13 Night Cruise sailing from Southampton roundtrip aboard Saga Sapphire.

Beautiful beaches, verdant forests and glorious sunshine. it's no wonder the subtropical Canary Islands are such a perennial holiday favourite. Set sail at the start of spring and experience these volcanic isles' natural attractions, charming coastal cities and unique Spanish culture. You can also look forward to exploring Morocco and enjoying the attractions of Lisbon, Portugal's cosmopolitan capital.

Highlights of this cruise:

Funchal
Formed by a volcanic eruption, Madeira lies in the Gulf Stream, about 500 miles due west of Casablanca. Discovered by Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco in 1419, this beautiful island became part of Portugal's vast empire and was named for the dense forest which cloaked it ('Madeira' means 'wood' in Portuguese).

Sugar plantations first brought wealth here and when King Charles II of England granted an exclusive franchise to sell wine to England and its colonies, many British emigrants were drawn to the capital, Funchal.

Today's travellers come to Madeira for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wildflowers. The natural beauty of the island has earned it many pseudonyms such as 'The Floating Garden of the Atlantic', 'The Island of Eternal Springtime' and 'God's Botanical Gardens' and our selection of excursions aim to show you why.

Santa Cruz
The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a beautiful and scenic island which enjoys year-round sunshine and is dominated by Mount Teide. The mountain range runs through the centre of the island, with fertile valleys on the northern side.

In the central part of the range is the gigantic natural crater of the Cañadas del Teide, about 14 miles in diameter. Santa Cruz, the island's pretty capital, appears a modern city, but also contains 16th-century civic buildings and ornate private mansions.

Arrecife
A volcanic island designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Lanzarote's dramatic landscapes were shaped by an explosive past. Today, its pretty beaches and virtual absence of rain together with duty-free shopping make the island an extremely desirable destination.

The main port and capital, Arrecife, is a pleasant town with a modern seafront and colourful gardens. Outside the capital there is plenty to explore, from the dazzling white salt flats of Janubio and the rugged terrain of Fire Mountain to the eerie caves of Los Verdes and an array of unspoilt fishing villages scattered around the coast.

If you decide to eat out during your time here you will find a great selection of restaurants and local specialities including garbanzos compuestos - a chickpea stew; papas arrugadas- potatoes with carrots, peas, ham and green pepper; and of course, plenty of fresh seafood.

Lisbon
Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the inspiring capital of Portugal since the 13th century when the Moors were finally vanquished.

It is a city strewn with majestic architecture, old wooden trams, historic Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history.

Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comercio.