 At the end of August I will head to Barcelona Spain where I will embark on a 7 Night cruise to the French Riviera and Italy. I wanted to give you a preview of my plans. In Barcelona I will board the new Celebrity Xcel, but first I am exploring the beutiful city of Barcelona Spain.  Sagrada Familia Barcelona Photo by Pourya Gohari on Unsplash Barcelona I will ave two full days in Barcelona but I am hoping I can sleep on the flight over so I can hit the ground running. The first day, no real plans except getting my bearings. The second day will be busy with a visit to the Sagrada Familia and a cooking class with a couple who are going with me. The Sagrada is a Basilica currently unfinished and was started in 1882. This is one of many designs by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona.  Celebrity Xcel On Saturday, I board the brand new Celebrity Xcel for my 7 night Mediterranean Cruise. I have fell in love with sailing on Celebrity over the last couple years so its exciting to finally sail on an Edge Class ship. Exploring the Bazar where the food and decor change based on where you are in the world. Enjoying a drink at the Sunset Bar over looking Barcelona as we leave and enjoying the show at the Martini Bar. On the Edge Class ships they introduced a new type of balcony called an infinite Verandah. Think of a Florida room with a window that comes down. This will my first experience with this type of verandah so I will let you know my thoughts.  Portofino, Italy Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash Nice, France The first stop is Nice, France. Well, the ship actually docks in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, a short distance from Nice. My plan here is to visit Nice but also check out Monte Carlo, maybe trying my luck at the casino. Villefranche is a tender port, and the ride ashore should offer beautiful views of the French Riviera. Portofino, Italy The next stop is the picturesque town of Portofino, Italy, where we will take a tender boat over to town. Portofino is known for its colorful harbor, luxury yachts, and walkable village streets, so it should be a great place to explore at a slower pace. Florence, Italy The third stop on the cruise will be Florence, Italy. This is the first of several long days in port, as Florence is a distance from La Spezia, where the ship docks. From here, I have a choice of visiting Pisa or Florence. From what I have read, doing both may be a waste because there is not enough time to really enjoy either one. Here I am either going to do an excursion to a farmhouse and wine tasting or take off on the two-hour train ride to Florence. La Spezia is a major gateway port for Tuscany and the Ligurian coast, with Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre all popular day-trip options. Rome, Italy The fourth stop is Rome, Italy, the Eternal City. For Rome, I am doing a Celebrity shore excursion that includes the express train from Civitavecchia to Rome and a Hop-On Hop-Off tour. For Rome, you dock in Civitavecchia and take about a 1 1/2-hour train ride into the city. Once I arrive, I have a skip-the-line ticket for the Colosseum. My hope is to also see the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, along with having a great lunch. Rome is filled with ancient landmarks, fountains, piazzas, and churches, so even a short visit should feel packed with history around every corner. Naples, Italy The fifth and final stop is Naples, Italy, for the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Here I am also taking a Celebrity shore excursion. Naples is one of the easiest ports for access to historic sites, with Pompeii only a short trip away, and it is also famous for being the birthplace of pizza. The last day on the ship is a sea day and will likely include a lot of sleeping. Actually, you will hopefully find me relaxing in the Solarium Pool. 
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