Lisbon, Gibraltar, Tangier, Almeria (Andalusia), Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Palamós, Sete, Cannes, Portovenere, Montecarlo

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.

Gibraltar is an amazing co-mingling of past, present and future.The Rock of Gibraltar was considerred by the Ancient Greeks as the pillars of Hercules, marking the end of the world. It is at the Top of the Rock where you begin to understand and appreciate Gibraltar’s strategic geographical location and the important role it has played throughout history. The journey to the top of the Rock rewards you with a truly breathtaking view. From a height of 426m you will see the African coastline, where the waters of the Atlantic meet the Mediterranean, Spain’s Costa del Sol and a panoramic view of the City far below, the quays, marinas and bays. Stand on top of the Rock of Gibraltar and you feel as if you were on top of the world.

Tangier is part of the Kingdom of Morocco, Africa's whitewashed gateway to Europe and the Mediterranean, a rich blend of cultures, exotic souks, colourful riads, the Kasbah, lively markets.. Wide palm-lined boulevards and humming souks are Tangier's distinctively Moroccan characteristics, but Spanish, French and Berber influences are found everywhere: watch the arched wooden doors, the hefty silver ornamentations, the tighly-woven carpets that tell tribal legends.You can take a tour at the caves of Hercules and the colourful souks of the Old Medina, the Kasbah and the majestic mountains of the Rif.

Situated in the southeast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea, Almeria is the capital of the homonymus province. The modern port is an important commercial hub. You'll see evidence of a Moorish past in the Alcazaba Palace, the largest among the Muslim fortresses of Andalusia, after the Alhambra, as well as a Gothic cathedral, which has a fortress-like appearance due to its towers, merlons and protected paths, created to defend it from Mediterranean pirates. From Almeria you may also opt to tour by motor coach to Granada and the incomparable sight of the Moorish masterpiece, the Alhambra, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be enchanted by the amazing Heneralife gardens of the summer residence of the kings of Granada and the Palaces built for the Nasrid dynasty (1238-1492).

Alicante is one of the most popular and famous destinations on Costa Blanca, the 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline which attracts thousants of sun and fun lovers. Stroll among the palms, shops and cafés of the beachfront Explanada de España, explore the high-baroque Cathedral de San Nicolas de Bari, the Basilica of Santa María, the Baroque Casa de La Asegurada (1685), Gravina Palace (1748–1808), nowadays hosting Gravina Museum of Fine Arts, or the Castillo of Santa Barbara, a 16th-century castle with splendid views of Costa Blanca.

Since its founding as a Roman colony in 138 B.C., the Visigoths, the Moors, the Catalan and Aragonese and the modern tomato-throwers have thrived on the shores of the Mediterranean at the Gulf of Valencia. Valencia is a mix of the old and the new. The historic past is depicted in the stone geometry of the Valencia Cathedral,  the mediaeval gates of the Serrano and Quart towers, or the Tribunal de las Aguas (Water Court) and one of the most iconic examples of Gothic architecture in Europe, the Lonja de la Seda, declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. The new facet is embodied in the arching white steel of the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.

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.

Palamós is a town in the heart of the Mediterranean Costa Brava, located in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is a modern resort with crystal clear beaches, set around a yacht harbor. The climate is typical Mediterranean with long hot summers.

The port of Sete is located along the southwestern coast of France near the majestic range of Pyrenees Mountains. This historic city was the site of Europe's first medical school in the 12th century. Sete is the Mediterranean's largest fishing port and a bustling harbor town whose original island site is now linked to the mainland by natural silting. The authentic mood of the colorful Vieux Port, reserved for fishing boats, and the buildings’ mellow facades, pedestrian streets, shaded squares, and many canals, bridges and quays offer delightful strolling. Sete is gateway to Carcassonne, with its 52 watchtowers the most complete medieval fortified town in Europe, dating back to the Gallo-Roman era

Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur, has everything you would expect from the fifth largest city in France and one of the social hubs of Europe. Tourists can check out the beauty and architecture of Le Suquet, with its cobbled streets filled with restaurants and souvenir shops, enjoy breathtaking views from the top of the hill or head to the seaside, sit at street side tables and watch passers-by, who enjoy walking up and down the lovely marina and admiring the yachts of the rich and famous. Time given, visit the Covered Market (Marché Forville) for a spectacular eating and viewing food experience, take a walk at La Croisette, beside the sea or even swim at public beaches aat the far east and west of town.

Porto Venere is located on the Ligurian coast of Italy in the province of La Spezia. Portovenere’s harbor, although the smallest of Liguria, is one of the busiest during summer season.

Monte Carlo is a distric of the Principality of Monaco, built in 1866 in honor of Prince Charles III. It hosts an internationally famous Casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities, Larvotto beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the Opera House, built in 1893 by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera House, the Oceanographic Museum, dedicated to marine science and oceanography, Monaco Cathedral (1875), and of course, Prince's Palace, located in a unique setting upon the rock of Monaco and Fort Antoine on the northeastern tip of Le Rocher.