Spain, Portugal & France from Lisbon, Portugal

Discover Portugal’s bright, fun-loving capital city on your cruise to Lisbon. Straddling seven hills, hugging the banks of the River Tagus — and crowned by the storybook castle of São Jorge — Lisbon, Portugal is a visually stunning place to visit, and arriving by sea is doing it right! The nation’s hundreds of years of nautical heritage is concentrated in Lisbon, and the riverside Belém district is where Portuguese navigators like Magellan and Vasco da Gama would begin their journeys. Today, cruise ship passengers make landfall not far from that spot. By the way, the city has modern claims to fame, too! With its rumbling yellow trams and stately plazas, irresistible patisseries and bluesy fado music, expect exotic sights and sounds — and more — on your cruise to Lisbon.

Porto is Portugal’s second city, and it’s as colorful as it is memorable. Detail is key here, a place where the front doors are decorated with such a stunning variety of azulejo tiles that only by getting up close can you fully appreciate their intricacy. Explore on foot to unveil all the stunning scenery of Porto… like the Ribeira quarter, whose cobblestone-street scenery definitely falls a bit more on the “deliciously old-school” side. Be sure not to miss the city’s port wine cellars — as you may have guessed, the city’s most famous export took its name from the place itself.

Nicknamed the Olive City and located in the province of Pontevedra, Vigo is one of the main urban centers of Galicia. With its beautiful beaches, natural parks and proximity to historic landmarks, Vigo remains one of Spain’s most visited port cities.

Anything dubbed the Tower of Hercules commands a bit of attention, and so does La Coruña, Spain, the site on which this iconic 180-foot-tall lighthouse stands. Located in Galicia, La Coruña is considered the third holiest site in all Christendom, attracting pilgrims in droves as they make their way to Santiago de Compostela, where St. James the Apostle is believed to have been buried. Rich in tradition and rich in celebration, Galicia is also said to be home to more than 750 beaches and host to 4,000 parties annually. If you are here to set off on a quiet retreat into the mystical, or rejoice until the nines with vino and tapas by the ocean breeze, you’re certainly in for something unforgettable at La Coruña, Spain.

Bilbao, an industrial port city in northern Spain, is surrounded by green mountains. It’s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown. It’s famed for the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked revitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses prominent modern and contemporary works, but it’s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives the most attention.

Sail to good‑living, art‑loving Normandy on Carnival cruises to Le Havre, France. Sitting pretty on France’s north coast, overlooking the English Channel, Le Havre has risen from the rubble of World War II to become one of France’s most dynamic port towns. Modernist architecture, Monet artworks, delicious seafood, wild cliff‑backed beaches‑you’ll find the lot on your Le Havre cruise.

Zeebrugge offers plenty of adventure choices for your Belgium visit. Nearby Brussels is a great option, with two very different areas rolled into one city that offers something for everyone. Old Brussels is a historic region that celebrates the ancient – amazing architecture, a Royal District, and majestic cathedrals that are rich in both history and beauty. New Brussels is a bit trendier locality that houses many vital institutions in the European Quarter, including the European Commission and the European Parliament. Add to your adventure at the nearby medieval town of Bruges. Visit the Rozenhoedkaai canal and enjoy the most scenic views in the city, then take in the towering Belfry, standing 270-feet tall in the city centre and part a UNESCO world heritage site.

Be captivated by cliff-top walks and 2,000 years of history on cruises from Dover, England. Set against the backdrop of the White Cliffs and peering across to France on the other side of the English Channel, Dover’s setting is a sight to behold. This bustling English port is steeped in history and coastal beauty. Explore the secret tunnels beneath medieval Dover Castle and easily make your way to iconic London landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the House of Parliament.