9 nights from Barcelona (Spain) with Celebrity Ascent

Nice

The capital of the Côte d'Azur and the fifth largest city in France, Nice has an excellent reputation and a flourishing tourism thanks to its now gently faded old-world charm.
A popular holiday destination for English aristocratics in 18th century, Nice has reached its zenith in the Belle Époque of the late 19th century, an era that left the city with several outstanding examples of architecture and fantasy. Nice has all the advantages of a great of a great city: superb culture, beautiful life in the street and shopping, high qualty drinks and food and at any price, everthing with a background of blue sky, shining sea, luxury Mediterranean sea and parks with precious sub-tropical plants.

Ajaccio

The largest city in Corsica has all the attractions of a typical French Mediterranean resort, with beaches, palm trees, street cafés and a picturesque mountain range in the background.

If you didn't already know that Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio, you will find out after just a few minutes of being here. With a glitzy marina, designer boutiques and trendy restaurants, Corsica's cosmopolitan capital honours its famous 'son' with street names, statues and various excellent museums.

Ajaccio is located in the most protected part of the Gulf of Ajaccio, an inlet of the Corsican Sea at the mouth of the Gravona and Prunelli rivers.

Its name comes from the Greek word 'Agation' (good port), due to its privileged position on the coast. The city has been occupied by the Romans, Pisans, and Genoese who built a fortifed citadel in 1492, and was populated by the Lunigiana families, including the Bonapartes. In 1769, one year after French occupation began, the city's most illustrious citizen was born: Napoleon.

Cagliari

There are many cruises embarking from the port of Cagliari in the West Mediterranean. From this city you can easily reach the Balearic Islands and the southern coasts of France and Spain. Cruises from Cagliari offer favourable prices and the city is an ideal starting point for visiting Sardinia. Straddling a long bay between enchanting blue waters and sun-drenched fields, Cagliari is a true emerald green waiting to be discovered. The city rises on and around the hill of the historic district of Castello, and spreads over the surrounding 9 limestone hills.

Cagliari is the regional capital of Sardinia and is called Casteddu in the local dialect. Its territory is one of the most interesting places to visit on the island, full of pure Mediterranean essence expressed in every corner, in every bite of its delicious cuisine and in its history of colonisation. The international port of Cagliari is very busy due to both the traffic and the passengers, especially in the summer months when the crowd of tourists remarkably increases. The best time to visit this city is spring, when the weather is not yet too hot and the average temperatures is 20°C. Discover cruises that depart from Cagliari on Taoticket and let our travel agents recommend you to find the best departure for you.

If your ship calls at Cagliari do not miss the Poetto beach, the most famous city beach where you can enjoy fresh drinks accompanied by traditional fish dishes. Local cuisine is very varied thanks to various influences received from other places like those from Liguria and even from distant Catalonia.

Valletta

Messina

Messina has a very lively passengers port, discover all the cruises that set sail from Messina on Taoticket. Thanks to a cruise from Messina, you can visit lots of localities in Italy, France, Spain and Malta. Departures from Messina often has very convenient prices. Compare the itineraries and the prices and depart for your cruise. Messina is located in the north east Sicily, about 90km from Catania and 230 km from Palermo. A lively
and chaotic city, Messina is a real highway of maritime traffic.

In ancient time, the Greeks mythologised the conflicting currents of the Strait of Messina as the twin monsters of Charybdis and Scylla (the six-headed monster). The history of this place is filled with many myths and legends, transforming Messina into a town with a fairy-tale and enigmatic atmosphere. The climate in Messina is Mediterranean: very hot and dry environment but mild in summer and with heavy rainfall in winter.

Messina can be a starting point for excursions to discover Sicily: do not miss Taormina and Giardini-Naxos, two ancient small towns founded by the Greeks rich in charm, history and typical gastronomic and handicrafts products. Here you can do shopping and buy souvenirs for your friends and family. If you are nature and trekking lovers, do not miss the excursions to Mount Etna, one of the largest still active volcanoes in Europe. You will pass through cool forests until you reach the barren peak covered with lava stones from the latest eruptions: a fascinating landscape all year round! In winter, Mount Etna opens its ski facilities while in summer it is a refuge from the heat of the city.

Have a snack with the typical Arancini di Riso (rice balls) or the Pidoni (calzones pizza stuffed with escarole, anchovies and scamorza cheese), and if you love dessert, do not miss the cassata Siciliana or the chocolate cannoli accompanied by a coffee granita with cream! Enjoy your meal and have a goodcruise from Messina.

Naples

Set sail from Naples for a holiday in Mediterranean with a cruise from Naples. The port of Naples offers cruises that depart from April to November at extremely convenient prices. Discover all the itineraries and companies sailing from Naples.
A jewel set between a dormant volcano and the steaming Campi Flegrei, Naples is an eclectic metropolitan city, always active and full of contradictions. The romantic Naples, distant two hours in the south of Rome, is one of the largest and most beautiful art cities in the Mediterranean. In addition to its beautiful scenery, the city owes its well-deserved fame to the beautiful historic centre, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995.
Naples is rich in monuments and squares, for example the large and famous Piazza del Plebiscito. Do not miss the residential district of Posillipo or the characteristic small streets of the historic center. Naples is an ideal starting point for many excursions to discover Amalfi coast: visit Sorrento, Capri and Ischia, and you will be faschinated by the beauty of these lands! If you are history and archaeology lover you should visit Pompeii and Herculaneum, two great archaeological sites of worldwide importance preserved thanks to the ancient and devastating eruption of Vesuvius, the volcano on whose slopes the city of Campania was founded.

Not to be missed is a visit to the Reggia di Caserta, just a few kilometres away from Naples, where you will find yourself immersed in a magical atmosphere full of luxury, opulence and wealth. Handicrafts typical of the city are nativity scenes, which are very important all year round. The main street full of specialised workshops is Via San Gregorio Armeno, which can be reached by walking along the famous Spaccanapoli to an open space full of characteristic nativity scenes.

Before embarking on a cruise from Naples, soak up the city atmosphere without missing the Porta Nolana Market, where you will find fresh fish, seasonal fruit and vegetables, as well as all kinds of clothing, bags and furnishings. For art lovers there is the Capodimonte Museum and the unmissable Cloister of Santa Chiara, while for the more daring we recommend a visit to the Catacombs of San Gennaro and Underground Naples, a parallel city carved out of the tuff and full of mystery.

Civitavecchia

The port town of Civitavecchia is about an hour away from the Italian capital and is where ships will dock before bringing lucky holidaymakers into the city of Rome. It is an important port for cruise ships and ferries, connecting to Corsica, Sardinia and Barcelona. Civitavecchia is a town in the heart of Lazio. It is a small, sleepy town that overlooks the sea from behind the busy and chaotic commercial port.

Spreading out along the coast, the town is situated between the Mignon river to the north and the Marangone river to the south.
Civitavecchia is a port town in the heart of Italy, in the province of Rome, 80 kilometres northwest of the capital.

It is shrouded in art and history, and is rich in bays and coves with sandy and rocky beaches. Today the town is the departure point for many cruises and journeys around the Mediterranean. It is an excellent tourist destination where you can simply enjoy 'la dolce vita' or visit the amazing historical monuments. On a level with the majestic ancient capital, in terms of its monuments, gardens, villas and works of art, it also gives you easy access to the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Terme della Ficoncella, and the Etruscan ruins.

Civitavecchia will guarantee you an original and enchanting experience.