I can't say enough about this wonderful itinerary; two stops in , three ports in round trip from Barcelona .  Each of these countries is part of the European Union, thus eliminating customs and immigrations throughout your entire cruise.  Another added benefit is that all of these countries use the Euro; therefore, eliminating the need for several different currencies.  

Once we had completed our check-in and pre-boarding paper work we headed straight for our room.  I was excited to see it -- I had secured an aft cabin on the  ship.  If you've ever had one of these you know that the balcony is twice as deep as a standard balcony, and it was.  Our cabin steward introduced himself in a very timely manner and agreed to find me a lounger for the balcony.  Marcelo was great!  Always with a "hello, how was your day?"

The Splendour of the Sea is part of the Radiance class of ships.  While it is somewhat smaller than it's sister ships, 1,800 passengers, it does come equipped with the rock climbing wall and mini golf course.  The Splendour is about 9 years old with its last refurbishment in 2001.  This ship features a 2-story dining room that offers two early and late seating for a total of 4 seating times. 

Enough about the ship what I really want to tell you about is the ports.  As mentioned earlier this ship embarks and disembarks from Barcelona .  Barcelona is one of 's more cosmopolitan cities.  There is so many cultural attractions it's impossible to do it all in one or two days.  On this trip we returned to the mercato off of Las Ramblas.  This is one true slice of Catalonian life.  Stall after stall with merchants selling everything from produce, cheese and meats to the olive stands and candy stalls.  Imagine being able to buy a whole leg of Seranno ham for $60!  If only we could bring it back home.  The Splendour calls on Marseille and Villefranche for either Monte Carlo or Nice.  While in Marseille we traveled by bus to the Cathedral Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde.  Since this was Sunday we were able to attend mass during our visit.  Afterwards we enjoyed a downhill walk back to the port area.  The street vendors were starting to close up for the day; we quickly scanned those that were left!

Our plans for Nice were mapped out before we ever left the states.  We used the train system to get us into Nice and then walked to the Chagall museum.  This particular museum houses his biblical works.  The imagery and use of colors dramatically allows one to experience the artist's passion for his subject.  We ended our day with a walk to "Old Nice."  Once again we immersed ourselves in the local customs while visiting with Charlene and Rob. ( I know of a great apartment in Old Nice if you ever want to rent one!)

I thank Charlene for suggesting the quiet, delicious lunch spot we dined at.  The local custom is to drizzle a spiced up olive oil on your pizza.  Try it sometime its decadent.  Also, not to be missed is the Gnocchi in Gorgonzola sauce -- delicious!

Ports-of-call for include Livorno , the gateway for Florence and Pisa , Cititavecchia, for Rome and Naples .  When in each of these ports advance planning will offer the traveler the most during one's day in port.  In each port we negotiated a car for the day.  Prices vary depending on the port, or more accurately the mileage involved.  But, we found it the most economical means when considering our custom schedule.

First up is Livorno where we traveled to both Florence and Pisa .  When in Florence you must see the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistry of Saint John and, of course, the statue of David.  No trip would be complete with out a shopping trip along Ponte Vecchia.  If you shop carefully great prices on gold jewelry can be found.  However, we really came here to see the Roman artifacts.

I don't know where to begin when describing Rome .  There is so much to see and explore; St. Peter's Square and Cathedral, Castel Sant' Angelo, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon and that's only what we were able to see.  Besides the visual impact that Rome gives one the emotions that come through can be overwhelming.

Our last port was Naples .  Once off the ship we headed straight to Pompeii .  This is another destination that moves both the mind and soul.  The engineering feats are enough to awe you, but it's the excavated remains that can move you to tears.  The surprise, the panic and the pain are so evident you can virtually imagine yourself there that fateful afternoon.

After experiencing the ruins we traveled back to Naples for the Archeological Museum .  Here is where the actual relics are displayed where as casts are used within Pompeii .  The ruins span several acres and could take up to a week to fully explore.

Our last day was spent on-board enjoying all this ship has to offer; as mentioned earlier there's the rock climbing wall and mini golf.  We took a Salsa dance lesson, played in the Casino, relaxed by the pool and enjoyed cashing in our "ship shape dollars" (SSD).  SSD's are earned when you participate in select activities; among others walk-a-mile, aerobics, stretching class, and various sports tournaments all earn you SSD.  On this trip we earned a Royal Caribbean backpack and key chain.

The last day is always the saddest.  We still had another day in Barcelona , but the pampering and convenience that a cruise offers is hard to leave behind.  We took our time in disembarking which, in hindsight, was not the best decision that morning.  While we were able to grab our bags and run we walked into a cab line that was at least 100 yards long and a 45 minutes wait.

Once at our hotel we checked in and dropped the bags we were off to Cortes Engles, one of 's main department stores.  I can't say I bought much; between the exchange rate and VAT, bargains are hard to come by.  Still we did load up on traditional cookies to bring home.

This was a trip that leaves you wanting more.  Rome wasn't built in a day and therefore, you can't see it all in a day.  Of course, this holds true for each port we visited.  We returned home knowing that we needn't waste that coin in Trevi Fountain; someday we will be back.

Several cruise lines offer a Mediterranean itinerary; most cruises to this area are 10+ days and usually one way (perhaps starting in Barcelona , but ending in Athens ).  Our 7-day round trip itinerary is one of a few in that category.

Summer is a very crowded season for Europe .  It's best to visit in early summer since most of Europe holidays in August.

For more information on travel, accommodations and dining within , or please call Kathy at 610-269-8997.