From Barcelona to Rome (Civitavecchia) · Mediterranean · 10 nights
From Barcelona to Rome (Civitavecchia)
Windstar’s Star Plus Class of vessels – Star Pride, Star Legend and Star Breeze – each carry just over 300 guests and are hugely popular for very good reason.
These small ships accommodate 312 guests in large all-suite
accommodation, following the completion of the Star Plus
refurbishment programme in 2021 which saw the ships lengthened.
There’s a choice of restaurants, comfortable lounges, and plenty of
deck space, while the ship’s marina ensures you can enjoy the
complimentary watersports when anchored in hidden bays and tiny
coves.
Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, is one of our favourite ports of call. From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there's never a dull moment in this most beguiling of cities. Take a stroll along the Ramblas, soak up the wonderful art of Picasso and Miró, or experience the electrifying atmosphere of a match at the Camp Nou. Barcelona is truly a city with something for everyone.
The bustling fishing village of Palamós is one of the loveliest spots on the Costa Brava, surrounded by beautiful beaches and rugged coves. You can also use your stop here as a jumping off point for exploring nearby medieval villages, the historic city of Girona or the fantastic Salvador Dalí museum in Figueres.
The pretty Provençal fishing village of Sanary-sur-Mer is an agreeable place to spend a day, with a clutch of historic buildings and a lively open-air market. Sanary also has a fine literary heritage, home to a number of exiled German writers during the 1930s, and it was here that Aldous Huxley wrote ‘Brave New World’.
Renowned for its casino, its Grand Prix and its oligarch-friendly tax policies, Monte Carlo is glamour and hedonism personified, with a price tag to match. This little principality enjoys a lovely setting, the villas and penthouses tumbling down the hillside towards the sweeping blue expanse of the Mediterranean.
Few ports conjure up images of glitz and movie star glamour quite so readily as Cannes. May is when the glitterati roll into town for the Film Festival, but there’s still plenty to divert you the rest of the year, including the old quarter, Le Suquet, and the dazzling Croisette.
This tiny village on the Ligurian coast must be one of the most photographed spots in Italy, and no wonder; brightly coloured houses cling to the hillside overlooking a delightfully picturesque little harbour, where fishing boats gently bob alongside luxury yachts.
The island of Elba, just off the Tuscan coast, is where Napoleon Bonaparte was famously forced to live in exile between 1814-15. It’s hard to feel too sorry for him, though; the views from his plush Villa dei Mulini, situated high above the town of Portoferraio, are quite spectacular.
One of the world’s great cities, Rome continues to dazzle and delight visitors with a potent mix of architectural marvels, continent-defining history and buzzing nightlife. The Colosseum, the Vatican and the Forum are among the big ticket items, with the crowds to match, though in truth you will find history around almost every corner.
