Cruising Europe - 23 days onboard Holland America's MS Noordam
Cruising Europe
Cruising Europe was such a fantastic way to travel and see many many cities without the hassle of travelling overland / flying. I did a 22 day Mediterranean - Adriatic cruise with Holland America in a signature suite. It is certainly worth paying the extra for the room upgrade and would certainly recommend having a balcony. Some of the highlights of cruising with the comfort of my own balcony were: daily breakfasts on the balcony, cruising the Strait of Messina, cruising into Venice, Montenegro, Greek Islands and Croatia. Apart from the amount of time saved in travelling overland, it was just such a lovely experience to not have to pack and unpack all of the time. The food was fantastic - almost every day there was a different variety. I would recommend if you have any dietary requirements, to see the restaurant Maître d' on your first day in order to make sure all is in place. (Also, let me know when booking so I can advise the cruise company).
Ports of call
Barcelona, Spain:
An amazing city, full of vibrancy and fun. The coastal area is great for that beach experience and only minutes from the CBD. Las Ramblas is a must see - simply to stroll the 'mall-like' area, taste some delicious local tapas and in the evening enjoy the nightlife. There is a cable car which is a nice afternoon trip with beautiful views over the city. One of the easiest ways to see all if the sites is to use the local Hop on Hop off your bus. If you wish to see Sagrada Familija, I definitely recommend pre purchasing the Skip the Line tickets as the line ups were extremely long. A Segway tour is also a great way to view the city from a different aspect. The good is AMAZING!
Marseille, France:
A cute little coastal town. Rather than waiting in line for the local transfer bus from Port to the city, I'd recommend paying the approximate AUD$30 to get a taxi. Strolling the foreshore was a pleasant experience as was viewing some of the street performers. There is a local hop on hop off bus which takes you to all of the tourist sites.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Pack your bags and your money too. Monte Carlo is absolutely beautiful, however it does come at a price; a worthwhile price. If its brand name shopping you want, a coastal getaway, high rolling in the Casino or a holiday with style then Monte Carlo is the place for you. I was lucky enough to be there at the time of the Formula 1 Grand Prix so was able to see a fun, exciting and high speed view of the city. A must see is the Princes Palace at the top of the hill. The view over the city on one side is fantastic and the other side is a view over The French Riviera.
Calvi, France:
This was our first 'European Island' destination and it surely set the mark. Calvi was such a quaint little town with a relaxed island atmosphere. You can hire scooters to get around the island and explore the coast or relax on the long white sand beaches and soak up the sun and indulge in the local food. The main town/ shopping area were a 2 minute walk from where the cruise tender drops you off. Calvi had a fortress and historical sites to visit. A lovely place for a few day getaway from the hustle and bustle of Europe's touristy areas.
Livorno (Florence), Italy
I had the option here to explore Florence or visit the Cinque Terre. Having visited Florence on a previous trip, I opted for The Cinque Terre region and what a superb choice that was. Florence is also a must see with its many famous sites but a visit to Cinque Terre should be on every travellers bucket list. With its 5 fishing villages that are accessible by boat, train or hiking, this region is amongst one of my favourite most scenic areas that I have travelled to in the world. The views are truly breath-taking. I was bewildered by some of the local housing that had been built literally on cliff tops with hardly any road access. The sea water was very inviting. The beaches are small pebble beaches, not sand. This area boasts more local style accommodation/ living and is not the place where you will find the likes of Hilton, Westin hotels etc. The local streets are narrow and full of local produce, shops, restaurants and culture. A visit to Cinque Terre is not complete without trying the local pesto. It was news to me that this is where pesto originated and it was by far the best pesto that I have ever tasted. Apparently, it is only in this region where a certain type of basil can only be found. I would recommend staying 3-7 days in this area. Cinque Terre - A MUST SEE!
Orbia (Sardinia), Italy
Sardinia was certainly a pretty place. I hired a scooter here and ventured around the island. There were some quaint towns and beautiful coastal views.
Palermo, Sicily
Palermo was a bustling town, very very busy with loads of local history. The local cuisine was amazing. I recommend taking the Hop on Hop off to take you to all of the main tourist sites and historical points. The city was clearly defined between a more run down, yet old and characteristic area, compared to a new modern, more affluent area.
Naples, Italy
There is just too much to see in this area for one day. Pompeii, for the historical side. Amalfi, for the coastal views, Naples city and Sorrento to name a few. My choice - The Isle of Capri, however the other options were very close behind. This is definitely an area that I will visit again. The Isle of Capri was stunning, the views were gorgeous, the roads were narrow and winding and of course the Italian food was without fail delicious. It's is worth doing the single seated gondola to the top of the mountain from AnaCapri, as this is by far where you will see the best views of all of the 4 coastal towns on the island. Stroll the many designer shops or relax in one of the seaside restaurants. If the tides and weather are right, a visit to The Blue Grotto is recommended.
Rome, Italy
Need I say, a must see city. The Collesium, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, bustling city, lots of traffic, lots of people and delicious cuisine. I'd recommend at least 3 days to gain a proper taste of Rome.
Messina, Sicily
The seaside city of Messina was your typical European town. I'd recommend taking the local train for around AUD$10 one way to Taormina. The train line is along the coast and is quite scenic. Have your camera ready just before arriving at Taormina train station. Once you arrive, the taxi trip will cost you approximately AUD$25 to get to the top of the mountain where Taormina old city is located. This is a must see! Do not try to walk it. The roads are too narrow and dangerous. You won't be disappointed!
Valetta, Malta
I may be biased but Malta is one of my favourites, and for a very good reason. This small country of approximately 400,000 habitants, approx 35x19 miles land size has all of the sites that any traveller would wish for. There is an abundance of history, pristine coast lines, rich culture, great shopping and delicious local foods. A trip to the island of Gozo is a must do if time permits as is Camino and Blue Lagoon. Dinglhi Cliffs are beautiful and also the Blue Grotto which only costs around AUD$10 per person and takes about 30 minutes. A must see is the old city of Mdina and Valetta. The main nightlife is in the St Juliens and Sliema area, which is also the more modern part of the country.
Argostoli, Greece
Be sure to see the turtles along the waterfront of this cruise port. The main area is full of restaurants and markets catering to the cruise market. If you would like to see something different a trip to Mellisani Lake (similar to Blue Grotto) and Dragonati Caves are worth a look.