This Mediterranean cruise came a little later, in October 2025, sailing from Southampton on Sky Princess.
With ports like Barcelona, Rome and Florence on the itinerary, you might expect this to be a trip full of iconic sights and big moments.
But in truth, it turned out to be something much simpler — and surprisingly similar to my Caribbean cruise earlier in the year.
The ports — familiar, easy, and sometimes a little underwhelming
We visited La Coruña, Barcelona, Marseille, Corsica, Rome and Livorno.
Many of these were places I had already seen, and rather than rushing to revisit the main sights, we chose to take things more slowly — gentle walks, local buses, and simple exploration close to the port.
I found that when a place is already familiar, it changes how you experience it.
Instead of rushing to see the main sights again, you begin to notice the everyday — local streets, quiet squares, and how life is really lived beyond the tourist spots.
In La Coruña, we wandered through the Old Town on a cold, windy day.
In Marseille, we discovered a beautiful cathedral, quietly impressive and away from the crowds.
And in Rome and Florence, we chose not to revisit the major landmarks at all — sometimes, once is enough.
An unexpected moment in Corsica
In Corsica, we took the little tourist train around Ajaccio.
It sounded like a good idea — until the cold wind, open carriages, and a rather noisy breakdown halfway through the journey!
While we waited for the driver to fix the tyre himself (with a very patient audience), I found myself chatting to a fellow passenger.
She spoke openly about her life — her long marriage, her frustrations, and then, quite unexpectedly, her Christmas cake traditions.
It was one of those moments I always enjoy when travelling — brief, honest conversations with strangers you’ll likely never meet again.
In truth, I found her story far more interesting than the train ride itself.
A close call in Barcelona
Barcelona brought a little more energy — and a touch of stress.
We tried to fit in both the football stadium and La Sagrada Família, but time quickly slipped away in traffic.
In the end, we made it back to the ship by the skin of our teeth.
Later, we learned that three passengers hadn’t been so lucky and had missed the ship altogether.
A good reminder — always keep an eye on the time.
Once again — it was the ship that made it special
Just like my Caribbean cruise, the real joy of this trip wasn’t the ports — it was life on board.
Sky Princess offered everything we needed — great food, entertainment, and that lovely feeling of having nowhere in particular to be.
The rhythm of the days became the highlight — sea views, relaxed mornings, evenings of music and shows.
Simple, easy, and enjoyable.
So, was it worth it?
Yes — absolutely.
Not because of the destinations, but because of the experience.
This cruise reminded me that even in some of the world’s most famous places, it’s not always about seeing more — sometimes it’s about enjoying what’s already familiar.
And once again, it was the simple pleasures — good company, a beautiful ship, and time to slow down — that made it special.
A quick tip — don’t miss the ship
If you’re exploring independently, always allow plenty of time to get back.
We came very close in Barcelona — and others weren’t so lucky.
If you do miss the ship, there are procedures in place, but it’s far easier (and less stressful!) not to.
You may want to read about my Caribbean cruise – A relaxing cruise on Celebrity Beyond, with turquoise waters, warm island stops, and the simple joy of slowing down and enjoying life at sea.
