Oceania Cruises is adding new ports for 2012.
The port cities of Qaqortoq, in southern Greenland, and Tasiilaq, on the east side of the country, offer a glimpse into Greenland’s unique Inuit culture. Inuit customs and traditions still have a strong hold in eastern Greenland, and travelers can catch a glimpse of the “original” Greenland. Adventure-minded travelers will enjoy such activities as hiking, sea kayaking, dog sledding and whale watching.
Famous ports in France are as old as cruising itself. Some of the country’s lesser-known ports have unique charms all their own, such as Cherbourg. This port city is rich in history and visitors can find traces of Roman occupation, as well as evidence of English sieges spanning the 12th to the 18th century. The pilgrimage site, Mont St. Michel, and the memory-stirring Normandy Beaches are within reach for day tours. The port town of Porto Vecchio in French Corsica is a walled medieval town brimming with ancient history. Stroll through the Roman city of Aleria and the 16th century Fort de Matra; or spend a day on the Golfe de Porto-Vecchio beach.
One quality that Spanish ports have in common is that they are steeped in incredible history. Cartagena, on the coast of Murcia, has vestiges of its Roman and Moorish past, along with a repository of Moorish and Christian architectural treasures. In the port of Vigo, cruisers can venture to the hallowed streets of Santiago de Compostela, the third most holy pilgrimage shrine in Christendom.
Portugal’s Azores chain is an out-of-the-way archipelago of wonders. Cruisers calling on the port of Horta on Faial Island can enjoy a walking tour of the city and revel in enthralling city and sea views from the belvedere at Miradouro da Espalamaca.
Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canary Islands offers visitors a dramatic volcanic landscape of lava fields, mountain peaks and volcanic craters. Take some time to explore the charming town of Santa Cruz de la Palma, or travel north to the 17th century Santuario de la Virgen de las Nieves for great views overlooking the sea and town.
Closer to home, the Caribbean Islands are celebrated for their white sand beaches and blue water. You’ll find that and more on Bermuda, along with the port city of St. George, the second-oldest English town in the New World. Make your way to King Square and begin your walking tour of the city, rich in 17th-century ambience.
Oceania Cruises’ expanded ports-of-call are matched by the cruise company’s new ships, Marina, which debuted this year, and Riviera, poised to make its maiden voyage in April 2012. These are the only cruise ships to feature s
uites designed and furnished by Ralph Lauren Home and interior designer Dakota Jackson. Foodies will delight in each ship’s 10 dining venues (six of these are open-seating gourmet restaurants with no surcharge); wine and food pairings come with the imprimatur of La Reserve by Wine Spectator; and the new onboard Bon Appétit Culinary Center bills itself as the only hands-on cooking school at sea.
With all of these intriguing new ports of call, 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year for cruisers in search of fresh experiences!
