Sailing Through Europe

SAILING THROUGH EUROPE
By Christine Arnold

My husband Scott and I enjoyed a fabulous cruise from Rome to Barcelona. We had an outside cabin (a balcony cabin is even better) and saw some of our favorite European cities from a whole new perspective. There is nothing like sailing into a port to truly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of a city. Everything looks better from the deck of a world-class cruise ship while sipping a morning cappuccino or an evening cocktail.

The great thing about cruising through Europe is that you get to see the sights of a different city every day, and the ship sails to its next destination while you are sleeping. No awkward time spent traveling between cities, a relaxing meal and entertainment after a long day of sightseeing, and best of all-you only have to unpack once!

We flew into Rome on British Airways, took a taxi to the port city of Civitavecchia, and stayed overnight on board the ship. The next day we spent the day exploring this historic city with its many monuments, squares, fountains, shops and enticing restaurants. There were several shore excursions available, but we had been to Rome on our honeymoon so chose to tour on our own.

After a fabulous dinner and a Swiss entertainer playing the saw (seriously), we sailed to Naples. We had a great day touring the ruins of Pompeii with a guide, which really enhanced our experience. Most ships now have a policy allowing you to dine when you want to, instead of the strict dinner seating of the past. They also have a choice of several restaurants which lets you try different cuisine and styles of food. Wine was very fairly priced and if you don't finish the bottle, they will bring the reminder to your table at any of the restaurants the next night.

Sailing on to Livorno (near Florence), we toured the medieval walled city of Lucca, saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa and checked out the port city of Livorno. We bought lots of local olive to bring home. I originally meant to use it for gifts, but instead decided to keep it all for myself. The next port was Corsica, a beautiful island famous for it's fragrant herbs and fresh local seafood.

We then went on to Marseille to tour the historic harbor area of this major seaport on the coast of France and also visited nearby Provence. We enjoyed Aix-en-Provence and its wonderful markets and shops. On to Nice to enjoy the glamour and charm of this playground for the rich and famous. We drove to Monaco and Monte Carlo and visited the enchanting village of Eze, nearly unchanged since medieval times.

From there it was on to Palma de Mallorca, a gorgeous island off the coast of Spain. World renowned for its sandy beaches, mountain scenery and quaint villages, this was one resort island that I would plan a vacation around. It was so peaceful and lovely it made us feel like we never wanted to leave.

Our last stop was Barcelona, a marvelous city from the Gothic Quarter to the Picasso museum to the fantasy buildings of the architect Gaudi. A wonderful place to stroll and people watch.

Next time you think of Europe, consider a cruise! Let the superb service and the casual elegance of a luxury cruise ship set the tone for the vacation of your dreams!

About Christine

Christine Arnold is the Sales Manager at Classic Travel and has been with the agency since 1993. She has a degree in Travel and Tourism from the College of DuPage in Illinois, is an International Travel Institute Certified Travel Consultant and has been voted "Travel Agent of the Year" for the Greater Lansing Area since 1998 and has a very loyal client following. A native of Chicago, Christine has traveled extensively in Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia and South America. Utilizing her backround in hotel management and her contacts around the world, Christine's travel experience, her passion for travel and personalized attention for her clients result in exciting trips and incredible travel values.