Spain, Morocco & Portugal Discovery

The cruise terminal in Newcastle offers fast and efficient check-in areas, a spacious departure lounge with seating areas, a café-bar and smart washrooms all resulting in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, no pre-booking is required.

At the north western tip of Spain, La Coruna is Galicia's largest city - from where in 1588 the Spanish Armada sailed to its fate. It's the port of call for nearby Santiago de Compostela, in whose ornate 11th century cathedral rests the body of St James. With Jerusalem and Rome, it remains one of Christendom's most holy places - to which in the middle ages up to two million pilgrims came each year.

Overlooking a vast sweeping bay, Tangier is the traditional gateway to Morocco. Though no more than 15 miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from Europe, this is a cosmopolitan city that stands on the threshold of Africa. Its world of soaring minarets and domes, ancient casbah (once the sultan's walled palace and gardens) and animated souks express the rich part-Arab, part-African heritage of a city that has seen occupation by 12 nations since the 5th century.

Carved out of the Moroccan coastline, Melilla has both an old town - containing a 14th century fortress, which juts out into the sea, caves and numerous museums; and the 'new town', full of Modernist buildings - the second-largest collection outside of Barcelona. The centre is the long triangular Parque Hernández, well worth exploring, and the sandy beaches are ideal for relaxing on. Tax is lower here than on the mainland, and it is one of the last places in Spain to still provide free tapas with every drink in all its bars.

Dominated by ‘the Rock', a towering 1, 396 ft sentinel that guards the Straits, the Arabs' Gebel el Tarik or Tarik's Rock is today simply ‘Gib'. Resolutely British for nearly 300 years, its unique setting unites the oddly familiar - from the helmeted policemen to Marks & Spencer - with an extrovert Mediterranean mood. Test the shops and pubs in Main Street and Irish Town, take a cable-car ride to enjoy the grandstand views to a nearby Africa, and of course make a call on those Barbary apes!

The most cosmopolitan of Morocco's cities, with a palpably French mood, but reflecting the paradox at the heart of Morocco - its unique fusion of ancient and modern, of Africa, Arabia and Europe. The beguiling Casablanca of Bergman and Bogart may be no more - but you'll still find endless interest and enigmas here amid busy boulevards and vibrant bazaars. From here, you can visit the Imperial City of Rabat, while magical Marrakech is within reach on a full day tour.

It's a place of great historic charm, notably around the Vieux Basin, where lofty slate-and-timber fronted houses overlook the colourful yacht and fishing harbour, and sloping cobbled streets recall 16th century Honfleur. Not to be missed are the 15th century wooden church and the Impressionist paintings of the Museé Eugene Boudin.

The cruise terminal in Newcastle offers fast and efficient check-in areas, a spacious departure lounge with seating areas, a café-bar and smart washrooms all resulting in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, no pre-booking is required.