Monday, 6 October 2025

Tucson, Arizona

A Brief Look at Ports on the Second Part of Our Cruise, 

from Rome to Miami

LFLatSea continues the description of ports on the second part of our cruise adventure.

Ajaccio, Corsica, France (12 November)

    Ajaccio, capital and largest city on the island of Corsica, lies in a calm bay on the west coast set against a backdrop of wooded hills. It is a relaxed rather than lively town and visitors come here to enjoy its wealth of cafes, restaurants and shops. The sights here mainly revolve around Napoleon, who was born here. The town's main sights are the magnificent cathedral where Napoleon was christened, the Bonaparte residence, and numerous statues and street names related to his family. We have not been to Corsica before this trip and we are looking forward to discovering the city on our own.

Alghero, Sardinia, Italy (13 November)

    Situated in an enchanting position with its port and spacious gulf, Alghero is no stranger to tourism. Its coast has many secluded bays; small inlets bordered by plentiful pine forests; and high, jagged rocks touched by an emerald-green sea. This town on the northwest coast of the island of Sardinia is known for its Catalan influence, charming old town,  and vibrant cultural life. It is one of the few places in Italy where Catalan is still spoken, along with Italian and Sardinian. Alghero's old town is one of its main attractions, with narrow cobbled streets, historic buildings and ancient walls. Will and I have never been to Alghero and we will join a shore excursion that takes us to the small town of Castelsardo to visit its famous Sardinian crafts market

    Although I have not been to this northern part of the island of Sardinia, I have previously visited Cagliari, a city on the southern coast, while on a Holland America cruise in October 2016. Here are a few photos of Cagliari:

A Panorama of Cagliari from the Deck of the Koningsdam

The Streets of Cagliari's Old Town

Mahon, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain (14 November)

    Mahon harbor is a natural six-kilometers-long bay. It is a unique port situated in an extraordinary landscape. There are berths for three cruise ships right in the heart of the city. Walking into the center of town is a short, but hilly affair--107 steps! We will explore the town on a shore excursion: "A Walk Through Mahon with Tasty Tapas."
    Although we have visited two other Balearic Islands--Mallorca and Ibiza--we have never been to Menorca.  I first visited Mallorca on my own in May 1996 for three nights. I returned solo on an Oceania cruise in April 2017, and then again with Will and our friend Anita on another Oceania cruise in November 2017. I have visited Ibiza on two cruises--April 2010 on a Holland America cruise and April 2024 on a Seabourn cruise with Will.

Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain (15 November)

    Ibiza tourism offers a blend of vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and UNESCO World Heritage sites, drawing visitors with its world-famous clubs and stunning natural scenery. Since we have been here previously, we will explore the old city with our friends Anita and Deb.

Sailing by Ibiza's Old Town in April 2024

Cartagena, Spain (16 November)

    Cartagena is a port city and naval base in the Murcia region of southeast Spain. Founded by the Carthaginians around 220 BC, the city boomed during the Roman period. Among its many Roman ruins are a first-century BC theater and Casa de la Fortuna, a villa with murals and mosaics. The Muralla Púnica (Punic Wall) interpretation center houses the remains of a third-century BC defensive wall. Today Cartagena is one of Spain's busiest commercial centers. 

    I have visited Cartagena three times. Those who have kept up with the blog will recall that in October 2016 I fractured my left hip while on board Holland America's Konigsdam. I was deposited in hospital in Cartagena for 12 days to have the hip replaced. Of course I didn't get to see much of the city at all. 

My Left Leg After Hip Replacement Surgery in Hospital Perpetua Socorro

    Because I was very grateful to the dedicated medical staff, I decided to make a journey of thanks as soon as I was able to travel again (and any reason to sail on another cruise was good enough for me). So in April 2017 I sailed on Oceania from Miami to Barcelona and then rode the train to Cartagena to spend a day re-visiting the hospital and seeing a little more of the city, including the Roman theatre and preparations for Holy Week. If you would like more details of this adventure, please link to October 2016 at the bottom of this (or any other blog page).

Cartagena's Roman Theatre

Building Floats for Holy Week Processions

     In November 2021, on my return trip home from Dubai, where I spent a week at Expo 2020, I sailed from Rome to Miami on Oceania's Riviera. Although some ports were still closed because of Covid, Cartagena was open and very welcoming. I spent the day on a shore excursion to Murcia, the largest city in the area. 

The "Bridge of Dangers" and the "Swimming Sardine," two symbols of Murcia city.

    Another very pleasant trip to Cartagena was much more recent. From late March to early June in 2024, Will and I embarked on a six-week, three-cruise journey starting in Miami and ending in New York, focusing on the Canary Islands and other parts of coastal Spain. Our late April port day in Cartagena was, at last, a very happy day. Will was wildly impressed as he pulled the drapes in our suite and saw the port and city laid out before him in bright sunshine. We enjoyed a shore excursion that took us to the magnificent Roman theatre and then on a tour of five different tapas bars for drinks and tasty treats.

    On this forthcoming visit we plan to discover other ancient and modern aspects of this marvelous city.

Motril, Spain (17 November)

    Motril, located at the center of the coast of Andalucia, sits on the slope of Sierra Lújar. It enjoys a mild subtropical climate, which makes it the ideal sun-and-beach destination all year round. It also serves as one of the gateways to Granada, whose Alhambra is one of the most visited sites in all of Spain.

But Motril itself is the product of a great artistic heritage. The historic quarter is a typical example of Arab-Spanish urban development. The church of La Encarnación, erected on top of an old high mosque, is a Mudejar building from the 16th century. Baroque architecture can be admired at the City Hall and at the sanctuary of the Virgin of Cabeza. The beaches of La Joya, Poniente and Carchuna, are also part of the wonderful charm of this town.
    Although we have never visited Motril, Will and I have both been to Granada; I have been there twice, first in June 1988 and then in March 1996 with Will. So today we will enjoy the treasures of the town on our own.

Will at the Alhambra in 1996

Ceuta, Spanish Morocco (18 November)

    Ceuta (sue-ate-ah) is a Spanish enclave in mainland Morocco, covering an area of 19.7 square kilometers. It is one of two remaining fragments of long-established Spanish presence in North Africa.          Historically a popular destination for southern Europeans to take advantage of duty-free shopping, with its integration in the EU, Ceuta has lost much of its monetary charm. The city is still an interesting mix of Europeans their neighbors from Morocco, although relations between the two areas have recently declined, especially since the onslaught of Covid. We are schedule for a three-hour shore excursion discovering the highlights of Ceuta.
    We have not been to Ceuta, but we did visit Melilla, the other Spanish enclave in Morocco,  in April 2024. We spent a very interesting day seeing both the historic and modern parts of the city.

The Fortified Border Between Spanish Melilla and Morocco

Lisbon, Portugal (20 November)

    I have had the pleasure of visiting Lisbon several times since my six-day stay in May 1995. Will is going to experience the highlights of Lisbon for the first time.

    Lisbon is Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city. From imposing São Jorge Castle, the view encompasses the old city’s pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary and Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. Nearby, the National Azulejo Museum displays five centuries of decorative ceramic tiles. Just outside Lisbon is a string of Atlantic beaches, from Cascais to Estoril.
    We have not yet made plans for our visit, but the Alfama, the walkable neighborhood of Lisbon that survived the earthquake of 1755, and Belem, the area along the Tagus River that is the site of important monuments and historical structures, are high on our list of places to visit during this one-day stay.

Belem (left) and the Alfama (right)

Hamilton, Bermuda (28-29 November)

    We will be happy to be landlubbers again when we reach Bermuda after seven days at sea. Although Seabourn provides ample activities and lots (too much) to eat and drink, we will enjoy the only over-night port on this trip in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda. We have visited Hamilton, as well as other parts of this island nation, in previous years. Hamilton is the largest city in and the political and financial capital of the nation. And it's the final opportunity for shopping! We certainly don't need a guide for that, so we will organize our days ourself.

Two View of Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda

We leave Tucson exactly two weeks from today, and Will and I both have a great deal to do before our departure. If I have anything important to add I will publish another blog page, otherwise you will hear again from LFLatSea after we begin our travels.