Bon Voyage!

If I didn’t convince you that cruising might be right for you in this previous post, read on to learn about our EPIC European adventure! We started out in Barcelona, visited 7 countries, and tacked on a few nights in Paris at the end! Contact me to book YOUR Mediterranean holiday!

Itinerary: 12-Night Mediterranean Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas

• Barcelona, Spain
• Cannes, France
• Livorno (Florence and Pisa), Italy
• Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
• Athens, Greece
• Kusadasi, Turkiye
• Santorini, Greece
• Valetta, Malta

Barcelona, Spain

At the time of writing, there are protests against tourists in Barcelona. Its not that they hate tourists, its that they hate obnoxious groups of tourists following a tour guide with a flag and microphone headset a-la Britney Spears, occluding the side walks and being obnoxious. They hate that hotel prices are going through the roof because of all the AirBnBs and VRBOs. As a result, the mayor plans to ban apartment rentals by 2028. There are protests all over Spain against mass tourism.

This makes you think about the impact of travel on the world. Tourism and travel bring revenue to so many places and is a big part of many families’ livelihoods. But too much of a good thing can harm towns, islands, and tourist sites. This is another reason I don’t like “big bus” travel. How can we minimize our impact as we explore the world? Look up specific tips for your destination before you go- Chat GPT can be super helpful. Here are some general guidelines:

Tourists can significantly minimize their environmental, cultural, and economic impact while traveling by following principles of responsible and sustainable tourism. As I started writing this section, I realized it needed its own post, so I took a break from this one and wrote a post about responsible tourism which you can read here. 

As for Barcelona, check the temperature (literally and figuratively) of this city before you go. If you do decide to make Barcelona part of your trip, consider the following:

1. Book a hotel rather than an AirBnB or VRBO. The crux of the problem is that all the apartments for rent in the city are driving up rent prices for everyone else. You can help the majority by patronizing hotels instead.
2. Consider exploring on your own, with a guide, or with a very small, nondescript group. Blend in. Be an observer. I think this is the best way anyway, but especially in these over-touristed places. The locals don’t want people rolling in like a steamroller and destroying their cities and historical monuments. Ease in… look around. Wear neutral clothes- don’t wear your Birkenstocks, socks, and Hawaiian shirt with your neck fan. Think chic, European. Avoid being a little ducky following your umbrella-wielding guide like a zombie.

We stayed in Barcelona for two nights prior to our Mediterranean Cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas. We chose to stay at the Cotton House Hotel, which is part of Marriott’s Autograph collection. This charming hotel was about a 15 minute walk from La Rambla and a 30 minute walk to La Sagrada Familia. If you walked straight to Park Guell, it would take you about an hour, but you could incorporate that park into your wanderings and it wouldn’t feel that long.

The subway in Barcelona is excellent, and if you fly in, you can take it straight from the airport. Be aware of your surroundings- like anywhere, pickpockets are opportunists and will grab your phone or wallet if it is readily available. Here’s the TMB website– download the app for easy navigation.

One thing Spain is famous for is its tapas- I highly recommend doing a tapas tour.  You’ll try pastries, cheese, small bites, and paella, all the time learning about local life and history. If you are staying a while, do this early on so you can get recommendations for restaurants and activities from a local.

This cruise was round-trip from and back to Barcelona- when we returned, we had booked a day tour of the city with Barcelona Day Tours, which I highly recommend. Our guide picked us up at the cruise port, showed us lots of Gaudi architecture, gave us a primer on the history of the region, and dropped us off at the airport.

My son, hubby, and I took a flight on Veuling to Paris… I’ll tell you about that in the Paris section 🙂

Embarkation

The cruise port in Barcelona is currently the largest in the Mediterranean, but there are plans to decrease the size by 2030 due to overtourism. At the time of writing (August 2025), a cab will only cost you about 20 Euro, and this is probably your best bet to get to the cruise port.

Check your cruise documents or app to determine which terminal you’ll be leaving from. Most ships leave from the cruise port at Moll Adossat (Terminals A–E, H, and future G), with smaller ships using the World Trade Center (WTC) port.

It seems like every time we cruise, procedures are slightly different and typically more efficient. There are always people guiding passengers to where they need to be, so just pay attention, have your passports and cruise documents ready to show, and start walking. Different cruise lines have different procedures, but a few things are pretty standard.

Print your luggage tags ahead of time IN COLOR. I like to use these luggage tag holders to be sure my tags don’t rip- this could result in lost or delayed luggage. When you arrive at your port, porters will take your bags and you won’t see them again until later that afternoon/evening. Tip $1-2 per bag. Be sure to pack whatever items you’ll need for that day in your carry on, but don’t overload it. Pack your swimsuit, maybe a sundress, and some toiletries to freshen up… we usually get our bags before dinner, but you never know!

After the porter takes your bags, you’ll pass through a series of checkpoints. You may need to provide a credit card for onboard charges if you haven’t already added one to the app. You’ll show your passport, boarding pass, have your photo taken for your onboard ID, and likely fill out a form or two.

You’ll send your bags through a scanner like at the airport, although they don’t care about liquid sizes… unless you are talking about alcohol or sodas. Most cruise lines will allow you to bring a few cans of soda and a bottle or two of wine, but that’s it. In my experience, most allow bottled or canned water. In any case, check your specific cruise line’s requirements. Keep in mind they do change from time to time, so check even if you’ve cruised before.

There is usually a station for an embarkation photo. Get the photo! You are not obligated to purchase it, but you may want it!

Onboard the Ship

If it’s your first cruise, prepare to be amazed! Whether you are walking onto a small, elegant Azamara ship or a megaship like Symphony of the Seas, your first look will probably surprise you. Soaring ceilings, elegant or flashy decor, shops, restaurants… it really is amazing what humans can build (and what they can destroy, but we aren’t talking about that here). I still get a little giddy every time I board a cruise ship…

Insider tip– if you embark before 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon, your stateroom will probably not be ready, There are big, plain looking doors that block the hallways. These doors are opened only when the cabins are ready. Find the location of cabin and try that door… if it is not locked, you may be able to access your room. Most cruise lines place your room key, which also serves as your onboard payment and ID, in an envelope on your door. Drop off your carry-on, use the toilet, and change into your swimsuit. Don’t dilly dally, though… your room steward has a job to do! Take your room key with you so you can have a welcome drink as you orient yourself to the ship!

Now is a great time to have lunch. Most people head for the buffet, and that is fine. But, if you want a more comfortable, elevated experience, you may be able to have lunch in a specialty restaurant. Check your app before you embark and see what’s available. There are often non-specialty restaurants that most people don’t know or think about. For example, on Oasis class ships on Royal Caribbean, head for Park Cafe. You can sit in Central Park and enjoy their famous roast beef sandwich, It really lives up to the hype!

I like to set up my room as soon as possible. I fully unpack so I can relax and find things easily. Packing cubes help greatly, as I just pull them out and put them in drawers or on closet shelves. Large toiletries go in the over-the-door organizer (disclaimer- this doesn’t fit all doors). I use the items on my cruise packing list to decorate and organize my room.

This time, we had booked a two-bedroom family suite. We got a great deal, and we wanted to share a space and have access to full suite amenities. So, embarkation was especially easy. We followed the signs for suite customers and were escorted to a private embarkation lounge, where we sat on comfy couches and took care of the details. We boarded quickly and headed to the Concierge Lounge, where we had snacks until our room was ready at 1:00.

We had booked an aft corner suite, stateroom #7672. The living room was spacious, with a sleeper sofa, chairs, coffee table, dining table for 4, and a TV. The Main Bedroom was large and very nice, with an upgraded bathroom, double sinks, and a bath tub. The second bedroom was like a small inside cabin, with just enough room for a bed (2 twins pushed together), bedside tables, a TV, and a closet. There were bunks up top that folded down, but we didn’t use them.

Our son slept on the sleeper sofa. The aft balcony afforded views of the ship’s wake as we left each port. *note- aft balconies often have issues with soot… ours did, but it was no biggie. Overall, we loved the suite. It was nothing fancy, but we loved sharing the common areas with our family.

We chose to dine in the Main Dining Room most nights. We enjoy this aspect of cruising which seems to be dying… we enjoy having the same waiters and getting to know them. It adds another level of service when they know your name and preferences, and it is fun getting to know them a little bit. I think its good for their tips too…

The seas were rough. Even our waiter seemed to be feeling ill. We all started experiencing a little seasickness, so we headed to bed early.

Cannes, France

After a rough night at sea and little sleep, we headed out to explore Cannes, France on our own. Part of our group hung out on a small beach next to the pier. My husband, son, and I walked to the train station (about a 15-20 minute walk), where we purchased our tickets at the kiosk with a credit card. The small, charming town of Antibes was only 3 stops away. This restored medieval village was small and walkable, and there was a popular beach by the harbor below.

We enjoyed lunch of crepes and galettes at a little sidewalk cafe and walked around the little town, doing a little shopping and taking photos.

This was a rather quick stop, so we headed back to the ship for a poolside nap, followed by dinner and music by Carl at the British Pub.

Livorno, Italy: Florence and Pisa

We often like to order room service on port days to make the morning a little easier. Room service usually arrives on time or a little early, so be prepared!

We had booked a tour with an old friend, Andrea, who had showed Sara and me around Tuscany a few years prior. I HIGHLY recommend using his company, Tuscany Experience Tours, for a personalized, affordable, unique tour with a local.

Florence

Florence was about a 2.5 hour drive from the port. Be aware that this is very common. If you see that your cruise port is listed as one place and the more well-known place is in parentheses, the well-known place will likely take a while to get to. Good tour guides will provide water, but bring comfort items like neck pillows, earbuds, snacks, etc if there is a long drive.

The drive was gorgeous- through the verdant hills of Tuscany, by castles and vineyards, all while getting a history lesson from Andrea. He showed us around the city, driving through the gates, across the Arno River, past Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, which is the dome of Florence’s Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore). Don’t miss the “Gates of Paradise.” There are 3 sets of bronze doors to the baptistry across from the cathedral. Michelangelo nicknamed the East Doors, created by Ghiberti, “The Gates of Paradise” because of their beautiful depiction of ten scenes from the Old Testament.

He dropped us off at the Galleria del’Accademia (The Accademia for short), where Michelangelo’s David holds court. You walk down a hallway lined by Michelangelo’s unfinished work- I loved this part, because it looked and felt like he was carving and chipping away at the marble to release the figures trapped inside!

Insider Tip- Purchase tickets for the Accademia ahead of time! The line was really long when we were there…you can also get tickets for other sites in Florence at this site.

We drove up the hill to the Plaza de Michelangelo for the best views of the city- get your iconic instagram photos of the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and all the terra cotta roofs of the city. There’s a bronze statue of David here, which has taken on a green tinge over the years, as bronze is wont to do.

We had limited time in Florence, but there are several other important sites (in addition to the ones briefly mentioned above) you should see if you have time. One of my favorite museums is The Uffizi. You can see iconic works such as Spring and The Birth of Venus by Botticelli (my second favorite artist next to my Dad), and various pieces by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and so many more! This may not be doable on a one day cruise stop, but visit some time!! Read more about Florence here.

Lucca

We drove to Lucca, a small Tuscan walled village with an intact central square. Puccini, composer of La Boheme and Madame Butterfly, was born here, and the Summer Music Festival is held here. Past musical guests have included Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Queens of the Stone Age.

After lunch at Trattoria de Leo and gelato in the town square, we headed off to Pisa.

Pisa

Pisa was an interesting place. It didn’t look real from a distance. The tower only leans 4-5 degrees, but it is definitely significant! The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa sits on the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), which also includes the cathedral, baptistery, and cemetery. It was very clean, with a manicured lawn and sparkly white marble buildings. I got a kick out of tourists doing their forced perspective photos, where they appear to hold up the tower. They looked like some sort of strange flash mob doing the thriller dance…

We really packed a lot into this day! Message me if you want to set up a tour with Andrea!

Civitavecchia, Italy: Rome

Rome is about a 2 hour drive from the port of Civitavecchia. I cannot recommend our tour provider, as the driver was late and hard to find. He had supposedly set up private guides for us at the Colosseum/Roman Forum and the Vatican, but he screwed up the first one and we ended up on one of those awful group tours where the guide carries a flag and wears a microphone, leading tourists around like little duckies. We broke off from the group and made up our own historical stories to explain what we saw. We made the best of it and had fun.

The Colosseum is impressive and interesting, but I really loved the Roman Forum. It is basically the ruins of the capital city, and I enjoyed seeing where day to day life occurred. Our guide took us by Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo in Italian) is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium located in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills in Rome. It was the largest stadium in ancient Rome, capable of holding over 150,000 spectators, and was primarily used for chariot races, as well as public games, religious festivals, and entertainment.

The remainder of our tour took us to the Mouth of Truth, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. 

The Vatican

The morning left a bit to be desired (due to the guide and organization of the tour, NOT the sites or the city), but the tides turned when we met our guide, Chiara, at the Vatican. She was a licensed Art Historian employed by the Vatican and she knew her stuff! She shepherded us through closed doors and velvet ropes, making us feel like celebrities and giving us a true “insider’s tour” of the Vatican Museum. We saw halls of sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and maps. After each stop, she’d say in her charming Italian accent “You like???”

The best was yet to come- the Sistine Chapel. A hush fell over the crowd as we entered this sacred space. We all craned our necks toward the ceiling to gawk at another of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, the famous Sistine Chapel Ceiling. The ceiling and walls of the Sistine Chapel are actually a conglomeration of pieces. Some notable works include Adam and Eve, the Creation of Adam, and The Last Judgment.

*Insider Tip: Gawk, but be aware! Keep your wallet and phone in your front pocket or somewhere else were you can keep your hand on them. Pickpockets love to take advantage of the distracted tourists and phone and wallet snatchings are common here!

The conclave where cardinals vote in the new pope is inside the chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica was spectacular. Named after the first pope and built upon his burial ground, this is the largest church in the world. Its dome is prominent in the Roman skyline and was designed by Michelangelo. Here you can also see his Pieta, directly to the right as you enter through the Holy Doors. It is a marble carving of Mary holding Jesus’ lifeless body after the crucifixion. The centerpiece of the nave is a massive bronze altar designed by Bernini.

The Swiss Guard is like the Vatican’s very own squad of colorful superheroes — decked out in bright striped uniforms that look straight out of a Renaissance fashion show! Since 1506, these Swiss recruits have been the Pope’s personal bodyguards, making sure he stays safe while also looking seriously silly. They’re small in number but big on tradition, blending ancient armor vibes with some serious “don’t mess with us” attitude. Think of them as the ultimate blend of history, honor, and eye-catching outfits!

That’s about enough for one post… Need personalized travel recommendations? I can help! Comment below or message me directly! Here’s a link to my Facebook to make it easier.

Come back next time to hear about our ports in Greece! Santorini is amazing, but is it really the best cruise port?