The Intrepid Beauty of Africa & the Indian Ocean - T2330 Bolette departing 19 Nov 2023

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.

Overlooking a vast sweeping bay, Tangier is the traditional gateway to Morocco. Though no more than 15 miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from Europe, this is a cosmopolitan city that stands on the threshold of Africa. Its world of soaring minarets and domes, ancient casbah (once the sultan’s walled palace and gardens) and animated souks express the rich part-Arab, part-African heritage of a city that has seen occupation by 12 nations since the 5th century.

Strategically situated midway between Sicily and North Africa, Malta is in every sense a Mediterranean crossroads – a tiny island with an epic and heroic history in which invasion and siege have seen the influence Romans, Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders and, of course, Britain all leave an enduring mark upon its cultural heritage. The16th century walled capital of Valletta with its Grand Harbour is a treasure-chest bristling with Baroque architecture, its narrow streets a tempting honeycomb of colourful shops and stalls.

A Roman amphitheatre, ancient catacombs and the site of the great Pharos lighthouse recall distant glories, while the 19th century Montazah Palace – a former royal residence – and seafront boulevards reflect a more recent era. Alexandria exists in the land that gave birth to the first great civilisation.

At the entrance to the Suez Canal, Port Said gives access to Cairo, capital of this legend-filled antique land whose history goes back 6,000 years, and which even today is a restless crossroads of creeds and cultures. The clamour of the city’s teeming streets and bazaars contrasts with the reflective mood of the Egyptian Museum and its countless treasures, among them the gold death mask of the boy king Tutankhamun. On Cairo’s western edge are Giza’s towering pyramids, the tombs of the pharaohs – constructed nearly 5,000 years ago and among the most awesome man-made structures on earth – and the sphinx, whose enigma remains unsolved to this day.

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Suez dividing the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and is one of the world’s most impressive man made waterways, 101 miles in length. Opened in 1869 it remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

The Canal crosses the Isthmus of Suez dividing the Mediterranean from the Red Sea, and is one of the world’s most impressive man made waterways, 101 miles in length. Opened in 1869 it remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Explore coral reefs, home to a host of rainbow-coloured fish and sea-gardens – at their best near Ras Mohammed Park and Na’ama Bay. Travel inland to the 6th century Byzantine Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Catherine’s, the oldest continuously inhabited monastery in the world, set in the shadow of Mt. Sinai, the site of the Burning Bush, where, according to tradition, Moses received the Ten Commandments.

On Egypt’s Red Sea coast, Safaga allows you to witness the awesome legacy of the pharaohs at Luxor and the inimitable Valley of the Kings on the banks of the Nile. Safaga is also renowned for its wide azure bay, long sandy beaches and pretty islands.

Better known as the perfume city of Arabia, is the capital of Oman’s southern Dhofar region. It is an area rich in antiquities and offers magnificent mountain scenery, captivating beaches and an awe-inspiring desert. Visits can be made to the tomb of the phophet Job located at Mount Eiteen. Traditional markets are bound to draw you, and offer the best varieties of frankincense and perfumes indigenously produced by the local Omani people.

After three days crossing the Arabian Sea, Mumbai appears off the port bow. Once a cluster of seven islands covered with coconut palms, Mumbai is a vibrant city where industy, skyscrapers, bustling bazaars, religious sites like the Jain Temple and the closely guarded Parsi Towers of Silence all exist happily side by side. Also see the Victoria Railway Terminus; the Royal Bombay Yacht Club and the Ghandi Memorial Museum. Named after the goddess Mumbai, this relic empire is dominated by the Gateway of India.

Epitomised at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, it is often described as containing more variety and vitality than anywhere else in India. Visit Mapusa market with its true Indian flavours, and head to Old Goa to discover the charm of the area before exploring Panaji with its crumbling Portuguese buildings and age-old charm.

Mangalore (or Mangaluru) is an Arabian Sea port and a major commercial center in the Indian state of Karnataka. It’s home to the Kadri Manjunath Temple, known for its bronze statues, and the 9th-century Mangaladevi Temple. Its Catholic sites include Milagres Church, dating to the 17th century, and St. Aloysious Chapel, which features interior paintings. Tannirbhavi Beach is popular for its sunset views.

A city that glories in the title of ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, and consist of peninsulas and islands with a mainland centre, Cochin has a magnificent natural harbour, almost in the middle of the city, created by the underwater Malabar mud banks that ensure calm waters.

Beautiful, unspoiled Uligamu, is off the beaten track to say the least, and is a stunning atoll island at the very top of the Maldives. The Maldives gives its visitors a taste of paradise that lives long in the memory, and Uligamu is no exception.Uligamu (or Uligan) inhabitants are both courteous and kind people, and the island’s spectacular beaches and quiet, tranquil waters offer an underwater feast of coral reefs and tropical fish.Part of the Haa Alif Atoll, Uligamu is an outpost in the northwest Indian Ocean and an ideal location to relax. It is the final stop for many en route to and from Thailand before entering the Gulf of Aden or sailing directly up the Red Sea.

Surrounded by turquoise swells of the quietly rippling Indian Ocean, and sprinkled with dense forests and tall hills offering breath-taking views, Victoria, on the Seychelles island of Mahé, is the epitome of paradise.The port is one of the smallest capitals in the world and offers visitors a number of highlights to discover. The colourful Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells spices, fruit, art and souvenirs. Near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the imposing La Domus, built in 1934 to house Catholic missionaries, while the quaint old courthouse has a clock tower that is a replica of Big Ben.The island’s pristine, golden sands are best seen from the top of Morne Blanc, which delivers breath-taking panoramic views across the lush landscape. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens showcases endemic palms and orchids, as well as giant tortoises and fruit bats, and is worth a visit.

Surrounded by turquoise swells of the quietly rippling Indian Ocean, and sprinkled with dense forests and tall hills offering breath-taking views, Victoria, on the Seychelles island of Mahé, is the epitome of paradise.The port is one of the smallest capitals in the world and offers visitors a number of highlights to discover. The colourful Sir Selwyn Clarke Market sells spices, fruit, art and souvenirs. Near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the imposing La Domus, built in 1934 to house Catholic missionaries, while the quaint old courthouse has a clock tower that is a replica of Big Ben.The island’s pristine, golden sands are best seen from the top of Morne Blanc, which delivers breath-taking panoramic views across the lush landscape. Seychelles National Botanical Gardens showcases endemic palms and orchids, as well as giant tortoises and fruit bats, and is worth a visit.

Total relaxation is on offer on the white sandy beaches of Praslin Island in the Seychelles. Originally the perfect hideaway for pirates, it is now the epitome of a tropical paradise, with crystal blue seas and tropical forests.Home to beautiful beaches (which frequently make the top ten lists of best beaches) and rare bird species, Praslin Island is everything you would expect of a tropical experience. The UNESCO-protected palm forest of Vallée de Mai located in Praslin National Park to the south of the island, and the ancient coral reefs just off-shore that are popular with divers, combine to make this a truly special place.

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeast Kenya along the Indian Ocean. The city is known as the white and blue city in Kenya. It is the country’s oldest and second-largest city, with a population of about 1,208,333 people according to the 2019 census.

Mombasa is a coastal city in southeast Kenya along the Indian Ocean. The city is known as the white and blue city in Kenya. It is the country’s oldest and second-largest city, with a population of about 1,208,333 people according to the 2019 census.

Beautiful Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. It has a relaxed pace and diverse flora and fauna, but its highlight has to be the powder-soft white sand beaches and alluring crystal clear waters offering visitors a true slice of paradise.The island’s main town is Stone Town, a historic trade centre with Swahili and Islamic influences. Its winding lanes are lined with balconies, minarets, huge carved doorways and 19th century landmarks such as the House of Wonders, a former sultan’s palace. A sense of Zanzibar’s harrowing past can discovered by visiting the old Slave Market or alternatively, its more cultural side can be tasted in its colourful cuisine at the Forodhani Gardens.The island is one of the world’s great cultural crossroads, where Africa meets Arabia. On the coast, fishing boats set sail, and in the countryside farmers tend fields of rice or plantations of clove. Zanzibar’s idyllic beaches are dotted with quaint hotels, and its shallow turquoise waters are perfect to paddle before the ocean becomes a playground for kayaking, diving and snorkelling for tropical marine life. Kitesurfing on the gorgeous sands is another popular pastime.

Mamoudzou is the capital of Mayotte, a beautiful French overseas department in the Comoros Islands archipelago. Located on Grand-Terre, the main island of Mayotte, the city is a gateway to the region’s spectacular sights and cultural delights.

Boats dot Mamoudzou’s charming harbour, and the nearby Marché Couvert market sells fresh, local produce and handicrafts. Landmarks include the white minaret of Mtsapéré Mosque, and Notre-Dame de Fatima church, while the nearby beaches of Trévani and Plage du Phare are perfect spots to relax.

Situated in the Mozambique Channel of the western Indian Ocean, some 190 miles northwest of Madagascar, Mayotte is comprised of two beautiful islands: Grand-Terre and Petit-Terre. Show lessA natural paradise, the island is home to the largest lagoon in the Indian Ocean, boasting over 250 different species of hard coral, schools of tropical fish, while turtles, dolphins and whales – all ripe for an unforgettable snorkelling or scuba diving adventure.
The wondrous landscape of Mayotte includes an amazing network of lush mangroves and humid rainforests. Grand-Terre features stunning volcanic landscapes, marked by deep ravines and soaring ancient peaks, and many hikers scale the spectacular heights of Mount Benara, Mount Mtsapere and Mount Combani.

Nosy Be is an island off Madagascar’s northwestern coast. In the southeast, the forests of Lokobe Reserve shelter chameleons, geckos and frogs. The capital, known as Hell-Ville, has French colonial buildings and a covered market.

Antsiranana, aka Diego Suarez, is a port city in northern Madagascar in Antsiranana Bay, a vast natural harbour made up of several smaller bays.

Smothered with French colonial charm, Diego’s streets are lined with traditional architecture and are home to large markets selling an abundance of fine local produce and hand-made crafts. The pace is slow and nearly everything shuts between 12pm and 3pm while locals indulge in long siestas.

Away from the bustle of the markets, the lighthouse, cathedral and the ruins of the Hôtel de la Marine are worth exploring. The delightful local delicacies in Diego’s many fine restaurants can also be enjoyed. Alternatively, a trip to the island’s breath-taking north coast offers stunning views of Sugarloaf Mountain or the eponymous Island, which is considered sacred by locals. South of the city, the untouched landscapes of two large National Parks are waiting to be discovered.

A republic of France, Port Réunion is like is like a tropical version of the French Riviera, with gourmet restaurants – many run by descendants of the original pioneers, sandy beaches and chic boutiques.

The Caribbean island’s lush, sweeping landscapes and mountainous interior are just waiting to be explored, as are the southern villages which appear to be frozen in time. Their charming creole houses remain as they were fifty years ago. More than 8,000 imported labourers built the docks here and many of these Portois stayed on in these shacks.

Following investment by the French Government, the island now has a modernised port, new housing, green spaces, and the creation of a superb boulevard, Ocean Avenue, linking the Old Port, soon to be a marina, with the city.

Some 23 whale and dolphin species visit the waters off the west coast of Réunion. From June to October the exhilarating spectacle of humpbacks breaching can be witnessed, after they’ve made the epic swim from Antarctica.

Port Louis, capital of Mauritius capital and its busiest city, delivers a huge slice of everyday Mauritian life. Sat in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the port is known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th century Champ de Mars horse-racing track.

To see a colourful snapshot of this paradise, a visit to the lively Central Market, which contrasts with the sparkling new Caudan Waterfront and shopping precinct, is recommended for local produce and handicrafts.

The Blue Penny Museum offers a taste of the island’s colonial and maritime history and culture. Port Louis’ famous Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens, with its giant Victoria Water Lilies, demands discovery, as does the nearby 3,000-acre Domaine des Pailles Nature Park.Show less
Tea is a big deal in Mauritius, with 58 varieties produced on the island. Many take the opportunity to visit the manufacturers’ factories and view the picturesque colonial houses en route. Alternatively, many simply choose to relax beside a fabulous Indian Ocean Beach.

Port Louis, capital of Mauritius capital and its busiest city, delivers a huge slice of everyday Mauritian life. Sat in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the port is known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th century Champ de Mars horse-racing track.

To see a colourful snapshot of this paradise, a visit to the lively Central Market, which contrasts with the sparkling new Caudan Waterfront and shopping precinct, is recommended for local produce and handicrafts.

The Blue Penny Museum offers a taste of the island’s colonial and maritime history and culture. Port Louis’ famous Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens, with its giant Victoria Water Lilies, demands discovery, as does the nearby 3,000-acre Domaine des Pailles Nature Park.Show less
Tea is a big deal in Mauritius, with 58 varieties produced on the island. Many take the opportunity to visit the manufacturers’ factories and view the picturesque colonial houses en route. Alternatively, many simply choose to relax beside a fabulous Indian Ocean Beach.

Port Louis, capital of Mauritius capital and its busiest city, delivers a huge slice of everyday Mauritian life. Sat in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, the port is known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th century Champ de Mars horse-racing track.

To see a colourful snapshot of this paradise, a visit to the lively Central Market, which contrasts with the sparkling new Caudan Waterfront and shopping precinct, is recommended for local produce and handicrafts.

The Blue Penny Museum offers a taste of the island’s colonial and maritime history and culture. Port Louis’ famous Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens, with its giant Victoria Water Lilies, demands discovery, as does the nearby 3,000-acre Domaine des Pailles Nature Park.Show less
Tea is a big deal in Mauritius, with 58 varieties produced on the island. Many take the opportunity to visit the manufacturers’ factories and view the picturesque colonial houses en route. Alternatively, many simply choose to relax beside a fabulous Indian Ocean Beach.

Toamasina, also called Tamatave, is a port city on the east coast of Madagascar. Its old town district features Creole houses built on stilts. Place Bien Aimé, a large park shaded by banyan trees, is home to a decaying colonial mansion.

Maputo, capital of Mozambique, is an Indian Ocean port with a rich Portuguese heritage and colonial architecture to match. Its smart waterside setting and wide avenues lined with jacaranda and flame trees, makes Maputo one of Africa’s most attractive capitals.

Many turn-of-the-century buildings are in the downtown Baixa neighbourhood. The beautiful architecture mixes up charming villas with an impressive modern skyline. Landmarks include the imposing bronze-domed CFM Railway Station, completed in 1916, which is well worth visiting, as is the expansive and colourful Municipal Market. This is a great spot to sample a taste of local life, and maybe a cashew nut or two, which are all over Maputo in every imaginable form.

This beachfront city has an upbeat African vibe, with a wide selection of cool hotels and restaurants, well-stocked supermarkets, shady cafes and a lively cultural scene and nightlife.

Richards Bay is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, which gives it one of the country’s largest harbours.

The largest port city in South Africa, Durban, is busy, vibrant and one of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations.​

Durban is blessed with balmy weather all year round and has an incredible stretch of beach, the Golden Mile, which boasts wonderful views of the idyllic Indian Ocean and many restaurants and bars to enjoy. This paradise offer an amazing contrast of cosmopolitan city life with a close proximity to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where the Zulu drum still beats. The regeneration of the waterfront area has helped shake off the city’s sleazy image and has given it a new confidence and ambition. This seafront promenade runs from uShaka Marine World and Aquarium to the futuristic Moses Mabhida Stadium. Durban is also a shopper’s paradise with quality shopping malls, craft markets and street bazaars. The fascinating Afro-Indian culture is very evident in the city, and much of the local cuisine has an Indian influence.

East London is a city on the Indian Ocean, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. It’s known for its beaches, such as Nahoon and Cove Rock. The Buffalo Pass is a road crossing a forested valley and the Buffalo River. Fossilised human and animal footprints, plus artefacts from the Xhosa-speaking people, are exhibited at the East London Museum.

The diminutive ‘capital’ of this exclusive little hideaway, grouped around the almost landlocked Admiralty Bay, where elegant yachts and schooners ride serenely at anchor. Bequia lies amid the 32strong island chain of the Grenadines – just seven square miles in are, but boasting eight sandy beaches between them!

Mossel Bay is a beautiful harbour town on the Garden Route in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Originally claimed in 1488 by the Spanish explorer, Bartholomew Dias, it is now a favourite coastal and holiday destination offering plenty of unhurried hospitality.

Named after the plentiful supply of mussels found here, Mossel Bay’s wide Santos Beach and the fabulous bay views from the 19th century Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse, both demand discovery. The Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex includes the Maritime Museum, which is home to a full-size reproduction of Dias’ ship. The Post Office Tree, an 800-year-old milkwood tree in the complex, has been used as a mail collection point since the 1500s.

Other places of interest include the wild flowers of the botanical gardens and the extraordinary Shell Museum. More active visitors have a choice of water-sports to choose from, or they can simply relax on any part of over 24km of white-sand beaches.

Cape Town brings together cultures, cuisines, and magnificent views: a stunning city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. A city that is defined by the flat-topped mountain it sits beneath, Cape Town is known for its lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and harbour, serene vineyards and impressive landscapes. This picturesque ‘city bowl’ on the shores of Table Bay, is best seen from the top of Table Mountain – accessible via cable car.

Cape Town is a rich melting pot of people, and a proudly multicultural centre. Given it was World Design Capital in 2014, creative art and design is unsurprisingly never too far way. Exploring the city is a pleasure, and the attractions include the historic Company’s Gardens, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park.

Away from the urban centre, winelands such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer a distraction of a different kind, Show lesswhile at Cape Point National Park boasts breathtaking coastlines and whale watching opportunities. Visitors can also learn of Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life and legacy at Robben Island, or perhaps spend a memorable evening watching the sunset at Signal Hill.

Cape Town brings together cultures, cuisines, and magnificent views: a stunning city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. A city that is defined by the flat-topped mountain it sits beneath, Cape Town is known for its lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and harbour, serene vineyards and impressive landscapes. This picturesque ‘city bowl’ on the shores of Table Bay, is best seen from the top of Table Mountain – accessible via cable car.

Cape Town is a rich melting pot of people, and a proudly multicultural centre. Given it was World Design Capital in 2014, creative art and design is unsurprisingly never too far way. Exploring the city is a pleasure, and the attractions include the historic Company’s Gardens, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park.

Away from the urban centre, winelands such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer a distraction of a different kind, Show lesswhile at Cape Point National Park boasts breathtaking coastlines and whale watching opportunities. Visitors can also learn of Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life and legacy at Robben Island, or perhaps spend a memorable evening watching the sunset at Signal Hill.

Cape Town brings together cultures, cuisines, and magnificent views: a stunning city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. A city that is defined by the flat-topped mountain it sits beneath, Cape Town is known for its lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and harbour, serene vineyards and impressive landscapes. This picturesque ‘city bowl’ on the shores of Table Bay, is best seen from the top of Table Mountain – accessible via cable car.

Cape Town is a rich melting pot of people, and a proudly multicultural centre. Given it was World Design Capital in 2014, creative art and design is unsurprisingly never too far way. Exploring the city is a pleasure, and the attractions include the historic Company’s Gardens, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park.

Away from the urban centre, winelands such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer a distraction of a different kind, Show lesswhile at Cape Point National Park boasts breathtaking coastlines and whale watching opportunities. Visitors can also learn of Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life and legacy at Robben Island, or perhaps spend a memorable evening watching the sunset at Signal Hill.

Cape Town brings together cultures, cuisines, and magnificent views: a stunning city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. A city that is defined by the flat-topped mountain it sits beneath, Cape Town is known for its lively Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and harbour, serene vineyards and impressive landscapes. This picturesque ‘city bowl’ on the shores of Table Bay, is best seen from the top of Table Mountain – accessible via cable car.

Cape Town is a rich melting pot of people, and a proudly multicultural centre. Given it was World Design Capital in 2014, creative art and design is unsurprisingly never too far way. Exploring the city is a pleasure, and the attractions include the historic Company’s Gardens, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Green Point Park.

Away from the urban centre, winelands such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer a distraction of a different kind, Show lesswhile at Cape Point National Park boasts breathtaking coastlines and whale watching opportunities. Visitors can also learn of Nelson Mandela’s inspirational life and legacy at Robben Island, or perhaps spend a memorable evening watching the sunset at Signal Hill.

Walvis Bay is a pleasant port town on the coast of Namibia. Sheltered by the Pelican Point sand spit, its tidal lagoon is a magical destination for bird lovers as it is home to an array of birdlife including pelicans, Damara terns and the largest flock of flamingos in Southern Africa. The town’s harbour is busy with fishing boats and ships, and the slower pace of life here – plus a distinctly laidback vibe – can be witnessed around its recently renovated waterfront, which has a number of fine bars and restaurants. With its calm, friendly atmosphere, the honey hued sand plains of Walvis Bay is perfect for those seeking peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of neighbouring cities. It’s also the perfect gateway to the famous Cape Cross Seal Reserve, home to some 100,000 Cape fur seals, and the grandeur of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The park’s sand dunes rise to over 1,000 feet and are the world’s highest – Dune 7 is popular with locals as a slope for sandboarding and skiing.

São Tomé is the capital and largest city of the Central African island country of São Tomé and Príncipe. Its name is Portuguese for “Saint Thomas”. Founded in the 15th century, is one of Africa’s oldest colonial cities.

Sekondi-Takoradi, a city comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. It is the capital of Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and the Western Region of Ghana. Sekondi-Takoradi is the region’s largest city and an industrial and commercial centre, with a population of 445,205 people.

The exuberant capital of West Africa’s Senegal – and once a French overseas territory – friendly Dakar is a thriving seaport and city where today’s skyscrapers, old colonial buildings and animated street markets (look out for some tempting craftware!) are juxtaposed in bizarre incongruity. You’ll find French the common language, but with a wealth of tribal dialects much in evidence! Within easy reach, too, are some excellent Atlantic beaches, and nearby N’Gor offers good snorkelling.

Tenerife is the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off West Africa. It’s dominated by Mt. Teide, a dormant volcano that is Spain’s tallest peak. Tenerife may be best known for its Carnaval de Santa Cruz, a huge pre-Lent festival with parades, music, dancing and colorful costumes.

Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeiran archipelago, has a timeless old-world charm. Enhanced by a subtropical climate that fills this ‘floating garden’ with the year-round colours and perfumes of flowers and fruit, Funchal was a favourite of Sir Winston Churchill. His praise of the city has ensured British visitors always receive a warm welcome from locals.

Backed by rolling hills, the town is famous for its harbour, the 17th century São Tiago Fortress (now the Contemporary Art Museum) and world renowned Madeiran wine cellars. Funchal’s parks and gardens are a delight, and a hike through the Laurel Forest nearby is highly recommended. The ancient Funchal Cathedral mixes Gothic and Romanesque architecture, and is noted for its impressive carved wooden ceiling.

Southampton offers fast and efficient check-in areas, spacious departure lounges with seating areas, café-bars and smart washrooms. If you wish to travel by car and park for the duration of your cruise, you can pay for and reserve parking in advance directly with the relevant company. Alternatively, if being dropped off or collected by taxi or private car, they can drive right up alongside the terminal building.