Portugal’s capital city located on the banks of the Tagus, only a few kilometers from the Atlantic coast, is a city of exceptionally rich cultural diversity. At the mouth of the river harbor, impose two UNESCO World Heritage monuments, Jeronimos Monastery and Belem tower. Sample the local delicacies such as the pasteis de nata—delicious creamy bakery flans. On the Alfama hillside, as you explore the Moorish streets, you may well hear sounds of fado drifting from the bars. Along Chiado’s elegant streets, big fashion labels will entice you for a bit of luxury shopping.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the Ponant photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observer marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Andalusia’s Cadiz is located on the Costa de la Luz,  in the south-west of Spain. From the beaches of Cortadura, to the flamenco bars of Santa Maria, through the colorful streets of La Viña, you will be amazed by this city, which is both steeped in history and extremely festive. In the medieval El Pópulo district, you will stroll along covered passages in the narrow gaps between houses. Be able to mosey around the lush Mina square. The star of the show is the magnificent cathedral and its dome crowned with yellow porcelain, presiding above the Ocean.

A historical and festive town, Malaga is located in Andalusia, on the Costa del Sol. Between the marina and the beaches, you can stroll at your leisure along the seaside promenade of La Farola. Look out for the Malahgueta bullring, set slightly further back. From the hill overlooking the old town, you’ll see Gibralfaro castle and the Alcazaba,  two fortified ensembles rising out from the cypresses and maritime pines. To visit Pablo Picasso's birthplace, first, make for the courtly plaza de la Merced. A few streets back from here, you can explore the museum dedicated to the artist, in the Buenavista Palace.
On the shores of the Mediterranean, Motril enjoys a special place on the Costa Tropical. Sheltered from the cold northerly winds thanks to the mountains that surround this Andalusian city, the city benefits from an ideal micro-climate.

Altea is a delightful small town on the Costa Blanca, to the north of Alicante. Its typically Spanish charm - narrow cobbled streets lined with whitewashed homes, decorated with flowering bougainvillea and prickly pear - attracts artists and photographers. Take the time to stroll around the old town, bathed in the intense light of the Mediterranean, and admire the views from the little squares over the intense azure sea. This is the same blue we find on the glazed tiles of the unusual domes of the Notre-Dame de la Consolation church, the main monument in the town, which has become its symbol. It is worth spending some time admiring its baroque decoration and ceramic details.

Palma de Mallorca reveals its many treasures: idyllic coves, majestic limestone cliffs that plunge into the clear sapphire- and turquoise-colored waters of the Mediterranean, and vast plains planted with almond trees, olive trees and vineyards. When your ship calls at the capital of the Balearic Islands, take a walk to discover its emblematic monuments, such as its famous cathedral and amble through its old streets. Here, like a painting, the island’s historical heritage forms a backdrop to the lively and warm cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Mediterranean. 

Valencia - the city of Art and Sciences. Two hearts beat in this Spanish city: one is modern, avant-garde and almost futuristic; the other is more provincial, more traditional and nostalgic. Valencia has the temperament of a great Mediterranean city whose wide avenues form a border around the old town. The city has an abundance of architectural styles that coexist harmoniously, but above all it resolutely embraces the 21st Century with the futuristic structures of its Agora congress center and City of Arts and Sciences, emerging from a crystal blue pool.

Located on the seashore between the mountains of Montjuïc and Tibidabo, Barcelona offers its many visitors a perfect blend of tradition and modernism. Truly an open-air museum, the “prodigious town” reveals an astonishing range of artistic treasures and museums, combining Roman ruins, medieval districts and a number of avant-garde elements from the 20th Century. Over the years, it has been marked by some of the greatest artists, such as Picasso, Miró or Gaudí, most of whose work has been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Take the time to stroll along the Ramblas and enjoy the gentle, typically Mediterranean lifestyle of the capital of Catalonia.