Lavender Whispers – Riviera & Lisbon

About this cruise

You board in Genoa on June 22, 2026 for 10 nights visiting Marseille, Málaga and Cádiz, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean, and you come back from this kind of trip wondering why you don't do it more often. A few ports come in quick succession, which is great for sightseeing but means you'll appreciate the sea days when they arrive. 4 countries (France, Spain, Portugal and Italy) across the Western Mediterranean, each with its own character. Don't rush through Alicante, which is known as A castle-topped city on the Costa Blanca. Around 9 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. You won't go hungry on MSC Opera. 4 restaurants come with the fare, plus 0 more when you feel like treating yourself. 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. The timing works well too: warm evenings on deck, late sunsets, and a lively atmosphere. All told, 7 ports across 10 nights covers a lot.