BARCELONA
With its mind-bending architecture, glimmering coastline and world-leading culinary scene, the city shaped by Gaudi rarely fails to charm, and with several cruise lines using the city as a base this year, including Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady, it’s a key hopping-on point for cruises around the Med.
From the surrealist spires of La Sagrada Familia to the cobbled squares of the Gothic Quarter, the palm-flanked restaurants of Las Ramblas to the dragon-like creations in Park Guell, there’s plenty to entice, but go beyond the better-known sights and you’ll find a treasure trove waiting.
Wander the colourful streets of Gracia for bohemian boutiques and eclectic restaurants, take a cable car to Montjuic Castle to see the city twinkle from on high or sip a cocktail at Paradiso, named number one in last year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Bars. If time allows, strike out beyond the city: Sitges enchants with its whitewashed stone architecture and eye-popping beaches, while the cloud-capped, majestic rock formations of the Montserrat mountain range are mesmerising and well worth lingering on for.
WORDS LAURA FRENCH
TROMSO
Snowmobiling across a frozen lake as the Northern Lights dance around the skies above is just one incredible adventure that awaits in Tromso, gateway to the Arctic Circle. During winter, the Norwegian city is not only one of the best places to see the Aurora Borealis, but it’s ideal for husky and reindeer-sledding too.
Summertime, meanwhile, brings long days courtesy of the Midnight Sun with lots of time to explore. For a panoramic view, take the cable car to Mount Storsteinen or visit the striking Tromso Cathedral. For eco-conscious cruisers, Tromso was named a ‘Sustainable Destination’ by Innovation Norway, and Norwegian coastal lines Hurtigruten and newbie Havila Voyages have hybrid-power ships in their fleets – which is particularly important, as from 2026 only emission-free vessels will be able to enter Norway’s protected fjords. If you’re looking to cruise from the UK to Tromso, there are plenty of lines offering no-fly cruises to Norway and the Norwegian fjords, including Saga, Ambassador Cruise Line and P&O Cruises.
WORDS KELLY RANSON
ICELAND
With waterfalls, geysers, mountain ranges and glaciers, Iceland boasts some of Europe’s finest scenery, so it’s no surprise cruise lines are adding it to their schedules. P&O Cruises, Fred Olsen and Viking are among the companies circumnavigating the entire Icelandic coastline this year, and NCL even made history here last summer when Norwegian Viva became the first major ship to be christened in capital Reykjavik.
Iceland sailings
