Grand Mediterranean Idyll - 22 nights, August 2013

The United Kingdom's premier passenger ship port, Southampton was home to the great transatlantic liners of yesteryear. The port serves as your gateway to Southern England’s magnificent historic sites, national landmarks, charming villages as well as the great metropolis of London. Southampton is the ideal starting or ending point for a memorable voyage.

Portugal’s capital spreads its ancient sites on seven steep hillsides that overlook the Tagus River. Feast your eyes on St. George’s Castle which overlooks the city atop the highest hill, or the countless balconies ablaze with geraniums and wrought iron lamps that light up the medieval Alfama quarter. Wonder up to the Bairro Alto where you may hear the sorrowful fado singers ring out from cafés.

Grab a cable car to carry you up the ancient Pillar of Hercules for views that will leave you breathless. For the wildlife enthusiast in you there’s a stop to appreciate the diverse birdlife and to meet those famous Barbary Apes, of course! Beneath Gibraltar’s white cliffs grow a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers grow here, some found nowhere else on Earth.

With a fascinating history dating back 3,000 years the natural harbour of Cartagena is a major naval port due to its unique position on the Mediterranean coast. A stroll amidst Cartagena’s more recent modernista-style architecture- all flamboyant curves, ornate balconies and striking mosaics- may make the ideal prelude to an asiático, the local liqueur coffee.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona’s numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.

A former spa resort, Aix-en-Provence, provides a soothing atmosphere to stroll around as you are accompanied by the sounds of fountain after gently bubbling fountain. If the cobbled streets, dry stone walls, swaths of lilac lavender and tiny farmhouses of Arles feel familiar, you probably have Van Gogh to thank, he produced an astonishing 200 paintings during his first year here.

Monte Carlo, two words that are synonymous with luxury and splendour. Lying at the heart of the Riviera, this tiny principality is undoubtedly big on glamour as diamonds, lavish yachts and Ferraris are all part of the lifestyle here. You may be tempted to buy your own after a flutter at Monte Carlo’s most famous landmark – the Grand Casino.

Allow yourself to be awed by one of Tuscany’s Renaissance treasures, Florence. With red tiled roofs, tiny shops and magnificent architecture, this is the romantic capital of Italy. Marvel at the mosaic façade and stained glass of the Duomo, gaze up at the tilting bell tower of Pisa and soak up the sight of the beautiful gold and silver workshops huddled together over the River Arno.

A visit to Rome is an unforgettable experience. Explore the legends of the ages: the Vatican and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Catacombs. Stroll down the Via Veneto or sip cappuccino in the Piazza di Spagna. Italy's "Eternal City" is eternally fascinating. Throw a few coins in the Trevi Fountain and you may be back again!

Only three miles from mainland Italy, Messina sits on Sicily’s North-Eastern tip under Mt Etna’s unerring gaze. Set your watches! One of Messina’s undoubted attractions is the astronomical clock housed inside a soaring bell tower on the Piazza del Duomo. Its midday show of bronze mythological figures and roaring lions is a spectacle to behold.

When you arrive by sea, there is no confusing the island of Santorini. Dazzling white houses cling to the edge of vertical, rocky cliffs against azure blue waters. The most southern of the Cyclades islands, it is surrounded by Thirasia and Aspronisi, which were once part of a large volcanic island. Considered by many to be the site of the “Lost City of Atlantis”, this magical little island glimmers from the fading sun as many watch its decent from the numerous bars and cafés at the water’s edge.

Expect a warm welcome to Rhodes, with its magnificent scenery and flawless beaches, that legend has it was once blessed by Apollo with sunshine and beauty. With a rich medieval history there is plenty to explore at Rhodes, from the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, to the Grand Master's Palace is famed for its superb mosaic floors.

Prepare for an incredibly preserved snapshot of life two thousand years ago as you visit the inspiring remains of Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the Library of Celsius. The port, Kusadasi, is not without interest or charm. Her medieval walls still stand, and whitewashed stone houses rise in tiers behind the market district. The palm-lined boulevard is the centre of town life with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Welcome to the “Birthplace of Modern Democracy”, a city whose architectural, art and political triumphs are a universal legacy. Discover the perfectly proportioned Parthenon built during the Golden Age of Peracles. Stroll through the ancient columns of the Stoa, where Plato once lectured or for lighter fare explore the twisting lanes and lively tavernas of the Plaka.

Explore the legacies of Greek, Roman and Venetian Empires or simply marvel at nature’s treasures on this beautiful island swathed in emerald green, lapped by turquoise waters and fringed with golden sand. The once pastel colours on Venetian buildings may have faded, but the welcoming scent of eucalyptus, fig and lemon trees are fragrant as ever.

Acknowledged as ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’ Dubrovnik is truly an amazing destination to visit. Its history is as rich and intriguing as the first sight of it looming out of crystalline waters is breathtaking. The Old Town was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and it is no wonder as you discover its morning market piled with fresh flowers, cheese and fish.

Can any city match up to the romance of Venice? As the warm sunset casts its balmy glow over the charming canals it’s hard to imagine it possible. Explore the maze of markets and cafés by gondola before heading to Harry’s Bar to sip its famous Bellini cocktail. It won’t take long on one of Venice’ peaceful canals, beneath a beautiful bridge, for you to fall for this extraordinary city’s spell.

Can any city match up to the romance of Venice? As the warm sunset casts its balmy glow over the charming canals it’s hard to imagine it possible. Explore the maze of markets and cafés by gondola before heading to Harry’s Bar to sip its famous Bellini cocktail. It won’t take long on one of Venice’ peaceful canals, beneath a beautiful bridge, for you to fall for this extraordinary city’s spell.