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.

Spains busiest fishing port, Vigo sits on the rugged west coast of the province of Galicia. Over the centuries, this charming town and its resilient residents have been the target for many naval attacks including a couple from Sir Francis Drake. In these more peaceful days, you will still find the best view of Vigo is from the fort (Castillo del Castro) built to defend it from the hill overlooking the harbour. From here, your Vigo cruise tour will lead you through the steep, narrow streets of the atmospheric old town (Barrio del Berbes) to see (and smell…) the daily fish market. Try one of the oysters which are fresh from beds in Vigos ‘ria’ – one of the sunken sea-filled valleys for which Galicias coastline is renowned. And our Vigo cruises are also a chance to visit nearby Santiago de Compostela, the subject of pilgrimages since the Middle Ages.

Lanzarote is known for its rugged terrain, volcanic pits and black sand beaches. Indeed, many would say that this easy going island really is out of this world.

With its 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, Fuerteventura is the perfect place to enjoy the rays and top up a tan especially when taking into account its excellent beaches. The mix of trade winds and Atlantic Ocean swells offer the perfect mix for watersports enthusiasts, so it is no wonder that they are attracted to the island all year round. Like its near neighbours, Fuerteventura has a rugged charm found only in the bays and volcanic slopes of the Canary Islands. However, unlike the busier islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote, Fuerteventura has managed to avoid over development and still offers a great deal of tranquillity and stark beauty.

The tranquil harbour, verdant palm groves and excellent climate of Gran Canaria’s lively capital Las Palmas delighted Christopher Columbus when he discovered it on his famous voyage of 1492. Those same attractions now draw modern travellers keen to explore the atmospheric cobbled streets and leafy courtyards of its old quarter, Vegueta. Cruises to Gran Canaria also bring you close to Playa del Ingles, the liveliest and best-known beach in the Canaries. You can explore the stunning desert scenery of Maspalomas, or tour further afield to explore peaceful old towns like Arucas – famed for its lush banana plantations – and Teror, with its fine collection of traditional houses with intricately carved wooden balconies. Other highlights of our Gran Canaria cruises include lovely Palmitos Nature Park – set in a canyon inland from Maspalomas and famous for its vivid tropical plants, birds and fish – and Bandama, an extinct volcano set 1,900 feet above sea level, which offers panoramic views over the island.

Canary Island La Palma is called ‘the fair isle because of its fabulous landscape and you will soon see why. Santa Cruz is one of the prettiest harbours among the islands and is easily explored on foot. Make the best of your La Palma cruise and stroll along the Avenida Maritime promenade which will take you to the lovely old quarter around Plaza de Espana, Here you will find a 16th century fountain and town hall, a magnificent Renaissance church and a handicrafts market where you can pick up distinctive pottery and snack on local delicacies. As you will discover on our cruises to La Palma, the island’s most spectacular volcanic crater, Caldera de Taburiente, is crammed with rare animal and plant life and has been designated a national park. Its night skies are so clear that a major astrophysical observatory has been built at Roque de los Muchachos. With such a variety of destinations to explore, La Palma cruises offer visitors here a memorable day.

The largest of the Portuguese islands in the Madeiran archipelago, Madeira offers a wealth of sites of historical interest, marvellous fish cuisine and, of course, its own famous Madeira wine. Unusually, Madeira has no sandy beaches, but it does offer the visitors wonderful walks, not only through its towns, but through its mountains and hills.

The largest of the Portuguese islands in the Madeiran archipelago, Madeira offers a wealth of sites of historical interest, marvellous fish cuisine and, of course, its own famous Madeira wine. Unusually, Madeira has no sandy beaches, but it does offer the visitors wonderful walks, not only through its towns, but through its mountains and hills.

Some of the best views of the Portuguese capital come as your ship cruises along the Tagus River. You pass the Belem Tower and the impressive Monument to the Discoveries with its statue of Henry the Navigator before arriving at the Lisbon cruise terminal. Although small for a European capital, this city does sprawl a little so you would do best to concentrate on three districts – Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama, each with its own distinctive style, making Lisbon cruises a must see. Baixa has busy streets of inviting shops, cafes and restaurants while Alfama is the atmospheric old town with narrow cobblestone streets, medieval and Moorish-style buildings, wrought-iron balconies with trailing flowers and a mix of small shops and bars. Bairro Alto is another historic district with narrow streets and is a steep climb from Baixa so look out for the 100-year-old lift (Elevador do Carmo) near Rossio Square. With such a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Lisbon bring to your holiday a balance of both modern and historical grounds.

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.