Split, Croatia, is built around and inside a Roman emperor's retirement palace, a circumstance that makes it unique among European cities and endlessly fascinating to walk through. Diocletian's Palace, constructed around 305 AD, was never abandoned; its halls, temples, and corridors were simply absorbed into the evolving medieval city, which now occupies every corner of the original walls. The result is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is also a living neighborhood of cafes, apartments, and galleries. The Dalmatian sun makes most arrangements here look unreasonably good.

Zadar layers Roman remains, medieval churches, Venetian walls, and contemporary creativity into one of Croatia’s most engaging coastal cities. The old town projects into the Adriatic like a stone stage set, while modern landmarks such as the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun give the waterfront a playful, memorable edge. It is a place where history is abundant but never static, animated by light, music, and the easy confidence of Dalmatia; for cruise travelers, it offers an arrival rich in atmosphere, beauty, and a strong sense of place.

Adrift off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, Korčula pairs Adriatic beauty with the timeless grace of a fortified medieval town. Honey-colored stone lanes, elegant squares, and old Venetian walls overlook pine-fringed coves and clear blue water, while the island’s vineyards and villages reveal a quieter side of the region. Arriving here feels like stepping into a more refined, less hurried Croatia, where history, sea light, and local character linger at every turn in every stone lane and waterfront view.

Overlooking the Ionian in southern Albania, Sarandë is all bright water, sun-soaked promenades, and an easy Mediterranean mood sharpened by rugged coastal scenery. Its appeal extends beyond the beaches to nearby archaeological treasures such as Butrint and to mountain villages that preserve a more traditional rhythm inland. For travelers arriving by sea, it offers a stylish introduction to a country still pleasantly less scripted than its neighbors; seen from the ship and explored ashore, it leaves a vivid impression of place, history, and atmosphere.

Giardini Naxos curves around a beautiful Sicilian bay, combining relaxed beach life with access to some of the island’s most storied landscapes. As the site of Sicily’s first Greek settlement, it carries ancient resonance, while nearby Taormina rises dramatically above the coast, offering a celebrated theater and sweeping views toward the sea and Mount Etna. It is an ideal stop for travelers who want archaeology, scenery, and a generous measure of Mediterranean ease, leaving a vivid sense of place long after departure.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and pursue personal interests, whether visiting the gym, the spa, or simply watching for whales from deck. These blue sea days offer an ideal balance to busy days spent exploring ashore.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and pursue personal interests, whether visiting the gym, the spa, or simply watching for whales from deck. These blue sea days offer an ideal balance to busy days spent exploring ashore.

About 250 km east of Algiers lies Bejaia. Overlooked by Yemma Gouraya – the mountain that take its name from its shape of a sleeping woman, and bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, this largish city has a deep and interesting history. Far from the beaten track of Algeria’s tourist hotspots, this pretty seaside port is also one Algeria’s best, with Algeria coastal city, historical landmarks Bejaia, and spicy local cuisine adding further depth to the experience, giving the call a strong sense of place.

Algiers is a compelling stop where along with museums and cultural sites, architecture offers a glimpse into Alger’s rich history, where French and Islamic influences exist side by side. Along the Rue Didouche Mourad admire the French architecture, looking out for the wonderful Grand Post Office, now a museum. Surrounding streets are filled with excellent restaurants and coffee shops, with Islamic architecture, rich history, and ancient landmarks adding further depth to the experience, giving the call a strong sense of place.

Algiers is a compelling stop where along with museums and cultural sites, architecture offers a glimpse into Alger’s rich history, where French and Islamic influences exist side by side. Along the Rue Didouche Mourad admire the French architecture, looking out for the wonderful Grand Post Office, now a museum. Surrounding streets are filled with excellent restaurants and coffee shops, with Islamic architecture, rich history, and ancient landmarks adding further depth to the experience, giving the call a strong sense of place.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and pursue personal interests, whether visiting the gym, the spa, or simply watching for whales from deck. These blue sea days offer an ideal balance to busy days spent exploring ashore.

The flow of history, and a grand entry to one of Spain's most cultured inland cities — cruising the Guadalquivir to Sevilla marks a unique, scenic arrival. Sail upriver from Doñana National Park, rolling through the sunbaked Spanish south before reaching the city. The river passes scenic wetlands where flamingos preen, herons wade, and a rotating cast of migrating birds comes and goes. This inland sailing is an unusual opportunity, as the Guadalquivir is Spain's great navigable river. You'll sail in from the Gulf of Cádiz, past Sanlúcar de Barrameda at the mouth — home to a renowned manzanilla sherry flavored by the area's distinctive soil. The great waterway has plenty of stories to tell, and it was from here, in 1519, that Magellan and Elcano launched the first voyage around the world. As you approach the Andalusian capital, look out for the Torre del Oro, keeping a watchful eye over the water.Reached from the sea by the Guadalquivir, Seville unfolds as one of Spain’s most seductive cities, layered with Roman, Moorish, and Christian heritage over more than two millennia. Orange-scented squares, palace courtyards, Gothic grandeur, and flamenco’s emotional charge give it a theatrical richness that still feels entirely lived in. Few destinations offer such a complete immersion in art, history, and atmosphere, all under that unmistakable Andalusian light; for cruise travelers, it offers an arrival rich in atmosphere, beauty, and a strong sense of place.

Reached from the sea by the Guadalquivir, Seville unfolds as one of Spain’s most seductive cities, layered with Roman, Moorish, and Christian heritage over more than two millennia. Orange-scented squares, palace courtyards, Gothic grandeur, and flamenco’s emotional charge give it a theatrical richness that still feels entirely lived in. Few destinations offer such a complete immersion in art, history, and atmosphere, all under that unmistakable Andalusian light; for cruise travelers, it offers an arrival rich in atmosphere, beauty, and a strong sense of place.

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and pursue personal interests, whether visiting the gym, the spa, or simply watching for whales from deck. These blue sea days offer an ideal balance to busy days spent exploring ashore.

Lisbon is one of Europe's most captivating capitals, built across seven hills above the Tagus estuary with a quality of light no other Atlantic city quite replicates. Alfama's cobbled streets, azulejo tile facades, and hilltop miradouros offer a layered, unhurried beauty, while the Tower of Belém and Jerónimos Monastery mark Portugal's Age of Discovery at the river's edge. The pastéis de nata and a glass of Ginjinha complete a portrait of a city that has been getting things quietly, confidently right for a very long time.

Itineraries are subject to change.