Central Mediterranean Discovery

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans that's now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulatee

La Goulette, the cruise port for Tunis, lies about 40 minutes shuttle bus drive away from the city, but is much closer to the ruins of Carthage. The 2nd century Colosseum and Roman Temple are only 20 minutes drive from the port, and most excursions combine Carthage with a restful stop at the pretty seaside village of Sidi Bou Said.

The new cruise port in the grand harbour of Maltese capital Valletta is an impressive introduction to this fascinating Mediterranean island. Late medieval and baroque architecture abound in this UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ancient city walls, many churches and palaces. Fort St Elmo, created by the Knights of St John and once the most impregnable in the world, houses in its National War Museum the famous George Cross that was awarded to Malta during World War II to mark the bravery of the besieged islanders.

The Acropolis – ‘High City' - will always be the top attraction from Athens' cruise port Piraeus. With its 2,500-year-old Parthenon, temple to Poseidon and Athena, Odeon of Herodus Atticus and Theatre of Dionysus, it quite literally stands out as an oasis of calm in the frenetic Greek capital. As part of the major revamp the city had for the 2004 Olympics, 400 modern buildings were cleared from the ancient meeting place next to the Acropolis, the Agora, which was then restored and linked by walkways to the Acropolis, Hadrian's Arch, the Academy of Plato and the Monastery of Daphne. Other nearby ancient sites include the Roman Tower of the Winds and the Hill of the Muses where Socrates is said to have drunk hemlock. Below the Acropolis is the fun place to shop or barter, eat moussaka or Greek salad, drink wine or ouzo and, of course, to people-watch: the 3,000-year-old Plaka.

With its skyline aglow with the glimmer of domes and minarets, arriving in Istanbul is an unforgettable experience. The labyrinth of streets. Bustling bazaars. The serenity of the surrounding waters. This city offers one intriguing adventure after another. Explore Istanbul's most famous monuments, from the Hippodrome to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the old city walls. Its sheer size, wealth and beauty await you.

With its skyline aglow with the glimmer of domes and minarets, arriving in Istanbul is an unforgettable experience. The labyrinth of streets. Bustling bazaars. The serenity of the surrounding waters. This city offers one intriguing adventure after another. Explore Istanbul's most famous monuments, from the Hippodrome to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the old city walls. Its sheer size, wealth and beauty await you.

The island of Sicily is separated from Italy by the Strait of Messina, and retains an air of independence from its motherland. Messina, has wide avenues, a stunning harbour and is located close to the classical ruins of Tindari and the ancient city of Taormina. A mountainous and rugged land, Sicily is dominated by Europe's largest volcano, Mt. Etna. With four live craters around its summit, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

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. From there, it is easy to find your own way around this compact city. Behind is the 18th century cathedral (El Nueva) and the view from the top is worth the long climb up its internal stairs. The narrow streets of the old town below are lined by tall Moorish-style houses with flower-decked balconies mixed in amongst some small shops and tapas bars. 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 Sevilles historic Jewish quarter which also has the whitewashed houses and exquisitely coloured bougainvillea that everyone associates with this lovely city.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.