Silversea Silver Spirit cruise June 2 – 11, 2011- Rome (Civitavecchia to Barcelona)

I have just returned from a very enjoyable 10 day cruise on a luxury cruise ship, The Silver Spirit. Each of the ports had their own personality and was fun to explore and visit.  The weather was perfect and the seas calm. 

Our trip began with a very easy transfer from Rome Airport to the Port of Civitavecchia, approximately a 1 ½ transfer.  We were met and our bags taken from us immediately and completed our check-in without any lines or delay and onto the ship in no time flat.  Once on board we found our cabin ready for us which is always appreciated after the international overnight flight. 

On Silversea Cruises all categories have personal butler service for each cabin, and this is always a nice touch.  Depending on personal choices, the Butler can provide all types of services.  Everything from doing  your unpacking and repacking  to making your dinner reservations at the various dinner venues, to polishing the gentlemens’ shoes on formal nights or serving afternoon tea in cabin.  This is all part of the pampering that is so enjoyed and appreciated on a vacation. Each day on our return from our active days in port, there was nothing more refreshing than to return to the Silver Spirit and all of the wonderful shipboard amenities.

The ship sailed out at 6:30pm and the next morning we found ourselves in Sorrento.  What a beautiful view from our ship at anchor in the harbor.  The beautifully colored hotels perched on top of the cliffs and the pool clubs down below with their colorful umbrellas.  We tendered ashore with other passengers and all went their various ways.  One of the shore tours that most people take on their first trip to Sorrento is the hydrofoil over to the Isle of Capri for the day.  Between taking the chairlift up to the top of Ana Capri and shopping in the beautiful boutiques, the day was wonderful.  Our ship stayed overnight in Sorrento, so it gave us the next day to wander in Sorrento enjoy the shops as well as the street kiosks.

Our next stop on our cruise was Taormina (Messina).  The highlight of our day here was the shore excursion that we took to Mt. Etna, an active volcano.   The drive there was both scenic and awesome.  To hear the narrative and see the destruction that a volcano can cause is amazing.  I brought back my little black lava stone statue from here as a reminder of that fabulous day.

From Taormina we continued on to Valletta, Malta. The port itself has the old world charm of the original storehouses and wharf area.  Valletta is a cosmopolitan city that surrounds beautiful old churches and many unique little side streets.  This day we took the tour that drove us from Valletta to Rabat and Medina which date back 4000 years.  The very strong influence from the Arabic buildings and desert look made these cities unique in their old walled world view.  A wonderful day spent walking and viewing.

Next on to Livorno, one of the busiest seaports I have ever experienced.  Many of the passengers opted to go to Florence from here for a full day trip, but our goal was to visit the infamous “Leaning Tower Of Pisa”.  From our first glimpse to our last, it truly is a marvel.  Of course, what would any tourist site be without its bazaars and shops.  Now I can check off one more thing on my “wish list”.

On to Monte Carlo, always a treat to see and visit.  There was an additional air of excitement with the upcoming wedding of Prince Albert which takes place early July.   We were fortunate to get to the palace courtyard in time for the changing of the guard and to be able to imagine what the square will look like on the wedding day.

Saint Tropez was next on our itinerary and what a fun place in which to stop and shop and wander.  It is so much more laid back than other towns in the Cote D’Azur.  A quaint colorful village, with absolutely the most spectacular yachts of the rich and famous.

Sadly, our last stop on our trip, but what a great city to visit.  Barcelona.  Our day was spent jumping on and off the “Hop on-Hop Off” bus literally took us all around the town.  An easy city to tour and full of wonderful shops and markets.  The Ramblas area was absolutely “jumping”, tourists and residents alike. That evening we ventured out into a local neighborhood and sat at a small local restaurant and ate and drank and soaked up our final list bit of European atmosphere, before we returned to the USA.