| Cruise Line |
Crystal Cruises |
| Ship |
Crystal Symphony |
| Destination |
EU Mediterranean |
| Nights |
7 |
| Departure Date |
30 May 2021 |
| Description |
7 Night cruise departing from Barcelona to Monte Carlo onboard Crystal Symphony.
Explore Porto Venere, often called the sixth village of Cinque Terre, and savor waterfront cafés in Propriano. Journey to Provence from Marseilles, and to the renowned Costa Esmeralda from the ferry town of Olbia.
Highlights of this cruise:
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, is a celebration of history and heir to Greek, Phoenician, Roman, Carthaginian, Gothic and Arab cultural legacies. Since it is nearly as close to Rome, Geneva and Munich as it is to Madrid, Barcelona has long been the Spanish link to Western Europe. It was the home of Picasso, Miró, Dali, Casals and Gaudà and has been described as a Mediterranean Manhattan, a cosmopolitan experimental center for political ideas and artistic movements. In addition to its abundance of artistic and architectural treasures, Barcelona serves as the gateway to one of the world's most impressive mountainside enclaves at Montserrat. Discover the secret legends of the Black Virgin and the alluring chants of monastic life high atop the Catalonian plains. Barcelona's ancient city walls and the narrow crooked streets of the town's old section are laid out for your discovery. You will find that Barcelona has something for everybody.
Port -Vendres, France
Positioned near the Spanish border on the Côte Vermeille (so-named for the reddish hue of the rocky coast), Port-Vendres has been a thriving harbor town since the Greeks discovered its sheltered waters. Today, visitors will discover a simply beautiful Mediterranean destination, with fishing boats, yachts and cruise ships compatibly sharing space in the deep-water port and locals convivially sharing coffee and croissant at the cafes. The centerpiece of town is the 98-foot-tall marble obelisk, commissioned by Louis XVI in the late 18th century. Other focal points include the life and work of Scottish art nouveau architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who spent time in Port-Vendres. His talents are on display at the Dome Gardens and along a path that wends its way around the port, displaying reproductions of his work. The natural beauty of this Mediterranean locale is on display all around you, memorably discoverable with snorkeling and diving expeditions, a walk on a pebbly beach or bike ride in the hills.
Marseille, France
The queen of the Côte d'Azur, Marseille is France's oldest city and one of the Mediterranean's premier ports. Amid the big-city bustle, the old port is a quaint landscape of historic charm: colorful fishing boats sail past the imposing Fort Saint-Jean, narrow streets wander among ancient churches and cobbled squares, while the venerable Basilica overlooks the scene from the hilltop above.
St-Tropez, France
St-Tropez has earned its glamorous reputation as a summer playground for celebrities, artists and writers. At the height of its popularity during the 1950s and 60s, one could easily find Pablo Picasso, Francoise Sagan, Jacques Prévet and the classic movie actress Brigitte Bardot vacationing here. Its famous beaches are still frequented by affluent guests who seek a lively night life and a piece of the "St-Trop" allure. Magnificent yachts line the port, as their owners rival to achieve titles for who has the biggest, the most luxurious or the best-kept vessel, or for which vessel has the most enthusiastic crew. You will certainly be enticed by the colorful sights and sounds of this "Gem of the Provençal Culture."
Propriano, Corsica
Positioned in the Mediterranean Sea between France and Italy, once ruled by Genoa and awarded to France with the treaty of Versailles, the island of Corsica seems to belong to two worlds – Italian and French – and offers visitors a wonderful taste of both. Propriano, on the southwest of the island, proves an ideal place to savor a slice of mixed-ingredient culture, with its Church of Notre Dame de la Misericorde dominating its small city center and harbor hosting vessels ranging from modest fishing boats to luxurious yachts. Beaches are appealing spots to bask in the light of one of the Mediterranean’s most coveted treasures, sunshine, while traditional houses outfitted with shops, cafes and taverns brighten your day with food and wine.
Olbia, Sardegna, Italy
Positioned on the northeastern shores of the island of Sardinia, Olbia sits on a large bay, with a historic port dating to pre-Roman times and a newer ferry port connected to the city by causeway. Such is the dichotomy of past and present both on the island and in the Mediterranean at large. Visitors arrive by the latest means of travel, including luxury ships such as yours, and source sights to see with app-loaded smartphones that help lead to way to discoveries of antiquity. Sardinia’s ruins are particularly interesting, remnants of the daily lives and rituals of the Nurarghic people of the Bronze Age. Glimpse more of an ancient past at an archeological museum displaying Roman and medieval ships, embellished glassware and other relics. Beyond town, sandy beaches, holm oak forests and secluded coves invite exploration.
Porto Venere, Italy
Porto Venere, Italy, has all the essentials of an idyllic medieval town. It boasts two ancient churches, a 16th-century fortified castle, a bell tower built on the ruins of a Roman temple, even a wistful tale of English writers Lord Byron and Mary Shelley.
Lord Byron, the story goes, had a favorite spot on the rocks at the base of the church of San Pietro where he would pause to find his muse; it was also the place from which he would launch his swim across the bay to San Terenzo, where Shelley would be waiting.
While the legend is certainly romantic, Porto Venere's breathtaking natural beauty is enough to put it at the top of any traveler's list. Poised on the tip of the small peninsula that extends from the celebrated Italian Riviera, Porto Venere is the southernmost town on the walking trails connecting the five villages that make up the famous Cinque Terre, or five lands. Though not officially a part of the Cinque Terre, Porto Venere should be, and perhaps it would be if it weren't for its slightly removed location. With its sweeping views, brightly-colored houses, terraced gardens and three small islands -- Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto -- sitting prettily just off its rocky promontory, Porto Venere is so lovely, one wonders why Shelley did not instead make the swim to Byron.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monaco is an ancient principality steeped in rich and colorful history. Its proud monarchy is presided over by Prince Albert, who assumed the throne after his famed father Prince Rainier died in 2005.
Today when gazing on its modern skyline, it is hard to imagine that Monaco endured a turbulent past. Once a Greek settlement conquered by the Romans, it was bought from the Genoese in 1309 by the Grimaldis, who still rule as the world's oldest monarchy.
Monaco covers less than one square mile and is known primarily for its Grand Casino. |
|
| Itinerary |
Cruise Itinerary
| Day | Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|
| 1 |
30/05 |
Barcelona, Spain |
|
10:00 PM |
| 2 |
31/05 |
Port Vendres, France |
07:30 AM |
06:00 PM |
| 3 |
01/06 |
Marseilles, France |
07:00 AM |
06:00 PM |
| 4 |
02/06 |
St Tropez, France |
07:30 AM |
10:00 PM |
| 5 |
03/06 |
Propriano, Corsica. FR |
08:00 AM |
06:00 PM |
| 6 |
04/06 |
Olbia, Sardinia. IT |
08:00 AM |
06:00 PM |
| 7 |
05/06 |
Portovenere, Italy |
07:30 AM |
06:00 PM |
| 8 |
06/06 |
Monte Carlo, Monaco |
07:00 AM |
|
|
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
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