 | About Gibraltar Britons love cruising to ‘home from home’ Mediterranean cruise port Gibraltar – and not just because it has some excellent pubs and tax free shops (good buys include glassware, china, leather goods, alcohol, perfume, silk and cashmere garments).
Gibraltar also offers wonderful views of Algeciras Bay and the Moroccan mountains from the Rock Restaurant, served by cable car from the Grand Parade.
Birdwatchers can spot more than 230 species and there are clearly marked nature trails you can follow to discover the country’s flora and fauna.
The most famous ‘fauna’ of course, are Gibraltar’s Barbary apes - get off the cable car at the halfway station to see these, then proceed to the top and hire an audio tape charting the Rock’s fascinating history.
Alternatively spend a day at the beach - Catalan Bay is the prettiest, with its colourful fishing boats and excellent seafood restaurants. |
 | About Palau With three sparkling beaches of its own (Capra, Faro and Sciutara), the Sardinian village and cruise port Palau is more than just the gateway to the island’s most exclusive resorts on the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast). It also has all the amenities of a top beach resort with a whole range watersports on offer and a choice of superb fish restaurants.
Away from Palau, there are great views at the Capo d’Orso with its strange rock formations while Porto Cervo – Costa Smeralda’s unofficial capital – is just 20 minutes away. This was created in his own image by the playboy Aga Khan in the 1960s and it is still a big draw for celebrity jetsetters (and celebrity-watchers). Its harbour marina is full of yachts that would not look out of place in Monte Carlo and if it does not have a fancy designer label, the shops do not stock it. |
 | About Naples Cruising into the Bay of Naples is a memorable experience. The Naples port is overlooked by the imposing Sant Elmo medieval castle, high up on Vemero Hill, as well as the 13th century Castel Nuovo, which is right next to the Naples cruise terminal in the heart of the city.
Within a short walk, to the left of the terminal, are three of Naples best-known landmarks: Castel Nuovo, the 17th century Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), and the elaborate 18th century San Carlo Opera House. To reach Naples’ fascinating old town, go straight past Castel Nuovo and then over the Piazza Municipio.
The citys archaeological museum majors on Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two extraordinary sites that draw most first-time visitors to Naples. The city is also a convenient base for tours to the nearby swish cliff-top resort of Sorrento and the even swishier island of Capri. |
 | About Rome Standing in the Colosseum, visiting Vatican City and tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain are all unique experiences of a lifetime to be had in the Eternal City of Rome, reached from your Italian cruise port Civitavecchia.
Rome’s breathtaking monuments, palaces, churches and classical features are quite unlike anything you will find in any other European city. They will always leave you wanting to come back for more – hence the coin-tossing, which is said to guarantee your return.
The city’s other must-sees include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon (probably the most complete ancient Roman building in the city) and the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s masterpieces.
While steeped in history, Rome is also a modern, bustling city with modern designer shops and chic boutiques at every turn. Reasonably priced department stores selling all the latest fashions can be found in the many pedestrianised shopping streets, while restaurants and cafés spill out onto piazzas offering authentic Italian dishes and sensational ice cream. |
 | About Elba As soon as you step ashore in Elbas cruise harbour Portoferraio, you will feel the centuries slip away as you imagine how Napoleon felt when he arrived to start his first period in exile. Steeped in history running way back to the Romans and Etruscans - Greek mythology even has it that Jasons Argonauts came this way too - Elba has prospered ever since the medieval
Medicis arrived.
You will see an imposing Medici fort, as well as a Martello Tower and second fort (Stella), looking down on you as you cruise into the harbour and then walk through the Porta a Mare archway into an old town full of cafés, bars and shops.
Touring around Elba, you will enjoy beautiful scenery and discover hidden coves and beaches. You can even take a funicular to enjoy the panoramic views from the top of 3,200ft Mount Capanne. A visit to Napoleons ornate summerhouse and gardens at San Martino will also be on your wish list. |
 | About Cannes For once, the old town (Le Suquet) is not the first place to head for even though it is conveniently right behind the port area with the brand new Cannes cruise terminal complex.
Le Suquet boasts a medieval church and castle and narrow streets full of interesting shops and cafés but everyone really wants to stroll first along Boulevard de la Croisette. Everything that has made Cannes a haunt of the rich and famous is here: deluxe hotels, smart casinos, stylish boutiques, trendy art galleries and marinas packed with lavishly out-fitted mega-yachts.
For the ultimate in people-watching, visit the Observatory of Super-Cannes which has lifts up to viewing platforms overlooking La Croisette and the rest of the resort. Nice, Monte Carlo, Antibes, Juan les Pins, St Tropez and the medieval villages of Eze and St Paul-de-Vence are also nearby. |
 | About Barcelona The Catalonian capital of Barcelona provides a vivid mix of ancient and modern but is probably best know for the bizarre Art Nouveau architecture of Antonio Gaudi, in particular the iconic Sagrada Familia, Europe’s most extraordinary – and still unfinished – cathedral.
Boosted by hosting the Olympic Games in 1992, Barcelona’s Old Port area has been transformed into a thriving area of cafés and restaurants. From there, it is an easy stroll up the famous Rambla to the old town. Las Ramblas is thronged with street entertainers, stalls and bars and is most lively at night and weekends. Not to be missed is the La Boqueria food market with its extraordinary displays of fish, meat, fruit and vegetables.
Some of the best food in Spain can be found in the city – paella is a speciality – and the restaurant Cal Pep was recently named as one of the top 50 places to eat in the world. |