Gilded Meridian – Athens, Santorini & Marseille

About this cruise

If you've got 21 nights to work with, this sailing from Barcelona on July 18, 2026 through Palma de Mallorca, Marseille and Ajaccio, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean is genuinely one of the better ways to spend them. A few ports come in quick succession, which is great for sightseeing but means you'll appreciate the sea days when they arrive. The route threads through 6 countries along the Western Mediterranean coast: Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Türkiye and Montenegro. Keep an eye out for Santorini: Sunsets that redefine the colour blue. Around 11 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. Sun Princess joined the Princess Cruises's lineup in 2024. Still has that new-ship feel. There are enough performances, events, and social mixers on a cruise this length that you couldn't do them all if you tried. And that's a good problem. Barcelona itself is worth spending some time in. Don't just treat it as a departure point. The timing works well too: warm evenings on deck, late sunsets, and a lively atmosphere. That's 21 nights well spent.