13 nights · Spain · Departs Barcelona (Spain) · Visiting Sete, Marseille, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Livorno, Civitavecchia-Rome, Salerno, Palermo, La Goulette-Tunis, Cagliari, Valencia · Aboard Viking Cruises on the Viking Star
Image courtesy of Viking Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Viking Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Viking Star |
| Duration | 13 nights |
| Port calls | 11 |
| Departures | 6 sailings |
| From fare | $5,698 per person |
| Year built | 2015 |
| Guests | 930 |
| Cabins | 464 |
| Crew | 465 |
| Length | 228 m |
| Beam | 29 m |
| Cruising speed | 20.0 kn |
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.
Sète is France’s working Mediterranean port, set between the sea and the vast Étang de Thau. Canals cross the centre, alongside fishing boats, cafés and a covered market. Ride or walk up Mont Saint-Clair for broad views across the harbour, lagoons and coast. Sample oysters from nearby Bouzigues or choose the day’s catch at a port-side restaurant. Museums honour poet Paul Valéry and singer Georges Brassens, both born here, adding cultural depth to this lively port.
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.
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.
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.
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.
Salerno puts southern Italy within easy reach, with ferries and roads leading toward the Amalfi Coast. Yet the city rewards a closer look: its old lanes gather around the handsome Duomo di San Matteo. Inside, bronze doors and a richly decorated crypt recall Salerno’s medieval importance as a center of learning. Climb to Arechi Castle for broad views across the Gulf, or venture inland to the Greek temples at Paestum.
Palermo rewards curious travellers with a vivid mix of Arab-Norman architecture, lively markets and Sicilian cooking. Start at the cathedral, where Norman, Gothic and Baroque details reflect the city’s layered past. Then walk through the Capo market or visit the Palatine Chapel, famed for its Byzantine mosaics. Leave time for pasta con le sarde or arancini; Palermo’s strongest impressions often arrive at the table.
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.
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.
Published September 24, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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