Mediterranean Coastlines & Greek Isles

Touch down in Barcelona with three nights ahead of you before the ship even leaves port. Settle into your hotel, then head out for an early dinner in one of the tapas bars around the Gothic Quarter to shake off the flight.

A full free day to shape however you like. Art lovers can spend the morning at the Picasso Museum tracing the artist’s early years, while anyone chasing views can ride the cable car up Montjuïc for a look back over the city and harbour. If you’d rather keep it simple, the beachfront at Barceloneta is an easy option for a slower pace, with plenty of seafood restaurants nearby for lunch.

Gaudí’s work is the drawcard today, though how deep you go is up to you. Sagrada Família rewards a proper visit, especially inside where the stained glass floods the nave with colour, while Park Güell’s tiled terraces make for an easy add-on if you’ve got the energy. Prefer to wander without a plan? El Born’s boutiques and bars are a good alternative for an afternoon spent at your own pace.

Embarkation day. Check out of your hotel and make your way to the port to board Mariner of the Seas, where twenty nights around the Western Mediterranean and Greek Isles await. Take some time this afternoon to find your way around the ship before sail away, the pool deck, the Royal Promenade and dinner options are all worth scoping out early.

Mallorca’s capital packs Gothic grandeur and beach time into one stop. Palma Cathedral dominates the skyline from the water, its stone spires backed by a light-filled interior partly redesigned by Gaudí in the early 1900s. Inland a little, Castell de Bellver’s circular courtyard and Moorish-influenced arches are worth the walk, especially with the surrounding pine forest for shade. If the weather’s on your side, Palma Beach is an easy ride from the port for an afternoon on the sand.

Toulon trades glamour for a working port town’s charm, backed by the natural harbour that’s made it home to the French Navy for over five hundred years. The cable car up Mont Faron takes six minutes and delivers a proper view over the city and coastline. Down at street level, Cours Lafayette’s produce market is worth a wander for the smell alone, thyme, oregano and pastries straight out of the oven, and the Musée de la Marine covers the city’s naval history if that’s your thing.

Your ship docks at Villefranche-sur-Mer, a postcard harbour town in its own right and a short trip from Nice’s Old Town. In Nice, expect a mix of architecture spanning centuries and Riviera beaches that live up to the reputation. Closer to the ship, the hilltop village of Èze is an easy day trip and gives you sweeping views over the Mediterranean. Either way, you’re close enough to the Italian border to pick up decent espresso and pizza before you’re back on board.

Livorno is your gateway to two of Italy’s biggest drawcards. In Florence, the Uffizi holds Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David, and Brunelleschi’s Duomo dominates the skyline from almost anywhere in the city. If Pisa’s more your speed, the Leaning Tower and the wider Piazza dei Miracoli make for an easy half day. Both are reachable by train from the port, so it’s worth deciding in advance which one gets your time.

A full day at sea between Italy’s Tuscan coast and Sicily. Take a dip in the pool, book a treatment at the spa or line up a go on the FlowRider before the crowds hit. It’s the easiest day of the whole cruise to do absolutely nothing, which after four ports in a row is exactly the point.

Catania sits at the foot of Mount Etna, and you’ll know it from the moment you spot the volcano looming over the city. Piazza del Duomo is the place to start, home to the Fontana dell’Elefante and Catania’s ornate cathedral. Just off the square, La Pescheria fish market runs hot on weekday mornings, seafood restaurants ring the edges and the noise alone is worth the visit. If you’ve got time, Etna day trips run up to the lower slopes for a closer look at the volcano itself.

Salerno puts the whole Amalfi Coast within reach for the day. Along the modern seafront promenade there’s a decent coffee to be had, or you can head further afield to Pompeii and climb Vesuvius, the volcano responsible for burying it. If you’d rather stay on four wheels, the coast road out of Salerno winds past some of the steepest cliffs in Italy, with the water a long way down and a different view around every bend.

Rome earns its reputation as one of the world’s great cities, and a day is never quite enough, but it’s enough to get a real taste. The Colosseum and the Roman Forum cover the empire’s rise, Vatican City covers its spiritual weight, and Trastevere covers what Roman life actually feels like on a Tuesday afternoon. If you want something more offbeat, a ride through the old town in a three-wheeled Ape Calessino is a fun way to cover ground between the big sights.

Back on the Amalfi Coast for a second look, this time with more room to explore beyond Salerno itself. Head along the coast road to Positano, where pastel houses stack up the cliffside above the water, or take the winding route to Ravello for garden villas and sweeping views over the Bay of Salerno. Closer to the port, wander Salerno’s medieval quarter and stop for a coffee in Piazza Sedile.

Another sea day, this one bridging Italy and Greece. With Mykonos and Santorini coming up, it’s a good time to slow down: a long lunch at one of the ship’s restaurants, an afternoon by the pool or a wander through the shops on the Royal Promenade.

Famous for its whitewashed streets and windmills overlooking the Aegean, Mykonos rewards a bit of aimless wandering. Get lost in the narrow lanes of Chora, where bougainvillea spills over every doorway, then find your way to Little Venice for a drink as the waterfront houses catch the afternoon light. If you’d rather swim, Psarou and Paradise beaches are both a short taxi from port.

Santorini’s caldera views are the reason most people put this island on their list, and they hold up in person. Ride the cable car up from the port to Fira for whitewashed streets clinging to the cliff edge, or head further along to Oia for the island’s famous sunset over the water. Between the two towns you’ll find local wineries making the most of the volcanic soil, worth a stop if wine’s your thing.

Athens puts thousands of years of history within easy reach of the port. The Acropolis and Parthenon sit above the city and are worth the climb for the views alone, while the Ancient Agora below gives a sense of everyday life in classical Athens. Back at sea level, the Plaka district has narrow streets, tavernas and small shops that make for an easy wander before you head back to the ship.

The last sea day of the Greek leg, heading back west toward Sicily. Catch a show in the theatre, try your luck in Casino Royale or just find a deck chair and enjoy the last of the Mediterranean sun before Messina.

Messina puts you within reach of Taormina, perched high on the cliffs with views across to Mount Etna on a clear day. Its Greek amphitheatre, the Teatro Greco, still frames the same coastal views it has for over two thousand years. Back in Messina itself, the Norman cathedral and its astronomical clock are worth a look if you’d rather stay closer to port.

Your final full day at sea before Barcelona. Make the most of what’s left of the ship, whether that’s one last swim, a final dinner at a specialty restaurant or packing early so tomorrow’s disembarkation is one less thing to think about.

Disembarkation day, and the end of the road for this one. If you’re not ready to go home yet, ask your Cruise Travel Advisor about extending your stay in Barcelona or building in another stop on the way back.