 | About Vigo 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. Then walk 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 a Vigo cruise call is also a chance to visit nearby Santiago de Compostela, the subject of pilgrimages since the Middle Ages. |
 | About Lisbon 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.
Baixa has busy streets of inviting shops, cafés 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. |
 | About La Rochelle The 14th century twin towers of St Nicolas Fort and the Tour de la Chaine (named after the chain once drawn across the harbour to keep out night intruders) ensure a dramatic entrance when you cruise between them into the French Atlantic cruise port La Rochelle-Pallice.
The medieval city of La Rochelle is just 10 minutes away and offers an intriguing mix of well preserved and restored historic buildings and marketplaces within a lively modern city full of bars and restaurants and with an excellent aquarium. Tickle your tastebuds with a visit to the small town of Cognac and its famous Courvoisier, Hennessy and Martell cellars. Along the way, you will pass through ancient towns like Saintes with Romanesque churches, arches and arenas. |
 | About Brest Set in one of Europe’s finest natural harbours, France’s main naval port Brest is steeped in maritime history and is also a gateway into the ruggedly scenic and proudly Celtic province of Brittany. The maritime museum is inside the city’s Motte Tanguy Castle and Tower, which perches on a headland overlooking the beautiful harbour.
In keeping with its nautical traditions, Brest is also home to Oceanopolis, a massive new attraction dedicated to the sea and its many forms of marine life. It is quite easy to lose track of time and spend a whole day getting up close and personal with every species of fish imaginable in the 42 aquariums highlighting Polar, Tropical and Temperate oceans.
The city centre is just across from the cruise dock and there you will find streets with evocative names like La Fayette and Bougainville and an array of shops, bars, restaurants, theatres and museums. |