Day 1

Southampton

Southampton is a working port with a rich maritime past. Walk its medieval city walls, then visit SeaCity Museum, where exhibits explore the city’s connection to the Titanic. The Mayflower began its 1620 voyage from Southampton, and the Titanic sailed from here in 1912. Beyond the waterfront, the New Forest’s heathland and Winchester’s cathedral make rewarding excursions.

Day 4

Lisbon, Portugal

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.

Day 6

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is more than an island gateway. This Atlantic capital rewards a closer look. Browse the stalls at Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África, then follow the old streets towards Plaza de España. Its broad avenues, shaded plazas and market cafés make wandering pleasantly straightforward. Modern landmarks include the sculptural Auditorio de Tenerife, while palm-lined parks offer a welcome pause. Mount Teide rises inland; the golden sands of Las Teresitas lie within reach.

Day 9

Mindelo

Mindelo brings Cape Verde’s Atlantic character into sharp focus: a working harbour, Portuguese-era façades and a distinctive Creole culture. The waterfront faces sheltered Porto Grande, while cafés and music venues give the town a sociable rhythm. Explore Praça Nova and the Centro Nacional de Artesanato e Design, where local craft traditions are on display. For a wider view, drive up Monte Verde, São Vicente’s highest point, on a clear day.

Day 18

Cape Town

Few ports make a first impression like Cape Town, where Table Mountain rises above a working harbor and the Atlantic. From the waterfront, you can reach the city’s museums, gardens and historic quarters within minutes. Ride the cableway to the summit, or follow the coast toward the Cape Peninsula’s beaches and vineyards. Look beyond the views: Cape Town’s layered history and lively food scene reward a slower visit.

Day 21

Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth, now officially Gqeberha, faces Algoa Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. See the city’s maritime past at Donkin Reserve, then follow Route 67’s public art and heritage landmarks. Long beaches invite a coastal walk, while Addo Elephant National Park is within easy driving distance. Choose a wildlife excursion or time beside the water; both offer a rewarding introduction to this coastal city.

Day 24

Durban

Durban meets the Indian Ocean on South Africa’s east coast, with long beaches and cosmopolitan energy. Along the Golden Mile, the beachfront promenade offers a bracing walk and views of Moses Mabhida Stadium. Try bunny chow, the city’s celebrated curry-filled bread, then browse spices and crafts at Victoria Street Market. Durban’s Zulu heritage and Indian influence give the city a character—and a cuisine—well worth exploring.

Day 28

Saint-Denis, France

Saint-Denis is Réunion’s compact, French-speaking capital, set between the Indian Ocean and the island’s steep volcanic interior. Walk Rue de Paris past Creole mansions to Jardin de l’État, then visit the nearby museums. At the Petit Marché, island produce and spices fill the stalls; the Grand Marché showcases local crafts. Come ashore for architecture and local life, then look inland: Réunion’s dramatic mountain landscapes begin just beyond town.

Day 29

Port Louis, Mauritius

Port Louis brings Mauritius into focus: a working harbour, a lively market and green volcanic peaks behind the city. Start at Central Market, where vendors sell tropical fruit, spices and street food. Nearby, the Blue Penny Museum traces the island’s maritime and postal history. Fort Adelaide rewards the climb with broad harbour views. Allow time for the waterfront’s restaurants and shops; this is a port best explored on foot.

Day 37

Penang Island Malaysia, Malaysia

Penang is Malaysia at its most layered, where Malay, Chinese, Indian and colonial influences meet on a compact island. In George Town, follow UNESCO-listed streets past painted shophouses, temples and historic clan jetties. Order char kway teow or assam laksa; the island’s hawker food is reason enough to linger. When the heat rises, ride the funicular up Penang Hill for cooler air and sweeping views across the strait. Here, the pleasures are close together, yet never feel hurried.

Day 38

Klang, Malaysia

Port Klang is Malaysia’s busiest seaport and the practical gateway to Kuala Lumpur, about 40 kilometres inland. Stay nearby to explore Klang’s royal history and lively Little India. Follow the scent of bak kut teh, the peppery pork-and-herb soup that made the town famous. Or head to Kuala Lumpur for grand mosques, markets and city views; allow extra time for traffic.

Day 39

Singapore, Singapore

Singapore rewards the curious with a rare mix of order, energy and invention. Within a short ride of the waterfront, explore Chinatown’s shophouses, Little India’s temples and Kampong Glam’s Malay heritage. Follow pepper crab and satay aromas into a hawker centre, where local cooks make a persuasive case for lunch. For a quieter hour, Gardens by the Bay pairs dramatic Supertrees with cool conservatories and views across Marina Bay.

Day 43

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is best approached from the water, where the Star Ferry crosses Victoria Harbour beneath a skyline of towers. Ride the Peak Tram for sweeping views of the harbour and surrounding islands. In Central, colonial landmarks stand beside glass towers; across the harbour, Kowloon’s markets and temples offer a different pace. Cantonese kitchens range from dim sum teahouses to polished dining rooms. Leave time for the harbour after dark, when the city’s lights come into focus.

Day 46

Busan, Korea

Busan pairs the scale of a modern port city with easy access to temples, markets and broad beaches. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village, browse Jagalchi Fish Market or ride Songdo’s cable car over the sea. The city’s best-known sights are spread across several districts, so plan your day around one area. For a quieter pause, visit Beomeosa Temple on the forested slopes of Geumjeongsan.

Day 47

Nagasaki City, Japan

Few Japanese cities combine harbor scenery and layered history as compellingly as Nagasaki. Its steep streets rise above a sheltered harbor that once linked Japan with Dutch and Chinese traders. At Dejima, the former Dutch trading post, exhibits trace the city’s unusual role during centuries of restricted foreign contact. The Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum offer a moving, carefully documented account of 1945. Come for the history; stay to see how a resilient port city lives beside its past.

Day 48

Kagoshima City, Japan

Kagoshima sits at the southern end of Kyushu, with Sakurajima rising across its sheltered bay. Ferries cross to the active volcano, where lava fields and walking trails reveal a landscape still shaped by fire. Sengan-en, a former Shimazu estate, combines traditional gardens with striking views of Sakurajima. Kagoshima’s food is equally distinctive: tender kurobuta pork and local sweet-potato shochu give the region its own character.

Day 50

Yokohama, Japan

Yokohama is Japan’s most cosmopolitan port city, with Tokyo less than an hour away by train. Stay here, though, and you’ll find a city with its own strong character. Explore waterfront promenades, the historic Red Brick Warehouse, and one of Japan’s largest Chinatowns. Yokohama opened to foreign trade in 1859. Its international past still shapes the food, architecture, and relaxed pace of the city today.

Day 58

Rabaul

Rabaul occupies the rim of Simpson Harbour, where rainforest slopes meet a dramatic volcanic caldera. Tavurvur still steams above town, recalling the 1994 eruptions that buried old Rabaul in ash. Explore Japanese wartime tunnels and wreckage, then visit the Rabaul Museum for context. For a closer look at local life, Kokopo, the province’s quieter commercial centre, lies about 30 kilometres away.

Day 62

Cairns, Australia

Cairns puts two World Heritage landscapes within reach: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest. Boats leave the marina for coral reefs and islands. Inland, the scenic railway and Skyrail connect Cairns with Kuranda, a mountain village above the rainforest. The Esplanade’s waterfront lagoon offers a refreshing pause in the tropical city. Allow time for Cairns itself: its markets, cafés and relaxed waterfront reward a slower pace between excursions.

Day 63

Airlie Beach, Australia

Airlie Beach is the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, on Queensland’s Coral Sea coast. Boats leave its marina for island beaches, reef snorkelling and sailing, on day trips or overnight cruises. The foreshore lagoon offers a saltwater swim and bay views; cafés and shops line the town centre. Conway National Park’s rainforest trails provide a quieter inland counterpoint.

Day 66

Sydney, Australia

From the water, Sydney’s harbour frames the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and ferries crossing between historic quays. Beyond the waterfront, central Sydney pairs nineteenth-century buildings with contemporary architecture and leafy streets. Walk the Royal Botanic Garden for harbour views, or take a ferry to Manly for a coastal perspective. Allow time to explore The Rocks, where the city’s colonial beginnings meet galleries, cafés and a lively weekend market.

Cruise line	Cunard
Ship	Queen Elizabeth
Duration	66 nights
Port calls	21
Departures	1 sailings
From fare	$9,639 per person
Year built	2010
Guests	2503
Cabins	1043
Crew	900
Length	293 m
Beam	32 m
Cruising speed	24.0 kn

England Cruise from Southampton to Sydney — 66 Days