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Limoncello Days & Sardinian Sunsets

Cruise in luxury from Rome to Barcelona with Explora Journeys!

Rome to Barcelona

8 days / 7 nights

Cruise Holiday

Explora II

Departs 15 Sep 2025

Overview

Explore Europe on this 7 night Rome to Barcelona itinerary onboard Explora II. Visit some of Rome's most iconic landmarks, enjoy wine tasting at a Medieval Monastery, learn the art of traditional pasta making and more! Cruise departs 15 September 2025.

Between the Pantheon’s quiet beauty and ghostly Pompeii, the power and seduction of Ancient Rome slips into our senses. From Sorrento we Med-island hop to Sicily’s Palermo, all faded glamour, fine churches, culinary riches and catacombs, and Sardinia, land of giants and stone fortresses with stunning wild shores and epic stretches of fine white sand. We close with Spanish charm in the Balearics and Barcelona.

Onboard Explora II

Twinned with EXPLORA I for inherent sophistication. A beautifully crafted haven that stimulates the senses and connects us with the ocean. EXPLORA II, sets sail in 2024, paving the way to new discoveries and furthering possibilities. Guests prepare to immerse themselves in effortless luxury, as they journey to inspiring destinations and experience the Ocean State of Mind.

 

 

Inclusions

  • In-suite welcome bottle of champagne upon arrival
  • A bottle of wine and a bottle of spirit of the guests’ choice upon arrival
  • Authentic, cultured and intuitive service from our team of hospitality experts
  • Nine distinct culinary experiences, including in-suite dining
  • Unlimited beverages, fine wines and premium spirits, speciality coffees, teas and soft drinks available anytime, including in-suite mini-bar*
  • Access to the spa thermal area
  • Wellbeing and fitness programmes onboard and at the destinations
  • All on-board gratuities
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
  • Shuttle services from port to city centre (where required/available)

Itinerary

Day 1 | Italy - Hidden Rome

There’s more to Rome than its ancient architecture. The Eternal City is home to a seemingly endless array of hidden gems. The artistic-minded can enjoy fashion aristocracy, street art, vespa jaunts to The Appian Way and toss coins into fountains. Or you can stroll by appointment to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Pope’s private quarters at the Vatican. Explore the historic ruins of The Colosseum, Caravaggio churches, the Spanish Steps and The Pantheon. Learn how to make pasta the true Italian way, hunt truffles, nibble gelato, sip coffee and sink into a 3000 year old pool for a wellness experience. an ode to homespun pasta at a Renaissance piazza. When in Rome, fusing old with new makes it simple to indulge in whatever you like.

Day 2 | Italy - A Siren’s Song of Sorrento

Seductive Greek Sirens still sing from Sorrento's shores and lure us into her astonishing beauty of Vesuvian sites, Amalfi hikes and a wealth of pretty Positano pleasures. Wander maze-like Centro Storico laced with hidden gardens and historic churches then prepare your palate for old-school pizzerias and lemony gelato in picturesque Piazza Tasso. Peer down into the Valle dei Mulini or venture to Lattari Mountain trails and dig into Italy’s most famous sites: ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum. Hop a yacht across the Bay of Naples to chic Capri or round Sorenntina Penisola for ravishing Ravello’s terraced gardens. Between sips of luscious limoncello and a wealth of wonders, Sorrento smoulders with eternal dolce vita glamour.

Day 3 | Italy - Palermo Spotlights Sicilian Charm

Be drawn into a balmy blend of olive-strewn landscapes, starkly beautiful Greek temples, Byzantine mosaics, and ricotta-filled farm-to-table delights. Wander Palermo's ficus-filled streets as you tour through the Florio family tale. Taste wine through a patchwork of fertile vineyards below rumbling giant Mount Etna and talented Teatro Greco, Sicily's most dolce vita hill town. Take in noble UNESCO heritage sites, tour leafy Villa Tasca, marvel medieval mosaic masterpieces at Monreale or Cefalù and continue the Greek theme to visit tumbled ruins and secluded temples. Welcome Baroque brilliance, Aztec chocolate, and modern-day charms in Sicily's honey-hued deep south towns. From Michelin-starred temple dining to Trapani beaches and fishermen mending nets outside hipster bars - such contrasts are at the soul of this irresistible island.

Day 4 | At sea

Day 5 | Italy - Cagliari: Sardinia’s Historic Capital

Cagliari fans out from the steep slopes of Il Castello, the hilltop citadel built by Pisan rulers in the 13th century, home to the opulent Cathedral of Santa Maria and bloody Elephant Tower, where trophy heads once hung. The seven-kilometre expanse of Poetto Beach unfurls from the Devil’s Saddle (Sella del Diavolo) on St. Elia promontory, past a string of beachfront eateries where legendary Sardinian seafood is enhanced by crisp chilled Vermentino. Across the waves, the irresistible waters of Capo Carbonara Marine Reserve teem with colourful coral fans and kaleidoscopic sea creatures. 

Day 6 | Italy - Submerged Secrets in Alghero

Watch the sun melt into the horizon from Alghero’s monumental towers, three sentinels that keep watch over ancient walls. Dive into the Coral Coast around Capo Caccia and discover underwater worlds teeming with graceful rays and the skeletons of ancient wrecks, then delve into Neptune’s secret grotto, burrowed between limestone cliffs and pebbly beaches. Don’t miss pretty Bosa, maiden of Sardinia, or the churches and museums of Sassari. Local wines are the perfect pour with lobster alla Catalana, plucked fresh from the deep blue sea.

Day 7 | Spain - Calm Mahón

Beckon the buzz of a small UNESCO-listed island; proud of producing its own cheese, wine and rather distinguished gin. Sink into a lemon-scented laidback lifestyle that reflects elegant Georgian architecture, Spain’s oldest opera house, history, art and a monastery-based museum. Off glittering turquoise shores, visit the Royal Naval hospital, shop for world-renowned shoes, amble amongst butterflies up coastal paths and rest for tapas in harbour-side tavernas. Celebrated yet discreet – unhurried Menorca is the low-key location to go and not to be seen.

Day 8 | Spain - Catalan’s Cultural Heart

Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.

Booking terms and conditions apply.

* Term and conditions apply: All pricing subject to change and availability. Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise. Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change. Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies. Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.

Destinations featured in this deal

Europe Italy Greece Croatia

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