Optional tours are available from most ports for an additional charge.
Itinerary
Day Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USDeparts 04:00 PM "Shimmering blue waters, swaying palm trees and soft ocean breezes greet you in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where you'll find yourself somewhere between laid-back island time and the fast pace of a thriving city. In this sun-filled, year-round beach town, pristine beaches are the main attraction, shorts and flip-flops are the daily uniform, and yachts are often the preferred form of transportation. It's a place where you can do as much, or as little, as you desire.
Because of its many canals and waterways, Ft. Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America. It's home to the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world. Visitors can easily get a taste of the area's nautical lifestyle by cruising the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. Other options include hopping aboard one of the popular water taxis or Venetian gondolas that glide down the historic New River, which flows right through town. "
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Day At Sea
Day At Sea
Day At Sea
Day At Sea
Day At Sea
Day Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores, PortugalArrives 10:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM "More than the archipelago's capital and administrative hub, Ponta Delgada is an ambassador of the Azores to the world. Embellished with lacy iron balconies, the 17th-century architecture of whitewashed walls is framed by the local volcanic basalt. Hydrangeas and grazing cows add splashes of color to the evergreen background. Ponta Delgada presents itself as a gateway to discovering the Big Island of São Miguel and the best of the Azores on one island.
One of the top places to see is Furnas, where you can find natural hot springs that will cook your lunch, as well as Gorreana Tea Factory, the only tea plantation in Europe. Another popular destination is Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lagoon) with its impressive volcanic landscapes, and Ribeira Grande, a picturesque fishing village where time seems to stand still. São Miguel is also known for pineapples, so trying this fresh fruit, either from a local market or from a roadside vendor, is a must."
Day At Sea
Day At Sea
Day Cadiz (Seville), SpainArrives 08:00 AM Departs 11:00 PM "Hanging off the southwestern edge of Spain, Cádiz is one of AndalucÃa's regional capitals and a place bursting with personality. Europe's oldest continually inhabited city, with a history stretching back 3,000 years, has fallen on hard times in recent years, but a combination of pride, good humor and stoicism keeps it on an even keel. The famous Carnival, one of Spain's most important in the genre, is a thrilling fiesta into which Cádiz pours all its energy and ingenuity.
The city's fond nickname, la tacita de plata (""little silver cup""), alludes to its curious geographyâit juts out on a long peninsula into a sheltered bay. Old town Cádiz is a warren of cobbled streets where the houses, painted white or dusty ochre, have the weather-beaten look of a place subjected to centuries of wind and salt. This ancient city has one good example of everything that matters: a great food market, a theater (the Teatro Falla, a grand Art Nouveau Moorish gem), a gorgeous cathedral, impressive fortifications and a beachâthe picturesque and famous La Caleta.
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Day Gibraltar, British TerritoryArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Strategically located at the southern tip of Europe, facing Africa, Gibraltar offers a fascinating mix of cultures. With a history that includes Moorish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English influences (among others), this tiny, 6.7-square-kilometer British Overseas Territory is most famous for the giant Jurassic limestone rock soaring above the territory's main commercial and residential areas. The Rock contains an abundance of history (military and otherwise), not to mention significant flora and fauna, and a labyrinth of caves and tunnels.
Venture into Gibraltar's densely populated streets for Spanish, British, Middle Eastern and Italian cuisine, as well as tax-free shopping on everything from luxury brands to handmade arts and crafts and artisanal edibles. Browsing and snacking around town is the perfect chance to hear Yanito, the singsong Spanish-English hybrid spoken here. There are also historic and holy places in Europa Point, and the Museum of Gibraltar provides an opportunity to learn about the region's history and prehistory, as well as the migration habits of its birds and marine life.
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Day Malaga, SpainArrives 07:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM While Málaga was long considered just a stopover on the way to southern Spain's Costa del Sol beach resorts, in recent years a buzz has developed around the Andalucian city. There is a brand-new $100 million port promenade filled with restaurants and a bold new branch of Paris's Centre Pompidou built in the form of a colorful glass cube. A handful of other major new museums include one devoted to one of the city's most famous sons, Pablo Picassoâit's also the hometown of another famous Spanish export, actor Antonio Banderas. Where once many buildings were dilapidated, an entire swath of the historic center is now pedestrianized and filled with shoppers, diners and street musicians. Tapas bars with outdoor tables line the old town's Calle Strachan, while all over Málaga a boom in fine dining is taking place. The city makes a fine base for day trips to many of AndalucÃa's most famous sites. Unlike many southern Spanish cities, Málaga doesn't really shut down over the hot summer months; its waterfront location helps keep temperatures from soaring to uncomfortable heights. The 10-day summer Feria is becoming more popular each year, drawing visitors with its calendar of bullfights as well as dancing and drinkingâactivities the city's residents enjoy before and after the Feria too.
Day Cartagena, SpainArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "There are more than two millennia of history to embrace in this port city in Spain's southeastern Murcia region. While Cartagena is famously home to the second-largest Roman amphitheater on the Iberian Peninsula, the city is much more than just spectacular ancient ruins.
In addition to Cartagena's architectureâalong with that amphitheater, there are striking Art Nouveau buildings, neoclassical churches and ultramodern edifices throughout the cityâyou'll find many opportunities to shop for local and regional artisan wares. In the city, investigate the restored medieval fortress looking out on the bay from the city's highest point. Or take a short trip by car or bus to the historic Agrupa Vicenta Mines, the remarkable palm forest at Elche and the holy city of Caravaca. "
Day Palma de Mallorca, SpainArrives 08:00 AM Departs 05:00 PM "Palma de Mallorca, the largest city and capital of its own island as well as the entire Balearic archipelago, is one of Spain's most delightful towns. Despite its proximity to tourist beaches where millions of Europeans take summer vacation, Palma maintains the traditional rhythm of a Mediterranean city: busy food markets, open-air terrazas for lazing and grazing and the Passeig del Born, perfect for an evening paseo (stroll) under its canopy of trees. But the city is also, increasingly, a hub of contemporary culture and cuisineâwitness the old town's buzzing gallery scene, and cutting-edge restaurants like Simply Fosh and Aromata.
If location is all, Palma's peerless setting, at the center of a glorious sweeping bay, counts for a great deal. The city has its own beaches and a working harbor where a state-of-the-art new marina, Moll Vell, has brought back locals to stroll and gawk at the giant yachts. "