21 nights · Italy · Departs Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy) · Visiting Olbia, Port Mahon, Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena Spain, Malaga, Gibraltar, Seville, Lisbon, Porto-Leixoes, La Coruna, Gijon, Bilbao-Getxo, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo, Caen-Ouistreham, Portsmouth UK · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Quest
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Quest |
| Duration | 21 nights |
| Port calls | 17 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $5,109 per person |
| Year built | 2000 |
| Guests | 794 |
| Cabins | 361 |
| Crew | 408 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
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.
Olbia brings Sardinia’s northeast within easy reach, from its old centre to the Costa Smeralda. Corso Umberto passes cafés and shops; nearby stands the granite Romanesque Basilica of San Simplicio. The harbour and beaches at Pittulongu offer a change of pace, while the Costa Smeralda lies north by road. For a glimpse of the island’s ancient past, visit the Nuragic site of Riu Mulinu above the city.
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.
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.
Cartagena rewards visitors who look beyond its busy harbor. Founded by the Carthaginians in 227 BC, this compact port city carries layers of Roman, military, and maritime history. Follow the waterfront to the Roman Theatre, uncovered in 1988 and now paired with a museum. Explore the old quarter’s elegant Modernista buildings and naval landmarks. Cartagena is easy to navigate, yet rich enough to hold your attention all day.
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.
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.
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.
Porto is a city best approached on foot, where steep lanes descend towards the Douro and the Atlantic beyond. Across the river, Vila Nova de Gaia’s historic port-wine lodges offer tastings and views back to the old town. Between them, the Ribeira waterfront, tiled churches and iron bridges tell the story of a trading city shaped by water. Taste tawny port, then linger over market halls, intimate museums and unhurried meals.
La Coruña rewards a shore day spent looking beyond the waterfront. In Galicia’s Atlantic capital, glass-fronted galerías brighten the marina. Old town lanes lead to quiet squares and the church of Santiago. Walk the headland to the Tower of Hercules, the world’s oldest working Roman lighthouse and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then settle over local seafood and Albariño, with the ocean never far from view.
Gijón is a working port on the Bay of Biscay and a fine introduction to Asturias. Behind it, the Cantabrian Mountains frame a coast shaped by sea and weather. Explore Cimavilla, the old fishing quarter, and San Pedro, its Romanesque church above the headland. Then follow the promenade beside San Lorenzo Beach and order Asturias’s famed cider in a local sidrería.
Bilbao rewards visitors who look beyond its celebrated Guggenheim Museum. Cruise ships berth at Getxo, roughly 20 kilometres from the city centre. A taxi or arranged transfer brings you into Bilbao, where Frank Gehry’s titanium landmark rises beside the Nervión River. Beyond the museum, explore elegant boulevards and the seven streets of Casco Viejo. Stop at La Ribera Market, then sample pintxos with a glass of crisp txakoli.
Bordeaux is best approached through its river: the Garonne leads into a city shaped by trade, wine and ambitious architecture. Along the UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon, eighteenth-century façades frame broad quays and the Place de la Bourse. Beyond the centre, renowned wine estates and the Médoc’s château-lined roads invite a longer excursion. Stay in town for a market, a riverside walk and a glass of local claret. Venture farther for vineyard landscapes that explain Bordeaux’s global reputation.
St-Malo rises from the Breton coast in granite, its old town enclosed by formidable seventeenth-century ramparts. Walk the walls for sea views, then enter Intra-Muros, where narrow lanes lead to cafés, shops and the cathedral. Privateers once sailed under royal authority; their story gives the city a character beyond its handsome stones. St-Malo’s tides rank among Europe’s highest, lending each visit a changing edge; save time for oysters and Breton crêpes.
Caen, in the heart of Normandy, pairs medieval landmarks with the region’s defining wartime history. William the Conqueror founded the Abbaye-aux-Hommes and built Caen’s castle. Its ramparts still overlook the old town. The Caen Memorial traces the Second World War and the road to peace, while the D-Day beaches lie within reach. Normandy’s cider and cheeses reward a pause at the market.
Portsmouth is Britain’s great naval city, where the nation’s maritime story remains vividly present. At the Historic Dockyard, step aboard Nelson’s HMS Victory and visit the Mary Rose Museum. The Tudor warship, lifted from the Solent after 437 years, reveals extraordinary detail of life at sea. Beyond the waterfront, find lively cafés, independent shops and views from the 170-metre Spinnaker Tower. Portsmouth rewards those who want history close at hand beside a working seafront.
Published August 21, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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