A Journey of Vineyards, Culture & Atlantic Shore

Lisbon, Europe's westernmost capital and Portugal's cultural hub, lies on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Tagus River. The city is a delightful mix of must-see museums, castles and cathedrals. Its charming neighbourhoods feature residences decorated with colourful tiled facades, sidewalk cafes along pedestrian thoroughfares and enchantingly original boutiques. The sidewalks are often paved with black and white volcanic stones in patterns specific to this city. Lisbon has a refreshingly non-commercial feel, old-fashioned and relaxed, and exploring on foot is a delight. Portugal enjoyed its heyday long ago, and some of the older buildings that reflect this era are as opulent as they get. However, much of the city was levelled in the devastating earthquake of 1755, so visitors will notice that the city's architecture is not as old as that found in some European capitals. Prices tend to be lower than in the rest of Europe, especially in the moderately priced meals, wine and entrance fees to the main attractions. If you like fish and shellfish, you've come to the right city. Pastry shops abound, many with lovely storefronts, providing sit-down respite for coffee, tea and something sweet. Lisbon is a city of hills, and the up-and-down geography adds to its charm. One of the best ways to experience it is via a tram ride through the medieval Alfama district, Baixa (the central business district) and the Bairro Alto (the major restaurant and nightlife area). Both the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts have wonderful miradoures, or viewpoints, to take in the city below, the nearby hills and the wide Tagus River that provides ships such easy access to the city. For cruise visitors, Lisbon is also a jumping-off point for day trips to Portugal's resort towns -- such as Estoril, near the mouth of the Tagus and lovely Sintra with its palaces up in the hills -- or a Catholic pilgrimage to Fatima.

Leixões, the bustling port of Porto, offers visitors a unique taste of northern Portugal.  Just a short hop from the vibrant city of Porto, Leixões boasts a lively fish market, a beautiful waterfront promenade, and of course, easy access to the region's famous Port wine cellars. It's the perfect place to soak up the local atmosphere and enjoy the fresh seafood that the region is known for.

The gateway to Galicia, situated on the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, is known locally by its Galician name: A Coruna. Built on an ancient Celtic hill fort, much of this compact Spanish city is manageable on foot. Brimming with history, tradition and splendid architecture, it features a wealth of open spaces, parks and pristine beaches. Residents take pride in their Celtic heritage and cherish the survival of Galego, their language. The miradores (glass-fronted balconies) of the tall apartment buildings overlooking the harbour in the Avenida de la Marina are distinctive features of this handsome yet gritty place. Residents can admire the views while helping to protect against the strong winds that sweep in from the Atlantic Ocean. This led to the town being called the Crystal City. Flourishing San Carlos Garden, which sits atop the old San Carlos fort, is located just inland from the cruise ship pier. Sir John Moore is buried there. He was the British general who led the British and Spanish troops against Napoleon's army in the 1809 Battle of Corunna and died in the fighting. The garden makes a good starting point for a stroll around, the Ciudad Vieja, or old town. This quarter, all spires and cobbled lanes, contains remains of the Roman wall that once protected it. Besides a flurry of look-at-me churches, there is an impressive collection of galleries, clusters of restaurants, tapas bars and quirky shops that spill into the winding alleyways. A Coruna also has museums for all tastes, so whether your bag is art, clocks or archaeology, you will find one to suit you. The Town Hall is in pedestrian-only Maria Pita Square, which owes its name to the feisty heroine of the same name. From the nearby port of El Ferrol, the Spanish Armada sailed to invade Britain, but only half of the galleons returned. Later, Sir Francis Drake led a retaliatory invasion, but it was repelled in 1589 by the citizens of A Coruna led by Maria Pita. The square is enclosed on three sides by buildings and arcades.

If someone mentioned Bilbao 30 years ago, the reaction might have drawn a blank stare or "Bill who?" But since the arrival and huge success of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the mere mention of the city will elicit strong reactions and lots of animated discussion about architect Frank Gehry's magnificent piece of sculpture, the museum's mostly contemporary art collection and its winsome riverside setting. While the museum is extraordinary, there is much more to Bilbao than this single draw. The city, Spain's fifth-largest, will delight visitors with its charming Old Quarter, lively restaurants and tapas bars, excellent shopping, and the outstanding architecture that dominates the modern city centre.

Bilbao was once a powerhouse of industry, based on mining iron ore, steel manufacturing, shipbuilding and ship repair, banking, insurance, and overseas trade. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city's wealth gave rise to a most handsome new city across the Nervion River, called The Ensanche (or Extension). The new development featured the construction of wide boulevards, expansive plazas and a whole host of architecturally significant buildings. Yet, in the 1980's and the years that followed, most of the city's economic base slipped away due to cheaper production in emerging countries and the outfall from joining the EU. Only now are the city's fortunes finally returning.

Enter Guggenheim Bilbao, which provided the initial stimulus for resuscitating a moribund post-industrial port city into a vibrant urban centre that is most assuredly worth more than the one day most people give it. The huge increase in visitors from all over the world has encouraged a revival of retail shopping along the smartened-up Gran Via; the creation of additional office spaces, including Cesar Pelli's elliptical Torre Iberdrola (2011); the rehabilitation of a monumental former wine warehouse into a handsome leisure, arts and shopping centre (Alhondiga); and the rise of a bustling street life in the Casco Viejo, the Old Quarter. It's there that you will find what travellers say are some of the best tapas bars and traditional restaurants in Spain, set in a rabbit warren of medieval pedestrian lanes overlooked by stylish residential buildings with lively, patterned facades.

The city's museums and its Old Quarter are now linked by a linear park and pathway that parallels a revived riverfront. Several architecturally intriguing bridges give access to the river's north side and to the funicular to the top of Mount Artxanda for a view of the city and its hilly surroundings.

If you prefer not to take a ship's shore excursion, it's easy to explore Bilbao on your own. Once in the centre, most everything is walkable, while a useful tram line links the museums along the riverfront to Casco Viejo.

Pauillac, in the heart of the Médoc wine region of France, is a must-visit for wine enthusiasts.  Home to prestigious châteaux producing some of the world's finest Bordeaux wines, Pauillac offers visitors the chance to tour vineyards, sample exceptional vintages, and learn about the rich history and traditions of winemaking.

Pauillac, in the heart of the Médoc wine region of France, is a must-visit for wine enthusiasts.  Home to prestigious châteaux producing some of the world's finest Bordeaux wines, Pauillac offers visitors the chance to tour vineyards, sample exceptional vintages, and learn about the rich history and traditions of winemaking.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

Located on the south coast of England, Southampton served as the historic ocean liner gateway for the British Empire and the intense North Atlantic passenger trade to the U.S. and Canada. Today it is the U.K.'s - and indeed Europe's -- leading cruise port.

Best known as the homeport of Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Southampton now hosts a wide variety of cruise ships in the booming European cruise market with the principal lines being Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Saga Cruises.

For most cruise passengers, it's the first and/or last port on a European cruise or Atlantic crossing. But New York it ain't, and the first thing you see as you approach is not the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, but a giant IKEA.

A pleasant, bustling city of around a quarter of a million inhabitants, Southampton has several areas of interest, though much of its historic medieval character was destroyed during World War II. In 1620, the Mayflower left from just outside the existing city walls, and the waterfront recalls this historic voyage. From Mayflower Park, you can enjoy watching the container ships pass en route to and from the freight terminal beyond the Western Docks, cruise ships departing from three separate locations, and excursion boats and cross-harbour ferries flitting around the port. Today, it is a modern shopping destination, business centre and university town (the University of Southampton is a major British research university; among its well-known alumni is QM2 designer Stephen Payne with a large commercial port in addition to its year-round cruise operations.

It's not somewhere you want to hang around (unless you want to pick up some flat-pack furniture), and most visiting cruise passengers will use Southampton as a gateway to nearby London (an hour and 10 minutes away by train). It is also a good starting point for the Isle of Wight (reachable by ferry) and the surrounding county of Hampshire and Wiltshire, with their numerous attractions.