Sinead's Cruise Around the Mediterranean

By Sinead McSweeney

I recently got the chance to go on a cruise around the Mediterranean with Marella Cruises. The ship was called the Marella Discovery 2, which had features including All Inclusive options & outside cabins, both of which I took advantage of. During the course of the week, we visited Corsica, Rome, Pisa, St Raphael & Barcelona. It was incredible being able to visit such an interesting mix of destinations all in one trip. The fact that the ship was so comfortable only made an already exciting journey even more enjoyable!

Location

I flew into Palma, Majorca, as this is where the ship was docked and where the cruise would start. There was a coach waiting to take us from the airport to the port. It only took around 30 minutes for us to get there. From Palma, we travelled to the beautiful French town of Ajaccio in Corsica, then on to Civitavecchia where we caught a bus to Rome. Our next stop was Livorno,  where we again took a bus to Pisa which took about 30 minutes. From there we travelled to St Raphael, a beautiful coastal town with lovely shops, restaurants and a beach. Our final stop was Barcelona, where we visited some of the city's most iconic attractions before heading back to Palma to conclude the cruise.

What I Loved

The ship was fantastic. The cabins were comfortable and the amenities on board were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the entertainment on offer. I went to several evening shows in the theatre. There is always something going on with a good variety in the different bars so there is something for everyone.

Activities & Places to See

• Corsica is the birth place of Napolean, so I would highly recommend visiting his childhood home while you're there, which has since been turned into a museum.
• Visiting Rome's most famous attractions is a must while you're in the city. I saw the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain & St. Peter's Basilica, which was a truly unforgettable experience.
• In Barcelona, make sure to see the famous cathedral La Sagrada Familia as well as Las Ramblas.

Shopping

There are shops open on deck 5 when the ship is at sea where you can pick up all kinds of things.

Food & Bars

There were lots of food and drinks options on the ship. For bars, there's a choice of five; The Atrium bar, The Live Room, The Squid and Anchor, The Pool Deck and Bar Eleven, which is open until 2am for any night owls on the ship! For dining there is Restaurant 47, Gallery 47, The Glass House, The Snack Shack and the Islands, which is the buffet restaurant. There are three specialty restaurants too; Kora La, Sushi Bar and Surf & Turf Steakhouse. The food in Gallery 47, the Glass House and the Surf and Turf restaurants was fabulous.

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