www.fredolsencruises.com 131Date Arr Dep DestinationCruise highlightsMINI CRUISESRouen OvernightSails from: Southampton Thu 13 Fri 14 Sat 15 Sun 16 SouthamptonRouen, FranceRouen, FranceSouthamptonPMlate amearly pmAMDeparts 13 December 2012 3 nights from £299 per personBlack Watch W1220One of the attractions of Rouen's Christmas Market is the choice of French specialities on offer, including cheeses, cider, lavender, olives and wine from BordeauxRouen is a beautiful city: feel the magic of Christmas by standing on a bridge over the River Seine, to marvel at the floodlit buildings and decorated streetsRouen, FrancePlease also see pages 162 & 163 for details of cabin grades. W1220balcony suitesoutside twininside twinoutside singlePSMSSSBSDSJSBCABCDEFHIJB JKLMN 969 Prices per person from £789 729 609 559 539 529 489 459 449 399 379 359 329 299 869 769 669 569 509 499suitessuperior twininside singleCabin gradesbalcony twinbalcony singleThere will be a coach service from Dover to Southampton at the beginning and end of this cruise.Date Arr Dep DestinationCruise highlightsFrance's Christmas MarketsSails from: Portsmouth Sun 16 Mon 17 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thu 20PortsmouthCherbourg, FranceRouen, FranceRouen, FrancePortsmouthPMlate nightearly pmearly amearly amAMDeparts 16 December 2012 4 nights from £429 per personBoudicca D1226In Cherbourg, visit the submarine Redoutable in the Cité de la Mer Museum, which also has an impressive aquarium and maritime exhibitionEnjoy Rouen's traditional Christmas market, held in the old market square - and don't miss the open-air ice-skating rinkCherbourg, FrancePlease also see pages 160 & 161 for details of cabin grades. D1226balcony suitesoutside twininside twinoutside singlePSMSSSBSDSJSBCABCDEFHIJB JKLMNPrices per person from £ 1,389 1,199 1,069 949 869 779 749 689 639 629 559 539 509 459 429 1,229 1,139 1,089 949 749 719suitessuperior twininside singleCabin gradesbalcony twinbalcony singleDate Arr Dep DestinationCruise highlightsCruise highlights include optional tours which are bookable from six weeks prior to departureAmsterdam & BelgiumSails from: Southampton Amsterdam, NetherlandsFri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 SouthamptonOstende, BelgiumAmsterdam, NetherlandsDoverPMlate pmlate pmearly amearly amAMDeparts 22 March 2013 3 nights from £329 per personBraemar M1306Visit Ostende's Historical Museum, housed in the former summer residence of the Belgian royal family and packed with interesting exhibits, including a fisherman's home and an old tobacco storeOstende's Fort Napoleon was not completed until his empire fell in 1814, so it never saw action: recently refurbished, it's now an interesting museumPlease also see pages 158 & 159 for details of cabin grades. M1306balcony suitesoutside twininside twinoutside singleSSBSDCBABCLAABCDEFGHIJB JKLMNPrices per person from £ 849 759 669 609 579 539 519 499 489 439 419 389 379 359 329 959 889 789 709 579 559balcony twinsuperior twininside singleCabin gradesbalcony single

xx - xx132 Telephone 01473 742424 or contact your travel agentCultures of the AdriaticAbu Dhabi, UAEA long-established trading port - the area was first settled in the Bronze Age - Abu Dhabi was transformed by the discovery of oil into a stunning modern city of gleaming skyscrapers. Capital of the Emirates, it is now a cultural and commercial hub, with stunning buildings, exciting traditional souqs, and long white beaches. The well preserved Al Maqtaa Fort is over 200 years old, and an important reminder of the city's past. It was built, in pale sandstone with ornate wooden carvings, to protect against invaders. The Grand Mosque is a fabulous structure, the third-largest in the world, with over a thousand columns and 80 marble domes, while the oldest building in the city, the Qasr Al Hosn Palace, is magnificently decorated with traditional tiles.Acajutla, El SalvadorEl Salvador's main seaport, Acajutla, is the exit route for most of the country's exports of coffee, sugar and balsam. Once a Mayan village, it was the site of the Battle of Acajutla between the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado and an army of Pipiles, an indigenous people. The ruins of the village are near the present-date port and are worth seeing for an insight into Mayan culture.Acapulco, MexicoOnce the playground of movie stars such as Judy Garland, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, Acapulco has lost none of its vivacity: it's still alive 24-hours a day. Spectacular mountains framing miles of golden beaches and a gloriously warm, blue sea simply add to the appeal. And there is plenty to see here apart from the nightlife. The well-preserved Fuerte de San Diego is now home to the fascinating Acapulco Historical Museum, while its ramparts offer panoramic views out over the town and its bay. Also well worth seeing are the spectacular plants and flowers in the University's Botanical Garden, which has a shaded footpath climbing through a tropical forest.Probably the one must-see for visitors is the cliff divers of La Quebrada: here, young men plunge 40m into waves crashing into a tiny bay. XXXAgadir, MoroccoNow Morocco's main beach resort, Agadir was rebuilt next to the ruins of an ancient town destroyed in an earthquake in 1961. All that remains of the ancient Kasbah - built in 1540 - are the fortified walls on a hill to the north of the bay. Take a local bus to view the ruins and for the views down over the memorial park, created where the medina used to stand. On the wide, modern boulevards there are plenty of cafés and restaurants, but for the sights, sounds and smells of the old town, visit the old port, with markets selling fish, fruit, vegetables and spices. The Musée Municipal is interesting for insights into the pre-earthquake history of Agadir and to learn about the Berbers, the original inhabitants of Morocco. Ajaccio, CorsicaAjaccio grew up around a fortress - citadelle - which sits on a peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean. It was once part of the republic of Genoa, and Genovese influences can still be seen in Ajaccio. The big name is, of course, Napoleon, whose statues are everywhere. The house where he was born can still be visited, although he chose not to be buried on Corsica, and there are a couple of Napoleon museums as well. He was baptised in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which was finished in 1593, and is dedicated to Ajaccio's patroness, known locally as La Madunuccia - the Madonna.As in many Mediterranean cities, it is the old town which holds most attractions for the visitor. A collection of narrow streets, with small shops, bars and cafés, it is full of interesting buildings to see and visit. On Rue Cardinal Fesch, there are lots of interesting boutiques and charming cafés, while the Musée Fesch has collections of paintings by French, Spanish and Italian masters. Akureyri, IcelandAlthough it's only 60km from the Arctic Circle, Akureyri's location, protected by mountains, and sitting at the end of one of the longest fjords in Iceland, makes the climate surprisingly mild. Winter temperatures rarely go much below freezing, and in summer they reach a balmy 25°C. Hardly surprising that one of the highlights is the world's most northerly botanical garden. It covers almost four hectares and has virtually every native plant, as well as about 4,000 foreign specimens. The cultural centre of the town is "Listagil" - Artists' Alley - where former industrial buildings have been converted to museums, studios, cafés and restaurants. During summer months it is home to the Listasumar arts festival, with day-long events and performances by artists from all over Europe. Some of Iceland's most famous writers have lived in Akureyri and several of their houses can be visited. Best known is Nonnihouse, with exhibits on the life and work of Jón Sveinsson - known as Nonni. Aalborg, DenmarkThe waterfront of this long-established seaport has recently been redeveloped thanks to Jørn Utzon, who grew up in the town. Utzon designed Sydney Opera House, and his iconic style is reflected in the breathtaking Utzon Centre. Rather than one monumental building, this centre for art, architecture and design is built as a series of pavilions around a sheltered courtyard. Another great Scandinavian architect, Alvar Aalto, designed the stunning Museum of Modern Art, with its clear glass façades that create an abstract landscape parallel with the hill behind. Aalborg traces its history back over a thousand years, and these modern buildings provide a delightful contrast, with well preserved medieval landmarks such as the 14th-century cathedral of St. Budolf and Aalborghus Castle, dating from 1539. Aalborg Tårnet is also worth a visit: a 55m three-legged steel tower, it was built in 1933 but dismantled and re-erected in 2005. There's a restaurant on top, with an observation platform giving splendid panoramic views over the Limfjørd waterway and the surrounding area.Ålesund, NorwayIn January 1904, Ålesund was virtually destroyed by fire, which left 10,000 people homeless. Yet within three years, thanks to the efforts of local people and a team of young Norwegian architects, the town had been completely rebuilt. These artists created what is now one of Europe's marvels, an art-nouveau epic of towers and turrets, ornaments and balconies, steeples and spires. The imaginative and colourful buildings make the town an astonishing visual experience which draws visitors from all over the world. The national Art Nouveau Centre (Jugendstilsenteret) is well worth a visit for its insights into this unique style. It's also good to walk through the pedestrianised stre ets, enjoying the art galleries, diverse shops and lively restaurants and cafes. Independent visitors shouldn't miss the Atlanterhavsparken, one of the biggest aquariums in Scandinavia, where you can see every kind of marine life up close.ABU DHABI - ÅLESUNDPorts of CallThe information within the Ports of Call pages includes a brief description for all calls in our 2012/13 programme, for the key destination(s) for each port. These give a taste of what can be enjoyed when ashore and can be used to help guide your cruise choice, or decide what to do in each port for your chosen itinerary. The descriptions include places that can be visited independently and/or on organised shore tours. Opening hours for attractions will vary and, as a cruise can call on any day of the week, some facilities may not be open when a ship calls: this will depend on local operation. The descriptions were written far in advance of the 2012/13 cruise programme operating. While the information was thoroughly researched and checked, details may be subject to change at any time, which is beyond the control of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.