Epicurean Pageantry

Amsterdam is one of our very favourite cities to visit, as well as also being a perfect base to explore the nearby landscape of windmills and dikes. The Amsterdam canal belt is now officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and from them there are so many neighbourhoods to explore, such as the Jordaan with its higgledy-piggledy streets and its famed garden courtyards (hofjes). There are also a wealth of famous museums and galleries to choose from, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, not to mention some more, shall we say, quirky options.

Tilbury is not the world's most glamorous port, but the location on the Essex bank of the Thames, a short distance from the M25, means that it’s a convenient jumping off point for central London and the South East. The only real point of interest in Tilbury itself is the 16th century fort, situated just along the river from the cruise terminal.

Dunkirk will forever be synonymous with Operation Dynamo, when a ramshackle fleet of fishing boats and pleasure craft helped to evacuate over 300,000 British and French soldiers cut off by the German army in the summer of 1940. The modern city has several interesting museums covering both the evacuation and the history of Dunkirk’s port.

Situated on the southern bank of the Seine estuary, Honfleur was once one of France’s most important ports. It was also a favourite location of Monet and the Impressionists, and art lovers may well recognise the elegant Renaissance architecture of the old harbour, the Vieux Bassin.

Bordeaux sits at the centre of the world's most famous wine region, and is home to a beguiling blend of beautiful buildings, sophisticated gastronomy and high culture. It's a marvellous place to spend some time, whether it's a day sampling wines, an evening at the opera or a night on the tiles.

The pretty town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz is one of the highlights of the French Basque Country, on a crescent-shaped bay between Biarritz and the Spanish border. The streets of the old town are filled with charming timbered houses, and there are some great restaurants where you can sample Basque cuisine.

Blessed with a dramatic setting on the steep banks of the river Douro, Portugal’s second city is currently enjoying something of a renaissance, and is best known as the home of the country’s most famous export, port wine.

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon’s colourful cityscape includes Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums. But for many the best times will be had wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbon’s lovely backstreets, with their great local food, wine and music.