Transoceanic from Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly: its wings, Grande Terre and Basse Terre, are separated by a channel and has some beautiful, unspoilt beaches. Grande Terre is the liveliest part, with the market of Pointe à Pitre and roads joining together picturesque villages and sugar cane plantations. Centuries of French rule don’t seem to have influenced the locals’ philosophy too much: “it’s better to avoid something than to face something”.

Antigua, as sweet as the sugar cane form the plantations, welcomes us in a warm embrace and giving us the opportunity to swim in its beautiful sea. We stop in the port of Antigua, an old colony where we can see the vestiges of the agricultural past of the island. Sugar is no longer the livelihood of this small nation, but you can still visit the old windmills of Fuerteventura. Take a dance class at the Shiva school of dance or catch a show of traditional dances from the Caribbean. Before the cruise resumes its course, enjoy a spectacular sunset on the beach, swim with the stingrays and admire the underwater fauna.

A magnet for yachts from many ports, tiny Tortola in the British Virgin Islands is a haven for those seeking the classic pleasures of beaches and crystal waters.

Visit the New World’s first capital and Christopher Columbus’ beloved city. Be sure not to miss the first Catholic cathedral in the Western Hemisphere and the famed El Alcazar Museum.

Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises 2 separate countries, divided between its northern French side, called Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch side, Sint Maarten. The island is home to busy resort beaches and secluded coves. It’s also known for fusion cuisine, vibrant nightlife and duty-free shops selling jewelry and liquor.

The port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the city’s access to the sea and characterized by a mix of cultures that have managed to coexist in harmony with each other. Santa Cruz is a cosmopolitan city of different influences and varied trends, as you can see from the mix of historic buildings and modern architecture. After leaving the port, start your tour with a visit of the Auditorio de Tenerife and the “Circulo de Amistad.” Then take a visit to the Nuestra Señora de África market, where you will find crafts and artisanal products made from natural ingredients, as well as the famous wine of the region. Finally, check out the local cuisine made with potatoes, chilies and exotic spices.

Travel through the streets of the port, where Christopher Columbus left for America, and visit this beautiful town and its surroundings. Make a stop in Cadiz, an Andalusian town that gives its name to the region it is capital of and the gulf on whose heights it stands proud. Its buildings are characterised by influences, in chronological order, of the Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and the Christians. The port of Cadiz was the departure point of the expedition that led to the discovery of America. Here you can admire the charming seafront promenade and the 3 km bridge that crosses the bay. Don’t miss the chance to taste “tapas de chorizo” or see a flamenco show.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place. In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it. Also called the “Porpoise City “, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.