Santa Cruz in Tenerife, dates back to 1494 and has its own coat of arms for bravery, after it successfully repelled an attack by the British Navy led by Horacio Nelson in 1797.

With easy access from your Marella Cruise you can a stroll down Rambla de Santa Cruz, this beautiful avenue is over a mile long and is adorned with sculptures, flowers, shops and restaurants. Film buffs and nature lovers will definitely want to visit Teidi National park. This volcanic landscape was formed over  120000 years ago after a landslide caused by a an eruption from the Los Canadas Volcano. It has been the backdrop for countless films including, Clash of the Titans, Star Wars and the original Planet of the Apes.

The Mercado Municipal Nuestra Senora de Africa dates back to the 1940’s, here you will find  hundreds of stalls selling mainly fresh produce, coupled with bars and eateries with a Latin American feel.

Las Palmas is the capital city of Gran Canaria and dates back to 500 BC when it was inhabited by Canarii (this is thought to be where the Canary Islands got its name) from North Africa. Many European countries tried to conquer the island over the preceding years until the crown of Castile under Spains Queen Isabella the first was eventually successful in 1483.

Casa de Colon is the house explorer Christopher Columbus lived in and is now a museum, containing journals, portraits, drawings and items of his belongings.

If you fancy a day at the beach then head to Playa de Las Canteras. Winner of the best urban beach in 2023, as well as a lovely sandy beach there is also a palm tree lined esplanade that boasts restaurants, bars and shops. Las Palmas is also the  birthplace of Oscar winner and serial baddie Javier Bardem.

Vagueta is the old town of Las Palmas with cobbled streets leading you to buildings such as the Bishops Palace and the town hall that date back to the 1700’s, its around 4 miles from the centre of Las Palmas but its well worth the trip out.

Puerto del Rosario, is a bustling port town and capital of Fuerteventura. Beach lovers should make a bee line for Playa Chica, this fine sand 300 metre long beach is a popular haunt of the locals and has virtually no waves making it ideal for family fun and relaxation. There are also lots of  local amenities to keep you fed and watered throughout the day.

If you love churches and cathedrals then Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Our  lady of the Rosary) temple is a must, with  its beautiful white marble alter is worth the visit on its own. Fuerteventura is also a very popular location for blockbuster films including Solo a Star Wars story, the Brad Pitt war drama Allied and Wonder Woman starring Gal Gaddot.

Puerto del Rosario is also famous for its countless sculptures and statues that are dotted around the town.

Arrecife, is the capital of Lanzarote, and dates back to the early 1500’s, it gets its name from the black reefs where fishing boats used to hide behind to avoid pirate attacks. Arrecife in Spanish translates to reef.

Timanfaya National Park should be high on your list of priorities when visiting Lanzarote. This 20 square mile park is entirely made up of volcanic soil, and is the only national park in Spain that is entirely geological. The symbol of the park is El Diablo which translates to the devil.

Timanfaya like many of the Canary Islands is a popular filming location with many films using its rugged landscape to represent space or prehistoric times, the most notable probably being the Rachel Welch, 1 million years BC.

If you enjoy a beer then definitely visit Cerveza NAO, a craft brewery and pub located in the Puerto Naos fishing district where you can try, and see how their craft beer is made.

A  It may not be for everyone as you are on a cruise but a trip to the Temple Hall ship is definitely something a little different, the ship originally built in the early 50’s sprang a leak during a storm in 1981 and was beached to prevent it from sinking, there were plans to dismantle it in 2023 which have since been shelved so for some fantastic photo opportunities you need to see it well you still can.

Funchal is the capital city of the Portuguese island  of Madeira. Founded by the Portuguese navigator Joao Conclaves Zarco in 1420, Funchal was briefly under firstly Spanish and then British rule but has been under Portuguese rule since 1814, before 1420 Funchal was uninhabited.

Things to do include a visit to Monte Palace, a 70000 square metre area housing tropical plants from all over the world that is also the home of swans, ducks and hundreds of Koi carp. History buffs will love a trip to the Cathedral of our Lady of the Assumption, this gothic style cathedral is made from volcanic rocks carried from nearby Cabo Girao. The cathedral is only 88 years younger than Madeira itself.

Kids of all ages will love a trip to the 3D Fun Art Museum where you become the art, and a whale and dolphin watching boat trip is great fun too!

Funchal has lots of fabulous restaurants and bars but its probably most famous for its cable car and toboggan ride where you ride the cable car to the top of the village of Monte then ride back down the 2 km hill into Funchal on a 19th central whicker sledge, reaching speeds of 30 kmh, around 20 mph, you haven’t really visited Madeira until you have done this!

Last but not least, Funchal is also the birthplace of an up and coming footballer by the name of Christiano Ronaldo!

Another port you can enjoy on your Marella cruise is San Sebastian, is the capital of one of the smaller Canary Islands, La Gomera. It is the main port city and has a population of less than 10000 people. It is the port where Christopher Columbus famously set sail from in 1492, this voyage is where he discovered the Americas. The island of Tenerife is just a short ferry ride away and the Volcano Teide can be clearly seen from the port.

Torre del Condo Park is free to enter and explains all about the Spanish occupation of the island. It has a fortress in the centre of the park that dates back to the 1400’s. La Iglesia de la Asuncion church dates back to 1450 and has a mural depicting Columbus’s 3 ships which set off to America. All the ships were built in San Sabastian.

Splash Gomera offers scuba and snorkelling trips and lessons. Using excellent equipment you will definitely feel like you are in good hands if you book this adventure. Cycling and walking tours are also very popular in San Sebastian, but if you are looking for something less energetic there are E bike tours available too!

As you can see these ports offer such a diverse experience from your average cruise as each island has something very different to offer. Make sure you book your Marella cruise to the Canary and Atlantic Islands early as cruises to this part of the world are always very popular.

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