8 nights · Nice, France Riviera · Departs Villefranche-sur-Mer (France) · Visiting Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Rome City · Aboard Aurora Expeditions on the Douglas Mawson
Image courtesy of Aurora Expeditions ©
| Cruise line | Aurora Expeditions |
|---|---|
| Ship | Douglas Mawson |
| Duration | 8 nights |
| Port calls | 5 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $4,898 per person |
| Year built | 2025 |
| Guests | 170 |
| Cabins | 86 |
| Crew | 102 |
| Length | 104 m |
| Beam | 18 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Villefranche-sur-Mer makes an unusually graceful first impression: pastel houses rise above one of the Riviera’s deepest natural harbors. Wander the old town’s narrow lanes, then visit the 16th-century citadel and its museums. Jean Cocteau’s painted Chapel of Saint-Pierre adds a distinctive local detail. Nearby trains connect you with Nice; roads lead to Èze and the wider Côte d’Azur.
Genoa is a city shaped by the sea, with a busy port framed by hills and centuries of trade. In the old town, narrow caruggi lead to grand squares and Romanesque churches. The Palazzi dei Rolli, a UNESCO-listed group of aristocratic residences, reveal the city’s former wealth. Walk the restored Porto Antico, then sit down to basil-scented pesto or freshly caught seafood. Genoa rewards those who explore on foot.
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.
Civitavecchia, Rome’s cruise port, lies about 50 miles northwest of the capital. From the town station, trains reach central Rome in around 70 minutes, depending on service. The Colosseum, Vatican and Baroque piazzas reward a day spent exploring. Choose your priorities before you arrive; traffic and queues can consume precious hours. Then make room for a Roman lunch.
Published September 5, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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