Mediterranean Gems – Marseille & Valletta

About this cruise

This one leaves Barcelona on September 27, 2026 and spends 7 nights visiting Marseille, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Cagliari, Palermo and Valletta at a pace where every day has something going on but there's always time to just sit and watch the water too. 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. The Western Mediterranean route takes in France, Italy and Malta, 3 countries, and the differences show up in the food, the architecture, and the mood. Most ports give you about 8 hours, so you can do more than just tick off the main sights. As for the ship itself, MSC Splendida keeps you well fed. 6 places to eat, with 2 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. If you like having options (restaurants, bars, activities, entertainment), a big ship delivers that. Being shoulder season helps: golden light, comfortable weather, and shorter queues at the popular spots. Good route, good ship, good timing. It all lines up.