Set sail for a holiday sea change

Wine, dine, explore, relax, repeat.

By David Nankervis
Last updated on: October 8, 2019 at 3:05 pm

There’s nothing like exploring a new city, followed by poolside drinks, restaurant dining and live music, before settling into a deluxe balcony cabin for the night. No wonder it’s called cruising.

And the best part? Each day you wake up in a new port, where the holiday begins all over again.

I used to be a cruising sceptic – I thought it would never be for me – until my wife talked me into our first trip, and now I know a lot better.

I embarked on my 8th cruise last June – a 7-night jaunt with Italian company, MSC, around the western Mediterranean, with a port stop every day.

It was the itinerary that sold us, plus MSC’s great reputation.

We embarked on the MSC Divina in Rome (Civitavecchia) and were greeted by friendly crew members who posed a very good question: did we want to purchase a drinks package and speciality restaurant deal?

After some quick calculations, we decided to indulge in both offers with peace of mind that we were also saving money.

Landscape view of Palermo, Italy, during sunset. the
Palermo, Italy

Our first port of call was the Sicilian capital, Palermo. We did our own walking tour of the rustic city, including visits to the stunning 12th century Palermo Cathedral, where monarchs were crowned and emperors buried. Next door was the Norman Palace with a fascinating museum recounting the rule of the Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Spanish.

Next door lay the breathtaking Palatine Chapel with its golden mosaic roof, resplendent with religious iconography.

After a late lunch in the city market, we returned to the Divina and relaxed on our cabin balcony before heading off to feast at the speciality steak restaurant with a couple of glasses of fine Italian wine.

Panorama of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. Composite photo
Cagliari, Italy.

The next morning, we awoke in the Sardinian capital of Cagliari. After a leisurely stroll up to the castle on San Michele Hill, we took in stunning views of the city and sea, before exploring the ruins of a Roman theatre cut into the hillside.

We sought relief from the warm weather with a gelati, then strolled through the beautiful botanic garden.

For lunch, we tucked into a delicious array of local tapas.

Our next port of call was Palma on the island of Majorca. We struck out on our own again and marvelled at the town’s massive cathedral, then explored stunning, historic streets with regular stops for ice cream and window shopping.

The Spanish town of Valencia was one of our favourite destinations. A quick bus ride from the port landed us in the Old Town where we strolled among churches, bustling food markets and a plaza dotted with orange trees.

Palma Cathedral on the island of Majorca
Palma Cathedral at dusk.

We then walked to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences – a stark white cultural and architectural complex built around massive pools of water.

Our penultimate port was the elegant city of Genoa, where for a modest fee of around $10, we marvelled at the sumptuous furnishings and ornate finishes of the Royal Palace, built in the first half of the 17th century, when the city was awash with money from trade.

Old town Genoa during sunset.
Genoa, Italy.

The palace boasted a throne room, hall of mirrors and wonderful works of art. The rest of the day was spent soaking up the sights and sounds of Genoa, gelati in hand.

Sad to be pulling away from the stunning city on the last night of our trip, we consoled ourselves with a drink by the pool, another fine dining experience and a good night’s sleep in our freshly made bed.

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