Southampton, Vigo, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, Horta, St. John's (Newfoundland), Sydney Canada, Halifax, Portland, Bar Harbor, Boston

Southampton is the largest city of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Southampton is a major port.  It was the point of departure for the RMS Titanic in 1912.

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.

Ponta Delgada is the largest municipality and administrative capital of the Autonomous Region of the Azores in Portugal, lying around a natural bay on São Miguel Island, the largest and most populous in the archipelago. Identified by its three arches known as the Portas da Cidade, it stands out for the large number of churches and other buildings, among which the baroque São Sebastião Church and the Todos os Santos Church. White-washed houses and buildings, 17th and 18th Century convents and churches decorate its rolling hills. Cobbled streets and small squares are found around the centre, where there is also a large boulevard, which is perfect for evening seaside walks. Visit Museu Carlos Machado (Carlos Machado Museum), the beautiful Praça 5 de Outubro (5th of October Square) which is dominated by a marvellous Renaissance Fortress, the Fortaleza de São Brás, the most romantic garden and most lush area in the city, Jardim António Borges (António Borges Gardens) or tour to the natural wonders of the island, such as the Lagoa das Sete Cidades (Seven Cities Lake), which is formed by two large lakes that fill the massive crater of a dormant volcano. From the Pico do Carvão one can enjoy fabulous panoramic views over the Lagoa das Sete Cidades.

Horta is a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipelago of the Azores. Horta’s marina is a primary stop for yachts crossing the Atlantic. At the city’s Regional Museum there is a permanent photography exhibition of the major volcanic eruption in the Azores.

North America's oldest city, St. John's is a mix of colorful wooden houses, stately brick churches and colonial buildings. Travelers can easily explore nearby ecological reserves, world renowned Provincial and National Historic Sites, cultural and interpretative centres and hike urban and costal nature trails. St. John’s iconic landmarks are the Cathedral, Signal Hill, Cabot Tower and the Battery, and its new provincial museum called The Rooms.

Sydney is a port on the east coast of Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the South Arm, Sydney affords year-round ice-free anchorage for large ships, including cruise ships. Sydney is an ideal base for exploring south-eastern Cape Breton and has a full range of shops and services.

The economic and cultural capital of eastern Canada, is an easygoing and hospitable metropolis, located on one of the planet's great natural harbors. The beautifully restored waterfront buildings of Halifax's Historic Properties recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage and adorned with landmarks like the Citadel fortress, Pier 21 (Canada's Ellis Island) and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Outside the city, cruise visitors can discover the weatherbeaten landscape of Nova Scotia's south shore, including famous Peggy's Cove and the German village of Lunenburg, so meticulously restored it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located on an outstanding setting on the coast of Maine. Visitors can stroll with ease around the historic buildings, the vibrant arts district, the waterfront and the revitalized warehouse districts of Portland’s Old Port.

Most of the year, the sunlight touches the United States first at Cadillac Mountain on the Maine Coast, and from its granite-slabbed summit, light tiptoes down across the rest of Mount Desert Isle, Acadia National Park, the town of Bar Harbor and then the rest of the country. The raw coastal scenery attracted Hudson River School painters in the 1840s, and their art in turn lured thousants of visitors to the area. Soon, Bar Harbor was the "playground" for the East Coast glittering class and bejeweled with grand mansions and immaculate gardens. Cruise visitors can walk the streets of town, relax on the Village Green, or climb Cadillac Mountain. At Acadia National Park enjoy hiking, bird watching and cycling tours.

Boston is the largest city of Massachusetts and New England, located in a natural harbour. The metropolis is showcasing significant historic sites, which you can visit by following The Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile stretch hosting 16 sites pertaining to the Revolutionary War. Don't miss its interesting museums, the Museum of Science at Science Park, with more than 400 interactive exhibits, the Museum of Fine Arts, New England's largest art museum, known for its collection of works by Claude Monet. The Institute of Contemporary Art in South Boston, all glass and sharp angles, a stark departure from the city's presiding aesthetic as well as Boston Public Library are also interesting to have a look. Take a walk at the South End, street after tree-lined street of red-brick bow-front townhouses dating to the 1800s, along with some of Boston's best restaurants, design stores and boutiques. For shopping, choose the eight-block shopping stretch of Newbury Street in Back Bay, Quincy Market or Faneuil Hall Marketplace, an ιndoor-outdoor market great place for both shopping and dining. Enjoy nature at its best, by walking along the Boston side of the Charles River, which separates the city from Cambridge, a roughly three-mile leafy path known as the Charles River Esplanade or visit Boston Public Garden (Boston Common), the nation's oldest botanical garden (1634).