Morocco to Portugal cruise

Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, showcases a fusion of French, Moorish, and Art Deco styles in its downtown neo-Mauresque structures. The prominent Hassan II Mosque, finished in 1993, features a towering 210m minaret with laser projections, and the 18th-century medina's lively alleyways provide a glimpse into the city's historical charm. Place Mohammed V, with palm trees and an elaborate fountain, symbolises Casablanca's dynamism.

Tangier, Morocco's northern port city, has been a gateway to Africa for centuries. Founded by the Phoenicians 3,000 years ago, Tangier's long, complex history is reflected in its labyrinthine Medina, 15th-century Portuguese fortress and Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures with its mosaic of Venus. Today, Tangier is a contemporary Moroccan city with a buzzing café culture and modern port.

Motril, nestled among the Sierra de Lújar and Sierra Nevada mountains, is the capital of the Tropical Coast. Its mild subtropical climate supports sugarcane cultivation. Known for this "sweet gold," its rich sugar history features a sugar museum, mills and rum distilleries. Motril also provides access to the whitewashed villages in Las Alpujarras valleys and gorges, and Granada, home to the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Puerto Banús, a luxury hotspot on the Costa del Sol, is famous for its upscale marina, lined with high-end boutiques, bars and restaurants, drawing the rich and famous. It's also a centre for activities like sailing and dolphin watching. Just 7 km away, Marbella's old town offers a contrast with its Renaissance-era whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and highlights like Plaza de los Naranjos and Salvador Dalí sculptures along Avenida del Mar.

At the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar’s 6 km coastline features sandy beaches like Bajo de Guía, renowned for its seafood and as the gateway to the natural wonders of Doñana National Park with its shifting sand dunes and pine forests. A haven for biodiversity, Doñana is home to the elusive Iberian lynx. The park is Europe’s largest wetland marshes, teeming with flamingos, storks and other migratory bird species.

A city renowned for passion, culture and flamenco, Seville’s intoxicating atmosphere will infuse even the weariest traveller with a celebratory spirit. The capital of Andalusia is revered for the grandeur of its monuments as well as for exquisite tapas dishes. The magnificent Catedral de Sevilla lords over the historic centre a short distance from the Alcázar (palace), a royal complex of rooms and gardens hidden behind modest terracotta walls.

Lagos, on the Algarve coast surrounded by golf courses, is a small port famed for its walled old town and sandy Atlantic beaches. Praia do Camilo cove is accessed via wooden steps, and nearby Ponta de Piedade cliffs offer panoramic views with a lighthouse. The old town features charming shops and restaurants, with the 18th-century Igreja de Santo António church and the Castelo dos Governadores, a baroque castle known for its watchtowers.

Spread over seven hills with São Jorge Castle views, bustling Lisbon is one of the world's oldest cities. Elegant Baixa, hilltop Alfama with its yellow tram, and scenic Graça overviewing pastel buildings, are top areas. The Jerónimos Monastery in Belém is a World Heritage Gothic site. The classic Portuguese pastel de nata custard tarts are a local treat. Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Ponte 25 de Abril, crosses the river Tagus.