12 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Azura.

Cruise Overview:
Join Azura on this 12- night cruise calling at a selection of stunning Spanish and Portuguese cities as well as the Rock of Gibraltar.

The small but perfectly formed capital city of Lisbon, with its busy streets of bars, restaurants and shops, is your first stop. It's then on to Gibraltar where you can enjoy a leisurely climb to take in the stunning views from the top of the Rock or wander along one of its many nature trails. Bustling Barcelona offers brilliant Gaudi buildings, Las Ramblas thronged with street entertainers, stalls and bars and the extraordinary La Boqueria food market while vibrant Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, is a popular and picturesque resort known for its pavement cafes, parties (Las Fallas) and paella.

Then it's onto Malaga with its many Moorish influences, a theme that continues in historic Cadiz. Azura cruises straight into the heart of this ancient port, where the view from the top of its 18th century cathedral (El Nueva) is well worth the long climb up its internal stairs. You'll then have time to sit back and enjoy Azura's first-class facilities as she sails back to Southampton.

Highlights of this cruise:

About Lisbon
Some of the best views of the Portuguese capital come as your ship cruises along the Tagus River. You pass the Belem Tower and the impressive Monument to the Discoveries with its statue of Henry the Navigator before arriving at the Lisbon cruise terminal.

Although small for a European capital, this city does sprawl a little so you would do best to concentrate on three districts - Baixa, Bairro Alto and Alfama, each with its own distinctive style, making Lisbon cruises a must see.

Baixa has busy streets of inviting shops, cafes and restaurants while Alfama is the atmospheric old town with narrow cobblestone streets, medieval and Moorish-style buildings, wrought-iron balconies with trailing flowers and a mix of small shops and bars. Bairro Alto is another historic district with narrow streets and is a steep climb from Baixa so look out for the 100-year-old lift (Elevador do Carmo) near Rossio Square. With such a variety of destinations to explore, cruises to Lisbon bring to your holiday a balance of both modern and historical grounds.

About Gibraltar
Britons love cruising to 'home from home' Mediterranean cruise port Gibraltar - and not just because it has some excellent pubs and tax free shops (good buys include glassware, china, leather goods, alcohol, perfume, silk and cashmere garments).
Gibraltar also offers wonderful views of Algeciras Bay and the Moroccan mountains from the Rock Restaurant, served by cable car from the Grand Parade.
Birdwatchers can spot more than 230 species and there are clearly marked nature trails you can follow to discover the country's flora and fauna.
The most famous 'fauna' of course, are Gibraltar's Barbary apes - get off the cable car at the halfway station to see these, then proceed to the top and hire an audio tape charting the Rock's fascinating history.
Alternatively spend a day at the beach - Catalan Bay is the prettiest, with its colourful fishing boats and excellent seafood restaurants.

About Barcelona
The Catalonian capital of Barcelona provides a vivid mix of ancient and modern but is probably best know for the bizarre Art Nouveau architecture of Antonio Gaudi, in particular the iconic Sagrada Familia, Europe's most extraordinary - and still unfinished - cathedral.
Boosted by hosting the Olympic Games in 1992, Barcelona's Old Port area has been transformed into a thriving area of cafes and restaurants. From there, it is an easy stroll up the famous Rambla to the old town. Las Ramblas is thronged with street entertainers, stalls and bars and is most lively at night and weekends. Not to be missed is the La Boqueria food market with its extraordinary displays of fish, meat, fruit and vegetables.
Some of the best food in Spain can be found in the city - paella is a speciality - and the restaurant Cal Pep was recently named as one of the top 50 places to eat in the world.

About Malaga
A gateway to so many Andalucian attractions and Costa del Sol resorts, Spanish cruise port Malaga stands out in its own right as a vibrant destination with its own unique character.
This second city of Andalucia has many Moorish influences, seen at their best in the stunning Alcazaba. Built on the site of a Roman fortress between the 8th and 11th Centuries, the castle's huge walls and fortified gates ensure a grand entrance. Inside, a restored Roman amphitheatre now acts as an outdoor entertainment centre.
Immediately behind the Alcazaba and rising high above the city with spectacular views, are the ruins of the 14th century Moorish castle, Gibralfaro.
Malaga-born Picasso is recognised with a history of the artist's life at the city's fascinating Picasso Foundation.