Haifa claims to be one of the oldest continually-occupied spots in the world, and the archaeological ruins of bygone societies give this claim some credence. This part of the Mediterranean coast is also a slice of natural beauty, with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and plenty of wilderness… not to mention the religious significance of spots like nearby Nazareth and Galilee. Cruising to this port also lets you explore another contrasting hotspot of the region. That’s nearby Tel Aviv, a gleaming, secular metropolis known as a party capital of the Middle East that was also named the world’s most expensive city to live in.