8 nights, Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona
Explora's name for it: A Journey from Italian Gems to Spain’s Southern Coast
Eight nights, one way from Rome to Barcelona, with a stop almost every day and an arc that runs the Italian coast, ducks into the French Riviera and Corsica, then drops down the Spanish Costa for the back half. Two of those days are gateway days: Civitavecchia is Rome's deepwater port, and Livorno is really Florence or Pisa inland. The rest land you close. Cannes tenders you to the edge of town, where the medieval Le Suquet quarter sits above the Croisette and a short ferry reaches the fortress island of Ile Sainte-Marguerite. Ajaccio ties up at a single central pier for the Bonaparte trail and the quietly serious painting collection at the Musée Fesch. Mahón sails several kilometers up one of the longest natural harbors in the world, so the approach is the event. Málaga walks you to Mercado de Atarazanas and the Alcazaba above it.
This rewards a walker who wants range and is fine trading two full days to the transfer in and out of Rome and Florence. If you resent losing a day to a train each way, or you want slow sea days, pick a different route. The Spanish stretch is castles, markets, and old quarters back to back, so plan some rest. The ship is EXPLORA II, all-suite and all-oceanfront. Send me your dates and the suite tier you are weighing.
The itinerary, port by port
8 calls over 8 nights, Civitavecchia (Rome) to Barcelona. Open any port for my full day-ashore guide, what to see, when to go, and how the day actually runs.
Getting there: Flights to Civitavecchia (Rome) (FCO) are already bookable for these dates. I watch the fare for booked clients so you book at the right moment. When to book your flights →
- Embark
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- Disembark
Fares on this departure, decoded
Reading the fare fine print is the job. Here's what this sailing currently carries:
- Invitation to Discover More
- Explora's discovery fare, available across most of the calendar. Onboard credit where the offer applies.
- Spontaneous Summer Invitation
- A near-term fare on a small set of summer-season sailings. Onboard credit where the offer applies.
- Air-Inclusive Fare
- A fare that folds airfare into the voyage price on a smaller set of sailings.
The ship and your suite
This sailing is aboard EXPLORA II, all-suite, every suite with a private ocean-front terrace. Suites run from the entry Ocean Terrace to the Owner's Residence; the right tier depends on how you travel. Compare suites → · What's included →