Cruise and Maritime Voyages

Lying on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the River Tagus, Lisbon is the westernmost capital in Europe. It was from here that the great caravels set sail on their voyages of exploration and numerous monuments are a reminder Lisbon’s glorious maritime heyday. In 1775 a devastating earthquake all but levelled the city to the ground, and although relatively modern, the Portuguese capital has a quirky charm and much character. The steep, cobbled streets of the ancient Moorish Alfama district lead to wonderful viewpoints looking over the city. Further along the coast the elegant resorts of Cascais and Estoril stud Portugal’s own Riviera.

Set in a magnificent natural amphitheatre overlooking a wide bay, Funchal is the delightful capital of the beautiful and dramatic island of Madeira. The harbour is right in the centre of town and as you approach the sight of whitewashed buildings with red tiled roofs tumbling down the verdant mountain is spectacular. A modern cable car soars above the bustling city to Monte, which is the start of Madeira’s famous wicker toboggan ride. Wicker baskets, embroidery and the famous Madeira wine are popular souvenirs from the striking island often described as the ‘floating garden of the Atlantic’.

A small volcanic island surrounded by shallow reefs with a decidedly French influence, the tiny island of Saint Bethélemy is a popular tourist destination despite having an area of under 10 square miles.
Originally settled by the French, the island has changed hands in its history passing to the British and Swedish before finally returning to French rule in 1878.
An enclave of the rich and famous, especially during the winter holiday season, St. Barts, and its capital Gustavia, is a sophisticated miniature French Riviera with fantastic weather, fine shopping and a host of picturesque sandy beaches. 

Capital of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, part of the British Leeward Islands, Basseterre is a typical Caribbean city with a relaxed and easy going outlook on life. Surrounded on all sides by lush green hills and mountains, the city is shadowed by Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano that dominates the skyline standing at just under 4000 ft. With rugged volcanic geography, golden sandy beaches and a gorgeous tropical climate, there is plenty to see and do in and around Basseterre. See the city’s striking cathedral, explore the local markets or admire the view from the 320 year old Brimstone Hill fortress built by the British to defend against the invading French. 

Kingstown is the capital and main administrative centre of St. Vincent with bustling markets, wonderful Botanical Gardens and historic Fort George. The mountainous interior offers glorious scenery and is dominated by the volcano Soufriere.

The capital and largest city in Angola, Luanda was founded in 1575 by the Portuguese and retains a strong Portuguese influence, even today.  Angola’s chief seaport, Luanda is a city divided in two, with the old city, the lower Baixa de Luanda which is full of colonial buildings, narrow winding streets and the Portuguese forts dating back to the 1600’s, contrasting with the Cidade Alta, an emerging new city with considerable recent redevelopment. 

Perhaps no port typifies our idea of the classic West Indian island better than Barbados. Glorious golden beaches and towering palms with names like Paradise Beach and Silver Sands, crystal clear turquoise waters, beautifully landscaped gardens and such a distinctively British atmosphere that in Bridgetown you’ll even find a Trafalgar Square with a statue of Nelson