Port guides

Biarritz

France · Mediterranean

Tucked in France’s Côte Basque, Biarritz first came to prominence in the mid-19th century when Napoleon III built a summer palace here for his wife, Empress Eugenie. The oceanside palace is now the esteemed Hotel du Palais, a landmark for the dynamic, beach-rimmed Biarritz. Surfing in France originated here in the late 1950s, and the sport has become synonymous with the city. You might watch surfers riding the waves that funnel into the Bay of Biscay, or simply comb the lovely beaches. Biarritz also has an urbane personality and museums dedicated to everything from Asian art to chocolate. Don’t miss the blue-domed Russian Orthodox Church, built for visiting Russian aristocrats in the 19th century. Pedestrian-friendly Biarritz is lined with fashion boutiques and shops selling French cheeses, wine, porcelain dolls, and Basque tablecloths. Enjoy Basque-influenced cuisine such as veal stew, cured ham dishes, tapas and foie gras.

31 cruises

Frejus, France

Mediterranean

Although today it is cut off from the sea, Fréjus was the second-largest naval port in the Roman empire in the 1st Century B.C. The town’s name descends from Forum Julii, the retirement center for the 8th Legion. The Roman ruins in the area are what draws most visitors today, and the massive pillars of the aqueducts, sections of walls and the crumbling remains of the tree-shaded theater and amphitheater are picturesquely situated and satisfying. In the town center, a central square faces the medieval stone cathedral and its adjacent cloisters, with impressive doors, handsomely carved woodwork and elaborate ceilings. Outside town, the 1889 Palladian Villa Aurelienne sits amid 60 acres of Mediterranean gardens. Fréjus suffered a terrible flood in 1959 when runoff from unprecedented rains swept down the mountains and broached the dam at Malpasset. The ruined site is a reminder of man’s fragility in the face of Nature’s power. On another hilltop, the small, octagonal Chapel of Notre Dame de Jerusalem is richly decorated with stained glass windows and colorful frescoes designed by the artist Jean Cocteau and completed after his death.

31 cruises

Skiathos, Greece

Mediterranean

The lively island of Skiathos, one of the Sporades, boasts no less than 60 inviting beaches around its perimeter. Many of these have been developed and are easily reached by taxi or bus, while others remain more isolated and require transport by boat. The island's medieval Kastro, high atop a hillside, once protected 30 churches and 300 houses from various invaders. No organized excursions are available. Please check on board for suggestions.

31 cruises

Gallipoli

Italy · Mediterranean

Kalè polis, meaning beautiful city, is the name ancient Greek mariners bestowed on Gallipoli, with good reason. Situated on a mound, the Old Town with its labyrinth of winding lanes, emerges from the Ionian Sea. It is connected to the mainland and modern Gallipoli via a 17th-century bridge. The area lies on the Salentina Peninsula in the extreme southeast end of Italy, commonly referred to as the heel of the boot. The Salento region was inhabited already in prehistoric times; later centuries were marked by Greek, Norman, Byzantine and Baroque cultures. It is a land of farms, castles, works of art, myths and legends. Many heroic battles were fought; fierce resistance was shown by Gallipoli's citizens against numerous invaders that included Romans, Vandals, Swabians, Venetians, French and lastly the English in 1809.

30 cruises

Algiers, Algeria

Mediterranean

Algiers is the capital city of Algeria, on the country’s Mediterranean coast. It’s known for the whitewashed buildings of the Kasbah, a medina with steep winding streets, Ottoman palaces and a ruined citadel. The 17th-century Ketchaoua Mosque is flanked by 2 large minarets. The Great Mosque has marble columns and arches. The clifftop Catholic basilica of Notre-Dame d'Afrique features a large silver dome and mosaics.

29 cruises

Mytilene

Mediterranean

29 cruises

Hydra

Greece · Mediterranean

When you disembark at the picture-perfect, crescent-shaped harbor on your Hydra cruise, the first thing you’ll notice is the serenity and intense quiet. Cars, motorcycles, and even bicycles are not permitted on the island, making it an ideal setting for quiet relaxation and peaceful respite during a European cruise. Make no mistake—quiet is by no means boring. The island’s romantic and rustic beauty regularly attracts celebrities, artists, and writers. Twice each year, the Hydra Nautical Club hosts regattas that bring sailboats and yachts to the harbor and add an extra touch of glamour to the island. Each summer, the DESTE Foundation hosts a series of contemporary art exhibitions, including a special exhibition by an artist or team. On a cruise to Hydra, you can’t help but be captivated by its natural beauty, like its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters quietly lapping at the shores, and the Peloponnese Mountains as a constant backdrop. As you walk Hydra Town, you’ll be charmed by streets lined with bougainvillea, the neoclassical architecture of old manor houses and mansions, and churches both humble and ornate.

28 cruises

Parga

Greece · Mediterranean

In the heart of a sheltered cove on the north western shores of Greece in the Epirus province, Parga was Venetian from the 15th to the end of the 18th century. During that period it belonged to Ali Pacha, a high official of Soliman the Magnificent. Its imposing Venetian citadel built on a steep rocky promontory dominates the town, the port and the sweet smelling pines which surround it. Today it is a lovely seaside resort.

28 cruises

Cognac

Mediterranean

Cognac

25 cruises

Pylos

Greece · Mediterranean

Pylos occupies a superb and dominant position on one of the best natural harbors in Greece. Your gaze is inevitably drawn to the bay that is almost landlocked due to the position of the offshore island of Sfaktira. The Battle of Navarino, which took place here one night in 1827, effectively sealed Greek independence. An unusually stylish town with a pair of medieval castles, Pylos is an excellent base for exploring the Peloponnese. Enjoy time at leisure to explore this town, which spreads across the slopes of the hill, its picturesque cobbled lanes lined with two-story houses. Opposite the harbor, in the Square of the Three Admirals, a three-sided column rises between two canons - one Turkish and the other Venetian. The figures of the admirals of the three fleets, English, French and Russian that defeated the Turko-Egyptian navy in the Battle of Navarino are represented. A visit to Niokastro, one of the two castles guarding the harbor, affords wonderful views out over the bay.

25 cruises

Alcudia, Mallorca, Spain

Mediterranean

Nothing if not strategic, Alcúdia is the ideal base for exploring Mallorca's north coast, with the 13-km-long (8-mile-long) beach from Port d'Alcúdia to C'an Picafort and the adjacent Playa de Muro, the bird-watchers' paradise in the S'Albufera wetlands, and the spectacular drive along the corniche to Cap de Formentor. The charming little walled town itself is a capsule version of Mallorcan history: the first city here was a Roman settlement, in 123 BC.

24 cruises

Ermoupoli

Greece · Mediterranean

Ermoupoli, also known by the formal older name Ermoupolis or Hermoupolis, is a town and former municipality on the island of Syros, in the Cyclades, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Syros-Ermoupoli, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.

24 cruises

Bozcaada Island, Turkey

Mediterranean

The tiny island of Bozcaada floats peacefully off the western coast of Turkey in the Dardanelles Strait that connects the Marmara to the Aegean. This charming port boasts untouched bays with a rich marine life, delightful local culture, significant historical heritage, and world-class wine.

23 cruises

Mgarr (Victoria)

Malta · Mediterranean

Victoria is aptly known by the local Maltese as Rabat, an Arabic word meaning "suburb outside the fortress walls." The fortress in this case is the massive, hill top Citadel first fortified during the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. Walk the fortress walls for a 360° view of Gozo; visit the exquisite 17th century baroque Cathedral; stroll the gardens of Villa Rundle; and shop for fine weaving, lace and silver filigree. Sample shore excursions: Victoria's Secrets; Gozo Arts & Crafts; A Taste of Gozo.

23 cruises

Valence

Mediterranean

Valence is a city in southeast France. It’s home to St-Apollinaire Cathedral, dating from the 11th century. The Valence Museum offers art and archaeology displays, plus views over the Rhône Valley. Jouvet Park features canals and a rose garden. Carved heads adorn the 16th-century Maison des Têtes. Across the Rhône River are the medieval Château de Crussol and the Soyons Archaeological Site, with its caves and museum.

23 cruises

Antalya

Turkey · Mediterranean

Surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains, Antalya is situated on a vast fertile plain that was known in antiquity as Pamphylia. Here the Toros Mountains, blanketed by green forests, sweep down the rocky headlands to isolated coves of clear turquoise water. The stunning scenery and mild climate have made Antalya a principal resort on the "Turquoise Coast" of Turkey sometimes referred to as the "Turkish Riviera." Full of ancient sites, the area was once part of empires controlled by the Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Seljuks, Cypriots and Ottomans. Many of the Mediterranean world's best-preserved ancient ruins are east of Antalya, the most spectacular of which are Perge and Aspendos. The city itself has much to offer the visitor who wishes not to venture far afield. The Kaleici, the historic quarter, protected from modern development and closed to cars, is a perfect place to discover the city's historic past. The old Roman Harbor is now a yacht marina and the winding streets of the picturesque Old Quarter leads you past quaint wooden houses, cafes, shops and the ruins and monuments of bygone eras.

22 cruises

Granada

Mediterranean

Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's known for grand examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation, especially the Alhambra. This sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompasses royal palaces, serene patios, and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens.

22 cruises

Jerusalem

Mediterranean

Visit the land of miracles - Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beautitudes and Tabgha, or venture to Nazareth, home of the young Jesus. See the largest hanging gardens in the world at the Bahai Gardens of Haifa. The Panorama Center in Central Carmel offers some of the country’s best women’s clothing stores. For antiques and crafts, head to the boutiques on Massada Street. South of Haifa, the artists’ village of Ein Hod offers hand-blown glass, pottery, silver, gold, and crafts. From French to Continental to Middle Eastern cuisine, dining choices abound. Fresh fish and grilled lamb dishes are the highlight. The best dessert is homemade kanafeh, a traditional ancient dish of baked sweet cheese, pistachio and honey.

22 cruises

Porto Vecchio, Corsica

Mediterranean

This fashionable resort town offers both idyllic beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery. The historic Old Town is bustling with vibrant cafés and restaurants, and the modern marina attracts luxury yachts, international ferries and fishing boats. Wander the main square, Place de la République, and visit the imposing 19th century Church of St. Jean-Baptiste. Relax on one of the famous white sand beaches, such as Palombaggia or Santa Guilia, or venture into the mountainous Alta Rocca region for hiking, biking or fishing.

22 cruises

Reggio Di Calabria

Mediterranean

22 cruises

Collioure

France · Mediterranean

The south coast of France is nothing if not beautiful. To the east you have the sparkling seas of the Riviera while to the west, the terrain becomes craggier, less built upon but no less lovely. As you travel west ports get smaller and less glossy – but remain undeniably authentic. Such is true of Collioure. This charming seaside resort might not have the mega yachts (or mega bucks) of St. Tropez and Monte-Carlo, but it certainly has a local flavour that is unique to the south-west of France. So much so that the post-impressionist movement Fauvism was immortalised here. Apparently the movement was created when artists including Matisse, Picasso and Derain arrived in 1905 and realised they could not purchase black pain in the area. They were thus forced to find a creative solution to their problem. The answer was, of course, the dotty pictures that defined 20th century art. So magnetic was the region that others flocked to the area, and even today Collioure’s church is one of the most painted locations in France, with a record 242 reproductions. So perhaps the best guide to Collioure is not the usual guide books, but rather a crash course in modern art. Little seems to have changed since the painters left the seaside village, olive and lemon groves are still abundant, grape vines still line the horizon and stone cottages still stand. Cicadas still sing, fishing boats – bringing home the region’s speciality of anchovies – still float, and life carries on very much as it must have done in 1905.

20 cruises

Monaco

France · Mediterranean

The tiny principality of Monaco, a sovereign state of just under one square mile, has an outsized resume, boasting some of the planet's most expensive real estate, and the world's most prestigious casino. Facing the sea, and engulfed on the other three sides by France, it has been the domain of the Grimaldi dynasty since the 14th century, and enjoys the same glamorous reputation as the rest of the Riviera.

20 cruises

Montenegro

Mediterranean

A beautiful coastal town, a seaport and large industrial area, Bar, Montenegro is also a popular transport hub welcoming trains from Belgrade and ferries from Italy. For this reason, it's the perfect base city for touring the incredible ruins of Stari Bar (Old Bar) in the mountains. A quick history lesson: The northern part of the coast remained under Venice's rule and then Austria, while the southern part spent 300 years under Turkish control. Founded in 1908, "New" Bar has a more modern look and feel, but once you start heading to the Albanian border, you will see more mosques and Ottoman-style buildings.

20 cruises

Fiskardo, Kefalonia

Mediterranean

We know you’ll be won over by the charm of this fishing village located north-east of the island of Cephalonia. A best kept secret of the Ionian archipelago, Fiskardo gives onto the coasts of Ithaca, home of legendary king Odysseus. To see the coasts, just walk out onto the jetty. While you’re there, look back at the colourful houses along the quaysides: they have surprising architecture with evidence of Italian influence. Unwind at the café terraces along the water’s edge, in the shade of gazebos. While you watch the boats in the harbour, you can savour some local specialities like kreatopita, small meat pastries.

19 cruises