Western Mediterranean on NCL Escape Rome to Barcelona

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Advisor - Cameren Croel
Curated By

Cameren Croel

  • Europe

  • Arts & Culture

  • Beaches

  • City Travel

  • Cruises

  • History

  • Foodie

  • Sightseeing

An aerial view of a bay with boats parked on turquoise blue water and green mountains surrounding it.
Curator’s statement

Europe is a MUST-DO for anyone who enjoys travel! From historic cultural sites, pristine beaches, incredible food and world-class shopping, there is something for everyone. Taking a cruise vacation to Europe is much less stressful than a traditional land vacation. You need to pack and unpack far less (one to three times depending on pre and post-trip plans). Most of these itineraries are very port-intensive, where you can fall asleep in one place and wake up the next day in another.

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Insider knowledge

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Where to stay

Golden Tulip Rome Piram

Golden Tulip Rome Piram is a sophisticated hotel in central Rome, offering elegant accommodations, a rooftop terrace, and proximity to iconic landmarks.

Unlock perks by contacting Cameren to book your trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Rome

St. Peter's Basilica, an ornate church with stone pillars and a blue dome, during daytime with birds flying above.

This is a travel day. Flights from the USA are 8-16 hours and a day of rest is highly recommended. After clearing customs and border protection, proceed to ground transportation and meet your NCL representative, who will pair you with a partner shuttle driver or load you on a bus. Arrive at your hotel and check in, if you are fortunate, your room will be ready and you can relax and reset your internal clock!

Day 2: Explore Rome

View of the Colosseum from below under an overcast sky.

I highly recommend booking a tour for this day, reach out to your travel advisor for recommendations.

Day 3: Transfer to Civitavecchia

A photo of he NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) ship on the open sea at sunset.

An NCL representative will meet you in the lobby and you'll board a bus for the 90m drive to the port. Here you'll board the cruise ship and settle into your stateroom. Typically, lunch can be found on the Lido Deck and sailing normally starts around 5 pm.

Day 4: A Day at Sea

An aerial photo of the cruise's pool deck full of people enjoying swim-up bars, water slides and various lounge areas.

Explore your floating hotel!

Day 5: Dubrovnik, Croatia

View of Dubrovnik Old Town, an old town on the water with stone buildings with orange roofs.

Make your way to Pile Gate via taxi or organized transfer. Then a must-do is the old city walls (if you are in good enough physical health) there are 1,080 stairs of varying heights and conditions. After the 1.5-mile walk around the old walls, check out Buza Bar along the Southwestern Wall, save your legs and walk to the south end of town and circle back around on the graded walkway versus climbing the steps on the side streets. Here you can step into a literal "hole in the wall" and if the bar is open enjoy a beer with breathtaking views of the sea. After fully experiencing the old town, head to the north side of the city and board the waiting cable car to the top of Mount Surj. Atop the mountain, you can enjoy incredible views of the city below, rent an ATV for some mountain treks, or have lunch in the overlook lounge

Day 6: Corfu, Greece

The Old Fortress of Corfu is a Venetia Fortress on top of a hill floating in the middle of the water.

The hop-on hop-off tour of the city is perfect for a day on the second largest Greek island.

Day 7: Messina, Sicily

Mount Etna's peak on a partially cloudy day with fog rolling in over the peak.

Visit Taormina and Mount Etna. Birthplace of the cannoli.

Day 8: Naples, Italy

A fresh Italian pizza with cheese, pepperoni and basil sprinkled on top.

Fresh mozzarella and a margarita pizza in the birthplace of pizza are must-do's.

Day 9: Florence and Pisa via Livorno

The Leaning Tower of Pisa and a white marble cathedral to the left of it on a gloomy day.

Dock in the industrial port of Livorno and bus to Pisa. Visit the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa and get peer pressured into taking a silly photo. Continue on to Firenze (Florence) and marvel at the ancient buildings and shop for some handmade leather goods.

Day 10: Cannes, France

An aerial photo of a harbor within the enchanting French Riviera on a sunny day.

The little train right from the pier is the best way to see this enchanting city in the French Riviera. Playground of the rich and famous and home to the world renowned Cannes Film Festival.

Day 11: Ibiza, Spain

A woman walking along a street and window-shopping at upscale shops in Ibiza, Spain.

Playground of Europe and a must stop for any members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pristine beaches and water sports during the day, world famous nightclubs in the evening. Most of the shops along downtown are focused on fashion to ensure that club goers are dressed in the latest and greatest for an unforgettable night of dancing.

Days 12 & 13: Palma de Mallorca and Disembarking

Castell de Bellver, a sand colored stone fortress is renowned for its unique circular design and panoramic views of the city and bay.

Day 12: Explore the capital city of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community in Spain.

Day 13: Board the bus to either the airport or hotel if a post-trip is booked.

Advisor - Cameren Croel

Travel Advisor

Cameren Croel

Get in touch with Cameren

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This itinerary is part of our ongoing series on travel to Europe. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my itinerary, Hidden Gem Cruise to Canada.