Empires & The Empire State

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was the first European settlement in South Africa, and today is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Pristine beaches, sheltered bays and secluded coves encircle the majestic might of Table Mountain, a World Heritage Site and home to some 8,500 species of flowers. Be sure to get to the top of the mountain by taking the Table Mountain Cableway and absorb the fascinating views. Read more about Cape Town, South Africa

Luderitz is a quirky town lodged in one of the best harbours on the least hospitable coast of Africa. Its appeal as a town lies in the fact that little hasn’t changed since the early 20th century. There are many historic buildings in Luderitz including the Deutsche Afrika Bank, the Railway Station, the Old Post Office, and the Church on the rocks. Read more about Luderitz, Namibia

Walvis Bay, Namibia, lies on the Atlantic coast where the desert dramatically meets the sea, and has long been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deepwater harbour protected by the Pelican Point sand spit. This is the only harbour along the 1350km Namibian coast, hence important historically to vessels rounding the Cape of Good Hope, discovered in 1485. Variously coming under British, German and South African control, The Republic of Namibia became independent in 1990, and Walvis Bay came under its control in 1994. Read more about Walvis Bay, Namibia

Luanda, the capital and largest city of Angola, lies on the Atlantic coast. Its Portuguese-speaking urban population of 6 million is a major port, industrial and cultural centre. After 2002, with the end of the 27-year civil war, and strong economic growth from wealth provided by increasing oil and diamond production, major reconstruction began. Read more about Luanda, Nigeria

São Tomé (Portuguese: “Saint Thomas”) is a port on the island of the same name, one of two that constitute the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa. In Africa’s second smallest country, this capital city is by far that nation's largest town, tranquil and pleasant with a relaxed, Portuguese-Creole atmosphere. After sundown it is dark with no street lights, so it's a good idea to try and cram as much activity into the day as possible. Read more about São Tomé , Sao Tome and Principe

Banjul, the capital of Gambia, is a seaport town located on St Mary’s Island where the Gambia River enters the ocean. The island is connected to the mainland to the west and the rest of Greater Banjul Area via bridges. There are also ferries linking Banjul to the mainland at the other side of the river. Read more about Banjul, Gambia

The almost lunar volcanic islands that form the Cape Verde archipelago lie about 500 km off the Senegal coast. Although the isles may be African geographically speaking, they have retained a strong Latin flavour. Porto Grande, the port for the capital Mindelo, is on the windward isle of Sao Vicente and is home to over 90% of the island’s inhabitants. Read more about Porto Grande, Cabo Verde

Africa’s second largest city and Morocco’s largest city and chief port, Casablanca (Portuguese for ‘white house’), is located on the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the country. The city has passed through Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and French control, and the famous 1942 film Casablanca reflects its colonial status in the 1940s. Today it is the largest city of the Maghreb (Barbary Coast), land of the Berbers and Moors. Read more about Casablanca, Morocco

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia, on the east coast of Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is home to a large port and university. A number of good beaches, some awarded a prestigious Blue Flag designation, line the Mediterranean coast near the city. Read more about Tarragona, Spain

Alicante lies on the east coast of Spain and is Valencia region's second-largest city. Famous for its excellent weather and its long stretches of sandy beaches such as San Juan, thousands visit each year. Its most notable feature is undoubtedly the Castle of Santa Barbara situated on Mount Benacantil that dominates the city. Read more about Alicante, Spain

Malaga is a lively, prosperous city on Spain's fabled Costa del Sol aside the Mediterranean Sea, just 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city’s warm winter temperatures (average daytime of 17 C) make it an ideal place to visit any time of year. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic centre into an ‘Open Museum’ displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Read more about Malaga, Spain

Africa’s second largest city and Morocco’s largest city and chief port, Casablanca (Portuguese for ‘white house’), is located on the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the country. The city has passed through Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and French control, and the famous 1942 film Casablanca reflects its colonial status in the 1940s. Today it is the largest city of the Maghreb (Barbary Coast), land of the Berbers and Moors. Read more about Casablanca, Morocco

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, the Gateway to Atlantic Canada, is a lively and colourful combination of urban and rural living at its best. It is situated on the world’s second largest harbour, and the beautifully restored waterfront buildings recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage, which is also cleverly explained at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and the Halifax Citadel that explores the unique local heritage. Read more about Halifax, Canada

New York is situated on the Atlantic coast of NE United States. With its world-class museums, big statues, even bigger buildings and being the most linguistically diverse city in the world, the Big Apple’s hyperactive rush keeps drawing more and more people to it. The City of New York is a densely packed mass of humanity and all this living on top of one another makes the New Yorker a special kind of person. Read more about New York, USA