Ships Life On Board Entertainment

Lights, Camera, Action: Get ready for Memorable Moments in the Med

As this year’s BAFTA Television ceremony draws near, we’re sharing just a few dazzling holiday destinations you can discover with us where the stars come out… Sail out of Southampton or choose a fly-cruise to find the finest sights and tiniest islands favoured by big screen names and famous faces.

4 min 26 Apr 2024

Editorial Team

Author

If you had all the money in the world, where would you live? Where would go to relax? The sun and the sea, the history, art and fabulous food of the Mediterranean attracts people from all over the world with many celebrities having homes and holidays here. So how about you join them in one of those dream destinations?

Let's start with Lisbon...

Learn your lines “Bom dia alegria”

Memorise the phrase “Bom dia alegria!” for your trip to Lisbon and you’ll blend right in with the locals. It means ‘good morning sunshine’ and it’s the catchphrase of this colourful capital, where Portugal’s most famous son since Marco Polo now lives. We’re talking about a multimillionaire with 627m followers on Instagram. He’s the highest paid footballer in the world. We’re talking, of course, about Cristiano Ronaldo. Born in Funchal, Madeira, Ronaldo has a luxury penthouse along Liberty Avenue in the heart of the city. Inspired by the Champs Elysée in Paris, the stylish black and white Portuguese stone pavements here are lined with purple flowering Jacaranda trees from Brazil. The bright yellow famous funicular trams run along nearby Rúa da Bica, Instagram’s most famous ‘pink street’ with the floating umbrellas. You’ll find winding walkways and beautiful buildings decorated all year round with streamers for festivals and saints’ days (St Vincent is Lisbon’s patron). Lisbon is always dressed for a big event.

Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon

Immerse yourself in local treats and eats

Method actors really dive deep into a role, absorbing all they can to become the characters they play. Why not enjoy a taste of the local lifestyle and enjoy delicious, great value food with a sip of the local Ginja (a sweet morello cherry liqueur)? Nibble a pastéis de nata (custard tart), so heavenly when warm and fresh from the bakery but just as good cold – if you can resist and save them for later that is!

Traditional Portuguese pastel de nata

Top shore experience recommendation:

Lisbon and amphibious duck

Fancy seeing Lisbon’s sights from a different perspective? Board your amphibious ‘duck’ vehicle and settle down for an exciting and enlightening journey around the city via land and river. Enjoy a drive through Lisbon city, taking in highlights such as Commerce Square, Liberty Avenue and Marques de Pombal. You’ll then head to Belém Quay, where your driver becomes your Captain as you splash into the Tagus River at Belém Quay. Capture treasured holiday photos as you cruise by the awe-inspiring Monument to the Discoveries and the iconic Belém Tower among other riverside landmarks.

Cristo Rei and 25 de Abril Bridge, Lisbon

On our holidays to Spain, France and Portugal you also have the chance to explore Spanish highlights like Vigo and La Coruna, to see pretty Porto (on tours from Leixoes), and to visit the Channel Islands or French coast. See your choices here.

Spotlight on Spanish islands

The Canary Islands and Balearics like Ibiza have everything a traveller could wish for: warm weather? Check. Vibrant culture? Check. Fantastic food and wine? Check and check. Famous clubs, designer shops and locations like Nikki Beach on Formentera really draw the crowds and big names. The Beatles’ Paul McCartney and actor Liam Neesom favour Tenerife while Hugh Grant has been seen strolling along Costa del Sol on Marbella’s Golden Mile and enjoying a round of golf with stunning sea views.

Ibiza, Balearic islands

Playing the more peaceful part

As well as legendary nightlife, there’s a more peaceful personality to these locations waiting to be uncovered. The Old Quarter of Ibiza Town’s capital, with its 16^th-century citadel and Gothic Catalan cathedral is simply stunning. The lower town is lined with restaurants, cafes and bars for watching the world go by. Nearby family-friendly beaches at La Salinas and Es Cavellet are popular spots. To really get away from it all, why not take a one-hour ferry across to the unspoilt sandy beaches of Formentera?

Enjoy Formentera on a shore experience from Ibiza

Explore an exclusive to P&O Cruises experience with acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro on board Arvia and Iona here.

Acclaimed Spanish chef and Local Food Hero, José Pizarro

See the stars come out in Santorini, Greece

There’s a tiny island in the Cyclades with azure domes on white buildings… the perfect blue sky and a blue, blue sea all around… Santorini is the ultimate Greek island escape. Here, Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston and Tom Cruise and divas such as Lady Gaga and Beyonce have all been spotted in the winding streets. Our two Exclusively for Adults ships can take you here from Malta fly-cruise holidays. On Azura you can choose 7 or 14-nights. On Arcadia over 19 nights sailing from Southampton, you’ll call at Palermo, Italy and have the chance to see Athens from Piraeus. Once you reach Santorini, dine on delicious local Greek delights at a waterside taverna or ride the cable car up to Fira for the most incredible view over the Aegean. You’ll soon see why such a small island has such a big reputation.