By The Cruise Web, Inc.
Do you remember the first time you saw a rainbow? Do you remember your first crush? How about the first time you ever cruised? There is something special about the first time you experience something. It’s an experience that sticks in your memory.
Despite travel being an everyday thing for the cruise lines and their staff, there are still those special firsts to celebrate. The most impressive firsts are when a ship gets to visit a port for the first time. These are called maiden calls and in 2014 there are loads of them.
Here are some of those exciting first visits:
Africa
Crystal Cruises will visit Luanda, Angola on the West Coast of Africa. Luanda is the capital of this developing nation that lists Portuguese as its official language.
To Do:
- Tour the major sites in the city, including a monument designed by Gustav Eiffel and the San Miguel Fort which dates back to 1576.
- Discover the local goods at the Benfica Market where you can find handcrafted gifts.
Asia
0 Azamara Club Cruises will be visiting Maura, a port city in the Sultanate of Brunei, which is a located on the island of Borneo on the South China Sea. This island is famous for its riches.
To Do:
- See the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque with its marble minarets and gold domes.
- See the Water Village (Kampong Ayer), considered the Venice of the East, where more than 30,000 residents living in stilt houses.
0 Princess Cruises will make maiden calls at Japanese islands Ishigaki and Amami Oshima. These islands have a tropical feel with white sand beaches and palm trees.
To Do:
- Check out the Amami rabbit, a species native to the island that is believed to have existed here for 100 million years.
- Explore the local arts and crafts at the Oshima Tsumugi Pongee Village where the locals produce textiles dyed using plants and flowers from the area.
0 Viking Cruises will stop in Bagan on their new Memories of Mandalay itinerary. Bagan was a popular city for Buddhists from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The city had more than 10,000 temples, pagodas and monasteries.
To Do:
- Take in the site of the remaining 2,200 temples, pagodas and monasteries that are still standing and visit some of these ancient structures.
- Learn more about the Bagan Archeological Zone at the archeological museum.
Canada
0 Silversea will visit Trois Rivieres in Canada. Trois Rivieres is at the confluence of the Saint Laurence River and the Saint-Maurice River, which is split in two at its beginning by an island, hence the name, three rivers.
To Do:
- Learn some poetry. This city has plaques displayed throughout the city with poems and verses on them.
- Stroll through the old city for a relaxing and beautiful experience along the river.
Europe
0 Oceania Cruises will visit Antibes, a coastal town in France located between Cannes and Nice.
To Do:
- Visit the Picasso Museum. The artistic genius lived in Antibes and this museum has several of the works he completed while living here.
- Try some socca, which is a pancake made with chickpea flour and cooked in a wood-fire oven.
0 Norwegian Cruise Line will visit Valletta, the capital of Malta, which is an island nation off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean.
To Do:
- Visit the National Museum of Archaeology, which has prehistoric artifacts from the island.
- View the intricate baroque architecture at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, which also has collections of silk, gold and silver, amongst other treasures.
South America
0 Cunard Line will be visiting Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. This nation is probably most known for birthing the tango, the forbidden dance.
To Do:
- Attend a tango show and, with a glass of wine in hand, watch as Argentinians express their passion through the dance.
- Take a tour that recounts the history of Eva Peron, a beloved national figure who was the wife of the country’s leader, Juan Peron, in the 1940s. She was immortalized in the Broadway musical Evita.
South Pacific
0 Celebrity Cruises will visit Lautoka, a port in Fiji. This is the second largest city in Fiji and it’s known for its sugar cane.
To Do:
- Visit the Vitogo Village and Nadi Town to get an idea of Fijian history and traditions.
- Take in the beautiful beaches and blue water on a snorkel adventure.
Maybe you should make your maiden calls to these ports in the coming years too. To book a cruise going to one of these ports, simply call The Cruise Web to speak with an expert cruise consultant today!
The Cruise Web, Inc.
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