7 Nights Western Mediterranean Cruise
I would advise you to fly the day before you ship is due to depart to avoid any delays and to start you journey stress free. Also this way you can experience a city break along with your cruise. As I had a late flight from Dublin to Barcelona I opted to stay at an airport hotel and went into the city the following morning to the Cruise port which is approx. 15kms away.
I cruised the Mediterranean for 7 nights from Barcelona on board Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas. On board I had an Ocean View cabin with balcony located on deck 8. I would recommend having an outside or balcony cabin, that way you can enjoy the sea views and see what the weather is like each day before you leave your cabin. Also when you have a balcony you can benefit of being able to sit out and relax when leaving the port, as the main decks up top can be busy.
The first day was a full day at sea which was great and allowed me to see and explore what the ship had to offer. There was a great choice of activities from a Rock Climbing Wall (for the brave), an ice skating rink, mini golf, and running track and Adventure Beach for families to enjoy. You can relax in the Spa or wander down the Royal Promenade with its shops and café’s or enjoy a cocktail at one of the many bars on board. As for the food, I was spoilt for choice with so many dining options. The Windjammer Café is a buffet open all day. There was a 1950 style diner Johnny Rockets and for something a little more special try Portofino’s and savour the fine Italian cuisine. The main dining room is also open for breakfast and dinner and this is where I ate most nights.
After dinner the nightly shows in the La Scala Theatre are world class or if you feel lucky you can try the Casino Royale. There is just so much to do on board and so little time to explore the ship when every morning you wake up in a new port with a new destination to be discovered.
On my itinerary the first port of call was Naples. From here you can visit Sorrento on the Amalfi coast, see the beautiful Island of Capri or visit the fascinating city of Pompeii. Our next stop brought us to the port of Civitavecchia the cruise port for Rome and you can visit Rome for the day. It is a good distance from the port so the best option is to take a tour to make the most of you day and see the many sights Rome has to offer. The Vatican, The Colosseum, The Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps and much more.
Day 4 We docked in the port of Livorno and from here you can choose to visit Florence or Pisa. I opted to visit Pisa after such a busy day in Rome and of course I went to see the famous Leaning Tower which surprisingly is smaller than I expected it to be. Day 5 brought us to the beautiful port of Villefranche and from here I went to Nice in the morning and after lunch by the promenade I spent the afternoon in Monte Carlo where you will see the rich and famous at the Casino Square, the marina with its yachts and stunning views and the Palais du Prince the home of the Grimaldi family.
Day 6 stopped in the port of Toulon. Here I enjoyed the day at the markets and exploring the city but you can also take a tour to Provence or Marseille.
You have a wide range or tours and excursions in each port which are best to book in advance to avoid any disappointment. On a cruise your journey can be action packed or relaxing the choice is yours and as you can see the options are endless. Cruising is truly for everyone and once you have experienced it you can’t wait to plan your next voyage of discovery on the seas.
Is this sounds like the holiday for you why not give me a call and together we can find you the perfect experience in the wonderful world of Cruise.