71-night Continental Grandeur Voyage

Penang, or more properly Pulau Pinang, is the northern gateway to Malaysia and also the country’s oldest British settlement. To the tourist industry, Penang has been marketed for a long time as the Pearl of the Orient. Although Penang is best known for its beaches, there is much more here than just sand and sea. The island is considered a cultural and architectural gem with Chinese, Malay and Indian influences. Other sights include St. George’s Church - built in 1818 of classic Georgian architecture; Penang Hill - a 2,500-foot hill with a splendid view over Georgetown; Botanical Gardens - the 74-acre landscaped gardens featuring many indigenous and exotic plant species, a waterfall, jungle-clad hills and two species of monkeys, the macaque and dusky leaf monkeys; Golf Courses - The Bukit Jambul Golf & Country Club is located on Penang Island, and other golf courses in Province Wellesley on the mainland are the Penang Golf Resort and Bukit Jawi Golf Resort.

Mangalore is located in India's Karnataka region, strategically situated in a hilly area between the Western Ghats and the shores of the Arabian Sea. Visitors to Mangalore learn about India's ancient caste system, which is still very much intact. The people are also extremely spiritual, as evident in their many temples and religious traditions. Mangalore contains remnants of Tippu Sultan's naval fort.

The volcanic peaks of the Cape Verde Islands appear like stepping-stones across the Atlantic. Porto Grande on Sao Vicente boasts a charming waterfront area where the pace is pleasantly slow and the people friendly.

Puerto del Rosario is the cultural center of the Fuerteventura region. A sprawling promenade along the coast with benches, outdoor art and fitness equipment lines the scenic shoreline. Relax and sit, watching the boats come and go from the marina while enjoying ice cream or resting from your walk. At the end of the path, find Playa Blanca and the Puerto del Rosario beach, with soft sands and opportunities for surfing. In town, you'll find white-washed homes, Nuestra Senora del Rosario church and the museum dedicated to the writer Miguel de Unamuno. Further afield, you'll find several nature reserves.

Located beneath the coastal hills of the sun-warmed shores of the Andalusian coast, midway between Malaga and Almeria, ancient Motril is a seaport and thriving beach resort that has drawn Phoenicians, Romans and Moors during its long history. Visit beautiful churches, Carchuna Fortress and the 16th century Casa de la Palma. This Andalusian city is gateway to Granada and the famed Alhambra, located inland at the foothills of the former capital to the Caliphs and Almoravids, which is 40 miles away.

Alicante is located on Spain’s Costa Blanca in the Levant Region, along the country’s southeastern coast and is a tourist resort and commercial port. The region is marked by lush mountain ranges. During the Gothic era of the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries centuries, art and architecture flourished in Alicante and the remainder of the Levant Region. Immense palaces and grandiose churches were built with elaborate baroque details. Visitors can see a third century BC fortress - the citadel of Santa Bárbara built by ruler Amilcar Barca, a Carthaginian, Arrabal Roig - the old quarter, the Baroque town hall (1701-60), the Church of Santa María (14th century), and the Renaissance church of San Nicolás de Bari (18th century).

Castellon de la Plana is a charming city full of history and culture on the east coast of Spain. A majority of the best historic monuments in the city can be found around the Plaza Mayor, here the cathedral with its 190 foot bell tower (El Fadri), was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Other sites worth visiting are the Convento de Capuchinas, the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes and the Museo Etnológico de la Diputación .Castellon de la Plana also offers some prime beaches just north of the harbour area.

Mahon is a town known since antiquity for its natural harbor. Its coastline includes beautiful natural coves, rocky cliffs, and long beaches. Menorca is an open-air museum with archaeological remains giving evidence of Mediterranean cultures of thousands of years ago. Traces of English rule remain, especially in the design of tall houses with sash windows overlooking the harbor. Watersports are most popular of the wide range of leisure activities available. Sail boat rentals are available at numerous beaches and a golf course is located in Son Park. Menorca was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993 - an acknowledgement of the island's environmental importance and artistic and cultural heritage. Santa Maria Church, located in Plaza de la Constitucion, was founded in 1287 and rebuilt in neo-classical style in the 18th century. Its 19th-century organ is one of the world’s largest, with 3,004 pipes. Sa Mesquida and Cala del Pilar are the two best beaches.

St. Raphael is located along the French Riviera, in the southern part of the country of France. This destination offers a variety of beaches which include both rocky and sand beaches. Diving and snorkeling are both favorite past times of visitors as the marine life and young coral are beautiful in this area. There are many luxury accommodations along the Riviera as well as oceanfront restaurants which make it a great vacation spot for those looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Bastia’s industrial sprawl is offset by its aged charm. The presence of overwhelming Italian character adds to the city’s attraction. Two distinct areas comprise the city: Terra Vecchia, the old quarter with its haphazard streets and flamboyant Baroque churches, and the more orderly Terra Nova, representing the administrative core of old Bastia. The city’s origin can be traced to a settlement established by the Romans just south of Bastia. The Genoese put this port on the map as the island’s capital for four centuries and a base from where local wine was shipped to the Italian mainland. They built a fortress, or bastiglia, from which the town took its name. The Genoese laid the foundation for the area’s prosperity, which it has managed to retain.