QUEBEC to CASABLANCA
It should be noted that these projected routes are determined by the time of year and the ship which is chosen. At our current date and with the ship laying in Canada, this is the currently planned route. Changes will be noted as soon as they are determined. Having said that...
The beginning or what we like to refer to as the preproduction slash delivery segment begins in Montreal, Canada. This preamble is a fixture of each episode and usually consists of us sailing from the previous episode location to the next episode location. All along the way we stop and meet people in the smallest of settlements, share food and music and stream those interactions in real time to the world. The content is also recorded and edited to be included in the upcoming episode as the "adventure" segment. Our epic journey begins on the Great Lakes of Canada in Toronto, where modern skyscrapers stand alongside historic landmarks, and the city's music scene ranges from classical symphonies to cutting-edge indie bands. We savor diverse cuisines, from gourmet poutine to international fusion dishes.
Next, we return to Montreal, where the vibrant blend of French and English cultures is reflected in everything from traditional bagels and smoked meat to contemporary jazz festivals.
In Quebec City, we stroll through cobblestone streets filled with historic charm and indulge in Quebecois delicacies like tourtière and maple syrup treats, accompanied by the city's traditional folk music and modern performance arts.
Halifax offers a taste of the East Coast's maritime culture, with fresh seafood and Celtic music creating a lively atmosphere.
St. John's continues this theme, adding its own rugged charm and local specialties like Jiggs' dinner.
At L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, we explore the most southern Viking settlement on Earth, a place where ancient history and Norse culture come alive. From there, we head north to retrace the Viking routes, sailing eastbound from North America from Labrador to Greenland and Iceland, navigating the North Atlantic Ocean while dodging icebergs and marveling at the Northern Lights.Landing at the Faroe Islands, we encounter dramatic landscapes and unique culinary traditions, such as fermented lamb and fresh seafood, all set to a backdrop of local folk music.
We then journey south to the Scottish Hebrides, where Gaelic culture thrives amidst stunning scenery, and traditional Scottish music and dishes like haggis provide an authentic experience.In Edinburgh, we immerse ourselves in the city's rich history and vibrant arts scene, enjoying Scotch pies and modern Scottish cuisine, along with contemporary music and theater performances.
Sailing north again to the Shetland Islands, we explore Viking heritage and lively folk music traditions before heading west to Bergen and Oslo in Norway. Here, we delve into Scandinavian culture, sampling Norwegian delicacies like rakfisk and brown cheese, and experiencing both traditional and contemporary Nordic music and art.Our voyage continues to Gothenburg and Helsingborg in Sweden, where we enjoy Swedish cuisine from smörgåsbord to cinnamon buns, and explore the country's design and music scenes, blending the old with the new. In Denmark, we visit Skagen and Copenhagen, relishing the innovative New Nordic cuisine and the city's vibrant arts and music offerings.
We then travel to Kiel and Hamburg in Germany, cities with rich maritime histories and vibrant cultural scenes, where traditional German dishes like bratwurst are enjoyed alongside modern culinary innovations. Amsterdam in the Netherlands enchants us with its artistic heritage, picturesque canals, and sweet stroopwafels, all set to a soundtrack of both classical and contemporary Dutch music.
In the UK, we visit London and Portsmouth, experiencing the rich history, diverse culinary landscape, and iconic music scenes, from afternoon tea and fish and chips to rock concerts and classical performances.
Bordeaux, France, offers world-renowned wines, gourmet cuisine, and a blend of classical and modern art and music. Bilbao and Cadiz in Spain enchant us with tapas, flamenco, and modern art museums, showcasing a vibrant mix of the old and the new.
Our Iberian adventure includes Lisbon, Portugal, where we enjoy fado music, pastel de nata, and the city's stunning architecture.
From Lisbon, our bow turns southward, slipping past the golden Tagus River into the open Atlantic, where centuries of Portuguese explorers once set forth. The coast offers a calm rhythm as we trace it toward Cadiz, Spain — a city believed to be Europe's oldest, where Phoenician walls still stand, and flamenco echoes through sun-bleached alleyways. Here, Atlantic and Mediterranean cultures meet over tapas, sherry, and carnival drums.
Continuing onward, we approach the Pillars of Hercules — ancient sentinels at the gate of myth and memory, straddling Europe and Africa. We sail through the Strait of Gibraltar, narrow and deep, where strong tidal currents and heavy shipping lanes demand attention. Off to port, the Rock of Gibraltar rises like a fortress, steeped in history, politics, and wild Barbary macaques.
Once through the strait, the waters calm and warm. Along Spain’s southern edge we find Malaga, Picasso’s birthplace, a coastal jewel where Moorish architecture, contemporary art, and seafood markets coexist in the Mediterranean sun.
From there, we skirt the coast to Murcia, less visited by sea but full of agricultural richness and Moorish legacy. Its port town, Cartagena, offers Roman theatres and naval history beneath warm ochre cliffs.
Leaving the mainland behind, we sail toward Ibiza, far more than a party isle — a UNESCO World Heritage site with Phoenician roots, whitewashed villages, and quiet pine-covered hills where traditional music and cuisine still echo among the olive groves.
Next is Palma, capital of Mallorca, where Gothic cathedrals face out to sea, and Mallorcan music and sobrasada sausage are paired with local wine under terracotta roofs. The Balearic breeze carries us onward.
Finally, we cross to the mainland again, landing at Valencia, a city of orange blossoms and architectural contrast — from medieval towers to the futuristic curves of the City of Arts and Sciences. Here, paella is not just a dish, but a ritual, and music spills out from plazas late into the night.
From Valencia, it is a gentle day’s sail northward along the Costa Dorada to reach Barcelona, our next major port of call, where this Mediterranean segment of the journey truly finds its crescendo.
Barcelona, Spain blends ancient Roman ruins with the architectural wonders of Gaudí, where we sample Catalan cuisine like pa amb tomàquet and seafood paella, all to the sounds of street musicians and modern Spanish jazz echoing through the city’s lively plazas.
Leaving Barcelona, we ease northeast along the rugged Costa Brava, where Catalan cliffs meet cerulean sea. The first stop is Portbou, just shy of the French border. Known for its massive train yards and as a historic smuggler’s crossing, Portbou carries a weight of exile and passage — most poignantly marked by the memory of philosopher Walter Benjamin, who died here fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. The railway hums just above the harbour, a reminder of how close — and how far — borders can feel.
Just around the bend is Cerbère, France’s southernmost rail stop and one of Europe’s rare coastal cemeteries that overlooks the sea. The town’s train tunnels and terraced homes seem to lean into the cliffs. The cemetery above the port gazes forever west, a stark and beautiful place of quiet remembrance. This is not a tourist town — it is a place that holds its stories in stone and salt.
From Cerbère, we sail into the Gulf of Lion, following the Roussillon coast toward Perpignan. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, Perpignan pulses with Catalan pride, Moorish architecture, and the scent of roasted peppers and anchovies. Musicians play in the shade of medieval arcades, and the city's pace feels more Mediterranean than metropolitan — a perfect crossroads of France and Spain.
We press north to Narbonne, once a thriving Roman port now miles inland from the sea, connected by canals and memory. The Canal de la Robine curves through town like a vein of history, and Roman ruins rest beside boulangeries. Here, the sea still influences life — through oysters, salt, and the distant cry of gulls — even if the shoreline has crept away.
Further along is Montpellier, a city of intellect and contrast, with one of the oldest universities in Europe and a kinetic mix of students, artists, and scientists. The coastline here flattens into wetlands and lagoons, dotted with flamingos and fishing boats. We dock at the marina in nearby Palavas or Sète, where seafood markets open early and the music scene is a blend of jazz, gypsy, and electronic.
From Montpellier, we curve southeast, hugging the Camargue’s shifting deltas and salt flats until we reach Marseille — ancient, layered, and alive — where our next major episode begins.
Marseille, France is not just France’s oldest city — it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centres in all of Europe, founded by Greek sailors from Phocaea around 600 BCE as “Massalia.” Over the centuries, it has stood as a critical Mediterranean port through Roman rule, the medieval period, the rise and fall of empires, and into the modern age. This long history is reflected in every corner of the city — from ancient Greek ruins tucked beside bustling markets to Romanesque churches, Islamic influences, and 19th-century boulevards echoing with colonial past and postcolonial complexity.
Today, Marseille is a place where Provençal tradition meets cosmopolitan dynamism. The city’s cuisine is shaped by centuries of immigration — North African, Armenian, Italian, Comorian — resulting in dishes like couscous royale, pieds paquets, and of course the legendary bouillabaisse, best enjoyed on the waterfront at the Vieux-Port. Its music scene is equally diverse, spanning French hip-hop, rai, folk, and Mediterranean fusion. In the narrow, winding streets of the Panier district or the vibrant Noailles neighbourhood, culture is lived loudly and without pretense.
With its sun-drenched limestone cliffs in the Calanques, modern art installations in repurposed grain silos, and a fierce local pride that transcends stereotypes, Marseille is a city of resistance, reinvention, and remarkable beauty — raw, ancient, and utterly alive.
From Marseille, we sail east to Toulon, a deep naval harbour with a long maritime legacy, where Provençal culture meets military history and seafood markets line the quay.
Crossing to Ajaccio, on the island of Corsica, we explore the birthplace of Napoleon, where Genoese towers overlook turquoise coves and Corsican polyphonic singing drifts through the old town.
Heading north, we stop at L’Île-Rousse, a sun-drenched village framed by red granite cliffs and calm waters, with a quiet charm that feels untouched by time.
From Corsica, we reach Capraia, a small volcanic island in the Tuscan Archipelago, once a prison colony, now a sanctuary of rugged coastline, wild herbs, and simple island life.
We sail on to Portoferraio on Elba, where Napoleon once ruled in exile. The island’s hills are dotted with vineyards, and its harbours echo with centuries of seafaring.
Making landfall at Santa Marinella, we step briefly ashore to trace the Via Aurelia to Rome — the Eternal City — where ancient ruins, modern life, and centuries of cuisine converge.
Returning to the coast, we stop at Ostia, once the great port of Imperial Rome, now a quiet archaeological site where Roman streets still lie beneath the dust.
Further south, Anzio welcomes us with its wartime history, fresh seafood, and a laid-back fishing-town rhythm.
Finally, we sail into the Bay of Naples, beneath the shadow of Vesuvius. A city of chaos and poetry, Naples offers street music, ancient stone, and the world’s most famous pizza — the perfect place to end this leg of the journey.
Naples, Italy is a vibrant city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, where we explore Neapolitan music and taste the birthplace of pizza, while delving into deep traditions of opera, street performance, and family-run eateries passed down through generations.
We depart Naples, sailing south along the Campanian coast to Sorrento, perched high on cliffs, where lemon groves and mandolins fill the air, and the sea glows sapphire below.
Continuing down the Tyrrhenian coast, we pass San Bartolo, a quiet harbour nestled in tradition and natural beauty, a lesser-known gem along the Italian shore.
Rounding the toe of Italy, we cross into the Strait of Messina, where ancient currents churn between Sicily and the mainland. We pause in Messina, where myth, architecture, and resilience meet.
Further south, Syracuse invites us into its timeless streets — a city of ancient Greek theatres and quiet Mediterranean nights, where history and cuisine layer beautifully together.
We sail to Malta, a stone citadel rising from the sea — full of Crusader echoes, golden harbours, and a fiercely unique culture forged from centuries of contact and conquest.
Next, Palermo greets us on Sicily’s north shore with chaotic elegance — bustling markets, Arab-Norman architecture, and food that tells stories of every empire that passed through.
Crossing westward, we reach Cagliari on the southern tip of Sardinia, where Roman ruins and narrow alleys open to sweeping sea views and the scent of grilled fish in the air.
From there, we head south to Tunis — or Tinus, as it is dear to us — a personal stop full of friendship, warmth, and the shared joy of music and memory. This moment is ours alone.
Sailing along the North African coast, we call at Tabarka, a fishing town known for coral, jazz festivals, and the golden light that settles on its fortress island.
Then to Annaba, where Algerian hospitality and history greet us, and to Collo, a coastal hideaway framed by mountains and forest, where quiet villages look out over endless sea.
We arrive in Algiers, whitewashed and rising from the water — a city of poetry, resistance, and rhythm — where North Africa truly begins and the next chapter opens.
Algiers, Algeria greets us with its whitewashed Kasbah and echoes of Andalusian music. We savour dishes like couscous and brik, while engaging with the rich blend of Arab, Berber, and French influences that define this historic city by the sea.
Departing Algiers, we sail west along Algeria’s rugged coastline toward Oran, a city steeped in Andalusian music and known as the birthplace of raï. The streets pulse with rhythm, and the scent of cumin and grilled lamb drifts through its boulevards.
We continue to Ghazaouet, a quiet harbour town near the Moroccan border, known for its sardine fleets and sunbaked tranquillity — a place where time slows and the sea takes over.
Crossing into Morocco, we reach Nador, nestled on the lagoon of the Mar Chica. This coastal town is a gateway to the Rif mountains, where Amazigh traditions endure and modern Morocco meets deep heritage.
Sailing further west, Tétouan appears beneath the Rif foothills — a white city with strong Andalusian roots, its medina a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with tilework, music, and handwoven textiles.
We round the headland to Tangier, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and the city’s long legacy of artists, spies, and storytellers still lingers. The kasbah walls whisper of exile, jazz, and poetry.
From there, we turn southward to Rabat, Morocco’s capital — refined, historic, and full of contrast. French colonial boulevards blend with ancient kasbahs, while street musicians echo along the boulevards of the Oudayas.
At last, we sail into Casablanca, a port city modern and mythic, where the call to prayer blends with jazz and ocean wind. It is here that our first season’s arc concludes — in the shadow of the great Hassan II Mosque and at the edge of the open Atlantic.
We arrive in Casablanca, the final harbour of Season 1 — where art deco buildings face the Atlantic and the towering Hassan II Mosque anchors the skyline like a sail carved in stone. But the journey does not end here. With the ship safely moored, we head inland, drawn by the rhythm of Morocco’s interior.
First, to Marrakech, where labyrinthine souks, street musicians, and rooftop cafés blend centuries of Berber, Arab, and French influence. We share stories over couscous and mint tea, and music spills from every square, every doorway, every drumbeat echoing into dusk.
Then we make our way to Agadir, a coastal city rebuilt from the earth after the 1960 earthquake — a place of resilience and sunlight, where Amazigh traditions meet surf culture, and where we catch our breath before the final climb.
We turn inland one last time toward the High Atlas Mountains, where stone villages cling to hillsides and the wind carries ancient songs across terraced valleys. Here, the pace slows. We listen. We learn. We rest.
This is where Season 1 ends — not at the edge of the sea, but in the stillness of altitude — looking both backward at what we have discovered and forward to what still waits, just beyond the horizon.