Red pillar boxes, fish-and-chip shops and creaky 1970s seaside hotels: Gibraltar – as British writer Laurie Lee once commented – is a piece of Portsmouth sliced off and towed 500 miles south. ‘The Rock’ overstates its Britishness, a bonus for pub-grub and afternoon-tea lovers, but a confusing double-take for modern Brits who thought the days of Lord Nelson memorabilia were long gone. Poised strategically at the jaws of Europe and Africa, Gibraltar, with its Palladian architecture and camera-hogging Barbary macaques, makes an interesting break from the white towns of bordering Cádiz province. Playing an admirable supporting role is the swashbuckling local history; the Rock has been British longer than the United States has been American.

Béal Feirste, meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford', is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. The site of Belfast has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The Giant's Ring, a 5,000-year-old henge, is located near the city, and the remains of Iron Age hill forts can still be seen in the surrounding hills. Belfast remained a small settlement of little importance during the Middle Ages. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland. It had a population of 343,542 as of 2019. Belfast remained a small settlement of little importance during the Middle Ages and was overshadowed by its more prosperous neighbours Derry and Drogheda, which were granted charters in 1604 and 1610 respectively. The original walls around Belfast became dilapidated, and in 1649 rebuilding began under James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton, who drew up plans for new fortifications around the town. Thomas Gwyther, a Scottish surveyor, was appointed to take charge of the work. The city did not greatly expand in size until the 18th century; it had only one parish church (Saint Anne's Church), two main streets and four smaller lanes by 1700. The city was surrounded by extensive farmlands and dense woods, which were strategically defended with a series of walls during the Siege of Derry in 1688. Civil war (1641-49) wreaked havoc on the town's population; it fell from a peak of 5,000 to 2569. In 1791, the first peace-time census recorded that Belfast had 14,965 inhabitants. The city began to prosper in the 18th century after it started to develop following the opening of Belfast Harbour in 1750. The harbour allowed ship traffic to travel between Belfast and cities on the English mainland; consequently industries developed along the banks of the River Lagan including shipbuilding, rope-making, tobacco and textiles. The increasing prosperity resulted in the construction of a number of grand houses such as Castle Buildings, Castlerock and Donegall Place. Belfast blossomed as a commercial centre with flourishing trade links across the Atlantic Ocean with America and Europe and became Ireland's pre-eminent city. ## Belfast as a Shipping port: Belfast harbour played a key role in the expansion of Belfast. Shipbuilding became one of the city's principal industries under the direction of Edward Harland and Gustav Wolff, who founded Harland and Wolff shipyards in 1861. By 1911, two-thirds of ships built on the River Lagan were commissioned for overseas trade. The shipyard employed experienced workers who had been attracted to Belfast by the promise of high wages and regular employment, many initially from Scotland. The RMS Titanic was built in Belfast at Harland and Wolff's Queen's Island shipyard. Launched on 31 May 1911, it is celebrated as one of the greatest ocean liners of all time. ## Belfast as a tourist attraction: The city is a popular destination for tourists. It has seen major redevelopment in the last two decades, including Victoria Square and significant work on Belfast City Hall, Queen's University Belfast, Ulster Museum and Belsonic music festival. There are numerous museums, a wide range of restaurants and West End theatre venues. The law enforcement agency OSNI has its main headquarters in Belfast and the city is home to Northern Ireland's largest brewery and biggest food processing sector. Tourism is an important aspect of the economy. ## Belfast for food and entertainment: Belfast is a multicultural city with long-standing religious, ethnic and political tensions. It has been awarded the European Capital of Culture 2018 alongside Glasgow. In 2016 Belfast was voted the UK's best city to live in by The Sunday Times newspaper. The Ulster Museum holds extensive collections covering natural history (botany and zoology), archaeology and modern art, while the Ulster American Folk Park is located on the site of an old linen mill in County Down. In summer 2006, a major programme of events and activities took place across Belfast's Waterfront to celebrate the city's 800th birthday in 17th-century style. The Cathedral Quarter's street festival has been another annual event since 2001. It involves two weeks of free music, food and entertainment. The city has hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards three times (1996, 1998 and 2002). Belfast launched its bid to become European Capital of Culture at the beginning of 2012 with an exhibition in Belfast City Hall entitled Heartlands: Art & Identity 1780–2010. The exhibition was judged the best in the competition by a panel of cultural experts. The city is home to many festivals including Culture Night which takes place annually on the first Friday of August, Tennent's Vital and Belfast Festival at Queen's both of which take place at odd-numbered years, and Belsonic music festival that used to take place on even-numbered years until 2015. The Odyssey Complex, which opened in 2013 hosts a wide variety of music concerts including Irish bands and international artists such as Taylor Swift, Madonna and The Rolling Stones. ## Belfast for foodies: Belfast has many popular restaurants situated on city centre streets such as Royal Avenue, Chichester Street, University Road and Dublin Road. Some of Northern Ireland's top chefs patronise these restaurants including Patrick Guilbaud (former head chef of the restaurant at The Dorchester in London) who owns Portaferry's in the Cathedral Quarter. Northern Ireland's only two Michelin starred restaurant, Eipic is a Belfast restaurant that serves French-inspired food. It was named Ulster Restaurant of the Year in 2014. Also in the city are many Indian restaurants which serve cuisine from all over India and Chinese, Italian and Mexican takeaways. Another favourite of tourists is 'The Golden Mile', which is the stretch of Belfast's Golden Mile from Sandy Row to Dublin Road which contains "The Crown Bar", an historic bar, said to be one of the oldest in Ireland.

Dining in Lisbon is far more dynamic than navigating countless preparations of Portugal's beloved bacalhau (dried and salted cod fish; 365 recipes and counting!). While bacalhau à Brás (shredded cod with onions, eggs and potatoes; a Bairro Alto original) is never far, Lisbon's strategic seaside position on Europe's doorstep means a bounty of fresh seafood (octopus, tuna, monkfish, shrimp, sardines, clams, snails) rules the city's kitchens, from Michelin-starred restaurants to gourmet-food markets to countless corner tascas (taverns). Top-grade Alentejan beef beckons with juicy steaks and gourmet burgers, and you'll find everything from tantalising Indian curries to authentic Moroccan couscous in between.

Whether you’re wandering among priceless works of art at The Met or the MoMa, tucking into a slice of famous New York-style pizza in Little Italy, catching a performance of your favourite musical on Broadway or enjoying a picnic in scenic Central Park, New York City brims with countless ways to fill your days with wonder. But did you know that the Big Apple also serves as a portal to some of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the Caribbean and along the coasts of New England and Canada? Just a quick car ride away you’ll find the bustling port of Cape Liberty, home to some of the most incredible ships in the Royal Caribbean NY cruises fleet. Not only is it the perfect starting point for cruises to sun-soaked Bermuda, The Bahamas and other exotic shores in the Caribbean, including the newly revamped Royal Caribbean private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay – it’s also where you’ll catch cruises from NY to the picturesque port towns that line the rugged Northeastern coastline all the way to Canada, like Bar Harbour, Halifax and Quebec City. Whatever holiday spot tops your bucket list, you’ll find the perfect cruise out of New York to get you there. Sightseeing in Manhattan excites and amazes like nowhere else – and every neighbourhood presents a fascinating, unique personality. Tour the Rockefeller Centre and catch a show at Radio City Music Hall. Walk the High Line and soak in the urban buzz of Times Square. New York cruises allow you to experience it all – by tour bus, train or on foot. Stand amongst skyscrapers on one of New York’s scenic observation decks. Admire Central Park from the open-air Top of the Rock. Enjoy twinkling evening views from the top of the Empire State Building. Or venture 104 floors up to the One World Observatory in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

Miami is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state – and the world. While it is often said that a destination has something for everyone, the Miami area does indeed have something for everyone: South Beach's fashionable nightlife is complemented by the Art Deco district's eye candy. The hustle and bustle of Calle Ocho, as well as the high-octane vitality of Little Havana. Miami Beach's opulent hotels and Coral Gables' historic hideaways The calm, personal attention provided by the family-owned shops of Coconut Grove and many other parts of the area seem to be endless shopping opportunities in new, sprawling malls. Deep-sea fishing, golf, and tennis all beckon. Football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are all played in the major leagues in Miami. Auto racing and boat displays. Outdoor food and wine extravaganzas, as well as art festivals. The world's busiest cruise port and an international airport. Visit Greater Miami and the Beaches for more detail.

Regardless of whether you are visiting Dubrovnik for the first time or the hundredth, the sense of awe never fails to descend when you set eyes on the beauty of the old town. Indeed it’s hard to imagine anyone becoming jaded by the city’s limestone streets, baroque buildings and the endless shimmer of the Adriatic, or failing to be inspired by a walk along the ancient city walls that protected the capital of a sophisticated republic for centuries.

San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital and largest city, sits on the island's Atlantic coast. This 500-year-old capital is a dream come true for anyone interested in history. It was the Spanish who settled in San Juan first making it their new home base in the New World. Spanish influences can be seen to this day with fortress walls running along the stunning coastlines and colonial buildings lining the streets. Take a walk around the old town to explore the 16th-century landmarks including El Morro and La Fortaleza, massive fortresses with stunning of the Paseo de la Princesa bayside promenade. Explore out from the old town and nature takes hold . You can escape high into the jungled mountains of El Yunque Forest, or just keep to the bases of the mountains and take a horse ride. If despacito is more up your street then just pick one of the many spotless beaches and let the world pass you by (with the obligatory Rum in your hand). San Juan cruises offer you everything from a fast paced or relaxing holiday.