10-NIGHT BORDEAUX & NORMANDY VOYAGE

Lisbon, Europe's westernmost capital and Portugal's cultural hub, lies on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Tagus River. The city is a delightful mix of must-see museums, castles and cathedrals. Its charming neighbourhoods feature residences decorated with colourful tiled facades, sidewalk cafes along pedestrian thoroughfares and enchantingly original boutiques. The sidewalks are often paved with black and white volcanic stones in patterns specific to this city. Lisbon has a refreshingly non-commercial feel, old-fashioned and relaxed, and exploring on foot is a delight. Portugal enjoyed its heyday long ago, and some of the older buildings that reflect this era are as opulent as they get. However, much of the city was levelled in the devastating earthquake of 1755, so visitors will notice that the city's architecture is not as old as that found in some European capitals. Prices tend to be lower than in the rest of Europe, especially in the moderately priced meals, wine and entrance fees to the main attractions. If you like fish and shellfish, you've come to the right city. Pastry shops abound, many with lovely storefronts, providing sit-down respite for coffee, tea and something sweet. Lisbon is a city of hills, and the up-and-down geography adds to its charm. One of the best ways to experience it is via a tram ride through the medieval Alfama district, Baixa (the central business district) and the Bairro Alto (the major restaurant and nightlife area). Both the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts have wonderful miradoures, or viewpoints, to take in the city below, the nearby hills and the wide Tagus River that provides ships such easy access to the city. For cruise visitors, Lisbon is also a jumping-off point for day trips to Portugal's resort towns -- such as Estoril, near the mouth of the Tagus and lovely Sintra with its palaces up in the hills -- or a Catholic pilgrimage to Fatima.

Vigo is the main port for Spain's Galicia region, with Portugal to its south and the Spanish mainland to the east. Vigo's location between the mighty Atlantic and snow-topped mountains gives the region a cooler, damper climate than the rest of the country and has earned it the nickname of "The Green Spain." This makes it a popular retreat for Spaniards keen to escape the searing summer heat, enjoy lush country scenery and tuck into some of the world's freshest seafood. And for cruise visitors, in Vigo you can experience "real" Spanish culture, meet the locals and enjoy a city and countryside still largely unadulterated by mass tourism. Old Vigo rises in tiers to the 17th century hilltop citadel of El Castro, one of three that originally guarded the city. All were necessary to defend Galicia from successive hordes of invaders including Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, French and British, who regularly invaded between the 14th and 19th centuries. Sir Francis Drake famously took the city (for a while, at least) in 1589. If you have a strong sense of history, you'll find the ghosts of these ancient and unwelcome guests still lingering in Vigo's gray walls and steep streets. The old Ribera del Berbes fishing quarter -- at the bottom of the hill opposite the port -- dates from the 17th century reign of Philip IV and is well preserved and particularly atmospheric. Although there is plenty to see and do further afield, first-time visitors to Vigo could simply explore the old city, enjoying its world-class seafood and taking in some of the large sculptures that adorn its cobbled streets and squares. These include El Sireno(The Merman) in Puerta del Sol and Los Caballos (a monument to the horses that once roamed free in Castro Park) in Plaza de Espana. This art-loving maritime gem of a city -- with its beautiful neoclassical cathedral -- has been proclaimed a Spanish national historical monument. Give it your time, and it will reward you with wonderful memories.

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

The glorious port city of Bordeaux, which lies on the Garonne River in Aquitaine, near the Atlantic coastline of southwest France, is one of the country's loveliest cities and arguably one of the finest in the world, a delightful blend of ancient and modern so well laid out and easy on the eye that it was used as the model for the 19th-century rebuilding of Paris. A major renovation of the city began in 1996. In 2007, Bordeaux's entire old city was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was the first time such a large area had received this honor; Bordeaux's Heritage Site spans nearly 5,000 acres and includes 347 listed monuments and three churches that -- as key stops on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela -- were already listed as World Heritage Sites. The Bordelais have continued the good work of restoring their fine city. Once-derelict warehouses and shabby wharves on both banks of the river have been extensively renovated, with a large swath of its Left Bank turned into a lovely recreation area with bars, cafes, sports facilities and parkland. And that's not all. The city's magnificent 18th-century buildings and public squares have been cleaned up and access to it all made sustainably accessible via a network of tramlines. So, modern-day Bordeaux (also known as the wine capital of France and gateway to the Saint-Emilion area) is a city to savor, its broad boulevards and fine restaurants, art galleries, museums and lively neighborhoods so well worth exploring that, faced with only a few hours there, you'll feel torn between browsing on your own and taking a tour of vineyards and grand chateaux in the surrounding countryside. Our tip? Book a cruise that overnights there if possible, or be prepared to come back for a longer stay (or both).

The glorious port city of Bordeaux, which lies on the Garonne River in Aquitaine, near the Atlantic coastline of southwest France, is one of the country's loveliest cities and arguably one of the finest in the world, a delightful blend of ancient and modern so well laid out and easy on the eye that it was used as the model for the 19th-century rebuilding of Paris. A major renovation of the city began in 1996. In 2007, Bordeaux's entire old city was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This was the first time such a large area had received this honor; Bordeaux's Heritage Site spans nearly 5,000 acres and includes 347 listed monuments and three churches that -- as key stops on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela -- were already listed as World Heritage Sites. The Bordelais have continued the good work of restoring their fine city. Once-derelict warehouses and shabby wharves on both banks of the river have been extensively renovated, with a large swath of its Left Bank turned into a lovely recreation area with bars, cafes, sports facilities and parkland. And that's not all. The city's magnificent 18th-century buildings and public squares have been cleaned up and access to it all made sustainably accessible via a network of tramlines. So, modern-day Bordeaux (also known as the wine capital of France and gateway to the Saint-Emilion area) is a city to savor, its broad boulevards and fine restaurants, art galleries, museums and lively neighborhoods so well worth exploring that, faced with only a few hours there, you'll feel torn between browsing on your own and taking a tour of vineyards and grand chateaux in the surrounding countryside. Our tip? Book a cruise that overnights there if possible, or be prepared to come back for a longer stay (or both).

Relax and enjoy the facilities and entertainment onboard your ship. If the weather is good take some sun and sunbathe on the pool deck. Otherwise explore below deck the wide range of activities that will be available during the day. Perhaps you prefer to find a quiet spot and catch up on your reading.

In Brittany's walled city of Saint-Malo, France, getting lost is part of the lure. You're almost guaranteed to be drawn delightfully off course by an enticing quiet cobblestone alley, the warm sugary aroma of a creperie or a shop window beckoning passersby with artfully arranged French fashions. But if you ever find yourself truly disoriented by the maze of narrow medieval streets, just keep walking; the historic section of Saint-Malo is so small that you're never more than a few minutes from the thick stone ramparts that have protected the city for centuries. Follow these walls until you reach a gate to the outside world or a set of stairs leading up to the top of the ramparts, from which you can orient yourself by looking out over the city.

Known as the City of Corsairs, Saint-Malo made its fortune on the high seas through trade, exploration and, in some cases, privateering -- piracy that was sanctioned by the crown during times of war. These 17th- and 18th-century pirates, called corsairs, could capture enemy ships and keep both the vessel and anything on it for themselves, as long as they contributed a portion of the bounty to the king. Modern-day visitors can learn more about the dangerous but lucrative life of an 18th-century corsair at the Demeure de Corsaire, or Privateer's House.

Saint-Malo has long since outgrown the bounds of the original medieval city, and today, only about 1,000 people live permanently within the walls. The area is particularly popular with wealthy Brits and Parisians who keep summer residences there and with visitors who appreciate the convivial sidewalk cafes, historic plazas and bracing salt air.

Many cruisers skip Saint-Malo altogether in favour of a day trip to Mont Saint-Michel, the famous medieval abbey and village that loom over the surrounding tidal flats in many a French postcard. Saint-Malo is also a good jumping-off point for other explorations in the Brittany region; appealing stops include the oyster farms of Cancale, the pretty riverfront village of Dinan and the 19th-century beach resort of Dinard.

Located on the south coast of England, Southampton served as the historic ocean liner gateway for the British Empire and the intense North Atlantic passenger trade to the U.S. and Canada. Today it is the U.K.'s - and indeed Europe's -- leading cruise port.

Best known as the homeport of Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Southampton now hosts a wide variety of cruise ships in the booming European cruise market with the principal lines being Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Saga Cruises.

For most cruise passengers, it's the first and/or last port on a European cruise or Atlantic crossing. But New York it ain't, and the first thing you see as you approach is not the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, but a giant IKEA.

A pleasant, bustling city of around a quarter of a million inhabitants, Southampton has several areas of interest, though much of its historic medieval character was destroyed during World War II. In 1620, the Mayflower left from just outside the existing city walls, and the waterfront recalls this historic voyage. From Mayflower Park, you can enjoy watching the container ships pass en route to and from the freight terminal beyond the Western Docks, cruise ships departing from three separate locations, and excursion boats and cross-harbour ferries flitting around the port. Today, it is a modern shopping destination, business centre and university town (the University of Southampton is a major British research university; among its well-known alumni is QM2 designer Stephen Payne with a large commercial port in addition to its year-round cruise operations.

It's not somewhere you want to hang around (unless you want to pick up some flat-pack furniture), and most visiting cruise passengers will use Southampton as a gateway to nearby London (an hour and 10 minutes away by train). It is also a good starting point for the Isle of Wight (reachable by ferry) and the surrounding county of Hampshire and Wiltshire, with their numerous attractions.

Cherbourg is a major cruise destination in Normandy and is well-equipped for visitors. The city's scenic landscape is composed of the shore as well as the nearby mountains, where tourist can engage in any number of activities. In its historic centre, there are a number of sights, attractions and landmarks including museums, churches and monuments. The local cuisine is also a highlight of any visit. --By Shayne Thompson, Cruise Critic contributor

The villages along the Seine on the popular river cruises between Paris and Normandy are so wonderful that it's almost impossible to pick a favourite. But, when you visit Honfleur, it's easy to understand why this seductive seaside village on France's northern coast has such tremendous appeal.

First, this medieval town -- with its narrow half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets -- has great bones. Unlike many of its neighbours in Normandy, Honfleur was spared during the bombing of World War II. The old harbour, set in a sheltered cove off of the Seine's tidal estuary, is Honfleur's centre stage, as it has been for centuries. There, you'll find fishermen, artists, tourists and locals alike soaking in much the same scenery (often from a cafe) that attracted celebrated painters like Delacroix, Sisley, Corot and Monet.

From the harbour, where Samuel de Champlain departed in 1608 to found the city of Quebec in the New World, the lushly planted village rises upward between two hills. Nestled in its tidy, picturesque streets are art galleries, artists' studios, boutiques, restaurants and fine souvenir shops. History has left its footprint, too, with the largest wooden church in France, salt warehouses that date back to the 17th century, and the Lieutenance, the last remaining part of a 16th-century castle that fortified the town.

Honfleur, population 9,000, is the start or end of itineraries on river cruises between Paris and Normandy. Travellers are bussed between Paris and their riverboats, negating the need for a hotel in Honfleur. Ships tend to dock for as many as three nights because Honfleur is the departure point for ship-run shore excursions to such landmarks as the D-Day landing beaches, the American Cemetery and the museum that houses the famous Bayeux tapestry.

Three nights in Honfleur? Nothing wrong with that. While its prestigious past goes back 1,000 years, Honfleur has that special something that keeps it fresh, interesting and exciting.

Located on the south coast of England, Southampton served as the historic ocean liner gateway for the British Empire and the intense North Atlantic passenger trade to the U.S. and Canada. Today it is the U.K.'s - and indeed Europe's -- leading cruise port.

Best known as the homeport of Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Southampton now hosts a wide variety of cruise ships in the booming European cruise market with the principal lines being Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises and Saga Cruises.

For most cruise passengers, it's the first and/or last port on a European cruise or Atlantic crossing. But New York it ain't, and the first thing you see as you approach is not the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, but a giant IKEA.

A pleasant, bustling city of around a quarter of a million inhabitants, Southampton has several areas of interest, though much of its historic medieval character was destroyed during World War II. In 1620, the Mayflower left from just outside the existing city walls, and the waterfront recalls this historic voyage. From Mayflower Park, you can enjoy watching the container ships pass en route to and from the freight terminal beyond the Western Docks, cruise ships departing from three separate locations, and excursion boats and cross-harbour ferries flitting around the port. Today, it is a modern shopping destination, business centre and university town (the University of Southampton is a major British research university; among its well-known alumni is QM2 designer Stephen Payne with a large commercial port in addition to its year-round cruise operations.

It's not somewhere you want to hang around (unless you want to pick up some flat-pack furniture), and most visiting cruise passengers will use Southampton as a gateway to nearby London (an hour and 10 minutes away by train). It is also a good starting point for the Isle of Wight (reachable by ferry) and the surrounding county of Hampshire and Wiltshire, with their numerous attractions.