STGEORGE’S,GRENADA Queen Victoria
There’s no need to guess how the Spice Island came by its nickname, you’ll scent it on the breeze. Here, more spices are grown per square mile than anywhere else on earth – so browse markets heaped in cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Or simply feast your eyes on its capital, where pretty red-roofed houses – and a pink Anglican Church – cling to emerald slopes around a deep azure bay.
ST JOHN’S, ANTIGUA Queen Victoria
Famously dusted with pristine white sands and pulsating to the rhythm of steel drums, Antigua is a real Caribbean treat. St John’s crowns it perfectly, thanks to its cathedral and a vibrant market where you may find island speciality, black pineapple. History calls in English Harbour, amidst the attractive Georgian brickwork of Nelson’s Dockyard or the spectacularly scenic ruins at Shirley Heights.
SAIPAN,MARIANA ISLANDS Queen Mary 2
Small but perfectly formed, Saipan is one of a chain of 14 volcanic islands to the south of Japan. Explore the exotic botanic gardens, head for the summit of Mount Tapochau for breathtaking views across the island or visit the Banadero, former command post of the Japanese Imperial Army with cannons and tanks preserved in a limestone cave.
SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA Queen Elizabeth
Sitting between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada mountains, laid-back San Francisco is home to an eclectic mix of cultures and the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge. Survey the superb vistas over the Bay or traverse the steep rolling hills by tram. Explore ‘The Rock’ of Alcatraz, visit the Museum of Modern Art or head for the celebrated vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
SANTACRUZ DE TENERIFE, TENERIFE Queen Mary 2
Beloved for its beaches, Tenerife also offers a feast for the eyes – in its numerous art galleries and museums or an incredibly panoramic cable car ascent of Mount Teide. Your ears will appreciate the sounds of the timple, a distinctive element of Canarian folk music. Perhaps even catch a classical recital at the striking wave-shaped Auditorío, home to the acclaimed Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.
SHANGHAI,CHINA Queen Mary 2
Shanghai means ‘Above the Sea’ and its futuristic skyscrapers dynamically emphasise the point, the emblematic Orient Pearl Tower and Jin Mao Tower among them. Pockets of the past do linger, like the Yuyuan Gardens or the Bund, a populous river walkway whose grand façades are among few surviving colonial echoes.
SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT Queen Elizabeth
Here on the Sinai Peninsula, the Red Sea’s glinting waters delight snorkellers and divers with reefs that swirl with tropical fish – in vivid contrast to a backdrop of dusty peaks and arid deserts. Yet these dramatic landscapes are daubed with the brightly hued tents of local Bedouin, almost as colourful as their intriguing handicraft stalls.
SINGAPORE Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2
Explore multi-cultural Singapore at the gold-domed Sultan Mosque, the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple with its vivid images of Hindu God Vishnu and the calm lotus-filled lakes of the Chinese garden. A certain Britishness lingers too, so stop by Singapore Polo Club and Raffles Hotel for a tall glass of the pink stuff – a signature Singapore Sling.
SOKHNA, EGYPT Queen Mary 2
Named after the ‘hot springs’ that originate in the nearby Gebel Ataka mountain, Sokhna is a resort with pristine beaches and coral reefs for divers and snorkellers to enjoy, or where the more adventurous can head inland on a desert safari. It’s also your gateway to the pulsating city of Cairo and its priceless ancient treasures.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Queen ElizabethO
,Queen Mary 2
Appreciate the distinct characters of the historic Rocks district and Darling Harbour. After some scenic strolling, rest your legs in Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. You cannot fault the wife of a former governor for her seating choice: the views of the ‘Coat Hanger’ – the Harbour Bridge to non- Sydneysiders – and Opera House are as good as you’ll find.
VENICE, ITALY Queen Victoria
Napoleon supposedly dubbed it the ‘finest drawing room in all Europe’. Certainly there are few grander spaces than St Mark’s Square, with its renowned basilica, soaring bell tower and lavish Doge’s Palace. To you, it may be your first enchanting call within a lacework of canals so richly embellished with details like the pointed Rialto Bridge and poignant Bridge of Sighs.
WALVIS BAY,NAMIBIA Queen Mary 2
Found between the sand dunes of the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, the large natural lagoon at Walvis Bay is home to prolific birdlife, including flamingoes and countless species of exotic migratory birds. Spy on dolphins in the bay, sample the breathtaking views from the top of towering ‘Sand Dune 7’ or explore the charming old streets of this harbour town.
WELLINGTON,NEW ZEALAND Queen Elizabeth
A city of cable cars, sophisticated café society and cultural riches, New Zealand’s compact capital is best explored on foot. Discover the architecturally striking Civic Square, take a cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, stroll along the bustling waterfront or visit the impressive Te Papa Museum for a celebration of all that is New Zealand.
WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA Queen Mary 2
Prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking natural beauty of this collection of 74 pristine islands, tucked away inside the Great Barrier Reef. Leave footprints in the pure white sands of the world-famous Whitehaven Beach, snorkel or scuba dive around colourful coral gardens or cross the shimmering turquoise waters of the Coral Sea by boat.
O=Overnight Stay • For Queen Elizabeth itineraries see pages 28-41 • For Queen Mary 2 itineraries see pages 44-55 • For Queen Victoria itineraries see pages 58-65
Shanghai, China
Red Sea, Egypt
Whitsunday Islands, Australia
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