14 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Oceana.

Cruise Overview:
History, art and beautiful buildings abound on this fantastic 14- night cruise with Oceana.

From the towering fortresses flanking your approach to the city to the old town's original Carthaginian castle and city walls, Cartagena simply drips with history having been founded more than 2,200 years ago. Barcelona offers a vivid mix of ancient and modern, including the fantastical shapes of the Gaudi buildings which pepper the city. St Raphael in France is next where you could opt to visit the Roman ruins of an amphitheatre, aqueduct, and small theatre in nearby Frejus.

Florence has artistic delights all of its own, like the famous statue of David, or you could opt to visit that most famous of towers in Pisa before sailing on to the beautiful island of Sardinia and Gibraltar, with its wonderful views from the top of the Rock, tax-free shopping and world-famous Barbary apes. A trip to the aquarium or planetarium in your final port of call, the bustling Spanish port of La Coruna, offers education and plenty of fun.

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 St Raphael
One of the most exclusive of all the ritzy French Riviera resorts, St Raphael has a smart beach and even smarter shops and restaurants along its promenade below the 1,500ft Massif de l'Esterel. It also has an unusual museum of underwater archaeology but, for historical sightseeing, nearby Frejus is more rewarding.
In fact, so close have they spread that it is difficult to see where St Raphael ends and Frejus starts except that the best Roman ruins - an amphitheatre, aqueduct, and smaller theatre - are in its upper, older quarter (Frejus Ville) a mile from the seafront (Frejus Plage), also in Frejus Ville is a 12th century Gothic cathedral built on the site of a Roman temple and next to a 5th century Baptistry. It also has its own excellent - if more conventional - archaeological museum.
The famous Corniche runs along above St Raphael and the swish French Riviera resorts (St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Antibes) aren't very far away.

About Palau
With three sparkling beaches of its own (Capra, Faro and Sciutara), the Sardinian village and cruise port Palau is more than just the gateway to the island's most exclusive resorts on the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast). It also has all the amenities of a top beach resort with a whole range watersports on offer and a choice of superb fish restaurants.
Away from Palau, there are great views at the Capo d'Orso with its strange rock formations while Porto Cervo - Costa Smeralda's unofficial capital - is just 20 minutes away. This was created in his own image by the playboy Aga Khan in the 1960s and it is still a big draw for celebrity jetsetters (and celebrity-watchers). Its harbour marina is full of yachts that would not look out of place in Monte Carlo and if it does not have a fancy designer label, the shops do not stock it.

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.