Belgium, Holland, France, Portugal, Spain, Morocco Cruise on MSC Virtuosa from Hamburg

Hamburg

Hamburg is located on the River Elbe. This city is noted for several festivals and regular events. Some street festivals, such as the gay pride Christopher Street Day festival or the Alster fair, held at the Binnenalster are popular. In Hamburg you fill find big museums and galleries showing classical and contemporary art, i.e. Kunsthalle Hamburg with its contemporary art gallery, the Museum for Art and Industry and the House of photography.

Zeebrugge (Bruges)

In Brugges you will have everything you need to enjoy the magical enviroment and unforgettable throught it's romantic canals, bridges, narrow streets and buildings full of history. So much so, that the old town of Brugges was claimed World Heritage Site of UNESCO in the year 2000.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is located about a half-hour away from The Hague and an hour from Amsterdam, and has the largest port in Europe, with the rivers Meuse and Rhine providing excellent access to Basel, Switzerland and into France. This city is known for its Erasmus University and the cutting-edge architecture as the large congress and concert building called De Doelen, many well known museums. Rotterdam has its own orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with its world famous musical director Valery Gergiev, plus many theatres that includes the new Luxor theatre and movie theatres. Rotterdam has also a lively cultural life (the Ahoy complex located in the south of the city hosts pop concerts and all sorts of music, poetry and cinema festivals, exhibitions, tennis tournaments and other activities). Northwest of Rotterdam you will find the major zoo called Diegaarde Blijdorp complete with a walkthrough sea aquarium called Oceanjum.

Le Havre (France)

Is the gateway to Paris and Normandy. In Normandy you can visit the beach or relive historical moments like the landing of Normandy. In 2005, UNESCO named the reconsturcted center World Heritage, for beeing an exceptional example of the architecture and urban design after the war. And if you prefer, you can spend the day in the romantic Paris.

Lisbon

The city of Lisbon is rich in architecture; Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Modern and Postmodern constructions can be found all over Lisbon. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares, particularly in the upper districts. There are several substantial museums one can visit in the city. In addition, the mosaic Portuguese Pavement was born in Lisbon, in the mid-1800s. The art has since spread to the rest of the Portuguese Speaking world. The city remains one of the most expansive examples of the technique, nearly all walkways and even many streets being created and maintained in this style.

Cadiz (Spain)

Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. The older part of Cadiz within the remnants of the city walls is commonly referred to as the Old Town It is characterized by the antiquity of its various quarters, among them El Pópulo, La Viña, and Santa María, which present a marked contrast to the newer areas of town. While the Old City's street plan consists of narrow winding alleys connecting large plazas, newer areas of Cadiz typically have wide avenues and more modern buildings. In addition, the city is dotted with numerous parks where exotic plants flourish, including giant trees supposedly brought to Spain by Columbus from the New World. Cadiz, situated on a peninsula, is home to some of Spain's most beautiful beaches. La Playa de la Caleta is the best-loved beach of Cadiz. It has always been in Carnival songs, due to its unequalled beauty and its proximity to the Barrio de la Viña. It is the beach of the Old City, situated between two castles, San Sebastian and Santa Catalina. La Caleta and the boulevard show a lot of resemblance to parts of Havana, the capital city of Cuba,

Casablanca (Morocco)

Casablanca is the largest city of Morocco, situated in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the largest and most important cities in Africa. Casablanca is also Moroccos chief port and industrial centre. Casablanca is like any other European city and the most liberal and progressive of Moroccos cities. Most of the streets have signs, and passersby are extremely helpful in French or Arabic and, more rarely, Spanish or English. Young men flirt brazenly with scantily clad women, designer labels are the norm in the chic, beach front neighbourhood of Ain Diab and many young Moroccans speak to each other exclusively in French. The Medina historic district can be hard to navigate, but its so small that no matter how blindly you wander into it, youre never more than ten minutes from an exit. Places to visit: the Medina historic district, the Corniche, Octagon Square, the Shrine of Sidi Abderrahman, the Mosque Hassan II, the largest in North Africa, and the third largest in the world.

Funchal (Madeira)

The city´s name comes from the abundance of fennel (funcho) found on the island. It was an important shipping center during the 15th-17th centuries. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal. It is a modern, cosmopolitan, rejuvenated city, well known for its many top class restaurants, stunning new 4 & 5 star hotels and warm climate all year round. The city itself is nestled in a great natural amphitheatre, facing the blue Atlantic with a backdrop of dramatic mountains. It is located in the stunning south of Madeira, on it’s sunniest coast amidst banana plantations and wonderful gardens. Funchal has also for many years been one of the Atlantic Cruise-ship’s main ports of call, with the Liner harbour right in the middle of the town. Once ashore, the cafés, restaurants and history that mark this famed capital are just a stroll away. Tourists in Funchal can also enjoy activities such as diving in the crystal-clear waters, surfing the waves, taking day excursions along the coast and through the eucalyptus smelling mountain woods.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife port of fishing, commercial, passenger and sports in the Santa Cruz de Tenerife, located in the Atlantic Ocean. Next to this port is the famous building of the Auditorio de Tenerife. It has a significant relevance in two categories: Cruise Passengers and in Fresh Fish caught. Due to the importance of interinsular maritime transport, it also holds a dominant position in Passenger Transport. Some of the world's largest ocean liners have stopped in the Port. The proximity of two international airports backs up its position as base for cruises.