Transatlantic Cruise - from Galveston - 124230

Galveston, also called Glaveston, was once the home of the Akokisa Indians and the pirate Jean Lafitte. The town is characterised by its Victorian, neogothic and classical architecture. Ashton Villa is a must-see, as are the Rosenberg library and "Bishop's Palace", also known as the Walter Gresham Castle. A really special highlight is the adventure playground "Moody Garden", a leisure park with rainforest pyramids, many species of plants and birds and an underwater aquarium.

This city in Mississippi, with a population of almost 500,000 (1.3 million as a metropolitan area) is considered to be the least American of all the US cities. The former capital of the state of Louisiana refuses to follow trends and continues to live by its old traditions. French, Spanish and Creole influences are just as clearly apparent as the African traditions of the former slaves of the cotton fields of Louisiana. Sights include: Audubon Park, Congo Square, French Quarter (Vieux Carré), Royal Street, New Orleans Museum of Art, Superdome (Football Stadium of the New Orleans Saints)

This city in Mississippi, with a population of almost 500,000 (1.3 million as a metropolitan area) is considered to be the least American of all the US cities. The former capital of the state of Louisiana refuses to follow trends and continues to live by its old traditions. French, Spanish and Creole influences are just as clearly apparent as the African traditions of the former slaves of the cotton fields of Louisiana. Sights include: Audubon Park, Congo Square, French Quarter (Vieux Carré), Royal Street, New Orleans Museum of Art, Superdome (Football Stadium of the New Orleans Saints)

Tampa, Florida's health resort and port at the Gulf of Mexico, today has a population of several hundred thousand and is a city full of contrasts. Visitors can find glittering sky-scrapers as well as the traditional university and the historic Cuban district Ybor City. Sights worth visiting include the Children's Museum of Tampa, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Science and Industry and the History Center. We also highly recommend a visit to the cigar factory "Tampa Rico Cigar Company" as well as 'Busch Gardens', an African-themed funpark with shops and restaurants. 'Water babies' will love the huge water funpark, 'Adventure Island', and the Florida Aquarium.

Key West is the most southerly town in Florida on the main island of Florida Keys. It is a very tourist-oriented town that enchants visitors with its sub-tropical serenity, laid-back lifestyle and Caribbean flair. In the early 19th century the town lived from piracy and looting sunken ships. In the late 19th century the residents of the town made a living from the cigar industry, sponge diving and hunting sea turtles. Tourism began to flourish with the expansion of the railway lines in 1912. The town's most famous resident was Ernest Hemmingway, who lived in Key West during the 1930s and 40s. Duval Street in the old town, a colourful mix of small shops, bars and restaurants, is a must-see. Key West also has many museums such as Key West Aquarium. One of the most famous attractions is watching the sun go down at Mallory Square Docks: tourists, locals, street performers and street traders gather on the beach and the promenade to experience the sunset. There are usually fireworks afterwards too.

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

Hamilton is the capital of the Bermudas and lies at the eastern end of the Great Sound in the Atlantic Ocean. The town was founded in 1790 and made capital of the Bermudas in 1815. The "sugar-frosted architecture" of the houses and buildings with their whitewashed roofs and pastel-coloured fronts dating from the 18th and 19th centuries is truly unique. Local attractions include "Sessions House", the cathedral, the defences at Fort Hamilton and the port, which was designated a free port in 1956 and is the largest in the Bermudas.

Horta is the capital of the Portuguese Azores Island of Faial. The city's image is dominated by beautiful old colonial buildings. One of the unique features of this city with a population of 7,000 is its pavements, which are paved with images of typical island scenes, such as windmills, sailing ships or ferry boats. Sights include the "Museum da Horta", the church "Igreja de Sao Francisco" with a museum of church history, the yacht marina with a panorama view of the island of Pico and the volcano of the same name.

Ponta Delgada is the port and the main city on the island of São Miguel in the Azores. The city, which has a population of around 30,000 is colourful and lively. The relatively small town with the historic centre is known for its pretty parks and small streets and squares. A stroll along the long waterside promenade or around the yacht marina is particularly enjoyable. Sights include: the parish church, the market, the regional museum with an exhibition on local culture, city gates dating from the 18th century.

In the West of Spain, ca. 30 km North of the border with Portugal on the South shore of an estuary lies the most lively and modern city in Galicia. Vigo has a population of around 300,000 and is one of the largest fishing ports in Spain. The city also has a varied night life with many bars, cafés and discos. Before the town lie the Cies Islands, which were designated a National Park and bird sanctuary in 1980. Sights include: El Castro, La Madroa, La Guia and the old town.

The second-largest city in Germany (with a population of 1.8 million) lies at the Elbe and Alster rivers. Due to its location, Hamburg has a dense network of waterways and has more bridges than even Venice! The Hanseatic city is one of the most important economic centres in Germany on account of the overseas port and the media and cultural centre. This city of contrasts has a highly developed entertainment culture that visitors can experience first hand in the legendary 'St. Pauli' area and in Hamburg's many music halls and theatres. The 1,200-year-old city is loved by culture-vultures and scenesters alike, and buildings with ultra-modern shops and bars are sprouting up all over the city between the traditional office buildings. Other attractions include: the "Michel", the entire port development, the "Jungfernstieg", the "Reeperbahn', the TV tower, Hagenbeck Zoo, the warehouse area "Speicherstadt", Mönckebergstraße, St. Jacobi Church and the fish market.