Old World Odyssey – Funchal, Barcelona & Rome

About this cruise

If you've got 19 nights to work with, this sailing from New York on April 13, 2027 through Funchal, Cádiz and Gibraltar, with additional stops along the Western Mediterranean is genuinely one of the better ways to spend them. Last stop: Ravenna. You ease into this one, with a few sea days up front to find your rhythm before the 10 port calls start. The Western Mediterranean route takes in Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Croatia, 6 countries, and the differences show up in the food, the architecture, and the mood. Of the stops, Cádiz tends to be the one people talk about: Europe's oldest city, still dancing flamenco. Around 10 hours per port on average, which is generous enough to go beyond the obvious. Norwegian Gem keeps you well fed. 14 places to eat, with 7 included in the fare and a few specialty spots if you're in the mood. 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. This one's for people who really want to switch off. No half measures. Block out the calendar. If you can, add a night in New York before boarding. It's a good city to wander. Timing-wise, spring usually means comfortable temperatures and lower prices than peak season. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you just go ahead and book.