16 DAYS “Canary Islands” Cruise

From Genoa, Marseilles, At Sea, Gibraltar, At Sea, Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, La Gomera, El Heirro, Las Palmas, Lanzarote, At Sea, Casablanca, Malaga (Granada), Almeria, Alicante, Barcelona, ending at Genoa.

Onboard “AQUAMARINE”

From March 06 to November 13

Genoa, Italy
Genua was a city of the ancient Ligurians. Its name is probably .Ligurian, meaning "knee", i.e. "angle", from its geographical position, thus akin to the name of Geneva. Or it could derive from the Celtic root genu-, genawa (pl. genowe), meaning "mouth",i.e., estuary, or from the Latin word of Celtic origin "ianua", meaning "door". Part of the old city of Genoa was inscribed on the World Heritage List (UNESCO) in 2006 The main features of central Genoa include Piazza De Ferrari,around which are sited the Opera and the Palace of the Doges.There is also a house where Christopher Columbus is said to have been born.

Marseilles, France*
For 2,600 years, Marseilles has been a port: from Massalia, the Phocean city, to Marseilles gateway to the East, maritime adventure and the rapid expansion of trade in the 19th century are evoked from the Old Port. The large historic buildings representing many political and religious symbols, which tell the story of the city can be seen on this itinerary. These are all there: Saint Victor Abbey, Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica, the cathedrals, Palais Longchamps, and the famous Old Port with The Canebière. Also, you can see all the large residences, villas or mansions, chose the exceptional site of the Corniche: architectural surprises, extravagance or elegance, splendid views of the sea, Castle of If, can be seen everywhere

Gibraltar, B.C.C
The Rock of Gibraltar is located at the entrance of the Mediterranean. Its strategic location and history have made it an international symbol of solidity and strength, and it frequently features in the world press and media.
Gibraltar is connected to Spain by a sandy isthmus, a ferry to Morocco and flights to London. The subject of repeated conquest and sieges, Gibraltar has been a British Territory since 1704. Ceded forever to Britain by Spain in the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Gibraltar joined the EU in 1973, under the British Treaty of Accession.The locally elected Government of Gibraltar has created a solid economy. In a modern Europe, this has its base in Offshore finance, shipping, tourism and the Internet rather than the military past. There is, however, much of that for the tourist to see, along with the famous apes.

Madeira, Portugal
Madeira was rediscovered by Portuguese sailors some time between 1418 and 1420. The archipelago is considered to be the first discovery of the exploratory period initiated by Henry the Navigator of Portugal. It is a popular year-round resort, noted for its Madeira wine, flowers, and embroidery artisans, as well as its New Year's Eve celebrations that feature a spectacular fireworks show, which is the largest in the world according to the Guinness World Records[1]. Its harbour - Funchal - is important due to its commercial and passenger traffic and for being a major stopover for cruisers en route from Europe to the Caribbean.

La Palma, Spain
La Palma, like the other islands of the Canary Island archipelago, is a volcanic ocean island. The volcano rises almost 7 km above the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. Proportional to its size, it is alleged to be the steepest island in the world. There is road access from sea level to the very summit at 2423 metres, [1] which is marked by an outcrop of rocks called Los Muchachos ("The Lads"). This is the site of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, one of the world's premier astronomical observatories.

Tenerife, Spain
Tenerife is often called a paradise island and for good reason! The island experiences sunshine around the year, has an abundance of world class hotels and offers an exceptional choice of cuisine set against the stunning background of Mount Teide. Most people going on holidays to Tenerife stay in the main tourist resorts of Los Christianos and Playa de las Americas, located side-by-side in the south west of the island.

La Gomera, Spain
Let yourself be amazed by the many facets of the second smallest island of the Canarian Archipelagos: Rugged mountains, earthy valleys, tropical misty forests and a fascinating ocean.

El Heirro, Spain
The name of the island is derived from the Guanche language toponym Hero, which by the process of folk-etymology was transformed into "Hierro," meaning "iron" in Spanish, due to its similarity to that word. Thus, Ferro (Latin ferrum, "iron") was and is used as an alternative name for the island. Most likely "hero" is the original name of what we to-day call a "cistern", due to the way the bimbaches saved water from trees. It is the name for the island in other languages, including French, German, and Danish. Pliny the Elder, who used Juba II as his source, names a series of Canary Islands, and it is believed that his Capraria may have been Hierro.

Las Palmas, Spain
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the capital of the island, is located in the north-eastern part of the island set in a magnificent scenery composed of two bays and their beautiful beaches – Playa de las Canteras and Playa de las Alcaravaneras.
Founded in 1478, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria boasts an important historical and cultural heritage, much of which can be found in the district of Vegueta, the oldest quarter of the town, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

Lanzarote, Spain
Lanzarote is the island's most easterly of the Canary Islands. Discover the beaches and the most interesting places to visit, plan your vacation with our Lanzarote Guide, download the map of Lanzarote, displays the best photos and videos of Lanzarote

Casablanca, Morocco
Principal city in Morocco and capital in all but administration, Casablanca is now the largest port of the Maghreb busier even than Marseilles, the city on which it was modeled by the French. A visit of Casablanca city should include the central market, the Habous district, the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V square, the residential area of Anfa and a full tour of the famous Hassan II Mosque. Departing from the pier you will stop at Mohamed V Square after passing by the United Nations Square. It's worth ducking into the Marché Central (Central Market) nearby, a high-class souk whose wares are offered to the locals, to catch a glimpse of the everyday life of the city. It's essentially a foodstuffs market, but there are handicrafts there as well. It's lively and vivid. If you had a place to cook, you could even buy a couple of turtles, for soup! Visit of the interior of Hassan II Mosque: built for the 60th birthday of former Moroccan King Hassan II, is the largest religious monument in the world after Mecca.It has space for 25.000 worshippers inside and another 80.000 outside. The 210-meter minaret is the tallest in the world and is visible day and night for miles around.

Malaga (Granada), Spain
Enjoy a pleasant drive to the Gibralfaro, a Muslim castle constructed by an 8th century emir and commanding a spectacular panorama of the city below. Delight in a visit of the Cathedral, known to the locals as La Manquita one armed as to this day the east tower of the edifice is incomplete. The cathedral boasts an 18th century baroque façade and the ornate interior is a combination of Gothic and Renaissance architecture The Alhambra Palace , The Alhambra of Granada (694 mt above sea level), a fortress from the 9th century, is perched on a hill overlooking Granada and it comprises two principle parts; the fortress and the Nasrid Palace with the lush gardens. It is one of the most remarkable castles ever constructed and it boasts architectural splendour and lush surroundings

Almeria, Spain**
a city with prestigious and exceedingly beautiful Moorish buildings and a luxuriantly green setting over which the city looks out to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada on the horizon. You will first visit the 14th century Generalife (740 mt above sea level), the summer palace of the kings of Granada, which is particularly enjoyable for its cool, green terraced water gardens and the views it offers of the Sierra Nevada, Darro valley, across to the old quarter of Albaicin and the gypsy haunts of Sacromonte.

Alicante, Spain
Alicante is the second most important city in the Valencian community, and is located at the centre of the bay which bears its name, between the capes of la Huerta and Santa Pola. You will visit the Castle of Santa Barbara, located on the top of Mount Benacantil. Iberians, Romans and Arabs settled there. Its numerous rooms, towers and battlements mainly date from the XVI-XVII centuries. You will walk through the Spanish Esplanade (Maritime Harbour), the historical centre, the municipal archive, the town hall, and you will view Saint Mary's church.

Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a major economic centre with one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports, and Barcelona International Airport is the second largest in Spain after Madrid-Barajas Airport. Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the Counts of Barcelona. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, it became one of the most important cities of the Crown of Aragon. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination and has a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner that have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is well known in recent times for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona.As the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona houses the seat of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch, the parliament, and the Supreme Court of Catalonia. The city is also the capital of the Barcelonès comarca (shire).

Genoa, Italy
Genua was a city of the ancient Ligurians. Its name is probably .Ligurian, meaning "knee", i.e. "angle", from its geographical position, thus akin to the name of Geneva. Or it could derive from the Celtic root genu-, genawa (pl. genowe), meaning "mouth",i.e., estuary, or from the Latin word of Celtic origin "ianua", meaning "door". Part of the old city of Genoa was inscribed on the World Heritage List (UNESCO) in 2006 The main features of central Genoa include Piazza De Ferrari,around which are sited the Opera and the Palace of the Doges.There is also a house where Christopher Columbus is said to have been born.