Cruise package – Barcelona to Rome with Celebrity Cruises

This fantastic Mediterranean cruise package from Barcelona to Rome with Celebrity Cruises offers pre-and post-cruise hotel nights plus superb ports of call on a 7-night cruise itinerary. We show you how to create your cruise package with this fantastic cruise line for the ultimate summer vacation.

Cruise the Mediterranean with Celebrity Cruises

In this article, you will find a tried and tested 12-night package suggestion to help you book your holiday at the best price possible and get value for your money.

This Barcelona to Rome package is three nights in Barcelona followed by a 7-night cruise in the Mediterranean and two nights in Rome.

Best of all, it’s easy to book yourself, so you have complete control over your vacation! Before making your booking with the cruise line, be sure to check out our top tips for trouble-free cruise bookings.

3 nights in Barcelona, 7-night Western Mediterranean Cruise, and 2 nights in Rome

Barcelona is known for its incredible architecture, trendy boutiques, and outstanding Spanish cuisine. This Catalan capital has everything: shopping, beaches, stunning architecture, great food, world-renowned art, friendly locals, and cozy neighborhoods.

Three nights in this great city is the perfect way to kick-start your Mediterranean cruise package from Barcelona to Rome.

Day 1: Arrive in Barcelona

Arrive at Barcelona Airport, having booked your flight with your favorite airline. (Tip! Read our advice about booking your flights online before you book!) The international airport’s name is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, known as El-Prat.

Transfer to your hotel using an official taxi standing outside your arrival terminal. Relax, shake off any jet lag, and enjoy your first of 5 nights in Barcelona.

Days 2-3: Exploring Barcelona

Follow our sightseeing tips on our Barcelona page before you start your cruise Click here for detailed itineraries, travel tips, and must-see sights. Choose how to plan your days so you see the best of Barcelona according to your interests. The most famous sights include:

• Eixample – Mansana de la Discordia, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Basilica of La Sagrada Familia
• The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) – Explore Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, including La Rambla, Plaça de Catalunya, Mercado de La Boqueria, The Cathedral of Barcelona, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Picasso Museum
• Barceloneta, the Beach & Port Olympic 
• Montjuic
• Parc Guell and Camp Nou

Day 4: Check in for your cruise with Celebrity Cruises

Time to cruise! Your Mediterranean cruise, including Spain, France, and Italy, is finally here. Check out from your hotel and transfer to the Port of Barcelona. The easiest way to get from the city to the port for your cruise from Barcelona is to ask your hotel for help making a taxi reservation.

Your port check-in time is on your cruise ticket. Tell the taxi chauffeur the name of the cruise line and cruise ship you are boarding, so he will take you to the correct terminal. Make sure you get there in good time!

• Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises
• Name of Ship: Celebrity Edge – read more about the fantastic Celebrity Edge and Celebrity “Edge” class ships here!
• Start Date: Weekly with Saturday departure from June through to August (Tip! Cruise dates and itineraries are subject to change at any time check with Celebrity Cruises at the time of booking)
• Cruise Port: From/To Port of Barcelona, Spain to Port of Civitavecchia, Rome

Days 4 – 11: Western Mediterranean Cruise with Celebrity Cruises (7 nights/8 days)

Cruise Day 1: Barcelona

Check-in for your Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona at Port of Barcelona. You are about to board the innovative and beautiful Celebrity Edge.

Settle into your cabin, unpack your suitcase, and head to the buffet restaurant for lunch. Or grab your favorite glass of bubble and relax on deck for the sail-away party!

Before you leave home, we recommend that you download Celebrity Cruises app onto your mobile telephone. It’s a great way to easily check in for your cruise, stay connected with family and friends on the ship, plan your activities, make reservations and see all that’s happening on board. And you do not need wifi to use it!

Cruise Day 2: València, Spain

Situated on Spain’s southeast coast, València is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Spain. It has a beautiful medieval center, full of shops and outdoor flower markets.

The cruise port is located only 4km from the city center. Most cruise lines will offer a free shuttle bus ride into the center. Check this with guest services on board before you arrive in València.

The local buses are a great way to get around if you plan to explore alone. It costs €1.5 per journey, and you pay when you climb on board.

If you want to be out in nature and visit lagoons and woodlands, L’Albufera Natural Park is just 10km outside the city center. We recommend downloading the EMT València app to help you navigate the local bus system.

Blue flag beaches and crystal clear water

Walking distance from the center is the beautiful La Malvarrosa beach. The promenade is packed with restaurants and cafés and is easily reachable from the port. Hammocks and parasols are easy to rent there. There are over 20km of sandy beaches in the city, and it is possible to rent a bike and cycle from one to the other if you are active and want to explore the coastline!

For easy sightseeing, start in the center at Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The town hall of València dominates the square. This domed building is adorned with glazed tiles and balconies.

Many guided tours start at this point. Enjoy musical events, parades, and the wonderful Art Nouveau buildings. And if you don’t want to walk, you can ride on a Tuk Tuk for a few euros.

Shop at Valencia’s central market, Mercado Central, then head to the gothic cathedral, where you can climb the bell tower for sweeping views of the city and beyond. If you are a real foodie, we recommend joining one of the cruise lines’ food tours for fantastic local Spanish cuisine.

Cruise Day 3: Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is a sunny and fun Spanish island and our favorite in the Balearics. This evergreen island is just 572 square kilometers with 170km of coastline.

Olive and fig trees grow abundantly in this year-round destination. You’ll dock near the island’s capital. From here you can explore the town on foot. It’s quite a long walk to the center, so take a taxi from the harborside if it’s a hot day.

The island is great fun and very relaxed, with countless bars, restaurants, and shops. It’s also fantastic for kayaking, snorkeling, or a scenic bike tour.

Two of our favorite shore excursions in the port of Ibiza are a historical walking tour of the old medieval town and a visit to the stunning Caves of Can Marçà. The cave tour combined with snorkeling is a great excursion for kids too.

Cruise Day 4: Day at Sea

Spend your first day at sea relaxing on board your cruise ship. Check the Celebrity app to see what activities are scheduled and join in as much or as little as you want to.

Familiarize yourself with the ship, check the dining options, book a massage or relax by the pool. See what’s happening in the Grand Plaza, relax with a sea view on al fresco seating in Eden, or order a drink at the restaurant on the magic carpet.

Alternatively, use this time to read up on your next ports and cruise destinations to make the most of shore days. And if you haven’t already planned a shore excursion, speak to the cruise destinations team on board to see what is available. It may be possible to book some places at last-minute availability at a reasonable price.

Cruise Day 5: Provence, France (Port of call: Marseilles)

Excursions from the port of Marseilles offer you the chance to experience the Provence region and see France as it was centuries ago. Medieval buildings and picturesque villages line narrow cobblestone lanes. The area is well known for its lavender fields, olive groves, and vineyards.

This stunning area is also known for its cuisine, with ingredients that grow profusely in the Mediterranean region. Provençal cuisine is made up of fresh, local produce and recipes that have been handed down through generations.

Marseilles offers many sights to visit, and we can warmly recommend a city tour with a guide if you love history. You visit sights such as Quai des Belges, the Chateau d’If, and Notre Dame de la Garde.

If you want to visit Marseilles without a guide, there is a free local shuttle bus from the port to the center. Reach the shuttle bus with a quick 5-minute walk from the ship. Follow the green walkway, and the shuttle bus is signposted. There is no need to book and pay for the cruise line’s shuttle bus transfer.

Take a stroll through Marseilles’s old quarter. You’ll find many art galleries and antique shops. Or enjoy their world-famous signature dish bouillabaisse at any one of the restaurants in town. Stick to the busy touristy areas of Marseille and beware of pickpockets.

Cassis and Calanques National Park are on your doorstep

Further afield, you can visit Calanques National Park. Take advantage of Celebrity’s excursion with the transportation. The National Park is about a half hour from the port.

The rugged coastline calls for good walking shoes. Alternatively, a boat trip from Marseilles to Cassis takes miles of the beautiful coastal landscape. Once in Cassis, the little fishing town is lovely; if you are lucky, it will be market day. The market takes place every Wednesday and Friday morning. Try the pastries, olives, cheese, and sausage.

Cruise Day 6: Portofino, Italy

Portofino is the picture-perfect coastal town in Liguria, Italy, which you will want to return to repeatedly. This is one of the most popular cruise destinations.

The first image you will see is the colorful houses of the fishing villages. The Hotel Splendido has hosted many celebrities, and the town is a magnet for tourists; it’s easy to see why.

When visiting Portofino on your cruise itinerary, your cruise ship with drop anchor offshore, and you will use tender boats to get to the port. Other cruises may have Genoa as a port of call, in which case a day trip to Portofino is possible as a cruise ship shore excursion.

When your tender boat has reached the harbor, it’s an easy walk into town. Include downtown Piazzetta, the lighthouse, and the castle in your exploration.

One of the most popular walking trails in this port stop is from Portofino to quaint and colorful Santa Margherita along the coastal trail. The walk is about one and a half hours and gives you fantastic views.

Do this if you are relatively fit and be aware of traffic along the coastal road. After enjoying a drink and one of the many bars in the marina at Santa Margherita, tack the bus or ferry back to Portofino.

Cruise Day 7: Florence, Pisa

Your next stop on your Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona and Celebrity Edge is docked in La Spezia, Italy.

If you do not want to wander far from the ship, explore art galleries, museums, and castles in La Spezia. Visit the Castle of San Giorgio, located on top of a hill overlooking the port with its magnificent views. Alternatively, take a boat trip up the River Magra to view its medieval bridges and wetlands.

Choosing what to do or which excursion to book for your port of call in La Spezia can be challenging. As the entrance port to many fantastic Italian destinations, you have the opportunity to visit Cinque Terre, Pisa or Florence, Siena, and Lucca. Each one in itself is great, and the surrounding areas are stunning.

Stunning Cinque Terre

If you want an adventure out in nature and love hiking, choose Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a group of five villages that stretch along Italy’s Riviera di Levante, with a dramatic section known as the Cinque Terre National Park.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can visit the five villages Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.

Book this day with your cruise line, or book train tickets or a guided tour in advance. Cinque Terre is a few hours away from La Spezia, so be sure you don’t miss your cruise departure time. We promise – it’s well worth the journey!

Pisa or Florence?

An alternative to visiting Cinque Terre is to take a trip to the city of Pisa or Florence.

Pisa may well have been on your bucket list for a long time. Who doesn’t want to stand next to the famous leaning tower?

In our opinion, Florence offers a richer experience. In Florence, you can discover the Uffizi Gallery, where you can view Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, climb the world-famous Duomo cathedral or walk the postcard-perfect Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Don’t worry if you feel you need longer here. Florence is a beautiful destination to visit again. Make this city part of a more extended trip to the region of Tuscany in your future travel plans!

Cruise Day 8: Rome

Your last stop on your cruise, Rome, is a city worth waiting for. And probably the most important city in European history.

Enjoy your final breakfast on board, and remember to leave a review of the cruise line at guest services. A cruise line can only improve by knowing what the guests think about the cruise. So don’t be shy about making comments. Guest services can give you a cruise line questionnaire to complete before leaving the ship.

Disembark at Port of Civitavecchia. Transfer to your hotel in Rome using an official taxi standing right outside your cruise terminal. Check-in may be possible; alternatively, leave your luggage with the concierge and check in later.

Day 11-13: Exploring Rome

Now start exploring the city and enjoying the first of 2 nights in Rome.

If you are not extending your stay in Rome after your cruise, transfer back to the airport. Officially named Rome Fiumicino International Airport, it is also known as Leonardo da Vinci International.

Booking your transfer in advance with the cruise line is wise as places on board the airport buses can become full. Remember, if you have a morning flight booked to take you home, ask the cruise line for an early check out from the ship.

Get more ideas about how to spend your time in Rome here. We have written detailed itineraries for four spectacular days of sightseeing in this fantastic historic city, including these highlights:

• The Jewish Quarter, Trastevere, and The Vatican
• Piazza Navona, The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain
• The Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese
• Ancient Rome,Vittoriano and the Colosseum

Check out out recomended hotels in Rome for cruise travelers.

Rome is on the bucket list of many travelers. Visiting the eternal city is an unforgettable experience. It is known for its art, culture, and history. Whether traveling as a couple or with kids, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Two nights in this great city is the perfect way to end your Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Rome.

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