Set sail for a holiday sea change
Posted 8 October, 2019
David Nankervis
There’s nothing like exploring a new city, followed by poolside drinks, restaurant dining and live music, before settling into a deluxe balcony cabin for the night. No wonder it’s called cruising.
And the best part? Each day you wake up in a new port, where the holiday begins all over again.
I used to be a cruising sceptic – I thought it would never be for me – until my wife talked me into our first trip, and now I know a lot better.
I embarked on my 8th cruise last June – a 7-night jaunt with Italian company, MSC, around the western Mediterranean, with a port stop every day.
It was the itinerary that sold us, plus MSC’s great reputation.
We embarked on the MSC Divina in Rome (Civitavecchia) and were greeted by friendly crew members who posed a very good question: did we want to purchase a drinks package and speciality restaurant deal?
After some quick calculations, we decided to indulge in both offers with peace of mind that we were also saving money.
Our first port of call was the Sicilian capital, Palermo. We did our own walking tour of the rustic city, including visits to the stunning 12
th century Palermo Cathedral, where monarchs were crowned and emperors buried. Next door was the Norman Palace with a fascinating museum recounting the rule of the Romans, Byzantines, Normans and Spanish.
Next door lay the breathtaking Palatine Chapel with its golden mosaic roof, resplendent with religious iconography.
After a late lunch in the city market, we returned to the Divina and relaxed on our cabin balcony before heading off to feast at the speciality steak restaurant with a couple of glasses of fine Italian wine.
