Luxurious Mediterranean – Alicante & Genoa

About this cruise

If you want the classic cruise without a massive time commitment, this is a strong option. 10 nights from Lisbon on May 18, 2026, visiting Alicante, Port Mahon and Olbia, 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 3 borders through the Western Mediterranean: Spain, Italy and France. You'll notice the culture shift at every stop. Most ports give you about 9 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, MSC Opera takes the food seriously, with 4 restaurants to choose from. 4 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. 10 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. The sweet spot for most travellers: you get to know the ship, see the ports, and come home before the laundry piles up. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Lisbon has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. A spring departure helps too: decent weather and a calmer feel at each port. You'll probably start planning the next one before this one's even over.