Spain, Portugal & France from Barcelona, Spain

Cruises from Barcelona make for some of the most unforgettable vacations you can imagine. Barcelona looks like a city that should be known for its architecture… and, naturally, it is. From monuments in Romanesque and Renaissance styles to Gothic spires and contemporary curves, there’s little surprise Barcelona was the creative playground of acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudí. But that’s just one reason why cruises out of Barcelona are so seductive. Barcelona’s a feast for the eyes and the palate, alike, and be sure not to miss the chance to try tapas as and visit spots like the La Rambla, Port Vell and especially Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Fun beach bars overlooking the Mediterranean, sleek Spanish designer stores, and Gaudí’s surreal buildings make Barcelona, Spain a whimsical and unique place to visit. For a Mediterranean cruise, Spain is a great place to start — sample the good stuff on one of Carnival’s cruises from Barcelona.

Cádiz dates back to 1100 B.C., making it actually one of the oldest cities not just in the region of Andalusia, not just in Spain, but in all of Europe! The city’s strategic location at the mouth of the Mediterranean may explain its architectural landscape — which features over 100 watchtowers — and a clue to why it’s home to Spain’s navy. Further inland in the region is the city of Seville, which boasts a past not quite as long, but definitely rich with history! Highlights in Seville include the 1,100-year-old royal palace of Alcazar replete with gardens and fountains, an opulent 15th-century cathedral — actually, Europe’s third largest — and even the hillside village Arcos de la Frontera, whose city center was officially declared a national artistic-historic monument.

Discover Portugal’s bright, fun-loving capital city on your cruise to Lisbon. Straddling seven hills, hugging the banks of the River Tagus — and crowned by the storybook castle of São Jorge — Lisbon, Portugal is a visually stunning place to visit, and arriving by sea is doing it right! The nation’s hundreds of years of nautical heritage is concentrated in Lisbon, and the riverside Belém district is where Portuguese navigators like Magellan and Vasco da Gama would begin their journeys. Today, cruise ship passengers make landfall not far from that spot. By the way, the city has modern claims to fame, too! With its rumbling yellow trams and stately plazas, irresistible patisseries and bluesy fado music, expect exotic sights and sounds — and more — on your cruise to Lisbon.

Best known as the gateway to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar is a port whose big features defy its reputation as a tiny British territory. For instance, the Rock of Gibraltar is more a mountain than a pebble — despite its understated name — and features limestone burrow tunnels that helped Gibraltar fend off invaders for over 200 years. The most scenic way up the rock is the Mediterranean Steps — imagine a staircase leading up the great rock towards even greater vistas. Down below in Gibraltar (and especially on Main Street) shopping is big… and perhaps more importantly, it’s duty-free.

Cruise to Málaga and enjoy one of Spain’s oldest cities. First founded by the Phoenicians, the city of Málaga had hosted a number of civilizations over its 3,000 years. The end result is a city that’s a cornucopia of Roman and Moorish influences, among others. Travel to Málaga and enjoy the city’s many museums, especially Museo Picasso Málaga… after all, this is the city where the artist himself was born. Take a side-trip to nearby Granada, where visitors can explore the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s at once an imposing fortress, impressive palace and a small town.

Marseille is France’s second largest city, its largest port on the Mediterranean and — thanks in large part to Algerian immigration in the 1950s — a melting pot of people and cultures. Marseille’s also a place of striking contrasts: at the picturesque Vieux Port, not far from the iconic fishing boats are sleek pleasure craft. Dominating the harbor is the infamous Chateau d’If, the rocky prison from which Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo escaped. Marseille is also your gateway to Provence. Explore the countryside around Arles and Avignon, as immortalized by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.

Cruises from Barcelona make for some of the most unforgettable vacations you can imagine. Barcelona looks like a city that should be known for its architecture… and, naturally, it is. From monuments in Romanesque and Renaissance styles to Gothic spires and contemporary curves, there’s little surprise Barcelona was the creative playground of acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudí. But that’s just one reason why cruises out of Barcelona are so seductive. Barcelona’s a feast for the eyes and the palate, alike, and be sure not to miss the chance to try tapas as and visit spots like the La Rambla, Port Vell and especially Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Fun beach bars overlooking the Mediterranean, sleek Spanish designer stores, and Gaudí’s surreal buildings make Barcelona, Spain a whimsical and unique place to visit. For a Mediterranean cruise, Spain is a great place to start — sample the good stuff on one of Carnival’s cruises from Barcelona.