21 nights · Portugal · Departs Lisbon (Portugal) · Visiting Portimao, Seville, Cadiz, Tangier, Malaga, Gibraltar, Almeria, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Port Mahon, Tarragona, Palamos, Marseille, Monte Carlo, La Spezia, Livorno, Civitavecchia-Rome · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Journey
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Journey |
| Duration | 21 nights |
| Port calls | 19 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $5,479 per person |
| Year built | 2000 |
| Guests | 781 |
| Cabins | 355 |
| Crew | 408 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
Lisbon is a city best approached with time and comfortable shoes. Its seven hills rise above the Tagus, linking tiled lanes, grand squares and viewpoints with wide river views. In Alfama, narrow streets preserve the feel of old Lisbon. In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower recall Portugal’s age of discovery. Pause for coffee and a warm pastel de nata between sights.
Portimão sits where the Arade River meets the Atlantic, in Portugal’s sunlit Algarve. From the quay, Praia da Rocha’s ochre cliffs and broad sands are close at hand. In the old town, tiled façades and cafés frame the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Choose fresh sardines at the waterfront, or cross the river to Ferragudo for a quieter village view. Portimão makes an easy base for exploring the Algarve’s coast without sacrificing a genuine working-town feel.
Seville’s river port opens onto a city of Moorish courtyards, Gothic grandeur and lively streets. The cathedral and Giralda dominate the old quarter. The Alcázar’s tiled rooms and gardens reveal centuries of Islamic and Christian rule. Along the Guadalquivir, former trading warehouses recall the city’s Atlantic fortunes. Come ashore ready to walk, pause for tapas, and let the details set the pace.
Cádiz is one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, set on a narrow peninsula where Atlantic light reaches every street. Its compact old quarter is made for unhurried exploration, with watchtowers, shaded plazas and the cathedral’s golden dome. At the Mercado Central, fishmongers display the day’s catch; nearby taverns serve fino sherry and local seafood. Beyond the walls, La Caleta beach and the seafront promenade offer a bracing taste of Cádiz’s maritime life.
Tangier faces Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Walk its medina’s steep lanes past whitewashed houses and shops selling leather, ceramics, and spices. At the Kasbah, find sea views and the former sultan’s palace, now a museum. Beyond the old walls, cafés and boulevards recall the city’s international past. Visit the American Legation, the first U.S. diplomatic property abroad. Or drive to Cap Spartel, where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet.
Málaga is more than a gateway to Andalusia; it is a port city with a confident life of its own. In the old centre, the Roman Theatre sits below the Moorish Alcazaba, while the cathedral rises above nearby streets. Visit the Picasso Museum or his birthplace, then try grilled sardines and local wine at a pavement table. The Mediterranean is close: city beaches, Atarazanas Market and palm-lined promenades make lingering easy.
Gibraltar stands at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, looking across the Strait towards Morocco. The Rock rises above a compact town shaped by British, Spanish and Mediterranean influences. A taxi tour of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve brings far-reaching views and close encounters with Barbary macaques. Below, explore the Great Siege Tunnels and Moorish Castle, then browse Main Street’s shops and cafés.
Almería rewards travelers who look beyond its sunlit waterfront. The city’s Alcazaba, among Spain’s largest Moorish fortresses, rises above whitewashed lanes and the port. From its ramparts, gardens and stone walls frame broad views across the city and Mediterranean. The cathedral’s fortress-like exterior recalls centuries when coastal raids threatened the shore. Allow time for the Central Market. Beyond the city, Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park offers volcanic cliffs, quiet coves, and clear water.
Alicante makes a graceful first impression: its Mediterranean harbour opens onto a lively, walkable city centre. Ride the lift to Santa Bárbara Castle, perched on Mount Benacantil, for sweeping views across rooftops and sea. Below, old-quarter lanes lead to the Basilica of Santa Maria and the Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. Stroll the palm-lined Explanada de España, then try turrón, Alicante’s famed almond-and-honey confection. Beaches, cafés and the Archaeological Museum offer rewarding stops within easy reach of the harbour.
Valencia rewards travellers who look beyond its waterfront. Spain’s third-largest city pairs a handsome old centre with the bold architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences. Visit the Central Market for local produce, then follow the Turia Gardens towards the coast. Paella has deep roots here; seek it in its birthplace, not merely on the menu. With efficient transport and a compact historic core, Valencia is easy to explore at your own pace.
Palma rewards an unhurried first walk. From the waterfront, the Gothic towers of La Seu rise above the old city, a landmark shaped over centuries. Inside, soaring columns and Antoni Gaudí’s modernist contributions add a striking note. Beyond the cathedral, lanes lead to shaded courtyards, shops and cafés serving local ensaimada. For a wider view, take a taxi to Bellver Castle, whose circular form overlooks the bay.
Mahón sits at the head of one of the world’s largest natural harbours, a deep-water inlet that shaped Menorca’s history. From the waterfront, climb to the old town for Georgian façades, lively markets and views across the port. Menorca’s British-era influence appears in its architecture and in gin, still distilled locally and served with lemonade. Allow time to explore beyond Mahón: the island’s quiet coves, prehistoric stone monuments and clear waters reward an unhurried visit.
Step ashore in Tarragona, where Roman Tarraco meets the blue sweep of the Mediterranean. An amphitheatre still faces the sea, while ancient walls trace the edge of the old city. UNESCO-listed monuments, a Gothic cathedral and lively Rambla Nova make the historic centre rewarding to explore on foot. At the Balcó del Mediterrani, take in the coast before settling at a terrace for Catalan seafood and local wine.
Palamós brings you to the heart of Spain’s Costa Brava, where a working fishing port meets a handsome old town. Its waterfront is famed for the prawns landed here, best sampled at a local table. Walk the promenade, visit the Fishing Museum, or follow coastal paths towards rocky coves and clear water. Girona and medieval villages lie inland, but Palamós rewards a slower day close to the sea.
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.
Monte Carlo makes a striking first impression, with superyachts in Port Hercule and the Alps rising behind the coast. A short walk leads to Casino Square, where Belle Époque architecture frames the famous casino and designer boutiques. For a quieter contrast, climb to Monaco-Ville for the Prince’s Palace, cathedral and views across the harbor. The principality is compact and easy to explore on foot, though its steep streets reward comfortable shoes.
La Spezia sits at the head of the Gulf of Poets. Here, Liguria’s steep hills meet a sheltered stretch of Mediterranean coast. Its working harbor gives the city a lively maritime character, while cafés and broad streets reward an easy stroll. Trains connect La Spezia with the villages of the Cinque Terre; ferries sail to Portovenere. Allow time for the city itself, not just its celebrated neighbors.
Livorno rewards those who look beyond the cruise terminal. Its canals, built in the style of Venice, wind through historic Venezia Nuova. The seafront promenade leads to Terrazza Mascagni, where black-and-white paving frames the sea. At Mercato Centrale, locals shop beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. Try cacciucco, the city’s rich fish stew. Florence and Pisa are within reach, but Livorno merits time of its own.
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Published September 29, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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