SETE France The sleepy French town of Sete boasts a pleasant harbourfront promenade and the walkable town centre criss-crossed by canals has enough boutiques and arty shops to while away a morning. But you may also want to visit the modern university town of Montpelier with its beautiful medieval old town. Also nearby is the less well known but equally fascinating walled city of Aigues Mortes, built for Saint Louis King of France as a departure harbour for the 13th century Crusades and set in an eerie landscape of saltpans, ponds and seamarshes.
SHANGHAI China Lying at the mouth of Asia’s longest and most important river, the Yangtze, Shanghai’s spectacular architecture is catching the world’s attention. Charming old houses are making way for new museums, theatres and shiny new high-rises. But there is a comfortable blend of modern and traditional. Admire the exquisite Yu Garden with its Teahouse and Bridge of Nine Turnings or the Temple of the Jade Buddha. At the Shanghai Museum, peruse its works of art, which simultaneously draw you through the pages of Chinese history.
SHARM EL SHEIKH Egypt On the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Straits of Tiran, the sheltered waters are simply crystal clear. There are a variety of glass-bottomed and other boat trips on offer. Even better for snorkellers and divers is the Marine National Park, at nearby Ras Mohammed. Other visitors will want to visit St. Catherine’s Monastery, the oldest Christian monastery in the world, where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
SIHANOUKVILLE Cambodia Also known as Kampong Saom, Sihanoukville, situated on the southern coast of Cambodia, is renowned for its long white beaches, fringed by pine trees. Many a lazy hour can be spent here, relaxing in the sun and gazing out to the nearby Gulf of Thailand. Ochheuteal Beach is one of the most beautiful and far stretching, so much so that it is almost deserted in places.
SINGAPORE Singapore’s glorious parks have earned it a reputation as the Garden City of the Far East – Tiger Balm Gardens, Jurong Bird Park and East Coast Park being the most popular. This vibrant city is heaven for shoppers, too. Head for Orchard Road for bargains on international brands, or soak up some local atmosphere and sample foodie treats while you browse the craft and souvenir stalls of Chinatown, Little India and Mosque Street. But don’t forget to leave time for a Singapore Sling amid the colonial splendours of the famous Raffl es Hotel.
SKJOLDEN Norway Surrounded by steep hills with spectacular falls, Skjolden is located at the head of the longest navigable fjord in the world – Sognefjord. As well as being situated in a breathtaking location, the town itself is host to a number of activities and attractions. Visit Urnes Stave Church, included on UNESCO’s World Heritage list or the Jostedalsbreen National Park home to everything from fjords to green valleys, farms, barren mountains and glaciers, with peaks rising to 2,000 metres. At its heart stands the Jostedal glacier, the largest glacier in mainland Europe.
SPLIT Croatia Nestling on the sparkling Dalmatian coast, the medieval Croatian port of Split faces the myriad of magical islands of the Kornati archipelago and houses Diocletian’s Palace, one of the best preserved Roman palaces in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wander around its huddle of alleys and piazzas and then, for a great view, climb the exposed steps to the top of the 60-metre-high cathedral bell tower. Sip a drink at one of the many cafés along the seafront Riva or pop into a Konoba (wine cellar) to sample the excellent locally produced reds and whites. Just three miles from Split are the ruins of ancient Salona, once capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia.
ST HELENA St Helena is 700 miles from its nearest South Atlantic neighbour so it’s a genuine away-from-it-all destination but one with no shortage of attractions – the best- known site is the 699-step, 180-metre-high Jacob’s Ladder which was built in 1829 and now has the Jamestown Museum at its foot. You can even say “hello” to the island’s oldest resident, 200-year-old Jonathan the Tortoise at the Governor’s residence (Plantation House) as well as visit Napoleon’s original tomb and his last residence, Longwood House, which is now a museum.
ST JOHN New Brunswick, Canada St. John has long been a shipbuilding centre and there are fascinating replicas of historic sailing ships in its New Brunswick museum. The Old City Market is well worth a visit as is the impressively Romanesque Country Courthouse. The surrounding countryside is ideal for hiking and biking, especially in the Fundy National Park, a lush plateau to the east of St. John and along the St. John River valley where you can witness the natural wonder of the Reversing Falls – a phenomena which occurs when the high tide causes the river to change direction.
ST KITTS If you have ever dreamt of the classic Caribbean island, chances are it looked a lot like St. Kitts. You will recognise that mixture of deserted beaches, sleepy villages, lush rainforest greenery and sugarcane fi elds and maybe even the mini-mountain range with a dormant volcano in its midst. Independent since 1983, St. Kitts covers just 65 square miles but has its own World Heritage site: Brimstone Hill fortress. You can also explore the back streets and impressively restored Georgian buildings of the capital, Basseterre. Another option for St. Kitts cruise visitors is a trip to sister island Nevis.
ST LUCIA St Lucia has a fascinating, if bloody, history with the French and British spending years fi ghting over it. One look at this luscious island will show you why. Cloaked in verdant rainforests, its skyline dominated by the dramatic twin peaks of Les Pitons and its gardens a riot of hibiscus and bougainvillea; St. Lucia is the epitome of a Caribbean paradise. Here you can bask on beautiful beaches, visit charming fi shing villages, view stunning volcanic scenery and glory in the Caribbean’s best botanical gardens.
ST MAARTEN Half French and half Dutch, St. Martin/Saint Maarten is one of the Caribbean’s most diverse and interesting islands. The Dutch capital Philipsburg is a delightful warren of narrow streets called steegjies, where you will fi nd interesting shops and leafy courtyard cafés.
Start your exploration at Wathey Square, which is home to a fi ne collection of traditional West Indian ‘gingerbread’ houses. If you would prefer to enjoy a little French ‘je ne sais quoi’, take an island tour to the pretty French capital Marigot, worth visiting for its markets, lovely café-lined waterfront and the chic boutiques of Marina Port La Royale.
ST PETER PORT Guernsey A busy port since Roman times and one-time home of Victor Hugo, St. Peter Port, is the prettiest town in the Channel Islands. The best way to discover the true beauty of Guernsey is on foot, exploring the Ruettes – tranquil, quiet lanes that are dedicated to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. And history lovers will be in their element exploring Castle Cornet, the last Royalist stronghold of the English Civil War, now home to several museums and theatrical events. Fort Grey was a bastion against Napoleon and is now a fascinating Shipwreck Museum while the German Occupation Museum gives a vivid account of island life during WWII.
ST PETERSBURG Russia You’ll have two full days in St. Petersburg; after all the jewel in the Baltic’s crown deserves no less, for here – on the broad banks of the River Neva and in the magnifi cent palaces and churches which characterise the city’s skyline – you will fi nd Russia at its most dramatic, fl amboyant and captivating. Put the Hermitage Museum right at the top of your sightseeing list; its magnifi cent buildings and palaces contain the world’s most comprehensive collection of art and sculpture, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Gaugin, Rembrandt and Matisse. The city’s other treasures include the Yusupov Palace (where ‘the mad monk’ Gregori Rasputin was dramatically murdered in 1916); Catherine the Great’s palace (with its breathtaking 298 metre white, gold and blue façade); St Isaac’s Cathedral (which has marble walls studded with semi-precious stones); the onion-spired Church on Spilled Blood and the battleship Aurora, whose guns signalled the start of the Russian Revolution.
ST VINCENT Although he never landed on the island, Columbus sailed past on St Vincent’s Day in the Spanish calendar, and so gave the island its name. There’s a strong British infl uence here as the island’s offi cial British roots go back to the mid 18th century. Notable sights include La Soufrière, a volcano over 1,200 metres high that last erupted at the end of the 1970s. In Kingstown the botanical gardens are well worth a visit, there’s even a descendent of the original breadfruit tree planted by Captain Bligh.
STAVANGER Norway The gateway to Norway’s spectacularly scenic fjordland, Stavanger is also a town with its own rich heritage as it is regarded as the ‘Cradle of the Vikings’. Your ship will dock right next to Gamle Stavanger, the old quarter, with its collection of 200-year-old white wooden houses, markets, craft stores, art galleries and a 12th century cathedral modelled on Winchester Cathedral. Look out, too, for the Three Swords monument in the Hafrsfjord rock recalling the Viking sea battle won by King Harald the Fairhair to create Norway as one kingdom back in the 9th century.
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