Cruising the Western Mediterranean is an exciting experience

I had long been planning to go on a cruise aboard one of those large luxury ships to experience it for myself, and a few months ago, I decided that it would be the western Mediterranean.

I was very excited before the trip because it was my first time living for eight days with 6,000 passengers and 1,700 crew members on a 330-meter-long ship.

What a giant it was, docked in the port of Genoa, where my journey began.

Genoa, Photo Adria.fun

From Kutina, where I live, to Genoa it’s about 850 kilometers, and I decided to drive there myself, even though the agency offered a bus option. In the end, it took about 10 hours, and I arrived at the port just in time, 1 hour before boarding.

Porters were waiting for me there, and I handed over my car keys to attendants who took it to the garage. It cost me 120 euros for eight days of parking. I quickly went through check-in and security, and before I knew it, I was in my cabin. It was excellent, I chose one with a balcony, located on the 11th deck.

MSC Grandiosa, cabin, Photo: Adria.fun

Lounging on the balcony costs more than a cabin without that luxury, but I didn’t mind spending the money because it’s a one-of-a-kind experience to sip your coffee there or watch the sunrise or sunset in the middle of nowhere.

MSC Grandiosa, sunrise, Photo: Adria.fun

The ship was called Grandiosa, built in 2019, and it was truly beautiful and luxurious. In the middle of the ship, there’s a stunning promenade filled with restaurants and shops that transform into a lively evening scene with music and entertainment everywhere.

It’s impossible to be bored on board. When docked, you go ashore to explore new cities and cultures. If you choose to stay, there’s a large outdoor pool with a sundeck, a sports hall, an aqua and adventure park, smaller indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools, a spa center, a casino, kids’ play areas, a gym, and numerous bars serving cocktails and other drinks.

All drinks and meals were included in our package, and believe me, it’s impossible to consume as much as is available.

From six in the morning until midnight, you can eat as much as you want, and during the day, you can have unlimited water, juices, and hot drinks. Alcoholic beverages were limited to fifteen per person per day, including cocktails, which is already enough to earn a serious liver condition, so I didn’t even try to reach that limit.

Meals were served buffet-style, while dinners could also be enjoyed in a full-service restaurant.

Evenings were filled with entertainment shows in the large theater, each night featuring a different program. The hall was packed every night, and it’s no exaggeration to say I was thrilled by the performances, singers, illusionists, lighting, and special effects. It was a perfect 10/10.

On the day we spent entirely at sea without docking anywhere, there was extra entertainment and a private party organized by our agency, which brought in Jelena Rozga and her band to perform exclusively for about three hundred guests from Croatia and Slovenia. I’m not really a fan, but the show was great and I had a wonderful time.

And now, briefly about the route I took, though I’ll describe each stop in more detail in separate posts.

As I mentioned, we departed from Genoa. The next day, we arrived in Civitavecchia, the port city of Rome, followed by an excursion to the Eternal City.

After Rome came an overnight sail to Sicily, where the ship docked in its largest city, Palermo. My first impression was that the city was quite neglected and dirty, but still worth visiting and perhaps exploring more deeply another time.

It took us a bit longer to reach the Balearic Islands and Ibiza, two Mediterranean gems of Spain. Two nights and a full day of sailing. The impression was very positive, especially since at the end of October we were welcomed by 25°C weather, no crowds, and reasonable prices.

Ibiza, Photo: Adria.fun

After Ibiza, we sailed to Valencia, which turned out to be a wonderful discovery. For me, it was definitely the most beautiful city on the entire route, one I’ll surely visit again someday.

After Valencia came an overnight sail to France and the city of Marseille, which wasn’t the best experience. There wasn’t enough time to see much, and the area where the bus dropped us off didn’t offer many sights either.

After that, we returned to Genoa, and it was time to head home.

Marseille, Cathédrale La Major, Photo: Adria.fun

All in all, cruising the western Mediterranean was an exciting experience that I wholeheartedly recommend. Of course, there are other routes to dream about, and I already am.

Although it wasn’t cheap (over 4,000 euros for two people), it was worth every second aboard a ship where life feels almost perfect.

MSC Grandiosa, Ibiza, Photo: Adria fun