Festive Atlantic Coast from Southampton
Date: 13 Dec 2020
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Queen Victoria
Line: Cunard Cruise Line
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Each spring, the Mediterranean shrugs off winter like some damp overcoat. Cafes spill back out along cobbled quays; plants bloom in ancient squares and yachts return to fill the harbours and inlets everywhere. Nowhere else does so much history and hedonism exist in such close proximity. It is a truly magical sea of exploration.
In Barcelona, check out the soaring, swaggering grandeur of Gaudi's still unfinished Sagrada Familia church, or the marvellous, modern cathedral that is the Nou Camp stadium. In France, the casino at Monte Carlo is an overblown piece of work that still tends to awe most that encounter it.
Of course, Italy is the crown jewel here. From the hulking, ruined splendour of Rome's Colisseum to the graceful sprawl of the Doge's Palace on the waterfront of Venice, Italy is a virtual theme park of ancient, unmissable architecture. Whether you're contemplating the peerless, perilously leaning tower of Pisa or the petrified, stunted remains of once mighty Pompeii, Italy is a land of matchless contrasts.
If visiting Monte Carlo, take the local train at Monaco Ville and head two miles up the coast to the small, perfectly formed fishing village of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Set in a stunning natural amphitheatre of rolling hills and spectacular greenery, some people consider it to be the most beautiful single location anywhere on the entire Mediterranean coast. It's a perfect spot for a bit of languid, platinum chip people watching.
Food choices abound, as rich and varied as the landscape that frames this marvellous hinterland. In Marseille, the local fish soup-bouillabaisse- has become an international staple, but it is still best here. In terms of meat dishes, the lamb tends to be incredibly tender in Nice, and the lemon tart- tarte citron- will leave your taste buds tingling for more.
For many, Italy remains food central, and with good reason. Pizza in Naples, overlooking the crowded harbour where it was first invented, is still almost a religious experience. And nobody should ever leave Italy without sampling what remains, without doubt, the best ice cream in the world. Eating in Italy is as much about your surroundings as the actual taste; both are ingredients that truly do make the meal.
Nice as it is out there, it pays to be careful. For example, Las Ramblas in Barcelona is known as a playground for pickpockets, many of whom work in pairs. You need to exercise more than a little caution here, in particular.
Date: 13 Dec 2020
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Queen Victoria
Line: Cunard Cruise Line
£1,066 Outside
£1,163 Balcony
£3,348 Balcony
£6,432 Suite
Date: 21 Sep 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,481 BALCONY
£6,596 SUITE
Date: 28 Aug 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,543 BALCONY
£6,889 SUITE
Date: 30 May 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,858 Balcony
£7,626 Suite
£3,783 Balcony
£7,438 Suite
£3,796 BALCONY
£7,526 SUITE
Date: 25 Jul 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,815 Balcony
£7,357 Suite
£3,871 BALCONY
£7,563 SUITE
Date: 6 Jun 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,862 Balcony
£7,518 Suite
Date: 21 Aug 2021
Duration: 7 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£3,893 BALCONY
£7,239 SUITE
Date: 10 May 2021
Duration: 8 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£4,009 Balcony
£7,055 Suite
Date: 12 Sep 2021
Duration: 9 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£4,323 BALCONY
£8,515 SUITE
£4,053 Balcony
£7,365 Suite
Date: 1 May 2021
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£4,614 Balcony
£8,955 Suite
Date: 13 Apr 2021
Duration: 11 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£4,855 Balcony
£9,576 Suite
£4,899 BALCONY
£9,515 SUITE
Date: 7 Jul 2021
Duration: 9 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£5,085 BALCONY
£9,853 SUITE
Date: 20 Jun 2021
Duration: 10 nights
Ship: Crystal Symphony
Line: Crystal Cruises
£5,276 Balcony
£10,530 Suite
Date: 16 Apr 2021
Duration: 25 nights
Ship: Braemar
Line: Fred Olsen Cruises
£4,850 Outside
