The vibrant capital and most populous city of Qatar awaits us with a mix of modern skyscrapers and picturesque souks.
Doha is located on the central eastern coast of the peninsula of Qatar, only 500 kilometres from the most famous cities of the neighbouring United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Unlike the latter, Doha is not a famous tourist destination but offers some interesting attractions and a glittering skyline that is constantly changing.

The Mosque of Phanar and the large souks are located in the heart of the city centre. The newly built Mosque is a fine example of Islamic architecture, with the particular spiral minaret, which is perfectly equal from whatever angle you look at it. See it at night too, when it is enhanced by magnificent lighting effects. In the nearby souks, immerse yourself in Middle Eastern flair: colours, scents, typical small shops run by men only, fabrics and traditional dresses. The most valuable part is hidden in the Gold Souk, where gold is sold by weight and is of good quality.

The name Abu Dhabi literally means ‘place of the gazelle’. Today Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.It has changed a lot in the last decades. It is a rather cosmopolitan city, with its bold urban architecture and lush gardens.It is also the seat of government for the Emirates.It is the headquarter for the president of the state. The Abu Dhabi Corniche,with its public parks and fountains, is a remarkable landscape of the city, The city has grown so rapidly, there is no natural beachfront now, but nonetheless an impressive and attractive city with all modern amenities.

As one of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has everything to meet a holidaymakers needs. The year round sunshine and excellent soft sandy beaches along the Jumeriah coast are ideal for those wanting to relax. For the more active, there are watersports to be enjoyed in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. One of Dubai’s highlights is the Gold Souks, where gold glistens in the windows of endless rows of shops. Shopping here is a must – the duty free status of the city means there are plenty of bargains to be found.

As one of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has everything to meet a holidaymakers needs. The year round sunshine and excellent soft sandy beaches along the Jumeriah coast are ideal for those wanting to relax. For the more active, there are watersports to be enjoyed in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. One of Dubai’s highlights is the Gold Souks, where gold glistens in the windows of endless rows of shops. Shopping here is a must – the duty free status of the city means there are plenty of bargains to be found.

As one of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has everything to meet a holidaymakers needs. The year round sunshine and excellent soft sandy beaches along the Jumeriah coast are ideal for those wanting to relax. For the more active, there are watersports to be enjoyed in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. One of Dubai’s highlights is the Gold Souks, where gold glistens in the windows of endless rows of shops. Shopping here is a must – the duty free status of the city means there are plenty of bargains to be found.

The name Abu Dhabi literally means ‘place of the gazelle’. Today Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE.It has changed a lot in the last decades. It is a rather cosmopolitan city, with its bold urban architecture and lush gardens.It is also the seat of government for the Emirates.It is the headquarter for the president of the state. The Abu Dhabi Corniche,with its public parks and fountains, is a remarkable landscape of the city, The city has grown so rapidly, there is no natural beachfront now, but nonetheless an impressive and attractive city with all modern amenities.

Salalah is Oman’s second largest city. The surrounding territory is characterised by bizarre verdant hill formations that decrease in height as they approach the coast, making way for white sand beaches.

Aqaba, Jordan’s only seaport, boasts the Red Sea’s cleanest beaches and coral reefs. The coral barrier of Aqaba is vitally important and hosts an incredible variety of fish and corals.

Haifa is the largest city in Northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 264,900. Today, the city is a major seaport located on Israel’s Mediterranean coastline in the Bay of Haifa covering 63.7 square kilometres (24.6 sq mi)

The cradle of Greek culture, Athens welcomes us to its port of Piraeus, watching us from above the wonderful Acropolis.
Piraeus is the port of Athens, the largest in Europe, allowing you to visit the city, a place of dreams. A place of emigration, it has inspired numerous songs. Most ships will be making a stop in Athens before resuming the Mediterranean route or returning to the Atlantic. Take the time to visit the Acropolis and maybe the museum located at its base. Before flying out, enjoy the spectacle of a sunset at Capo Sunio. Try not to visit the city when it’s too hot in summer, much of the population moves out of town.

Not to be missed:

• The mythical Parthenon

• The Ancient Agora

• The Olympic Stadium

An ideal bridge between Europe and Africa, Palermo, with its impressive monuments, is a fusion of Romanesque, Arab and Byzantine art. The cuisine offers many delicious and sophisticated dishes, using simple and fresh ingredients.

From the ancient port of Civitavecchia you will land in the heart of the Roman and Etruscan civilisations; the old town is also a fabulous mediaeval village.
Civitavecchia of today is the result of a thousand-year long process of civilisation and urbanisation in the Lazio region. In the area, close to where this city is located (and just 70 km from Rome), there are important historical elements that, over the centuries, have overlapped and accumulated to confirm the presence and evolution of organised social groups as far back as the prehistoric age. In fact, numerous traces of primitive settlements are found along the coast of Civitavecchia. Equally numerous and important are the Etruscan, Roman and mediaeval structures that have made the city an important urban centre and renowned as the Port of Rome since antiquity. During a cruise departing from Civitavecchia, before continuing in the Mediterranean, you can take advantage of this stop to visit Rome, the grandiose capital with its world-famous monuments: the Forums, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trajan’s Column, the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Piazza di Spagna and many more.

Genoa (Genova) is a port city and the capital of northwest Italy’s Liguria region. It’s known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries. In the old town stands the Romanesque Cathedral of San Lorenzo, with its black-and-white-striped facade and frescoed interior. Narrow lanes open onto monumental squares like Piazza de Ferrari, site of an iconic bronze fountain and Teatro Carlo Felice opera house.