Amalfi, Italy
What is it about the Amalfi Coast that inspires such rapture? From the time of the Romans, who had grand villas here, Amalfi has been a preferred destination for the wealthy and the artistic. During the Middle Ages, Amalfi was a powerful republic of 70,000 people, rivaling nearby Ravello. For a sense of Amalfi's medieval glory, wander through the grand Duomo, containing the remains of St. Andrew. Or visit Ravello, where the annual music festival is held, or nearby Positano, said to be the most beautiful town in the Mediterranean.

Bonifacio, Corsica
Bonifacio's almost land-locked harbor is one of the most dramatic totally protected harbors, a bustling port with excellent seafood restaurants, and a modern marina. The ancient citadel town is perched high atop a seemingly impenetrable granite cliff.

Cadiz, Spain
Cadiz called "the cup of silver" takes its name from the silvery harbor and sparkling atmosphere. It is almost African in appearance - its streets are lined with palm trees, its churches topped with dome-like coppolas and its white house shaded by orange trees. Take advantage of our optional tours to Seville, the irresistible capital and cultural center of Andalusia with its colorful and festive lifestyle.

Capri, Italy
Capri, where the Emperor Tiberius held notorious bacchanals at his Imperial villa, has gradually become one of the most popular resorts in southern Italy. Famous for its scenery and climate, Capri is a garden of Eden teeming with vegetation despite the rocky landscape.

Casablanca, Morocco
Long before Ingrid Bergman and Bogie made Casablanca a symbol for romance, the city was famous for intrigue and mystery. Veiled by overlapping mantles of French, Arabian and African culture, Casablanca reveals new faces at every turn. The enormous Hassan II Mosque (holding 70,000 worshippers) is the new Morocco, while the fanciful Mauresque buildings in the Medina impart visions of pre-war Casablanca.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
St. Peter's, with its breathtaking Sistine Chapel, newly restored to its former glory, the Spanish Steps, where all Rome passes by, the Colosseum, where the real gladiators fought to the death, the Pantheon, considered to be the most perfect architectural statement of the ages. Life is not lived if you haven't been to Rome!

Corfu, Greece
The lushest (and some say the loveliest) of all the Greek Islands, Corfu lies just a stone's throw from the Albanian coast. And nowhere is the stunning natural beauty of Corfu more evident than in the small village of Paleocastritsa, where legend says Odysseus was washed ashore to be rescued by Nausicaa. Another sight not to be missed is the Achillion Palace built for the Empress Elizabeth of Austria and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm I. The British made Corfu a major base during the Napoleonic wars and you can see the lovely 1824 villa, Mon Repos, where Prince Philip was born.

Dubrovnik, Croatia
It was George Bernard Shaw who said, “Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik.” Indeed, Dubrovnik is a treasure by any measure made more precious by its miraculous restoration. Crowned by the Minceta Tower, the 10th century city walls are the proud symbol of Dubrovnik’s colorful history. Stroll up the Stradún to the elaborately colonnaded Rector’s Palace, the seat of the republic of Ragusa, a powerful Renaissance-era city-state boasting a fleet of 500 ships!

Hvar, Croatia
The heavenly scent of lavender perfumes the air in the fields and valleys around the island of Hvar. Idyllically located just off the Dalmatian coast, the island and the little port named after it have been a favourite getaway ever since the time of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians and even Austro-Hungarian royalty. See the perfectly preserved Cathedral of St. Stephen, the serene cloistered Franciscan monastery and the Venetian Arsenal, where one of Europe's first public theatres was established in 1612.

Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza is a party town both day & night. No matter what your age, nationality, interest or sex, the fairytale architecture of D'Alt Vila, (Ibiza Town) Europe's most ancient fortress city, perched high on the summit, will captivate you. The spell binding history and romance of D'Alt Vila are evident in its narrow streets, whose very cobblestones have been polished smooth by the feet of centuries.

Kotor, Boka Fjord, Montenegro
You might think you were sailing up a Norwegian fjord. In fact, this stunning rock-walled chasm splitting the coastal mountains of Montenegro is the longest arm of the sea in Southern Europe. As you venture deep into the heart of Boka Fjord, you’ll see several charming villages along the shore, but at its very end, Boka harbors one of the prettiest, unspoiled towns you’ll ever see, the medieval city of Kotor. Founded by the Romans, fortified with massive walls during the Byzantine era, then ruled by Venice for much of its history, Kotor has been naturally preserved by its isolation.

Korcula, Croatia
Framed by dense green forests of allepo pine and twisted cypress, the red tile roofs of Korcula make an inviting picture that makes you want to see more of this charming island town whose most famous native son was Marco Polo. The pale wheat coloured stone Cathedral of St. Mark houses a treasure trove of Dalmatian and Italian art, including works by Tintoretto and Titian. Walk through the towering Land Gate for a great view of the town, try a traditional Korcula dish, spinning-wheel fettuccini. And if you're lucky, you may witness Korcula's thrilling Moreska Sword Dance.

Lipari & Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy
Italy’s seven volcanic Aeolian Islands are obviously a place favored by the Gods. Just off the north coast of Sicily, they are a favorite destination for adventurers and visiting yachts, which anchor in the little harbors indenting the coastline. In Lipari, climb narrow streets to the medieval castello and enjoy a secluded beach. As Royal Clipper sails past Isola Stromboli, watch the sky for frequent volcanic fireworks.

Lisbon, Portugal
The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of history. Spreading out along the right bank of the Tagus, its downtown, the Baixa, is located in the 18th-century area around Rossio. The Alfama, one of the oldest quarters in Lisbon, still retains much of its original layout since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755.

Mahon, Menorca
You can see why Lord Nelson choose this spot as the base for the British Mediterranean fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. Imagine dozens of ships of the line, being fitted out for battle in this historic harbor. Mahon’s heritage also includes the invention of mayonnaise and the first distillation of gin from juniper berries.

Motril, Spain
The town of Motril is located in the Spanish region of Andalucia. Nestling at the foothills of the Sierra Lujar mountains, Motril lies at the heart of the Costa Tropical which is one of the most lush and productive agricultural areas of Spain. The town's coastal strip includes two main beaches - the busiest being Playa Poniente, which is well served with tourist facilities, and the quieter Playa Granada. There are also many sheltered coves, rocky inlets and impressive cliff faces along this stretch of coastline making it popular with divers, snorkellers and sailors.

Ponza, Pontine Islands, Italy
The pastel houses of Ponza Town rise in neat terraced rows from the busy harbour where sleekly groomed yachts and ramshackle fishing boats moor side by side. Happily, there are few tourists here, so it's a delight to wander through the unspoiled town. Then find yourself a private bit of beach, there are lots of them, and enjoy the feel of warm sand and cool clear water lapping your toes.

Portimao, Algarve Coast, Portugal
The city of Portimao, the beach resort Praia da Rocha, and the nature reserve Ria de Alvor are the most well known places of an Algarve region quite unique in its diversity. Summertime is clearly the busiest time of the year, reaching a climax with the popular annual sardine festival in August but the mild climate of the Algarve, and many sunny winter days attract a multinational crowd in all seasons. Explore the countless shopping opportunities, visiting historical sites, strolling along the river boulevard. Warm seawaters and gorgeous rock formations make the beaches particularly alluring.

Rovinj, Croatia
The Old Town rises up on a peninsula and is a witness to times gone by and the valuable accomplishments of its past artisans. The limited space led to the construction of narrow buildings, streets and small town squares. Of particular interest in town center are the characteristically designed chimneys. The town itself was declared a cultural monument in 1963.

Safi, Morocco
Today, Safi is mainly modern, as it is housing a fishing port and diversified industry. The old town which lies within the city is still very much alive. Here you may be tempted to buy pottery typical of the region.

Sorrento, Italy
Sorrento's city walls rise straight out of the sea, and they hold many charms within. Optional excursions might include taking a ferry to Capri, where the Emperor Tiberius held notorious bacchanals at his Imperial villa, or a trip back in history in Pompeii, where the ashen remains of ancient Romans lie frozen in time.

Tangier, Morocco
Tangier was the real model for the famous American film “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It still retains its faded mongrel charm - not entirely Moroccan, European or African but a heady mix of all three - and the old world of bazaars is still intact in the form of the Grand Socco with its makeshift shops, snake charmers, musicians and storyteller. Visit the white-walled Kasbah and the Sultan's Garden with its Moroccan fountain and fragrant herbs and shrubs, and orange and lemon trees. At the end of the day there's always that erotic Moroccan liquid light that French painter Delacroix painted over and over again and that makes an appearance in every love story set in the Middle East.

Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Perched on the shoulder of Mt. Etna overlooking the green Gulf of Catania, Taormina inspired Goethe to say that "It is the greatest work of art and nature". Shop along the steep, cobblestoned streets of Corso Umberto. Or listen to the ghosts of the ancients in the Greek Theater, where even a whisper can be heard.

Venice, Italy
Venice is the heart and soul of romance. Cast your eye on the rounded domes of San Marco, take a deep breath at the Bridge of Sighs, gaze on the golden lions and the Renaissance glories of the Doge's Palace, listen for the ghosts of Verdi, Puccini and Caruso at La Fenice Opera House, gape at the classic Palladian proportions of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, glide in gondola down the Grand Canal. And know that love is always in the air in Venice.