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.

Marseille is the largest port on the Mediterranean, France's second largest city and a virtual melting pot of peoples and cultures. It is a unique city with a feel and culture all its own. It is also a place of striking contrasts, from the fishing boats of the picturesque Vieux Port to the modern Canebiere. Dominating the harbor is the infamous Chateau d'If, the rocky prison from which Alexandre Dumas' "Count of Monte Cristo" escaped. If you have time, explore the countryside around Arles and Avignon, immortalized in the canvases of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso, try the renowned bouillabaisse or tour the lovely towns and vineyards of Provence. 

Today we are visiting Genoa, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria, a powerful commercial center seaport and city-state. It was the birthplace of the great adventurer Christopher Columbus and its maritime roots have fostered a dialect that has absorbed elements of Neapolitan, Calabrese and Portuguese over the centuries. Genoa's harbor is a bustling swarm of activity, hosting a museum and an aquarium and has a magnificent medieval flair, ideal for a nice stroll. This port is our launching point for the sprawling metropolis of Milan.