Cape Town to Barcelona

Cape Town's port is a vibrant blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, making it a premier destination for travelers. Must-do experiences include savoring local dishes like bobotie and exploring the bustling V&A Waterfront. The best season to visit is during the Southern Hemisphere summer, from December to February, when the weather is warm and perfect for outdoor adventures.

Walvis Bay is Namibia's principal deep-water port, set between the ancient dunes of the Namib Desert and the wildlife-rich Atlantic lagoon famed for its vast flamingo colonies. Visitors should not miss a catamaran cruise through the lagoon for close encounters with dolphins and Cape fur seals, nor the otherworldly dune landscapes of Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The optimal season for cruising is October through April, when southern-hemisphere spring and summer bring warm, clear days and peak flamingo populations to the bay.

Príncipe is a pristine volcanic island in the Gulf of Guinea, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of primeval rainforest, dramatic rock spires, and beaches consistently ranked among Africa's most beautiful. Must-dos include tasting world-class bean-to-bar chocolate, exploring the historic roças where Einstein's relativity was confirmed, and swimming at the empty Praia Banana. The dry season (June–September) offers the best weather and clearest waters.

Lome, Togo, opens a window onto Africa's extraordinary blend of natural grandeur, cultural vitality, and warm hospitality. Visitors should explore the local markets and venture into the surrounding landscapes for wildlife encounters of genuine wonder. The most favorable conditions occur year-round, though the drier months from May to October tend to offer the most comfortable conditions. Cruise lines including Regent Seven Seas 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.

Takoradi is Ghana's western port city on the Gulf of Guinea, blending colonial-era forts and vibrant markets with a booming oil-era cosmopolitanism and some of West Africa's finest beaches. Must-dos include visiting Fort Orange at Sekondi, tasting banku with grilled tilapia at the market, and swimming at Busua Beach. Visit November to March for the driest weather.

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 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 dry season brings clear skies and calm seas.

Banjul, the sun-drenched capital of The Gambia, is a West African port city where colonial heritage, vibrant market culture, and the mighty Gambia River converge to create an experience of rare authenticity. Visitors should not miss the sensory theatre of Albert Market and a river excursion upstream toward Tendaba Camp's legendary birdwatching grounds. The dry season from November through May offers the most rewarding conditions, with cooler temperatures, abundant migratory birdlife, and calm waters ideal for estuary exploration.

Dakar, at Africa's westernmost point, is Senegal's pulsating capital where West African creativity, powerful history, and vibrant Wolof culture collide. Must-dos include the deeply moving Gorée Island slave house, the African Renaissance Monument, and feasting on thiéboudienne and yassa at local restaurants. November through May offers the most comfortable dry-season conditions.

Porto Grande, Cape Verde, opens a window onto Africa's extraordinary blend of natural grandeur, cultural vitality, and warm hospitality. Visitors should explore the local markets and venture into the surrounding landscapes for wildlife encounters of genuine wonder. The most favorable conditions occur year-round, though the drier months from May to October tend to offer the most comfortable conditions. Cruise lines including Regent Seven Seas 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.

Arrecife, the unpretentious capital of Lanzarote in Spain's Canary Islands, serves as the gateway to one of the volcanic world's most surreal and spellbinding landscapes — shaped by César Manrique, the visionary artist who ensured there are no high-rises, no billboards, and no compromise between tourism and the island's extraordinary terrain. The Timanfaya National Park's lava fields, the underground lake of the Jameos del Agua, and Manrique's own clifftop home-turned-museum are among the most singular attractions in all of Spain. The Canary Islands enjoy a year-round temperate climate, making any month suitable for a visit. Gran Canaria lies forty minutes by ferry.

Agadir is southern Morocco's premier coastal resort, rebuilt after a devastating 1960 earthquake into a modern city framed by a magnificent six-kilometer beach and the Atlas Mountains. Feast on just-caught sardines grilled at the harbor, shop for argan oil at the vast Souk El Had, and day-trip to the palm-shaded swimming pools of Paradise Valley. October through April provides ideal temperatures, with Azamara, Costa, and Viking calling at the commercial port.

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.