Empires & The Empire State - Abu Dhabi to New York

Abu Dhabi, the gleaming capital of the United Arab Emirates, has transformed from a pearl-diving village into a city where Bedouin heritage and futuristic ambition coexist in breathtaking tension. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque — with its eighty-two domes, thousand marble-clad columns, and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet — stands as a pinnacle of Islamic artistry, while Saadiyat Island's cultural district houses world-class museums including the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Visit October through April for cooler temperatures, with Dubai just ninety minutes away. This is a city that rewards the curious traveler with layers of splendor at every turn.

Salalah, Oman is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Seabourn. Must-do experiences include exploring the vibrant local markets for regional specialties and fresh seafood, and discovering the waterfront quarter where maritime heritage meets contemporary energy. The optimal time to visit is November through April, when cooler dry months offer the most comfortable conditions for exploration.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, offers a portal into one of the world's most historically significant regions, where archaeological wonders, legendary cuisine, and dramatic desert landscapes converge. Essential experiences include exploring the souks and sampling the extraordinary local food culture. Best visited December through April, during the dry season when skies are clearest and seas are calmest. Cruise lines including Emerald Yacht Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Safaga is a Red Sea port that combines world-class diving on pristine coral reefs with access to Luxor's ancient Egyptian monuments—the Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and the tomb of Tutankhamun—just three hours inland. Must-dos include diving at Panorama Reef and Abu Kafan, a day trip to Luxor's pharaonic temples, and snorkeling in the warm, crystal-clear Red Sea waters. October through April offers the most comfortable temperatures for combining underwater and desert exploration.

Aqaba, Jordan, offers a portal into one of the world's most historically significant regions, where archaeological wonders, legendary cuisine, and dramatic desert landscapes converge. Essential experiences include exploring the souks and sampling the extraordinary local food culture. Best visited October through April, when cooler temperatures and lower humidity create ideal conditions. Cruise lines including Emerald Yacht Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Haifa, Israel is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Viking. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is April through October, when warm weather and extended daylight create ideal conditions.

Limassol is Cyprus's cosmopolitan coastal city, where a Crusader castle, revitalized old town, and spectacular modern waterfront meet the world's oldest named wine tradition in the nearby Troodos foothills. Visit year-round for the medieval heritage, Commandaria wine villages, and excursions to the ancient theatre of Kourion perched above the Mediterranean.

Rhodes, Greece's resplendent Dodecanese jewel, merges a UNESCO-listed Medieval Old Town built by the Knights of St. John with sun-soaked Aegean beauty just seven miles from the Turkish coast. Wander the Street of the Knights before tasting *pitaroudia* fritters and local Athiri wine at an Old Town taverna, then take a catamaran to the neoclassical harbor of Symi. The island basks in over 300 days of sunshine annually, with April through June and September through October offering ideal temperatures for exploration without the peak-summer crowds.

Kuşadası owes its place on the world's cruise itineraries to one extraordinary proximity: the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the greatest metropolises of the Greco-Roman world, lies just seventeen kilometres from the port. Ephesus — with its two-kilometre marble colonnade, the Library of Celsus, and the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) — demands at least half a day of unhurried exploration. The House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site believed to be where Mary spent her final years, adds a profound spiritual dimension. Kuşadası itself is a lively Aegean resort; the season runs April through October, with May and September offering ideal temperatures and smaller crowds.

The port that launched Athenian democracy's naval supremacy at the Battle of Salamis, Piraeus remains Greece's maritime heartbeat — and the most convenient gateway to both the Acropolis and the Aegean island chains. Dine on grilled sea bream at a Mikrolimano harbourside taverna, visit the extraordinary bronze Piraeus Apollo, and set sail for Hydra or Santorini by afternoon. Late April through June and September offer the Aegean at its most golden and uncrowded.

Sorrento is a clifftop jewel on southern Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula, perched sixty meters above the Bay of Naples with sweeping views of Vesuvius and Capri. Visitors should not miss the gnocchi alla sorrentina at a family-run trattoria in the old quarter, nor the short excursion along the Amalfi Coast to Positano and Ravello. The ideal season stretches from late April through mid-October, when warm Mediterranean light illuminates the tufa cliffs and the famed local lemons reach their most fragrant peak.

Rome's ancient maritime gateway since the Emperor Trajan commissioned its harbour in 106 AD, Civitavecchia is the natural prologue to the Eternal City — just seventy minutes southeast by express rail. The port's Renaissance fortress, designed in part by Michelangelo, anchors a working waterfront that has welcomed travellers for millennia. Beyond Rome's unmissable monuments, consider an afternoon in the Civitavecchia thermal baths, drawing on mineral waters prized since antiquity. Spring and autumn offer the ideal balance of mild weather and manageable crowds for exploring the capital's layered history.

Barcelona is the city where Roman history, Gothic grandeur, and Gaudí's delirious Modernisme collide in a Mediterranean coastal capital of astonishing energy and beauty. The Sagrada Família — still under construction after 140 years — continues its audacious ascent toward completion, while the Gothic Quarter's Roman-era foundations and the Passeig de Gràcia's extraordinary concentration of Modernisme masterpieces reward days of exploration. For a complete sensory experience, lose an afternoon in the covered labyrinth of La Boqueria market before descending to the waterfront for Catalan seafood at its finest. May through June and September through October offer the most pleasant weather; the city connects directly to Paris by overnight train.

Alicante, a historic port city on Spain's Costa Blanca, captivates visitors with its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culinary scene. Must-do experiences include savoring traditional paella by the seaside and exploring the bustling Mercado Central. The best time to visit is during the spring or early fall when the weather is pleasantly warm and the city is alive with festivities.

Málaga distils three thousand years of Mediterranean civilisation into one of Andalusia's most compelling port cities, where the Moorish Alcazaba fortress surveys a modern waterfront of elegant promenades and sun-drenched café terraces. Do not leave without visiting the Museo Picasso — the artist was born here in 1881 — and ascending to the ruined Castillo de Gibralfaro for panoramic views stretching to the Rif Mountains of Morocco on clear days. Malagueta anchovies fried in olive oil and the sweet Pedro Ximénez-laced dessert wine are the city's defining pleasures. The shoulder seasons of April, May, and October offer perfect Mediterranean warmth.

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, a striking fusion of Berber heritage, French colonial art deco architecture, and contemporary ambition anchored by the towering Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic shore. Visitors should not miss the Central Market's freshly grilled seafood and a half-day excursion to the imperial capital Rabat or the UNESCO-listed fortress of Aït Ben Haddou. The optimal season for cruising into Casablanca is April through June or September through November, when temperatures hover between twenty and twenty-seven degrees and the Atlantic light renders the white city at its most luminous.

Halifax, the historic capital of Nova Scotia, is a refined Atlantic port where centuries of maritime heritage meet a flourishing culinary scene anchored by Digby scallops, donairs, and one of North America's oldest farmers' markets. Visitors should not miss the star-shaped Citadel Hill and the harbourfront boardwalk's constellation of galleries and tasting rooms. The ideal season stretches from late June through October, when autumn's blazing foliage transforms the entire province into a masterwork of colour and the cruise terminal welcomes the world's finest vessels.

The Port of New York is a bustling maritime gateway rich in history and cultural diversity, making it a must-visit destination. Don't miss the chance to savor authentic New York pizza and explore the vibrant Chelsea Market. The best time to visit is during the spring or fall, when the weather is pleasant, and the city is alive with activity.