Acapulco

This has to be one of the world’s most famous beach resorts, where the action continues around the clock. By day, the horseshoe-shaped bay is the place to see and be seen, while evenings light up with nightclubs, bars and fabulous restaurants. Don’t miss the cliff divers of La Quebrada, soaring off 136-foot-high cliffs into Pacific Ocean waves – it’s extra spectacular at night.

Barcelona, Spain

Life in the Catalan capital is as fast and fun as anywhere in Europe. Take a stroll down Las Ramblas, where the street theatre is just as crazy as the fantastical Art Nouveau architecture of the city’s most famous son, Gaudi. The Gothic Quarter with its narrow streets and vast cathedral is big on atmosphere and the neighbourhood tapas bars are just the place to refill.

Belize City, Belize

Belize is an eco-tourist’s dream with more than 40% of the country devoted to parks and nature reserves and the world’s second longest barrier reef protecting the unspoilt beaches. So get out and explore – trekking through the rainforests, floating through fantastic caves on an inner tube, diving or snorkelling over the reef, or horse riding through the jungle.

Bridgetown, Barbados

St. Lucia is everything you’d want a tropical island to be with long sandy beaches, tiny coves hidden away under the cliffs and a lush interior of rainforests, waterfalls and, believe it or not, the world’s only drive-in volcano. Take a boat trip to the Pitons, two towering peaks rising sheer from the sea and, surely, one of the most photographed landmarks in the Caribbean.

Cabo San Lucas

Right at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas has beautiful beaches, crystal-clear seas and a rugged coastline with fantastic rock formations. It’s the perfect place to relax, so take a stroll along the beach, a boat ride to Land’s End, try your hand at water sports, or set out on a sports fishing adventure – the coastal waters are rich in billfish.

Cadiz (Seville), Spain

Founded over 3,000 years ago, Cadiz grew rich on treasures brought back from Spain’s New World and the atmospheric streets of the old town have changed little since this golden era. It’s also the port for Seville, a romantic city with gorgeous Moorish architecture, and for Jerez de la Frontera at the heart of Spain’s sherry region, where wine tasting is a must.

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

Cagliari has been Sicily’s capital since Roman times, so there’s no shortage of history here. Check out the impressive Roman amphitheatre cut from the solid rock, the archaeological museum and the city walls with watchtowers built by the Pisans, who once ruled these parts. Relaxation more your thing? Head for nearby Poetto with its miles of fine sandy beaches, bars and restaurants.

Cartagena

Go back to the swashbuckling era at the mighty Fort Bocachica or to La Popa Monastery for a spectacular view. Cartagena was once a favored destination of pirates and adventures, now is now a bustling seaport.

Castries, St. Lucia

St. Lucia is everything you’d want a tropical island to be with long sandy beaches, tiny coves hidden away under the cliffs and a lush interior of rainforests, waterfalls and, believe it or not, the world’s only drive-in volcano. Take a boat trip to the Pitons, two towering peaks rising sheer from the sea and, surely, one of the most photographed landmarks in the Caribbean.

Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome)

Civitavecchia has been the port for Rome since the 13th-century and the Eternal City is still the big draw. It wasn’t built in a day, but you’ll see a lot in yours, from the massive Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City to the sun-filled piazzas, fabulous fountains, ultra-chic designer stores and oh-so-tempting pavement cafés, where you can do as the Romans do.

Cozumel, Mexico

This tiny tropical isle is just 12 miles off the coast of mainland Mexico and packs a lot of action into its diminutive size. Beaches? Of course, and superb diving over the corals of Palancar Reef, as well as 4x4 adventures in the dense jungles of the interior. Go shopping in San Miguel, where mariachi music and ice-frosted margaritas tempt you into laid- back bars.

Gibraltar

There’s no getting away with it, you’ve got to take the cable car to the top of the Rock for an incredible view over two continents – Europe and Africa. And while you’re up there, say Hola to the locals, the Barbary apes that make the Rock their home. Take a look at the Moorish Castle, the Trafalgar Cemetery and make time for duty-free shopping on Main Street.

Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Great Stirrup Cay is NCL’s private Bahamian island, home to sandy beaches, palm trees and clear waters in a peaceful cove… and you, for one day of sheer beachside indulgence. Snooze the day away in a hammock, enjoy an island barbecue, take out a kayak or sailboat and check out the local inhabitants – schools of madly colourful fish – on a guided snorkelling tour over the reef.

Lisbon, Portugal

Hop on a rattling yellow tram for a ride around the seven hills of Lisbon, checking out the ancient Moorish Alfama district and hill top St. George’s Castle, the narrow lanes of the Bairro Alto and riverfront Belem with its Monument to the Discoverers. Stop for delicious pastries and maybe a seafood lunch down by the water.

Livorno, Italy (Florence & Pisa)

The treasures of Tuscany are on Livorno’s doorstep, so will it be Florence with its red-roofed Duomo, Renaissance palaces and galleries? Or Pisa, where that Tower still leans over the ‘Field of Miracles’? Or, how about the Cinque Terre on the nearby Ligurian coast: five tiny, photogenic fishing villages linked by age-old cliff-side footpaths, mule tracks and ferry boats?

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a city and a half, spreading over hundreds of square miles from the Pacific Ocean to the mountains. From Hollywood and Sunset Strip to Beverly Hills and its credit card crunching stores on Rodeo Drive, the sights are legendary. And who can resist comparing their handprints with the stars at Mann’s Chinese Theatre, or spending a fun-packed day at Disneyland®?

Malaga (Granada), Spain

Sol and the beautiful white villages of Andalusia, Malaga is a great city in its own right. Sights to see include the Moorish Alcazaba, the hilltop Gibralfaro Castle and the birthplace of Picasso now a gallery devoted to his work. Then why not stop for lunch? The restaurants around the old cathedral are great for fish and seafood.

Miami, Florida

Famous for its year-round sunshine and miles of white sand beaches, Miami’s a great place to soak up some rays. Chill out in chic South Beach with its pastel-painted art deco buildings and people-watching pavement cafés, or head inland to the swamps of the Everglades, where alligator watching is more the thing.

Naples, Italy (Pompeii)

you must try the real thing before you explore the historic centre with its grand palace, cathedral and opera house. Feeling romantic? Take the hydrofoil to the isle of Capri or the Amalfi Coast drive to Sorrento and don’t forget your camera. History buffs make for Pompeii, to see how the Romans lived back in the 1st century AD.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Like a phoenix risen from the ashes, New Orleans is back on the map and is as exciting and happening as ever. Take a stroll through the French Quarter or past the aristocratic homes in the Garden District; dine out on fabulous Creole cuisine and head for the hurly-burly of Bourbon Street and Preservation Hall for all that jazz.

New York, New York

Even if you’ve never been before, you’ll feel like you know it from countless movies and TV programmes. The Manhattan buzz is like nowhere else. Whether you’re shopping on Fifth Avenue, strolling up Broadway, checking out the sensational museums and galleries or taking it all in from high atop the Empire State Building, you’ll agree… it’s a wonderful town.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta combines the charm of old Mexico with some 26 miles of spectacular beaches along Banderas Bay. Take a stroll through the colonial cobblestone streets with whitewashed houses draped in bougainvillea, visit Gringo Gulch, where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had homes and, for something more adventurous, explore the nearby Sierra Madre Forest.

Roatán, Bay Islands

First the geography – Roatán is one the three Bay Islands some 30 miles off the coast of Honduras and it’s about 30 miles long and two wide. Now what you really want to know – it’s got gorgeous beaches backed by tropical forests, sensational diving and snorkelling over the beautiful Belizean Reef and adventures like kayaking, horse riding and hiking the jungle trails.

Samaná, Dominican Republic

Set on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, Samaná is sort of off the beaten track and all the better for it. Pack your mask and fins, as there’s fantastic diving from the pristine beaches; saddle up and ride, or hike, to a mountain pool in the rainforest; take a cruise through the mangroves and tell the tale of the ‘one that got away’ after a deep sea fishing adventure.

San Francisco

Ok, you may not want to leave your heart here but you’ll be bowled over nevertheless. From the seafood restaurants of Fisherman’s Wharf to the busy streets of Chinatown, the department stores of Union Square to the eerie cells of Alcatraz prison, San Francisco is like no city on earth. And the best way to see it all (and get up and down those impossible hills) is aboard the city’s signature cable cars.

Seattle, Washington

With its high-rise skyline dominated by the futuristic Space Needle, Seattle is a big, lively city surrounded on three sides by water and backed by the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Get a taste of the Orient in the International Quarter, or the great seafood served up on the waterfront and take a coffee break – the locals insist theirs is the best coffee in the world.

St. John’s, Antigua

They say Antigua has 365 beaches and who are we to quibble when just one or two will give you all the Caribbean fun and relaxation you could want? For a change of pace, Nelson’s Dockyard is a must with its Georgian maritime buildings and English Harbour, where the British fleet once anchored, before you take in the ocean view from Shirley Heights.

St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Mention the island of St. Thomas and, chances are, shopping comes to mind, as the former warehouses along the waterfront of Charlotte Amalie are packed with duty-free luxury goods. And if retail therapy’s not your thing, chill on beautiful beaches like Magen’s Bay, escape to the neighbouring island of St. John, or why not take a trial scuba diving lesson – it’s great fun.

Vigo, Spain

The largest town in Galicia is also Spain’s biggest fishing port, so head for the atmospheric Barrio del Berbes, where the narrow cobbled streets are lined with tapas bars and restaurants serving up the freshest fish and seafood imaginable. Or follow in the footsteps of countless pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, to see the grand cathedral housing the tomb of St. James.

Villefranche, France (Nice & Monte Carlo)

Live the highlife in these beautiful Riviera hotspots. Take a stroll through the pretty village of Villefranche, or rub shoulders with the rich and famous along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais and sniff out the wonderful flower market. Not far away, it’s tempting to have a flutter in Monte Carlo, while equally enchanting is Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a classic medieval fortified village.