Facilities in Liverpool are constantly being improved to make boarding, stopping off or leaving your cruise ship easy, enjoyable and stress-free.

The charming seaside town of Cobh, situated in Cork harbour, has served as a route in and out of Ireland for centuries. Formerly known as Queenstown before locals reverted back to the old Irish name in 1922, Cobh was the embarkation point for 2.5 million people who emigrated to America from the ‘Emerald Isle’ between 1848 and 1950, and was famously the Titanic’s final port of call on her ill-fated maiden voyage in 1912. Today, the town sat in world’s second largest natural harbour, is known more for its brightly coloured houses and imposing, Gothic revival-style St. Colman’s Cathedral, which overlooks the harbour from a dramatically steep hill. At the centre, a number of attractions point to Cobh’s fascinating past. The Cobh Heritage Centre examines the gruelling potato famine period, the town’s museum explores Cobh’s maritime heritage and the impact of RMS Lusitania’s sinking nearby, and the Titanic Experience, where a virtual version of ship’s infamous voyage can be experienced.

The capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich, colourful history. St. John’s has oodles of old world charm, interesting architecture, historic landmarks, beautiful countryside and a cultural scene as fresh as the Atlantic. St. John’s first permanent settlers were the British in the mid-18th century, and North America’s oldest city has long been an exploration gateway to the Avalon Peninsula, Cape Spear and the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. To this day, St. John’s is much-loved by visitors who arrive for the chance to see indigenous wildlife such as puffins, whales and other natural wonders. St. John’s jelly-bean-coloured houses line hilly streets, and the city is home to artists, musicians, and wonderful, cutting-edge eateries. The Downtown district typically offers the best food, pubs, entertainment and shopping, while Signal Hill, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, provides incredible views of the spectacular harbour and surrounding areas.

The capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador has a rich, colourful history. St. John’s has oodles of old world charm, interesting architecture, historic landmarks, beautiful countryside and a cultural scene as fresh as the Atlantic. St. John’s first permanent settlers were the British in the mid-18th century, and North America’s oldest city has long been an exploration gateway to the Avalon Peninsula, Cape Spear and the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. To this day, St. John’s is much-loved by visitors who arrive for the chance to see indigenous wildlife such as puffins, whales and other natural wonders. St. John’s jelly-bean-coloured houses line hilly streets, and the city is home to artists, musicians, and wonderful, cutting-edge eateries. The Downtown district typically offers the best food, pubs, entertainment and shopping, while Signal Hill, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, provides incredible views of the spectacular harbour and surrounding areas.

Home to Gaelic-speaking descendants of Scottish settlers, the industrial town of Sydney is the ocean gateway to Cape Breton Island. With easy access to the highlands, the Bras D’Or Lakes and the Fortress Louisbourg National Park, Sydney is the perfect place to start your Nova Scotia adventure. A guided tour of Old Sydney Town gives visitors the chance to visit the magnificent Fortress of Louisbourg, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum and beautiful Baddeck a small yet enchanting village nearby. The Petersfield Provincial Park is also well worth visiting, thanks to the array of monuments from various cultural eras and fantastic views of the harbour.

Located on the banks of the beautiful Saint-Lawrence River, Baie-Comeau is one of Canada’s hidden gems built on history and heritage. The region’s landscape has been shaped by glacial retreats and extraordinary natural phenomena – the immense Manicouagan crater is an extraordinary sight. Smothered with forests, this busy industrial city supplies Quebec with large quantities of hydroelectricity from the impressive Manicouagan Reservoir dam. Journeying further into the city centre, away from the busy port-side industries, a calm, peaceful city where quaint cafes and pretty theatres await. The delightful old-town district, known as Vieux-Poste, was established in 1889. Formerly the village of Saint-Eugène-de-Manicouagan, it boasts the oak-framed, stained-glass wonder of the Anglican church of St Andrew, and the pink-granited Sainte-Amélie Church.

Perched atop a cliff that swoops down to the St. Lawrence River, Québec is the only walled city on the American continent north of Mexico. The Canadian city is so akin to old European towns that it’s hard to believe this mainly French speaking city is actually in North America.Québec’s style and incredible architecture is unique to this part of the world, which makes this intriguing city ripe for exploration. A stroll along the streets of the Latin Quarter and past the historic fortifications and stone houses of Old Québec, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides a real flavour of the city. This area is home to the world’s most photographed hotel, the Château Frontenac.Show less The picturesque Place Royal plaza is considered the birthplace of French civilization in North America and the first permanent settlement in New France. Québec’s famous entertainment comes to life in the summer, when musicians, acrobats and actors in period costume take to the streets, and festivals fill the air with fireworks. The city’s Winter Carnival is arguably the biggest and most colourful festival around. A visit to the Parc de la Chute-Montmorency, where views of the impressive 83-metre high Montmorency Falls are found, is a must – the falls are actually higher and narrower than Niagara.

The port city of Saguenay in Quebec, Canada, opens up the Saguenay Fjord Route – a spectacular two-mile waterway of mountains and rising cliffs protected by three National Parks. There is a decidedly French atmosphere and a touch of the old world in the area’s quaint villages. Saguenay is popular with Quebecois who enjoy hiking and kayaking the glacier-carved Saguenay Fjord National Park, a spot of ice fishing or a visit to the Fjord Museum. The mouth of the fjord is home to billions of krill, which attracts various whale species like the Beluga Whale. Saguenay is the union of a number of cities and townships and known mostly for its electricity generation and timber and bauxite exportation. Local attractions include the fascinating glass-blowing workshop and the Angora goat farm where artisans create mohair garments in the traditional manner.

The city of Corner Brook is an historic Canadian city located on the west coast of Newfoundland. Corner Brook is lauded for its fishing, railway and paper industries. It is also steeped in history, and boasts the Captain James Cook Monument, one of Canada’s National Historic Sites. The downtown area is a maze of interlocking brick sidewalks, open green spaces and lots of shops, galleries and restaurants. Although the town is pretty and sleepy, for more adventurous types, there are plenty of outdoor pursuits to try. Marble Mountain Ski Resort is on the doorstep, as is some wonderfully rugged terrain to explore.

From beautiful coastlines to a fascinating industrial heritage, Belfast is a modern, vibrant and stylish city. Famous for being the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, Northern Ireland’s capital offers visitors the chance to visit the Harland and Wolff shipyard and the fascinating Titanic Experience. Only in Belfast can the Titanic story be traced to its source, and the excitement of an era when the city was at the height of its powers relived. Close to Queen’s University lie the fascinating Botanical Gardens, established for over 180 years. The unique Palm House was one of the world’s first cast-iron glass-houses and displays a wide range of tropical plants, ranging from bananas to rubber. Alongside, the Renaissance-styled Ulster Museum tells Ireland’s 9,000-year history through art, ceramics, costume, and prehistoric archaeology. To the city’s northern edge is the impressive Belfast Castle, offering wonderful views of the city as it stands 120m above the Irish Sea.Show less Belfast is also perfectly placed to discover the stunning Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and an incredible natural wonder steeped in myths and legends.