An Extended Journey from a Riviera New Year to the Mediterranean’s Deep Soul

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. Read more about Barcelona, Spain

Palma de Mallorca is the major city and port on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is situated on the south coast of the island on the Bay of Palma, and almost half of the total population of Majorca live there. Visitors are spellbound by its blue waters, white beaches, lush foliage (almost 40 percent of the island is protected countryside), and 300 days of sunshine each year. Read more about Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Genoa is an important seaport in northern Italy. It is also known as 'the Superb One' due to its illustrious past. Today it rises from the sea, with two massive towers providing striking landmarks. Read more about Genoa, Italy

Livorno is the third largest port on the west coast of Italy, and is well known for supporting cruise ship tourism to Florence, the Tower of Pisa, the hill towns of Tuscany, Cinque Terre with its enchanting villages, and the Chianti wine region, generally with time allowed for visiting some famous outlet stores of famous fashion houses. However the port of Livorno itself has a lot to offer visitors. Criss-crossed by Medicean canals that are still navigable, and with its port overlooked by towers and fortresses, this well-planned city is most appealing. Read more about Livorno, Italy

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Naples is an historic city over 2,500 years old, sitting on the west coast of southern Italy by the Gulf of Naples. Located halfway between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and Camp Flegrei and with numerous tours and cruise excursions available at the port, one may be inclined to miss out on what Naples itself has to offer. It has some of the world's best opera houses and theatres, and is often called an open-air museum because of its many historic statues and monuments. Read more about Naples, Italy

Siracusa is located in the SE corner of the Italian island of Sicily, next to the Ionian Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also renowned for being mentioned in the Bible as a place that was visited by the apostle Paul. Here you will find the most extensive catacombs outside of Rome, and the Jewish baths in Ortigo that are at least 1,500 years old. Read more about Siracusa, Italy

Siracusa is located in the SE corner of the Italian island of Sicily, next to the Ionian Sea. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also renowned for being mentioned in the Bible as a place that was visited by the apostle Paul. Here you will find the most extensive catacombs outside of Rome, and the Jewish baths in Ortigo that are at least 1,500 years old. Read more about Siracusa, Italy

Bari, situated on the Adriatic Sea, is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy, and is perhaps best known for being the city of Saint Nicholas. To the north is the Old Town, built on a peninsula between two modern harbours, with the splendid Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Cathedral of San Sabino and the famous Swabian Castle. On the neck of the headland are a couple of elegant and historic interlocking public squares, Piazza del Ferrarese and Piazza Mercantile. Read more about Bari, Italy

The capital of Sicily, Palermo is an historic city in southern Italy and is situated on the NW of the island right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The 2700 year-old city is noted for its rich history, culture and architecture. With Sicily's greatest concentration of sights, and the second biggest historic centre in Italy, Palermo is a complex, multilayered city that can be overwhelming if you try to see too much. Read more about Palermo, Italy

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy