18 nights · Portugal · Departs Lisbon (Portugal) · Visiting Portimao, Tangier, Melilla, La Goulette-Tunis, Cagliari, Port Mahon, Valencia, Barcelona, Palamos, Cannes, Monte Carlo, La Spezia, Livorno, Calvi, Civitavecchia-Rome · Aboard Crystal Cruises on the Crystal Symphony
Image courtesy of Crystal Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Crystal Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Crystal Symphony |
| Duration | 18 nights |
| Port calls | 16 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $10,720 per person |
| Year built | 1995 |
| Guests | 606 |
| Cabins | 310 |
| Crew | 530 |
| Length | 238 m |
| Beam | 31 m |
| Cruising speed | 21.0 kn |
Lisbon is a city best approached with time and comfortable shoes. Its seven hills rise above the Tagus, linking tiled lanes, grand squares and viewpoints with wide river views. In Alfama, narrow streets preserve the feel of old Lisbon. In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower recall Portugal’s age of discovery. Pause for coffee and a warm pastel de nata between sights.
Portimão sits where the Arade River meets the Atlantic, in Portugal’s sunlit Algarve. From the quay, Praia da Rocha’s ochre cliffs and broad sands are close at hand. In the old town, tiled façades and cafés frame the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Choose fresh sardines at the waterfront, or cross the river to Ferragudo for a quieter village view. Portimão makes an easy base for exploring the Algarve’s coast without sacrificing a genuine working-town feel.
Tangier faces Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Walk its medina’s steep lanes past whitewashed houses and shops selling leather, ceramics, and spices. At the Kasbah, find sea views and the former sultan’s palace, now a museum. Beyond the old walls, cafés and boulevards recall the city’s international past. Visit the American Legation, the first U.S. diplomatic property abroad. Or drive to Cap Spartel, where Atlantic and Mediterranean waters meet.
Melilla gives you Spain with North African light and a distinctly different rhythm. Set on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, this Spanish enclave rewards a day spent on foot. Begin in Melilla la Vieja, the fortified old town, where stone walls frame sea views and quiet lanes. Then look up: Melilla is known for its Modernist architecture, much of it designed by Enrique Nieto. Cafés and waterfront walks offer an easy pause between landmarks.
La Goulette is Tunisia’s principal cruise gateway, set on the Mediterranean just northeast of Tunis. The capital’s old medina, Carthage’s ruins and Sidi Bou Said’s white-and-blue lanes are all within reach. Choose Roman history, Ottoman-era streets or cafés overlooking the sea. Plan around traffic: these sights lie in different directions, and each merits an unhurried visit.
Cagliari rewards those who look beyond the waterfront. Sardinia’s capital rises above the Gulf of Angels, its old Castello quarter perched over a working port. Walk the bastions for broad views, then explore the Roman amphitheatre carved into limestone. Below town, Poetto’s long beach meets salt lagoons where flamingos feed. Return for fregola with seafood or bottarga, the island’s prized cured mullet roe.
Mahón sits at the head of one of the world’s largest natural harbours, a deep-water inlet that shaped Menorca’s history. From the waterfront, climb to the old town for Georgian façades, lively markets and views across the port. Menorca’s British-era influence appears in its architecture and in gin, still distilled locally and served with lemonade. Allow time to explore beyond Mahón: the island’s quiet coves, prehistoric stone monuments and clear waters reward an unhurried visit.
Valencia rewards travellers who look beyond its waterfront. Spain’s third-largest city pairs a handsome old centre with the bold architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences. Visit the Central Market for local produce, then follow the Turia Gardens towards the coast. Paella has deep roots here; seek it in its birthplace, not merely on the menu. With efficient transport and a compact historic core, Valencia is easy to explore at your own pace.
Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.
Palamós brings you to the heart of Spain’s Costa Brava, where a working fishing port meets a handsome old town. Its waterfront is famed for the prawns landed here, best sampled at a local table. Walk the promenade, visit the Fishing Museum, or follow coastal paths towards rocky coves and clear water. Girona and medieval villages lie inland, but Palamós rewards a slower day close to the sea.
Arrive in Cannes and the Riviera’s polished glamour is immediately on show. Follow the palm-lined Croisette past Belle Époque hotels, designer boutiques and the Palais des Festivals, home of the film festival. Then climb into Le Suquet, the old quarter, for narrow lanes and views across the harbour. At Marché Forville, local produce and Provençal specialities offer a taste of everyday life. Ferries to the Lérins Islands make an easy escape to pine-scented shores.
Monte Carlo makes a striking first impression, with superyachts in Port Hercule and the Alps rising behind the coast. A short walk leads to Casino Square, where Belle Époque architecture frames the famous casino and designer boutiques. For a quieter contrast, climb to Monaco-Ville for the Prince’s Palace, cathedral and views across the harbor. The principality is compact and easy to explore on foot, though its steep streets reward comfortable shoes.
La Spezia sits at the head of the Gulf of Poets. Here, Liguria’s steep hills meet a sheltered stretch of Mediterranean coast. Its working harbor gives the city a lively maritime character, while cafés and broad streets reward an easy stroll. Trains connect La Spezia with the villages of the Cinque Terre; ferries sail to Portovenere. Allow time for the city itself, not just its celebrated neighbors.
Livorno rewards those who look beyond the cruise terminal. Its canals, built in the style of Venice, wind through historic Venezia Nuova. The seafront promenade leads to Terrazza Mascagni, where black-and-white paving frames the sea. At Mercato Centrale, locals shop beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. Try cacciucco, the city’s rich fish stew. Florence and Pisa are within reach, but Livorno merits time of its own.
Calvi rewards a day ashore with a rare pairing: a fortified Genoese citadel and a broad, pale-sand beach. Climb its steep lanes to the ramparts, where the harbor and crescent-shaped bay open beneath the Corsican hills. Below, cafés and shops line the old town, while the waterfront leads towards several kilometres of sand. Come for the views, then linger over local seafood or explore Balagne’s villages and vineyards beyond town.
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Published September 6, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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