Cobblestone & Corinthian – Rome, Athens & Ephesus

About this cruise

Somewhere around day five the ship stops being transport and starts being home. This 24-night sailing from Barcelona on October 1, 2028 visits Palma de Mallorca, Marseille and Ajaccio, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean. There's a stretch of back-to-back port days, so those days are busy, but the sea days around them give you time to recharge. Crossing 5 borders through the Western Mediterranean: Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Türkiye. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. Most ports give you about 11 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, Sun Princess (2024) is one of the newer ships out there, with current design and recent tech throughout. 24 nights is long enough to build a routine on board: favourite restaurant, favourite deck chair, favourite people. It starts to feel like a floating village. If you like having options (restaurants, bars, activities, entertainment), a big ship delivers that. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Barcelona has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. Being shoulder season helps: golden light, comfortable weather, and shorter queues at the popular spots. You start in Barcelona and come back with stories from Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Türkiye.