The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.

La Rochelle is a dignified and historic city, which you reach from nearby La Pallice. Founded by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the 14th century, the town is a treasure house of wonderful architecture.

The Basque city and cruise port of Bilbao in northern Spain has become one of the hottest destinations in Europe following the opening of the imaginatively-designed Guggenheim modern art gallery. Bilbao was very much a working city but it has always boasted a lively old town dating from the 14th century. Through the winding alleyways of the Casco Viejo you can stop to sample tapas at the many exceptional local bars and restaurants. Other sights include the arcaded Plaza Nueva and the Gothic Cathedral de Santiago. One of Spain’s most important art collections is housed across the city at the Museo de Bellas Artes. This features works dating from the 12th century through to contemporary art by Cezanne, Gauguin and Francis Bacon.

The name of Coruna’s cruise dock – Transatlantic Quay – reflects its location on the northwestern tip of the Iberian Peninsular making it – you might be surprised to learn – the closest European port to New York. It is a charming mixture of old town and new town also with a couple of beaches along the two-mile stretch of coastline it overlooks. The colonnaded Maria Pita Square is at the heart of the old town, with many shops, bars and restaurants all around. There are various fascinating museums including the interactive House of Mankind plus an aquarium and planetarium. La Coruña is also the main Atlantic gateway to one of the most ruggedly scenic regions in Spain – Galicia. Among its attractions is one of the worlds great pilgrimage destinations: Santiago de Compostela, with its Romanesque cathedral.

The Cherbourg-Octeville area is known for its international ferry terminal and lively quays, where yachts bob beside attractions like Le Redoutable nuclear submarine museum and La Cité de la Mer aquarium. A 19th-century fort on the Roule mountain houses the WWII-themed Liberation Museum and a lookout point with city views. Crêperies and restaurants serving regional cuisine line the narrow streets in the old town.

The city center is a charming mix of old city walls and a large modern shopping centre. With multiple restaurants, museums, cinemas and theatres there is plenty to be explored. Time spent at embarkation and disembarkation ports may be limited which may restrict availability of shore excursions.