Crystal Symphony
October 21, 2025

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, offers docking at Civitavecchia Port with excursions to Rome. Travelers explore Colosseum and Pantheon. Excursions visit Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel. Local markets sell gelato. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for city tours. Photography captures ancient ruins and Tyrrhenian vistas. Dining onboard includes carbonara, an Italian favorite. Souvenirs, like Murano glass, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Roman history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. Civitavecchia’s cultural gateway offers a vibrant Italian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of ancient landmarks and scenic coasts, making Civitavecchia an engaging destination.

Returning to Civitavecchia (Rome) — see Day 1 above for port info.

Sorrento, Italy, offers docking at Sorrento Port. Travelers explore Piazza Tasso and Pompeii’s ruins. Excursions visit Capri’s Blue Grotto. Local markets sell limoncello. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures cliffside towns and Amalfi vistas. Dining onboard includes gnocchi alla sorrentina, an Italian favorite. Souvenirs, like ceramic crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Roman history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance ruin walks. Sorrento’s coastal charm offers a vibrant Italian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic sites and scenic cliffs, making Sorrento an engaging destination for exploring Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi, Italy, anchors offshore with tenders to Porto Amalfi, a 5-minute ride to the town center on the Sorrento Peninsula. The village, population 5,000, centers on Piazza Duomo, where the 9th-century Cathedral of St. Andrew houses bronze doors from 1066. Travelers stroll Via Lorenzo for ceramics shops and lemon groves. Excursions to Ravello, 15 minutes uphill, visit Villa Rufolo’s 13th-century gardens. Positano, 30 minutes by boat, offers pebbly beaches and pastel houses. Local boats access Emerald Grotto, a sea cave with stalactites, 20 minutes away. Markets sell limoncello and sfogliatella pastries. Peak season May to September; taxis 10-20 EUR. Dining includes scialatielli (seafood pasta) at harborside trattorias. Souvenirs feature hand-painted ceramics. Coastal paths suit short hikes.

Palermo, Sicily, offers docking at Palermo Port. Travelers explore Palermo Cathedral and Norman Palace. Excursions visit Monreale’s mosaics. Local markets sell arancini. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures Arab-Norman architecture and Tyrrhenian vistas. Dining onboard includes caponata, a Sicilian favorite. Souvenirs, like ceramic crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Norman history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance historic walks. Palermo’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Italian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic landmarks and scenic coasts, making Palermo an engaging destination for exploring Sicily’s capital.

Tunis, Tunisia, offers docking at La Goulette Port. Travelers explore Carthage Ruins and Medina of Tunis. Excursions visit Sidi Bou Said’s blue streets. Local markets sell brik. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures ancient ruins and Mediterranean vistas. Dining onboard includes couscous, a Tunisian favorite. Souvenirs, like ceramic crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Phoenician history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance medina walks. Tunis’ historic charm offers a vibrant Tunisian stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of UNESCO sites and cultural markets, making Tunis an engaging destination for exploration.

Returning to Tunis — see Day 6 above for port info.

Barcelona, Spain, offers docking at Barcelona Port. Travelers explore Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Excursions visit Montserrat Monastery. Local markets sell paella. The peak season, April to October, brings warm weather for city tours. Photography captures Gaudí architecture and Mediterranean vistas. Dining onboard includes tapas, a Spanish favorite. Souvenirs, like ceramic crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Catalan history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Barcelona’s cultural charm offers a vibrant Spanish stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of modernist landmarks and scenic coasts, making Barcelona an engaging destination for exploring Spain’s Catalan region.

Returning to Barcelona — see Day 9 above for port info.

Marseille (Provence), France, offers docking at Marseille Port. Travelers explore Notre-Dame de la Garde and Vieux-Port. Excursions visit Aix-en-Provence’s lavender fields. Local markets sell bouillabaisse. The peak season, May to September, brings warm weather for coastal tours. Photography captures basilicas and Mediterranean vistas. Dining onboard includes ratatouille, a French favorite. Souvenirs, like lavender crafts, are sold in ship shops. Briefings cover Provençal history. Light clothing and sun protection suit the Mediterranean climate, while comfortable shoes enhance city walks. Marseille’s cultural charm offers a vibrant French stop. Cruise travelers enjoy a mix of historic ports and scenic fields, making Marseille an engaging destination for exploration.