Sail to good‑living, art‑loving Normandy on Carnival cruises to Le Havre, France. Sitting pretty on France's north coast, overlooking the English Channel, Le Havre has risen from the rubble of World War II to become one of France's most dynamic port towns. Modernist architecture, Monet artworks, delicious seafood, wild cliff‑backed beaches‑you'll find the lot on your Le Havre cruise.

• See the light in the Monet masterpieces gracing Musée Malraux on Le Havre cruises.
• Snap photos of Oscar Niemeyer's volcano‑shaped arts center, Le Volcan.
• Windsurf, sail or kitesurf at Le Havre's pebbly beach.
• Stand in awe of Auguste Perret's modernist monolith, Église St‑Joseph.
• Eat fresh scallops and mussels harborside in picture‑book‑pretty Honfleur.

 No port today! It’s a great time to explore your ship and its exciting entertainment, food and activities! Or take it easy at the pool, spa, or... if you book a room with a balcony, enjoy the waves. 

 There are many ways to get to Bordeaux, France’s wine country that since Roman times has been best known for its unique blends of reds. Le Verdon is a great way, but all that said, it’s more than just a gateway to Bordeaux, but a destination all its own. Known locally as Le Verdon-sur-Mer, this spot combines scenic beach and lighthouse views, while the river gorge area naturally lends itself to options for active fun like biking and hiking. But you really don’t want to miss Bordeaux, which goes beyond its iconic wines with neoclassical architecture, incredible parkland and even the largest city square in Western Europe. 

 Bilbao is set a ways away from Spain’s best-known destinations like Madrid and Barcelona, but there are reasons to seek out a cruise to the largest city in Basque Country. BC’s an “autonomous community” that Spain considers its own nation and comes complete with its own language. Your ship’s approach to the city is Ria del Bilbao and this waterway affords you your first look at the surrounding mountains that — get used to it! — are going to be featuring prominently in your photos. Tourism is huge here, and it’s a great sign that so many of Bilbao’s visitors come from other parts of Spain. What attracts them? It might be the city’s collection of museums, including the famous one with the crazy-cool exterior and all the modern art inside. But it could very well be the food. Basque cuisine is world-class with award-winning chefs all over the place… so, no joke, if you spend most of your visit on fine dining nobody would bat an eye.

• Visit the ancient Basque capital of Guernica, a name made infamous by Picasso’s 1930s painting.
• Walk Bilbao’s cobblestone streets and cross the city’s 17 bridges.
• Explore the seaside resort town of San Sebastian, a Basque Country highlight that practically straddles Spain’s border with France.

 Anything dubbed the Tower of Hercules commands a bit of attention, and so does La Coruña, Spain, the site on which this iconic 180-foot-tall lighthouse stands. Located in Galicia, La Coruña is considered the third holiest site in all Christendom, attracting pilgrims in droves as they make their way to Santiago de Compostela, where St. James the Apostle is believed to have been buried. Rich in tradition and rich in celebration, Galicia is also said to be home to more than 750 beaches and host to 4,000 parties annually. If you are here to set off on a quiet retreat into the mystical, or rejoice until the nines with vino and tapas by the ocean breeze, you’re certainly in for something unforgettable at La Coruña, Spain. 

 Porto is Portugal’s second city, and it's as colorful as it is memorable. Detail is key here, a place where the front doors are decorated with such a stunning variety of azulejo tiles that only by getting up close can you fully appreciate their intricacy. Explore on foot to unveil all the stunning scenery of Porto… like the Ribeira quarter, whose cobblestone-street scenery definitely falls a bit more on the "deliciously old-school" side. Be sure not to miss the city's port wine cellars — as you may have guessed, the city's most famous export took its name from the place itself. 

 Discover Portugal’s bright, fun-loving capital city on your cruise to Lisbon. Straddling seven hills, hugging the banks of the River Tagus — and crowned by the storybook castle of São Jorge — Lisbon, Portugal is a visually stunning place to visit, and arriving by sea is doing it right! The nation’s hundreds of years of nautical heritage is concentrated in Lisbon, and the riverside Belém district is where Portuguese navigators like Magellan and Vasco da Gama would begin their journeys. Today, cruise ship passengers make landfall not far from that spot. By the way, the city has modern claims to fame, too! With its rumbling yellow trams and stately plazas, irresistible patisseries and bluesy fado music, expect exotic sights and sounds — and more — on your cruise to Lisbon.

• Be captivated by the skyline views from Lisbon’s Castelo de São Jorge.
• Visit the Belem Tower fortress, built in the 16th century to defend the harbor.
• Explore the Jerónimos Monastery, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

 No port today! It’s a great time to explore your ship and its exciting entertainment, food and activities! Or take it easy at the pool, spa, or... if you book a room with a balcony, enjoy the waves. 

 Cruise to Málaga and enjoy one of Spain’s oldest cities. First founded by the Phoenicians, the city of Málaga had hosted a number of civilizations over its 3,000 years. The end result is a city that’s a cornucopia of Roman and Moorish influences, among others. Travel to Málaga and enjoy the city’s many museums, especially Museo Picasso Málaga… after all, this is the city where the artist himself was born. Take a side-trip to nearby Granada, where visitors can explore the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s at once an imposing fortress, impressive palace and a small town.

• Discover one of Spain’s greatest traditions at its largest and oldest bullfighting arena.
• Visit the Alhambra and explore this 14th century palace.
• Take a guided tour of the Málaga Cathedral with its unique mix of styles.

 No port today! It’s a great time to explore your ship and its exciting entertainment, food and activities! Or take it easy at the pool, spa, or... if you book a room with a balcony, enjoy the waves.
 

 In ancient times it was said that all roads lead to Rome… but in your case, the seaport of Civitavecchia is your road to Rome. Get there and you’ll find out what made the place so popular. The Vatican's Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, the Colosseum with its lurid history, and the Trevi Fountain — where a tossed coin promises your return — are not to be missed on any visit to the so-called “Eternal City,” one of the cradles of civilization. Take a walking tour of Rome’s many historical landmarks and enjoy the lively sidewalk cafés, ending the day alla romana strolling through the atmospheric Centro Storico.

• Look up at Michelangelo’s frescos on the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.
• Climb to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica dome for panoramic views of Rome. 
• Have your picture taken on the flowery Spanish Steps.