Bridgetown

More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.

At sea

Cabrits

Dominica, nicknamed the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean, is one of the most untouched of the Windward Islands. It boasts some of the highest mountains in the Lesser Antilles, as well as many beautiful national parks. Its interior is characterised by thick virgin forest, where rivers plunge into the depths and tiny streams wind through the jungle. Two extinct volcanoes are at the centre of the Cabrits National Park and, recaptured by nature, the former strategically important Fort Stanley appears like a picturesque backdrop in the heart of the jungle.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

St Barthélemy, affectionately known as St Barths by most, had already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by the banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbour surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

North Sound/Virgin Gorda, Sailing Sir Francis Drake Channel & Great Harbour/Jost van Dyke

Explorers and privateers once used to cross swords in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Nowadays the sea around the British Virgin Islands is one of the world's best sailing areas. Heavenly bays, gorgeous beaches, idyllic anchoring spots, smart yacht clubs and charming little beach bars make the island a popular haunt for sailors. On Virgin Gorda, once called "The Fat Virgin" by Columbus due to its shape, you can find "The Baths", one of nature's most beautiful oddities, in the National Park. Ground to a sphere and polished to a shine, the huge granite formations on the beach and in the water create a multi-branched labyrinth of giant boulders. The Sir Francis Drake Channel, where swords were once crossed, is now one of the most beautiful sailing spots. Jost van Dyke, the smallest of the main islands in the British Virgin Islands, is a mountainous volcanic object of beauty with fewer than 300 inhabitants. One of them, Foxy, has been mixing his cocktails since 1968 and the bar of the same name enjoys a legendary reputation as perhaps the most famous beach bar in the Lesser Antilles. The island's past is less reputable - it was named by a Dutch pirate. The island gives its most beautiful treasures to all who visit - fine sand, green palm trees, colourful beach bars and the luminous blue of the sea.

At sea

Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes

Îles des Saintes is a small archipelago which was disputed for a long time until it finally became French in 1816. In the charming main town of Terre-de-Haut, you can take a delightful stroll along the waterside promenade. Boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants invite you to browse and spend some time here. The 'savoir vivre' takes place against a backdrop lit up in all the pastel shades of the Caribbean. Fort Napoleon is set high above the bay and your climb up to it is rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view. On the other side of the island, the Plage de Pompierre invites you to enjoy a dip in the sea and sunbathe on the beach.

Port Elizabeth/Bequia

Bequia is actually the largest island in the Grenadines, but still small and tranquil at just 18 square kilometres (87 square miles) in size. Elegant sailing yachts sway in the natural shelter of Admiralty Bay, while in lovely Port Elizabeth, with its attractive beach bars, you are right in the heart of a lifestyle that likes to take things easy. You can find Princess Margaret Beach just nearby, named because it was once visited by the British royal. On the eastern coast you can find the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary which focuses on rearing and caring for endangered turtles.

Tobago Cays & Chatham Bay/Union Island

Right in the south of the Grenadines are Union Island and the Tobago Cays. Union Island was given the evocative name "the Tahiti of the West Indies" thanks to its volcanic silhouette. Four small uninhabited islands, surrounded by a protective horseshoe-shaped coral reef, form the Tobago Cays. The Horseshoe Reef holds the Atlantic swell at bay and its unique animal and plant life make it an ideal place for snorkelling. The lagoon between the islets shimmers in all shades from turquoise through to emerald green and invites you to take a dip at the fantastic beaches.

Soufrière

Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have in fact long been extinct, but the sulphur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colourful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.

Bridgetown

Disembarkation.

Bridgetown

More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.

Port Elizabeth/Bequia

Bequia is actually the largest island in the Grenadines, but still small and tranquil at just 18 square kilometres (87 square miles) in size. Elegant sailing yachts sway in the natural shelter of Admiralty Bay, while in lovely Port Elizabeth, with its attractive beach bars, you are right in the heart of a lifestyle that likes to take things easy. You can find Princess Margaret Beach just nearby, named because it was once visited by the British royal. On the eastern coast you can find the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary which focuses on rearing and caring for endangered turtles.

Tobago Cays & Chatham Bay/Union Island

Right in the south of the Grenadines are Union Island and the Tobago Cays. Union Island was given the evocative name "the Tahiti of the West Indies" thanks to its volcanic silhouette. Four small uninhabited islands, surrounded by a protective horseshoe-shaped coral reef, form the Tobago Cays. The Horseshoe Reef holds the Atlantic swell at bay and its unique animal and plant life make it an ideal place for snorkelling. The lagoon between the islets shimmers in all shades from turquoise through to emerald green and invites you to take a dip at the fantastic beaches.

Soufrière

Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have in fact long been extinct, but the sulphur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colourful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.

Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes

Îles des Saintes is a small archipelago which was disputed for a long time until it finally became French in 1816. In the charming main town of Terre-de-Haut, you can take a delightful stroll along the waterside promenade. Boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants invite you to browse and spend some time here. The 'savoir vivre' takes place against a backdrop lit up in all the pastel shades of the Caribbean. Fort Napoleon is set high above the bay and your climb up to it is rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view. On the other side of the island, the Plage de Pompierre invites you to enjoy a dip in the sea and sunbathe on the beach.

At sea

North Sound/Virgin Gorda

Explorers and privateers once used to cross swords in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Nowadays the sea around the British Virgin Islands is one of the world's best sailing areas. Heavenly bays, gorgeous beaches, idyllic anchoring spots, smart yacht clubs and charming little beach bars make the island a popular haunt for sailors. On Virgin Gorda, once called "The Fat Virgin" by Columbus due to its shape, you can find "The Baths", one of nature's most beautiful oddities, in the National Park. Ground to a sphere and polished to a shine, the huge granite formations on the beach and in the water create a multi-branched labyrinth of giant boulders.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

St Barthélemy, affectionately known as St Barths by most, had already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by the banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbour surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

St. John's/Antigua

Disembarkation.
St John's is the capital of this small island in the Antilles, a former British colony. From Shirley Heights in the south you have a fantastic view over the English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, an old restored shipyard named after the Admiral. Visit Betty's Hope, a restored sugar mill where "white gold" would have been processed during the island's bitter past. Now sweet black pineapples grow in the gentle rolling landscape around Boggy Peak. The coast is lined with bays and lagoons, dazzling white palm-filled beaches - one for every day of the year - and an almost unbroken coral reef.

St. John's/Antigua

St John's is the capital of this small island in the Antilles, a former British colony. From Shirley Heights in the south you have a fantastic view over the English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, an old restored shipyard named after the Admiral. Visit Betty's Hope, a restored sugar mill where "white gold" would have been processed during the island's bitter past. Now sweet black pineapples grow in the gentle rolling landscape around Boggy Peak. The coast is lined with bays and lagoons, dazzling white palm-filled beaches - one for every day of the year - and an almost unbroken coral reef.

At sea

North Sound/Virgin Gorda, Sailing Sir Francis Drake Channel & Great Harbour/Jost van Dyke

Explorers and privateers once used to cross swords in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Nowadays the sea around the British Virgin Islands is one of the world's best sailing areas. Heavenly bays, gorgeous beaches, idyllic anchoring spots, smart yacht clubs and charming little beach bars make the island a popular haunt for sailors. On Virgin Gorda, once called "The Fat Virgin" by Columbus due to its shape, you can find "The Baths", one of nature's most beautiful oddities, in the National Park. Ground to a sphere and polished to a shine, the huge granite formations on the beach and in the water create a multi-branched labyrinth of giant boulders. The Sir Francis Drake Channel, where swords were once crossed, is now one of the most beautiful sailing spots. Jost van Dyke, the smallest of the main islands in the British Virgin Islands, is a mountainous volcanic object of beauty with fewer than 300 inhabitants. One of them, Foxy, has been mixing his cocktails since 1968 and the bar of the same name enjoys a legendary reputation as perhaps the most famous beach bar in the Lesser Antilles. The island's past is less reputable - it was named by a Dutch pirate. The island gives its most beautiful treasures to all who visit - fine sand, green palm trees, colourful beach bars and the luminous blue of the sea.

Great Harbour/Jost van Dyke & White Bay/Jost van Dyke

The Sir Francis Drake Channel, where swords were once crossed, is now one of the most beautiful sailing spots. Jost van Dyke, the smallest of the main islands in the British Virgin Islands, is a mountainous volcanic object of beauty with fewer than 300 inhabitants. One of them, Foxy, has been mixing his cocktails since 1968 and the bar of the same name enjoys a legendary reputation as perhaps the most famous beach bar in the Lesser Antilles. The island's past is less reputable - it was named by a Dutch pirate. The island gives its most beautiful treasures to all who visit - fine sand, green palm trees, colourful beach bars and the luminous blue of the sea.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

St Barthélemy, affectionately known as St Barths by most, had already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by the banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbour surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

At sea

Soufrière

Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have in fact long been extinct, but the sulphur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colourful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.

Bridgetown

Disembarkation.
More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.

Bridgetown/Barbados

More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.

Port Elizabeth/Bequia

Bequia is actually the largest island in the Grenadines, but still small and tranquil at just 18 square kilometres (87 square miles) in size. Elegant sailing yachts sway in the natural shelter of Admiralty Bay, while in lovely Port Elizabeth, with its attractive beach bars, you are right in the heart of a lifestyle that likes to take things easy. You can find Princess Margaret Beach just nearby, named because it was once visited by the British royal. On the eastern coast you can find the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary which focuses on rearing and caring for endangered turtles.

St George’s/Grenada

Beautiful beaches, aromatic spice plantations, dense rainforests, waterfalls and a volcano that has long been extinct, picturesquely towering over this stunningly beautiful island. For many people, Grenada is the incarnation of a tropical paradise and St George's the most beautiful little port in the Grenadines. All around the horseshoe-shaped bay there are numerous houses that remind you of colonial times. There is good reason why nutmeg is immortalised on the national flag. Alongside cloves, cinnamon and ginger, it is one of the island's biggest exports.

Chatham Bay/Union Island

Right in the south of the Grenadines are Union Island and the Tobago Cays. Union Island was given the evocative name "the Tahiti of the West Indies" thanks to its volcanic silhouette. Four small uninhabited islands, surrounded by a protective horseshoe-shaped coral reef, form the Tobago Cays. The Horseshoe Reef holds the Atlantic swell at bay and its unique animal and plant life make it an ideal place for snorkelling. The lagoon between the islets shimmers in all shades from turquoise through to emerald green and invites you to take a dip at the fantastic beaches.

Kingstown/St Vincent

At sea

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

St Barthélemy, affectionately known as St Barths by most, had already had many "owners" before the Lesser Antilles were acquired by France in 1877. When the first estate was acquired by the banker David Rockefeller in 1957, the island's future was finally sealed. It became a refuge for the international jet set and an elegant holiday paradise for many Hollywood stars. For over 40 years, St Barths has cultivated a luxurious lifestyle with a Caribbean laissez-faire approach. You can stroll through the charming main town of Gustavia, whose beautifully restored houses and colonial facades look out over the sea with its elegant superyachts, browse in the shops for precious items, or enjoy a sundowner in the picturesque harbour surrounded by clusters of high class bars and restaurants.

Gustavia/St Barthélemy

Terre-de-Haut/Îles des Saintes

Îles des Saintes is a small archipelago which was disputed for a long time until it finally became French in 1816. In the charming main town of Terre-de-Haut, you can take a delightful stroll along the waterside promenade. Boutiques, cafés, bars and restaurants invite you to browse and spend some time here. The 'savoir vivre' takes place against a backdrop lit up in all the pastel shades of the Caribbean. Fort Napoleon is set high above the bay and your climb up to it is rewarded by a spectacular panoramic view. On the other side of the island, the Plage de Pompierre invites you to enjoy a dip in the sea and sunbathe on the beach.

Cabrits/Dominica

Dominica, nicknamed the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean, is one of the most untouched of the Windward Islands. It boasts some of the highest mountains in the Lesser Antilles, as well as many beautiful national parks. Its interior is characterised by thick virgin forest, where rivers plunge into the depths and tiny streams wind through the jungle. Two extinct volcanoes are at the centre of the Cabrits National Park and, recaptured by nature, the former strategically important Fort Stanley appears like a picturesque backdrop in the heart of the jungle.

Soufrière/St Lucia

Two famous volcanic cones are indisputably the emblem of St Lucia and have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Gros and Petit Piton tower over the southern, windward side of the island and, in Soufrière, seem close enough to touch. The volcanoes have in fact long been extinct, but the sulphur springs demonstrate the power of the earth's core and still bubble up. In the Botanical Gardens, natural abundance is combined with artistic arrangements to create a colourful tropical paradise. Some people claim that Josephine, who later became Napoleon's wife, used to bathe in the little pool in the garden.

Bridgetown/Barbados

Disembarkation.
More than 300 years of British rule have left their mark. The whole of Bridgetown, Barbados' historic centre, with its colonial architecture surrounding Trafalgar Square, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gentle green hilly countryside and endless fields of sugar cane characterise the island's landscape. Old colonial houses are reminders of the high life of the plantation owners, while innumerable colourful chattel houses are evidence of their workers' "moveable property". The sweeping coastline is a picture postcard of fine sandy beaches and turquoise sea surrounded by colourful coral reefs.

Valencia

On one corner its centuries old and around the next totally modern - Valencia is everything all at once. Today the beautiful old town and the old silk market "La Lonja de la Seda", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still bear witness to the city's wealth in the Middle Ages. A brand new part of the city is situated in a drained river bed and has avant-garde buildings including a futuristic opera house, the largest aquarium in Europe, a botanical garden and a public park. Valencia is one of the few cities that has a heritage of over 2,000 years and is also so intriguingly combined with the future. And no other city in Europe can proudly make the claim that the America's Cup has already taken place twice right on its front door.

At sea

Collioure

At sea

St Tropez

In the 19th century, artists discovered this picturesque fishing village on the Côte d'Azur and made it their source of inspiration. They were followed by the aristocracy and moneyed classes, and around fifty years ago St Tropez gained its international reputation as a refuge for the rich and famous. You can still find them today, in elegant Port Grimaud with its luxurious yachts from all over the world; in the upmarket bars and restaurants that line the promenade; on the elegant boulevards; in high class shops; or at the sophisticated beach clubs. Even with all these distinguished guests, St Tropez has still managed to preserve its picturesque and sleepy atmosphere.

Menton

Nice

Disembarkation.
Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town - a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-coloured houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometre-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.

Cádiz/Spain

The old city of Cádiz, around 3,000 years old, has a picturesque location on a narrow headland, right by the Playa de la Caleta with its elegant beachside promenade. Visit the Andalusian capital of Seville and you will be transported back to the heyday of Moorish splendour and rule, but also the age of discovery. This town sits on the Guadalquivir River was a centre of Spanish maritime trade with the New World. Many buildings in the old town are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the splendid Moorish Alcazar fortress and the huge Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede. Seville is a fun-loving city that is still at the centre of Andalusian culture and is considered the proud birthplace of Flamenco.

Málaga/Spain

Málaga has spruced itself up. In 2003, the Museo Picasso opened in a 16th century Renaissance palace and is dedicated to the artist's extensive life's work. This historic old city invites you to take a stroll and its buildings gleam like new. And above everything towers the Alcazaba, a mighty walled fortress. The port was completely redesigned when the city was opened to the sea and you can now take a lovely stroll along the promenade. In Málaga's hinterland you can see the most beautiful aspects of traditional Andalusia. From a distance the typical Andalusian villages look like white dabs of paint shining out from the brown of the barren mountain landscape.

Málaga/Spain

At sea

Valencia/Spain

On one corner its centuries old and around the next totally modern - Valencia is everything all at once. Today the beautiful old town and the old silk market "La Lonja de la Seda", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still bear witness to the city's wealth in the Middle Ages. A brand new part of the city is situated in a drained river bed and has avant-garde buildings including a futuristic opera house, the largest aquarium in Europe, a botanical garden and a public park. Valencia is one of the few cities that has a heritage of over 2,000 years and is also so intriguingly combined with the future. And no other city in Europe can proudly make the claim that the America's Cup has already taken place twice right on its front door.

Palma de Mallorca/Spain

Majorca's beautiful capital is an elegant city and its picturesque old town and architectural mix of Arab, Catalan and Art Nouveau elements are part of its success story. In the centre you will be lured by shops behind splendid facades, and cafés and bars set on beautiful squares invite you to stay a while. Not far from the sophisticated marina you will find the dignified cathedral, affectionately known as "La Seu" for short. With pure Gothic beginnings, none other than Antonio Gaudi created part of its interior at the start of the 20th century.

Barcelona/Spain

Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.

Barcelona/Spain

Disembarkation.

Barcelona/Spain

Barcelona revels in contrasts. Many enthuse over the beautiful elegant squares and boulevards, while others look for medieval romance in the Gothic quarter. Some love the artistic treasures in the Picasso Museum or the Joan Miró Foundation, but for most people Barcelona is the capital of Catalan Art Nouveau and its glory is epitomised in the spectacular Palau de la Música. At every turn you encounter the playfully opulent creations of architect Antonio Gaudi. His exuberant fantasies are evident in the numerous houses, idiosyncratic parks and the famous uncompleted Sagrada Familia cathedral which he created.

Tarragona/Spain

Collioure/France

Sète/France

At sea

Antibes/France

Portovenere/Italy

Livorno/Italy

Disembarkation.
Livorno, itself a child of the Renaissance, is the gateway to Tuscany - the land of cypresses, the Italian lifestyle, art and architecture. Lucca is a Renaissance masterpiece. Magnificent palaces, richly decorated churches and elegant piazzas where you can see the Italians enjoying the summer - this jewel of a town combines the magnificence of typical Tuscan architecture with small town charm. Siena is one of the most beautiful Italian Gothic cities. Its old quarter, like the medieval towers of the world-famous walled town of San Gimignano, is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Livorno/Italy

Livorno, itself a child of the Renaissance, is the gateway to Tuscany - the land of cypresses, the Italian lifestyle, art and architecture. Lucca is a Renaissance masterpiece. Magnificent palaces, richly decorated churches and elegant piazzas where you can see the Italians enjoying the summer - this jewel of a town combines the magnificence of typical Tuscan architecture with small town charm. Siena is one of the most beautiful Italian Gothic cities. Its old quarter, like the medieval towers of the world-famous walled town of San Gimignano, is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Portoferraio/Elba

Although Elba is only a small Tuscan island, you will be surprised by how diverse it is. Imposing cliffs, white sandy beaches, avenues of cypresses, vineyards and olive groves, traditional villages and elegant beach resorts make the place of Napoleon's exile somewhere you would in fact like to be banished for longer. The beautiful old town of Portoferraio with its narrow streets of steps and medieval fortress is set high up on a rocky headland. In the enchanting town of Porto Azzurro, the palm-lined promenades, charming piazzas and small beach are at the centre of the town's activities.

Portofino/Italy

Portofino has a prominent position on a peninsula on the Italian Riviera and, since the 1950s, has developed into an elegant marina. The "dolce vita" seems to have been born here. You can unwind in classy bars and cafés in front of beautifully restored facades, browse for treasures in the backstreets and observe the comings and goings on the port's promenade. At first glance, Portofino is a picturesque fishing village. However, you will soon notice that it is also a sophisticated retreat for exclusive megayachts, as well as a great hideaway for anyone who knows how to enjoy the charming and stylish traditional atmosphere.

Menton/France

Nice/France

Disembarkation.
Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town - a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-coloured houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometre-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.

Nice/France

Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town - a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-coloured houses and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometre-(3 miles)long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle-Époque and Art Deco styles.

Sanary-sur-Mer/France

For a time, the small idyllic port of Sanary was a charming and peaceful refuge for many artists. The list of famous names is long: Bertolt Brecht strummed his guitar in one of the harbour cafés and sang satirical songs; Stefan Zweig, the Mann family of writers and Jacques Cousteau all found what they were looking for here - to put some distance between themselves and the horror of the war. Aix-en-Provence, the birthplace of Paul Cézanne, seems to have been created with the aim of dedicating itself to the fine things in life. This lively university town, the historic capital of Provence, has always promoted the enjoyment of life through art.

At sea

Tarragona/Spain

Valencia/Spain

On one corner its centuries old and around the next totally modern - Valencia is everything all at once. Today the beautiful old town and the old silk market "La Lonja de la Seda", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, still bear witness to the city's wealth in the Middle Ages. A brand new part of the city is situated in a drained river bed and has avant-garde buildings including a futuristic opera house, the largest aquarium in Europe, a botanical garden and a public park. Valencia is one of the few cities that has a heritage of over 2,000 years and is also so intriguingly combined with the future. And no other city in Europe can proudly make the claim that the America's Cup has already taken place twice right on its front door.

Alicante/Spain

At sea

Málaga/Spain

Disembarkation.
Málaga has spruced itself up. In 2003, the Museo Picasso opened in a 16th century Renaissance palace and is dedicated to the artist's extensive life's work. This historic old city invites you to take a stroll and its buildings gleam like new. And above everything towers the Alcazaba, a mighty walled fortress. The port was completely redesigned when the city was opened to the sea and you can now take a lovely stroll along the promenade. In Málaga's hinterland you can see the most beautiful aspects of traditional Andalusia. From a distance the typical Andalusian villages look like white dabs of paint shining out from the brown of the barren mountain landscape.

London (Portsmouth)/Great Britain

This coastal strip in southern Hampshire, blessed by the Gulf Stream, has always been an easily defensible natural harbour. Indeed Henry VII made it his Royal Dockyard at the end of the 15th century. Still an important Royal Navy base, the vast port of Portsmouth is situated on the peaceful west coast of Portsea Island, a spit of land that stretches far out to sea. In the old harbour, historic ships with grandiose names proclaim the city's glorious past and several museums are devoted to the navy and seafaring. Where once adventurers and admirals set sail to re-write the English history books, countless yachts now rock gently in numerous marinas. The lavishly renovated quayside with its looming, futuristic Spinnaker Tower and the long seafront at Southsea are now the beating heart of modern life in the city.

Honfleur/France

Many famous impressionists caught the quaint atmosphere of this town at the mouth of the Seine on canvas in the 19th century. This small town in Calvados is still one of the most charming places in Normandy. Tall and narrow slate-clad buildings crowd around the quayside, the exquisite Vieux Bassin and the old 17th century dock. Honfleur honours its famous sons, painter Eugène Boudin and composer Eric Satie, in a museum. East of Honfleur, the breathtaking Pont de Normandie spans the Seine estuary and links Honfleur with Le Havre, an engineering masterpiece and one of the longest bridges in Europe.

Dartmouth/Great Britain

The old harbour town of Dartmouth in the southern English county of Devon is set in forested hills on the west bank of the Channel estuary. Since the 15th century, Dartmouth Castle and Kingswear Castle, which faces it, have guarded the entry to the town. Little has changed since 1539 in the cobbled Bayard's Cove with its small fort on the old harbour. Sailing boats and yachts now roll gently where great ships once set sail for new shores. Charming old houses line the narrow streets leading from the promenade up the steep slope with its numerous steps. Located in a dominant position above the town, the Britannia Royal Naval College bears testament to the historic significance of seafaring and the navy.

St. Peter Port/Guernsey

'A piece of France fallen into the sea and grabbed up by the English' is how Victor Hugo described his place of exile in the Bay of St. Malo, which is closer to the northern coast of France than the south coast of England. Guernsey, the second largest British Channel Island, later inspired Auguste Renoir to produce a whole series of paintings. Narrow, meandering roads bordered by hedges and embankments wind through the interior of the island, which boasts luscious vegetation courtesy of the mild Gulf Stream climate, while in the south, green hills give way to rocky cliffs on the sea's edge. Here, spectacular crags, bays and sandy beaches have been shaped by the vast tidal range pummelling the rock. The pretty island capital of St. Peter Port overlooking the large sheltered harbour and castle boasts a fascinating mixture of styles in a tangle of terraces and stepped gardens.

Saint-Malo/France

This former 'corsaire' town in northern Brittany has always had a close relationship with the sea. Although the buccaneers have left, St. Malo is now the start or end point for many famous sailing regattas. Behind the legendary town defences lies the historic centre, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has always been impregnable. On one side of the town walls you will see the narrow alleyways and tall houses of the old town which bear testament to the prosperity of past traders and sailors. The other side offers exquisite views of the emerald sea, dazzling white sandy beaches, harbour and forts. Tidal variations in the Bay of Saint-Malo provide an impressive natural spectacle with twelve metres difference between high and low tides.

Roscoff/France

Tresco/Scilly Islands

Off the south west coast of Cornwall, some 150 small islands and islets emerge from the sea. The privately-owned Tresco is the second largest of the five inhabited British Scilly Isles and has a reputation as an 'island in bloom' thanks to the mild Gulf Stream climate. The subtropical Tresco Abbey Gardens, set up in the 19th century by Augustus Smith on the lands of an old Benedictine Abbey, are home to exotic plants from many regions of the world. This small Garden of Eden is set in a natural paradise with subterranean caverns, sheer granite cliffs, idyllic white sandy beaches, emerald water and spectacular violet-red sunsets.

Cobh (Cork)/Ireland

The small, typically Irish town of Cobh, dominated by the sea and its harbour, is situated on an island in the wide Cork Harbour, one of the world's largest natural harbours. Several ferry routes and a bridge connect it to the mainland. Overlooked by the neo-Gothic St. Colman Cathedral with its impressive bells, a picturesque mass of colourful houses cram the steep slope leading up from the harbour. The Cobh Heritage Centre commemorates the period of 1849 to 1920 when the town, known back then as Queenstown, was the main port for Irish emigrants. The city of Cork is about nine miles from Cobh in County Cork in south western Ireland, an area dominated by the Gulf Stream. It is nestled among the hills of the valley formed by the River Lee in a prominent position on a river island. Cork is the second largest city in Ireland, a regional economic capital and was European Capital of Culture in 2005.

Dublin/Ireland

Disembarkation.
In the wake of the Celtic Tiger boom and financial crisis, Dublin, the Irish capital in the east of the Emerald Isle continues to be young, dynamic and European. It adeptly combines tradition and innovation in a small space. O'Connell Street in the Northside of Dublin shimmers with the lofty steel Millennium Spire and a brand new district has sprung up in the docklands with futuristic glass buildings and a Calatrava bridge. The old Half Penny Bridge takes you right into the heart of the city. Here you will find the lively, cobbled Temple Bar district with its numerous Guinness pubs, Dublin Castle, which is over 800 years old, and the soaring spires of St. Patrick's and Christ Church Cathedrals. Behind the neo-classical façade of the historic Trinity College, founded in 1592, is a magnificent library and the 1,200 year-old Book of Kells.

Dublin/Ireland

In the wake of the Celtic Tiger boom and financial crisis, Dublin, the Irish capital in the east of the Emerald Isle continues to be young, dynamic and European. It adeptly combines tradition and innovation in a small space. O'Connell Street in the Northside of Dublin shimmers with the lofty steel Millennium Spire and a brand new district has sprung up in the docklands with futuristic glass buildings and a Calatrava bridge. The old Half Penny Bridge takes you right into the heart of the city. Here you will find the lively, cobbled Temple Bar district with its numerous Guinness pubs, Dublin Castle, which is over 800 years old, and the soaring spires of St. Patrick's and Christ Church Cathedrals. Behind the neo-classical façade of the historic Trinity College, founded in 1592, is a magnificent library and the 1,200 year-old Book of Kells.

Douglas/Isle of Man

At sea

Tobermory/Isle of Mull

Stornoway/Isle of Lewis

Kirkwall/Orkney Islands

Invergordon/Great Britain

Peterhead/Great Britain

Edinburgh (Leith)/Great Britain

Disembarkation.
Three vantage points offer fantastic views of this beautiful capital on the southern bank of the Firth of Forth. The historic castle is impossible to miss atop Castle Rock high above the narrow and sometimes very steep medieval streets. The Royal Mile, a mile-long parade of Victorian buildings in the old town, connects the two royal residences of Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The imposing outline of Arthur's Seat, a mountain which would look more at home in the Highlands, looms over Holyrood Park. The New Town, a masterpiece of Georgian urban architecture with a grid-like street pattern, stretches toward the harbour from Prince's Street, at the eastern end of which you will find a small Greek temple looming atop Carlton Hill. The Old Town and New Town, both UNESCO world heritage sites, are divided by Princes Street Gardens, the green lungs of the city and venue for the loudest music and festival events.

Edinburgh (Leith)/Great Britain

Three vantage points offer fantastic views of this beautiful capital on the southern bank of the Firth of Forth. The historic castle is impossible to miss atop Castle Rock high above the narrow and sometimes very steep medieval streets. The Royal Mile, a mile-long parade of Victorian buildings in the old town, connects the two royal residences of Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The imposing outline of Arthur's Seat, a mountain which would look more at home in the Highlands, looms over Holyrood Park. The New Town, a masterpiece of Georgian urban architecture with a grid-like street pattern, stretches toward the harbour from Prince's Street, at the eastern end of which you will find a small Greek temple looming atop Carlton Hill. The Old Town and New Town, both UNESCO world heritage sites, are divided by Princes Street Gardens, the green lungs of the city and venue for the loudest music and festival events.

Peterhead/Great Britain

Kirkwall/Orkney Islands

Lerwick/Shetland Islands

At sea

Bergen/Norway

Stavanger/Norway

The port of Stavanger spans an area of mainland and several islands in a spectacular location between the skerries to the south and the fjord landscape to the west. The picturesque old town, with a cathedral dating back to around 1125 when Stavanger was founded, and the brilliant white 18th and 19th century wooden houses are overlooked by the glass and metal façades of international oil companies. Initially, Stavanger was an important fishing and seafaring centre. Subsequently, it became the world's biggest producer of tinned sardines before the extraction of black gold from the North Sea made it a rich oil centre and Norway's fourth largest city. Stavenger reinvented itself again as European Capital of Culture in 2008. Nearby are the 612-metre high Månafossen waterfall, the longest sandy beach in Norway known as the Sola beach and the Lysefjord with the imposing Preikestolen cliff.

At sea

Sylt/Germany

North Sea breakers, mud flats, Red Cliff, vast landscape of dunes, wide sandy beaches and old mariners' houses show the romantic and natural side of Germany's most famous island. Its other side sometimes makes headlines, as Sylt has been the summer retreat for celebrities since the 1960s. They can be seen visiting the most famous fish stand in Germany, strolling through Kampen or in the elegant bars and exclusive clubs.

Sylt/Germany

Hamburg/Germany

Disembarkation.
Hamburg has seen many ships in its time. Richly laden Hanseatic cogs, famous 19th century windjammers and giant vessels have dropped anchor in its port. The beautiful banks of the Elbe form prominent cordons for ships sailing in or out of the port of Hamburg. Moving towards the mouth of the Elbe, they glide by the patrician villas on the Elbchaussee, the Treppenviertel in Blankenese, the Airbus site and the picturesque banks of the Elbe with their green dykes and white beaches. You can catch charming harbour views of the little villages all along the banks of the Elbe.