Barcelona to Trieste (Italy) Cruise on Queen Victoria from Barcelona

Barcelona

The port of Barcelona was born about the same time as the city was. It is one of themost important ports in the Mediterranean, cruise ships leave the city to call on some of themost desirable cities in the Western Mediterranean. The port has modern facilities and allthe services needed to accommodate the many passengers who have Barcelona as anembarkation and a disembarkation port. Barcelona is one of the most cosmopolitan andmulticultural capitals of Europe. Among many attractions that include the Sagrada Familia,Montjuic, Gaudi's Güell Park and the famous Ramblas. It’s a hub of activity and the city isalways bustling.

Toulon (France)

Toulon is France´s second most important naval port, a fine Mediterranean harbour surrounded by hills. The town has a lively atmosphere throughout the year. There is a wealth of new museums, cafes and restaurants. The centre of the modern town is Place de la Liberté, dominated by the magnificent Grand Hotel, the last vestige of former glory days. Here, too, is Place Victor Hugo with its pavement cafes and the splendid Opera de Toulon. Look out for the huge wall frescoes so typical of Toulon. The historical center is located just north of the harbour. Toulon is genuine Provence , with wonderful smells of lavender and thyme in the market places.

Alghero (Italy)

Alghero lies in the province of Sassari in northwestern Sardinia, next to the Mediterranean Sea. The area northwest of Alghero Bay with Porto Conte and the relatives Punta Giglio and Capo Caccia limestone promontory offer several fields of study and activities, from geology to biology studies and researches, to sport and adventures like caving scuba diving and cave-diving, trekking and climbing. There are more than 300 discovered caves upon and under water and semisubmerged. Neptunes Grotto is the most famous and visited, thanks to the accessibility and connection by ferries and stepped path from land. Underwater the Nereo Cave, considered the biggest and spectacular marine underwater cave of the Mediterranean Sea and Europe, is the most visited by scuba-divers. Some 100 Nuraghe remains can be seen in the neighbouring areas of Sant'Imbenia (including also a Phoenician necropolis and Roman remains near the airport of Alghero), Palmavera and Anghelu Ruju.

Messina Strait (Cruise by)

Messina Strait is the narrow passage that connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south and is located between Sicily and Calabria (in the south of Italy)

Messina (Sicily)

Messina is the capital of the Italian province of Messina. It is situated near the Northeast corner of Sicily and is the 3rd largest city on the island. The campanile holds the largest astronomical clock in the world and is full of animated mechanical statues that put on quite the show at noon. The city has been a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and Archimandrite seat since 1548 and is home to a locally important international fair. Things to see and do include the Archaeological Museum of Reggio di Calabria, Torre Faro observation tower over Messina Strait, Lungomare promenade at Reggio, The Fountain of Orion, The Four Fountains and The Senatory Fountain. Sicily has long been a key feature on Mediterranean cruise itineraries and for good reason. This wonderful little island is a true gem and there’s so much to keep all the family occupied.

Messina Strait (Cruise by)

Messina Strait is the narrow passage that connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south and is located between Sicily and Calabria (in the south of Italy)

Naples (Italy)

Naples is the capital of Campania, one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea. The Port of Naples is one of the largest Italian seaport and one of the largest seaport in the Mediterranean Sea. Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Naples has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Culinary Naples is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city. Neapolitan music has furthermore been highly influential, credited with the invention of the romantic guitar and the mandolin, as well as notable contributions to opera and folk standards.

Civitavecchia (Rome)

 Civitavecchia is the city of Rome´s port on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The harbour is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse. The name Civitavecchia means Ancient Town. There, the Eternal City lies before us in large format architectural and artistic sculptures such as the Colosseum, the most important monument of ancient Rome and used for public entertainment. Do not miss the Trevi Fountain and make a wish while you throw a coin over your shoulder and then continue to the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved monuments of antiquity, Piazza Navona, and the Vatican City. Take a walk through the Plaza of Spain and rest on the steps of Trinita dei Monti before heading to Via Condotti, a wide avenue lined with shops. Civitavecchia is always popular with cruise passengers because, as noted earlier, it is the gateway to Rome. All cruise lines tend to offer shore excursions here to the Eternal City and we highly recommend that you book one. 

Argostoli (Kefalonia island)

Argostoli is a town and a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Argostoli developed into one of the busiest ports in Greece, leading to prosperity and growth. To the east of Argostoli, at the end of the bay, beneath the aforementioned Castle of St. George, sits the Koutavos Lagoon, a feeding ground for the Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Now a nature reserve, the Koutavos Lagoon was once an almost impassable swamp where mosquitoes and malaria were rife. Under the British governor of the island, a wooden bridge was constructed across the lagoon.

Corfu

Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands,[2] and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The municipality includes the island Corfu and the smaller islands Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi. The principal city of the island and seat of the municipality is also named Corfu. The island´s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. The city´s old city was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List.Corfu is a very popular tourist destination.

Kotor (Montenegro)

Kotor is a coastal town in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor in Montenegro. The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor , one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called the southernmost fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon. Together with the nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovcen, Kotor and its surrounding area form an impressive and picturesque Mediterranean landscape. In recent years, Kotor has seen a steady increase in tourists, many of them coming by cruise ship. Visitors are attracted both by the natural beauty of the Gulf of Kotor and by the old town of Kotor. Kotor is part of the World Heritage Site dubbed the Natural and Culture Historical Region of Kotor. Kotor has one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the Adriatic and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Narrow streets, contiguous houses, bulwarks, churches, cathedrals, squares, carnivals and feasts. It is home to numerous sights, such as the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), and the ancient walls which stretch for 3 miles directly above the city. Sveti Ðorde and Gospa od Skrpijela islets off the coast of Perast are also among the more popular destinations in the vicinity of Kotor.

Dubrovnik (Croatia)

Dubrovnik is situated on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia, at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik, Nerevta country. Places to visit: Lokrum is an island in front of Dubrovnik and because it takes only 15 minutes by ferry to get there from the Old Town it is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. Zaton, another place to find natural peace and beauty, it takes 20 minutes by bus to get from Dubrovnik to Zaton. Other tourist attractions are: Franciscan monastery, fortresses, Medieval walls encircling the city and Sponza palace.

Trieste (Italy)

Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of Italian territory lying between the Adriatic Sea and Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city. Once a very influential and powerful centre of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, its importance fell into decline towards the end of the 20th century, and today, Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head off to the big Italian cities like Rome and Milan. It is, however, a very charming underestimated city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce.