The best trade route is Athens (Art) - Istanbul (Carpet).. it's similar to the UW1, where the best trade route is actually very close to each other (naples - pisa i believe in the 1st game). And also there're 2 ports that can make the Full-Rigged Ship (aka the ultimate ship).. one is antwerp, the other is in hamburg. Also, i know that there's some place that offers ultimate ship guns.. even better than cannons.. it has the power of cannons, and range of culverin.. i don't remember the exact name, i think it's carronades or something. Does anyone have infos on this guns whereabouts? Thanks