This voyage of discovery is similar to “Cultural Crossroads,” but differs in that its final six days are spent sampling the beautiful Atlantic islands of Madeira and the Azores. Begin your nearly two-week adventure with visits to Sicily’s Porto Empedocle and the Greco-Roman complex near Agrigento; the resort atmosphere of Cagliari, Sardinia; and historic Mahón in Spain’s Balearic Islands. Full-day excursions from Motril will also offer the opportunity to explore the Moorish wonders of Granada, and the cultural center of Seville from Cadiz.

Heading west through the Strait of Gibraltar, which has played a strategic role in battles fought to control the western Mediterranean seaways, the Andrea cruises to the Portuguese island of Madeira and the port of Funchal. This beautiful city sits at the heart of a natural amphitheater that surrounds the harbor with gentle slopes, rising to nearly 4,000 feet. Garden enthusiasts will love the gardens of Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro and, of course, the island’s famous wines have generated a following in England and America since colonial times.

The Azores offers a peaceful respite, separated from the bustle of the European continent by nearly 900 miles of ocean. Visit four of the archipelago’s nine islands—Sao Miguel, Pico, Faial and Terciera— with ample opportunity to explore their natural environs as well as absorb the old-world Portuguese culture and heritage that have thrived here since the 15th century.