Brilliance of Italy, Spain & French Riviera

With 28 centuries of celebrated history, Rome holds the edge when it comes to unrivalled adventures. The city that sparked the world’s largest empire is very much alive today with a jumble of ancient ruins, world-renowned art and vivacious street culture. Here you can live ‘la dolce vita’, recalling the glory days of Ancient Rome and twirling forks full of pasta in a trattoria. Ride past centuries-old basilicas in a three-wheeled Ape Calessino, or stand in awe of paintings by Italian masters at Villa Borghese. Whether it’s Vatican City’s spiritual allure, Trastevere’s backstreet charms or the Colosseum’s embattled legacy – The Eternal City endures with endless adventures.

For Renaissance treasures, nothing compares. The Uffizi is home to Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Leonardo’s Annunciation – just to start. Add architectural icons like Brunelleschi’s Duomo, or the Baptistry with its Gates of Paradise.

Similar to ports of call like Portofino and Cinque Terre, La Spezia, and others, Santa Margherita is a coastal Italian dream just waiting for you to explore. Admire its sloping hillsides and olive trees in the near distance. Watch as fishermen pull their catches straight from the Ligurian sea onto your plate. Less flashy than Portofino but no less glamorous, Santa Margherita is a can’t-miss destination that embodies everything that coastal Italy is loved for.

On Italy cruises, Celebrity excursions make it easy to pick your perfect itinerary and maximize your time in port. You can also fly solo for the day if you want, drinking bellinis and eating pizza underneath an umbrella in the piazza. However you choose, Santa Margherita offers diving, swimming, and plenty of lounging available to make the dream of modern luxury ever so approachable.

Although originally called ‘Nakaia’, France’s Nice is as delightful as its name suggests to English speakers. Take a bus or taxi into Nice’s Old City to explore its history-spanning architecture and pristine French Riviera beaches with your Nice cruise. Or stick closer to Villefranche-sur-Mer, where your ship will dock, and take a day-trip to the mountaintop town of Eze. No matter how you spend your time in the de facto hub of France’s Cote d’Azur, you’ll enjoy the added benefit of being close to Italy, which means delectable pizza, fragrant espresso and the sounds of a second Romance language.

Start your Marseille adventure at the port, where fishing boats and yachts bob close to one another and the fish market Quai des Belges still sells the day’s catch. Then hop on the tourist train at Quai du Port for the steep climb to the neo-Byzantine Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde. Check out MuCEM museum to trace the first footprints of Mediterranean history, then relax beside the crescent-shaped colonnade and fountain at Palais Longchamp.

It’s easy to see why Barcelona is the most-visited city in Spain. As the capital of the country’s Catalonia region, this cityscape’s cultural mosaic pieces together a 2,000-year-old hodge-podge of sun-drenched beaches, cutting edge architecture and a world-renowned dining and drinking scene. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi left his modernist handprint all over the city, while medieval treasures linger in historic Gothic Quarter squares. Get lost in the whimsical gardens of Park Guell or savour a chef-led Catalan cooking class. Browse art collections dedicated to Picasso and Miro – or ride a cable car to the top of Montjuic Hill, relishing citywide views along the way.