Spain and Portugal

Grab a cable car to carry you up the ancient Pillar of Hercules for views that will leave you breathless. For the wildlife enthusiast in you there's a stop to appreciate the diverse birdlife and to meet those famous Barbary Apes, of course! Beneath Gibraltar's white cliffs grow a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers grow here, some found nowhere else on Earth.

Built around a natural harbour, the main city and cruise port on Spain's Costa Blanca, Alicante, is also a top beach resort in its own right. It has a sophisticated Mediterranean feel with its restored old town adding to its charm and the attraction of its sandy beaches. When choosing a stretch of sand in Alicante, but the white-sand, blueflag El Postiguet is a good place to start. Its proximity to the Old Quarter adds to the charm – stretch your legs on the palm-lined promenade, guided by its pretty, wavy patchwork of marble tiles.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona's numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.

You cruise right into the heart of historic Cadiz as immediately across the busy Avenida del Puerto from the Spanish port is the main square and shopping area. Cadiz dates back to the 12th century BC so is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western world but sultry Seville has long since outgrown its neighbour. La Giralda (the bell-tower next to its Gothic cathedral), is in Seville's historic Jewish quarter which also has the whitewashed houses and exquisitely coloured bougainvillea that everyone associates with this lovely city. With a low-key, laid-back vibe, it’s famed for its seafood, sand and sunlight. Cadiz is a pleasure to explore on foot with winding alleyways, vast plazas and stunning architecture.

Portugal's capital spreads its ancient sites on seven steep hillsides that overlook the Tagus River. Feast your eyes on St. George's Castle which overlooks the city atop the highest hill, or the countless balconies ablaze with geraniums and wrought iron lamps that light up the medieval Alfama quarter. Wonder up to the Bairro Alto where you may hear the sorrowful fado singers ring out from cafés.

The UK's premier passenger ship port, located in the picturesque English county of Hampshire, Southampton is a vibrant waterfront city, serviced by direct trains to London, an airport, and an international cruise terminal. Explore the city’s maritime heritage and links to RMS Titanic in the Sea City Museum, see contemporary British art in the Cultural Quarter, or walk the medieval walls in the Old Town. Further afield you’ll find The New Forest National Park, Winchester Cathedral, Stonehenge, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Isle of Wight, while the city’s thriving craft beer and culinary scene will leave you spoilt for choice.