Costa Cruises: 34 nights from Barcelona with Costa Smeralda (17 Nov 2024)

Cadiz

Cadiz is a port city with wide boulevards, squares and gardens with an atmosphere rich in history

Cadiz is an elegant city offering buildings dated back to XVIII and XIX Centuries. The City has a long and charming history: discover its monuments, the museums and all the amazing places where you can taste good food and have a drink. What makes Cadiz special it’s the people that are open, have a great culture and are independent. The majority of them enjoy life and the company of their friends in the many bars and squares of the city.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife, is located in the north-east of the island. Its pleasent climate and commercial areas make the city the perfect place for walking and enjoying long hours of relaxation. There are lots of things to visit in the city such as its avenues, parks and Henry Moore's most famous sculptures, hidden treasures and historic buildings such as the Church of the Conception or the Carta Palace.

Do not miss the opportunity to taste local cuisine. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a beautiful port located in Tenerife, the largest of the western islands of the Canary Islands archipelago. In the area around the port, there are wide avenues, squares, exotic green areas and some examples of modern architecture. At the heart of the city, near the sea, there is Plaza de España, built in the mid-20th century and once the site of the San Cristobal Castle (16th century).

The oldest part of the city is rich in religious monuments. The construction of the Church of San Francisco, one of the best examples of the Baroque style, began in the 17th century. The Church of Pilar, dated back to the 18th century, stands on the remains of an ancient temple. The city has also some green areas filled with exotic tree species. The Garcia Sanabria Park houses an important outdoor Sculpture Museum.

Another not to be missed place is the Maritime Park, a recreational area designed by architect César Manrique and located in the old Canary Islands commercial basin. Also known as the Black Castle, this circular defensive bastion was built in the first half of the 17th century with volcanic stones. From a naturalistic point of view, Tenerife is an island of contrasting landscapes. The wide beaches of fine sand in the south of the island give way to lush vegetation in the north.

Every year, the outfits of the island's capital prepare to host Carnival, declared International Tourist Interest and one of the most spectacular in Spain. Its privileged location makes it possible to enjoy beautiful beaches such as Las Teresitas, get to know the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or visit Teide National Park, the symbol of the island.

Walvis Bay

Cape Town

In the heart of South Africa's breathtaking landscapes, there is a city shrouded in mystical aura and historical mysteries, and it’s Cape Town. This is a place where the grandeur of mountain peaks, endless beaches, and the turbulent ocean waters converge, create beauty and magic. Cape Town is graced by its iconic symbol – Table Mountain, which towers over the city like a guardian of ancient secrets and legends. Visitors can ascend this natural wonder to enjoy stunning views of the city and the Atlantic Ocean coastline.

Cape Town is also renowned for its cultural diversity. It attracts artists, musicians, and writers from all parts of the world, inspiring them with its unique atmosphere. The streets of Cape Town are vibrant with local markets, street art, and cafes offering dishes from various parts of Africa and the world. An interesting fact about Cape Town is its unique geography. The city is located at the southernmost tip of the continent, where the Table Bay is one of the largest and deepest natural harbors in the world. This makes it an ideal departure point for cruises along the Atlantic Ocean.

Cruises from Cape Town offer exciting journeys along the shores of South Africa, including stops at historic sites like Robben Island, where political prisoners of the apartheid era, including Nelson Mandela, were imprisoned. If you're interested in the underwater world, you can visit the largest aquarium in the Southern Hemisphere. For photography enthusiasts, we recommend the Bo-Kaap district, where houses are painted in vibrant colors.

Cruises from Cape Town also provide the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of South Africa's Western Cape, encountering wildlife and national parks, majestic waterfalls and endless beaches along the way. Cape Town not only impresses with its beauty and cultural heritage but also serves as the perfect starting point for thrilling cruise adventures, allowing guests to discover all the grandeur and diversity of this remarkable part of Africa.

Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth

Port Louis

Located beneath towering mountain peaks, Port Louis makes an impression seen from the plateau with its frenetic center on the ocean in a frieze that seems to defy perspective. A wonderful experience. Despite being the national capital, the main economic center and the country's largest city, Port Louis occupies a rather strange place in the psyche of local people. The wealthier classes have traditionally lived outside the city, especially in the towns of Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Moka and Vacoas. This trend still continues nowadays, and Port Louis (the final s is usually silent) can sometimes seem like a city with no middle class, no centre and a ghost town after dark. This impression is totally false, however - Port Louis has a lot to offer, those who only visit the fantastic Caudan Waterfront will get a very bland impression of the national capital. The hustle and bustle of the streets, the city's famous market, Chinatown, collection of museums and wonderfully preserved colonial buildings make Port Louis much more than a place to shop away from the beach.

Muscat

Muscat is the capital of Oman and one of the most ancient cities in the Middle East. Its history dates back to the 2nd century A.D. and its worldwide fame is mainly linked to the strategic location of the port, which has made trade the country's main source of income. In addition to trade, the port has played a crucial role in another sector: tourism. Thanks to its location, the city offers the opportunity to visit the coast and the internal area of the country.

One of the best ways to reach the city is aborad a cruise ship. Choose a cruise that depart from Doha or that has the city as a stop is the ideal choice for those who want to discover the beauties of Middle East. The city offers a wide range of attractions that make the city the ideal destination for all types of tourists. Religious sites, residents of sultans, wide parks, local markets and beautiful beaches are just some of the places that deserve to be visited. Not to be missed is a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the third largest mosque in the world as well as the third most important religious building in the country.

Its architecture, with sumptuous walls made of white Carrara marble, renowned worldwide for its high quality, and the huge chandelier made of Swarovski crystal cascading down from the golden dome, always leave visitors breathless and make it one of the ideal subjects for your posts to share with friends. For history and culture lovers, a visit to the National Museum of the Sultan of Oman is a not to be missed experience. It hosts fourteen permanent exhibitions that perfectly represent the history of the city with the aim of promoting the traditional values of the country and helping visitors to discover the history of Doha.

If you like strolling along the streets and admiring the beauties around you, Mutrah district is the right choice. You can visit the district during the day for its elegant buildings and religious sites or at sunset to enjoy breathtaking views. If you want to relax and you are a beach lover, Muscat offers beautiful beaches like Qurum Beach, where you have the opportunity to bathe in the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Oman and relax under the palms.

For history and culture lovers, a visit to the National Museum of the Sultan of Oman is a not to be missed experience. It hosts fourteen permanent exhibitions that perfectly represent the history of the city with the aim of promoting the traditional values of the country and helping visitors to discover the history of Muscat.

Dubai

Dubai is the capital of one of the seven Emirates that compose the United Arab Emirates. Between 2004 and 2006 the city has been subjected to a real booming urbanization, becoming an authentic metropolis. Even today the city is constantly under construction: the desert areas are still being built. Among the many projects, the International City, the Sport City and Dubailand, the biggest amusement park in the world. Dubai is rich of resources and tourism increases the richness of this city. In the area surrounding Dubai there are various archipelagos, some of which have become symbols of the city, such as Palm Islands, artificial peninsulas in the Persian Gulf and rich of activities and residential complexes. The material used for the construction of the Islands arrives from the Emirates themselves. The islands host luxury hotels and countless attractions for the visitors. Significant, is the archipelago called The World, 300 artificial islands visible also from a plane or a satellite! Dubai is the city of excess and offers the visitors a limitless richness.
Visit Jumeirah and you’ll remain speechless for its splendor. It is a residential area where the hotel chain built luxurious and worth-a-visit hotels. One of the most famous structures is Burj al-Arab, the Tower of the Arabs, become the symbol of Dubai: a luxurious 5-stars hotel, with wide dream suites entirely surrounded by windows and, from the highest floor, you enjoy a breathtaking view, considered its 321 m. height. Dubai is the ideal destination for any kind of traveler. The sport lovers can freshen up skiing at the Ski Dubai inside a huge shopping mall, while those who love typical markets and negotiations can bargain over jewels at the Gold Suq in the Old City, surrounded by local merchants offering them anything you can imagine in their back shops. The shopping addicted will feel like in heaven once step foot in the Mall of the Emirates, a shopping mall with more than 630 outlets, more than 100 restaurants and bars and many luxury shops. Everyone can find something, a simple souvenir to the high-value product that you’ll keep with you forever. The attractions in Dubai are many and all different one from the other so that they encounter the tastes of everyone: the fashionistas, the sportsman, the passionate for the local culture will love this rich place full of entertainment activities. Everyone will feel united while trying the delicious typical dishes and in the nightlife. Dubai is famous for its explosive nightlife and you never know… you’ll bump into Kim Kardashian or George Clooney!

The best way to visit the Arab Emirates and getting the best of this place is going on a cruise departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. There are many companies offering these cities as destinations: MSC Cruises, Costa Crociere, Royal Caribbean are just a few of the companies with this itinerary and give you the best comfort of cruise combined with the luxury of the Arab Emirates. Pamper yourself with a cruise to modernity! On our website you can find deals and low-costs! Take advantage of the last-minutes and promotions of the moment to plunge into the future on dream ships!