celebrity cruises 9 night italian riviera and france

9 Night Italian Riviera & France Cruise 9 nights, call for pricing

Celebrity reflection.

13 May - 22 May 2023

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• Celebrity Cruises

9 Night Italian Riviera & France Cruise

By taylortime05 , July 12, 2022 in Celebrity Cruises

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taylortime05

I’m trying to decide if we should get a balcony cabin on the right (starboard side) or left  (port side).   Does the ship sail close enough to the shore line that you can see land as you’re sailing or just when you get into the port?    Which side do you think is better?  

Thank you for your feedback.  

Link to comment

Share on other sites, sbbquilterut.

You will not be sailing that close to land - choose more or less sun if that matters to you.  On these itineraries we are so busy that the cabin is less important to us - pooped after a long day so to bed pretty early.

I kinda prefer the starboard side for the simple reason I like to watch them docking the ship and seeing the city.  In more cases than not, ships dock on this side but.....it's not 100% of the time.  

We always book port side mid ship or towards the stern for a number of reasons, one of which is trying to figure out  how to navigate the ship and which way is forward.  Can't predict which side of the ship will be toward the port each day, but port side has always been good for us.

Choose an AFT cabin!  You won't miss anything!

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9 Night Italian Riviera & France

With innovative spaces like the Lawn and the AquaSpa Celebrity Cruises gives their customers a taste of modern luxury.

It’s your moment to shine when you sail with Celebrity Cruises through the Mediterranean – the playground of the world’s rich and famous. 

Discover imaginative architecture, impressive Spanish dishes and beautiful excursions into nature when you cruise to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

• Celebrity Equinox - Passenger Capacity: 2,850 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2009 Last Refurbished: 2019

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Celebrity Equinox

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Barcelona, Spain , Marseille, France , Villefranche, France , Santa Margherita, Italy , Florence, Italy , Naples, Italy , Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

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• Itinerary & Pricing

9 Night Italian Riviera & France sailing on the Celebrity Equinox

Departure dates: jul 2024 - oct 2024.

From $1,798

From $1,849

From $1,949

Stateroom prices for Jul. 11, 2024

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Based on Oceanview cabin prices

Based on Balcony cabin prices

Based on Suite cabin prices

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Celebrity Equinox - September 5, 2024

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September 5, 2024

September 5 - 14, 2024

Celebrity Equinox

Celebrity Cruises

9 Night Italian Riviera & France

from Barcelona, Spain

The September 5, 2024 cruise on the Celebrity Equinox departs from Barcelona, Spain. On this 9 Night Italian Riviera & France sailing, the ship will visit a total of 7 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Celebrity Equinox sets sail on a Thursday (September 5, 2024) and returns on a Saturday (September 14, 2024).

Cruise Price by Cabin Type

The price of the September 5, 2024 cruise on the Celebrity Equinox ranges from $1,438 for an inside cabin to $7,153 for a suite.

This is a 9 night cruise and price per night is noted below for each cabin type. An inside cabin will cost $159 per night, an ocean view cabin will cost $(call) per night, a balcony cabin will cost $193 per night, and a suite will cost $794 per night.

$159 / night

$(call) / night

$193 / night

$794 / night

The Celebrity Equinox was built in 2009 and is amoung Celebrity's 16 ships in it's fleet. The Celebrity Equinox is included in the cruise line's Solstice Class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Celebrity Equinox vs all other Celebrity ships.

All Itineraries

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street musicians and elegant bistros. Then perhaps visit the venerable Gothic cathedral, Picasso Museum or enjoy the architectural genius of Antonio Gaudi's Church of the Holy Family.

Barcelona is the cultural heartland of Spain, yet its first language is Catalan, the native tongue of the proudly independent Catalonia region. Stroll down the shady, tree-lined Ramblas between street...

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

The most populated city in France after Paris, Marseille has all the sights and sounds of a Mediterranean melting pot, which it has been ever since the Phocaean Greeks invaded around 600 B.C. Its industrial docks rub shoulders with the picturesque old harbor, the Vieux Port, founded by the Greeks 2,600 years ago. Packed with colorful fishing boats and yachts, the Vieux Port is the heart of Marseille.

The most populated city in France after Paris, Marseille has all the sights and sounds of a Mediterranean melting pot, which it has been ever since the Phocaean Greeks invaded around 600 B.C. Its...

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Find out why this region was so popular with writers Ezra Pound, Lord Byron, Shelley and his wife Mary, and Hemingway. Located just north of Genoa in northern Italy, Santa Margherita Ligure is marked...

From Livorno, your path leads through the rolling green hills of Tuscany to Florence, the flower of the Renaissance. The creative explosion happened right here, with masterworks by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Botticelli now landmarks of daily life. Ufizzi, Academmia, il Duomo: the art treasures of a golden age are commonplace to blessed Florentines. Livorno also serves as the gateway to Pisa, home of the famous leaning tower.

From Livorno, your path leads through the rolling green hills of Tuscany to Florence, the flower of the Renaissance. The creative explosion happened right here, with masterworks by Michelangelo...

One of the most spectacular bays in the world lies in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Visit the San Carlo Opera House and the cathedral of San Janarious, or tour the ancient ruins in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

One of the most spectacular bays in the world lies in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Visit the San Carlo Opera House and the cathedral of San Janarious, or tour the ancient ruins in the Roman cities of...

Civitavecchia

Civitavecchia is just moments from Rome, Italy's Eternal City. One of the most geographically perfect ports in the world, Civitavecchia boasts a number of compelling area attractions. Stroll through the streets of the medieval town of Tarquinia. View the resplendent Madonnina at the Resort of Pantano.

Civitavecchia is just moments from Rome, Italy's Eternal City. One of the most geographically perfect ports in the world, Civitavecchia boasts a number of compelling area attractions. Stroll...

7 of the best Mediterranean cruise holidays to book for 2024

T he Mediterranean is without doubt a top choice for holidays for British tourists seeking the sun – and its waters are world-class for cruising .

Here, holidaymakers will find a tangle of rich cultures, irresistible romance and classic cuisines, and a slice of the 28,600 miles of colourful coastline in southern Europe is often best discovered by boat.

With on-shore excursions exploring everything from the Greek gods to platters of authentic tapas, it’s possible to liaise with locals over flamenco in Barcelona , cleanse your palette with gelato in Sicily and bask on the beaches of Mykonos all on one trip.

Better still, docking at ancient harbours on multi-storey vessels promises seafaring travellers a balmy greeting in the summer season from June to September.

Here’s our guide to the best multi-country cruises with all the amenities and aperitifs to book a last-minute float in 2024 on the magical Med.

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Best for: City stops

14-day mediterranean with greece, france & italy, princess cruises.

Departs: Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Arrives: Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

To tick the likes of Athens, Barcelona, Marseille and Genoa off of your bucket list in just 14 days, Princess Cruise’s Mediterranean itinerary offers a nine-port adventure on Sun Princess. The all-inclusive voyage through Greece, Montenegro, Italy, Spain and France has an extensive choice of classic on-shore excursions, with interior rooms starting from £2,099pp.

Departing 17 August 2024.

Best for: Luxury sailing

7-night corsica & french riviera, star clippers.

Departs: Cannes, France

Arrives: Cannes, France

One of the world’s most glamorous ports, a departure from Cannes sets the tone for this seven-night sail of Corsica and the French Riviera with Star Clippers . Peruse the boutiques of Portofino, swim in the sparkling shallows off Plage Saint Antoine in Corscica and top up your tan in St Tropez from £1,665pp under the white sails of the intimate Star Flyer clipper ship.

Departing 20 July 2024.

Best for: Couples

7-night mediterranean cruise, msc cruises.

Departs: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Arrives: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Love is in the sea breeze on MSC Cruises’ week-long cruise in the Mediterranean. Picture a romantic island hop with your partner to the blues of Corfu, Cefalonia, Bari and the whitewashed churches of Santorini (primed for a proposal so we hear). Better still, the full board voyage on MSC Opera comes complete with a piano bar, sea view restaurants and steamy spa facilities, with interior cabins from just £659pp.

Departing 23 July 2024.

Best for: Families

7-night mediterranean cruise from barcelona, disney cruise line.

Departs: Barcelona, Spain

Arrives: Barcelona, Spain

Undeniably, Disney does magic best – and what better way to travel the Mediterranean with kids than a week with Mickey and his friends on the Disney Dream from Barcelona? There are shows, slides and snacks to enjoy on deck between docks in Palermo, Naples, Civitavecchia and Livorno. An inside stateroom for two adults and two children starts from £8,173.

Departing 5 July 2024.

Best for: Foodies

Best of italy & croatia, celebrity cruises.

Departs: Rome, Italy

Arrives: Ravenna, Italy

With a host of culinary cruises in their fleet, the onboard dining experience of a Celebrity Cruise ship leaves little to desire – and on the 10-day ‘Best of Italy & Croatia’ cruise, foodies will also have a chance to taste classic dishes in their birthplaces. There are citrus fruits in Portofino, pizza in Naples, arancini in Sicily, and Dalmatian stew in Split to savour during the $1,902pp (£1,505) voyage.

Departing 17 September 2024.

Best for: All-inclusive

Mediterranean medley, marella cruises.

Departs: Palma, Mallorca

Arrives: Palma, Mallorca

Kick your feet up with Marella Cruises for an all-inclusive float to French favourites Livorno, Villefranche, Toulon and star Spanish cities including Barcelona, Valencia and Palma. On the brand new Marella Voyager, 27 restaurants and bars, an indoor cinema, a pool deck and a mini golf course mean your hardest decision while on the Med will be how to spend your morning and fit in six meals. The week’s journey starts from £1,118pp, including flights and transfers.

Departing 24 August 2024.

Best for: History buffs

Istanbul icons & aegean artifacts, windstar cruises.

Departs: Athens, Greece

Arrives: Istanbul, Turkey

With Windstar Cruises’ ‘Istanbul Icons & Aegean Artifacts’ voyage, the cultural wonders of Athens, Delphi, Bodrum and Istanbul are waiting just outside your cabin. On the eight-day trip – four of which are spent discovering Istanbul – you’ll see Unesco-listed legends from the Acropolis to Akrotiri and the Blue Mosque for all-inclusive prices from $5,899pp (£4,671).

Departing 9 October 2024.

Read more: How to have a floating holiday under the technicolour waltz of the aurora borealis

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15 Best Places to Visit in Italy for the First Time

By Chris Allsop

Last updated: July 9th, 2024

• Find a Cruise

The best places to visit in Italy for the first time are dotted all around the Italian peninsula.

What makes these particular cities, towns, and villages such a good introduction to Italy? These destinations are either emblematic of a region and impossibly gorgeous, such as Alberobello or the Cinque Terre, or one of those Italian towns or cities that are repositories of the country’s history and culture, such as Rome and Florence.

Whether you’re here for the cuisine, the wine, the art, or the natural beauty, enjoy discovering your personal favorite place in Italy and embrace la dolce vita for yourself.

Alberobello

Located in the rural countryside north of the coastal city of Taranto , Alberobello is the epitome of what makes the Puglia region such a wonderful introduction to Italy. It’s a concentrated dose of charming rusticity, unique tradition, and relatively few visitors compared to headline attractions like Rome or the Cinque Terre.

Now UNESCO-protected, Alberobello’s architectural heritage is what makes it one of the best places to visit in Southern Italy . Its tiny trulli houses, like something out of a fairytale, are conical and white-washed, built from local limestone, and in Alberobello, they’re found in unusual density.

This village makes for a delightful day trip in Southern Italy . Visit its Trullo Sovrano museum to learn more about its history, and revel in Puglia’s renowned produce at Ristorante Trullo D’Oro—seated within a trulli house, of course.

One of the best places to visit in Italy for the first time, colorful Cagliari offers an intriguing mix of mainstream Italian culture mingled with the multi-layered history and traditions of the island of Sardinia.

Situated south of the French island of Corsica, Sardinia is a jewel of the Mediterranean. It’s home to some of the best hikes in Italy and visitors delight in its rugged, cork-forested interior while sun-worshippers bask on its famously beautiful beaches.

Poetto Beach, Cagliari

Cagliari knits the island’s charms into an intoxicating, multicultural weave. Its Il Castello quarter, with its 13th-century cathedral and fortified towers, resonates with history, while its urban Poetto beach is one of Italy’s best beaches .

African aromas mingle with Italian flavors in the city’s kitchens, but don’t worry: you’re never far from a pizzeria; this is Italy, after all.

Despite being located on Sicily —an island famous for its distinctive character—the town of Taormina is, in many ways, the ideal Italian seaside resort.

With a wonderful outlook over the Bay of Naxos, this gorgeous Sicilian town is set into the verdant, craggy hillside above the beautiful Isola Bella beach. The terraces of its hotels float amid the cumuli of umbrella pines and Spritz-sipping guests switch their gaze between the cerulean sea and the often smoking cone of Mount Etna.

Orange and lemon trees line the streets of Taormina , their branches daubed with citric color. Holidaying couples browse the boutiques of Corso Umberto I, stopping at counters for Sicilian treats like lemon granita or ricotta-filled cannoli.

Greek Theater of Taormina

On top of it all this bijou pleasure spot fits in a heavyweight historical site: its astounding Greek Theater, with magnificent views of Etna in the distance. In summer, the theater is used as a venue for concerts.

How can one summarize somewhere as magnificent as the beautiful Italian city of Florence? The Tuscan capital is readily acknowledged as one of the essential stops in Italy.

Florence is known for its wealth of Italian artistic treasures, many housed in “Italy’s Louvre”—the stately Uffizi Gallery.

But perhaps the most remarkable thing about Florence is how its immense cultural legacy—including works from talents such as Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and Donatello—is often found on display in the city streets.

Piazza della Signoria, Florence

Florence’s cobblestoned historic center is a maze of medieval architecture and sculptural masterpieces. Among the intricate marble facades and lifelike artworks, you have a vibrant Italian city, with street markets , fabulous people-watching, and food halls serving Neapolitan pizza, or Florentine tripe rolls for the authenticity seekers.

Santa Margherita

Santa Margherita is one of the best places to visit in Italy for the first time if you want something glamorous but more low-key. It’s a seaside resort that enjoys relatively low visibility on the Italian Riviera, but with the soft morning light warming its terracotta and lemon-hued belle epoque architecture, you’ll marvel at the oversight of other travelers who have headed to its more famous neighbors, Portofino and the Cinque Terre.

For those who know it, this is a blessing. During summer in Italy , its beachfront looks out over racing sailboats. Return visitors check in to their favorite seafront grand hotels, while the fishermen haul in the famous red shrimp for the town’s restaurants’ dinner service.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Home to one of the most famous symbols of Italian culture, Pisa is easily one of the best places to visit in Italy for the first time.

For many, a vacation, even one focused on high-minded matters such as art and culture, requires iconic snapshots for posterity. And there’s no greater backdrop than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa

Once you’ve scratched that itch, the blinkers come off and Pisa awaits. Its major medieval sights are conveniently gathered close to the Leaning Tower in the UNESCO-protected Piazza dei Miracoli or “Square of Miracles”.

Descend into the city streets and you’ll enter a place at ease with itself. Window shop on Borgo Stretto and sit down to some Tuscan food at the excellent Ristoro Pecorino on Via Santa Maria.

Read: Best Things to Do in Tuscany

Cinque Terre

Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre , or “Five Lands” is a chain of five brightly painted fishing villages clinging to the mountainous coastline of Liguria.

Manarola, Cinque Terre

Each of the towns of Cinque Terre has a unique character. Manarola, with its dramatic limestone cliffs, is often cited as the “most romantic”. The Cinque Terre is, in general, a romantic place, so much so that its most famous hiking path, connecting the villages, is called the “Lover’s Walk”.

Meanwhile, Monterosso al Mare, the largest, has a spacious beach and the feel of a classic Italian resort town. But you couldn’t mistake the Cinque Terre’s scenery for just anywhere—this place is one of a kind.

Read: Best Things to Do in Cinque Terre

With the Italian natural wonder of Mount Vesuvius looming nearby, Neapolitan culture often draws volcanic comparisons. But the allusions can be fair, as this southern coastal city is one of Italy’s most charismatic, from its Maradona-worshiping street art to its world-renowned culinary culture.

“Culinary culture” in this instance is a synonym for “ pizza ”. Naples is the home of the fluffy and light pizza base known throughout the West. If you’re a Margherita-lover, then a first stop has to be Pizzeria Brandi, regarded as the origin point for this marriage of buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, and fragrant basil.

The history of this gloriously attractive part of Italy is as alluring as the food. UNESCO-listed Pompeii is a short drive south of Naples . And the city’s 16th-century Quartieri Spagnoli with its web of lanes acts as a delicious counterpoint to the stately architecture of Naples’ adjacent historic district.

One of the world’s most dramatic archaeological parks, Pompeii is one of the best places to visit in Italy for first-timers.

Before it was buried in 79AD beneath an avalanche of pumice and lava, Pompeii was a thriving Roman town. Today, its excavated buildings and streets have been transformed into a profoundly affecting open-air museum.

Among the remarkable sights are the casts of the former inhabitants on display, frozen in their last moments. Once you’ve spent a good half day exploring Pompeii, it’s back to neighboring Naples with its pizza, beaches, and vibrant city life. And maybe a nervous glance or two at slumbering Mount Vesuvius.

The word “ Sorrento ” conjures up sunbeams and the scent of lemons. This cliffside town on the Gulf of Naples is famous for its lemony limoncello liqueur and its super-sized citrus, but its appeal runs deeper than just yellow fruit.

Sorrento looks back across the water towards the cone of Mount Vesuvius. Its town planners did a fabulous job. A haunt of holidaying Roman nobles 2,000 years ago, today its artisan workshop-lined side streets are open to all.

While it is a favorite weekend shopping destination for monied Neapolitans, Sorrento’s history is never too far away. Only a short walk outside of town is a bathing pool—Bagni Regina Giovanni—where the medieval Queen of Naples would reportedly carry out extramarital trysts.

Read: Best Things to Do in Sorrento

The Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Town, Amalfi Coast

The rumpled beauty of the Amalfi Coast , to the south of Naples, is a fusion of California’s Big Sur and the most dramatic karst landscapes of southern Thailand. Add that quintessential Italian style, and you have an area of undeniable glamor and visual lushness.

Experience glitzy Positano with its eye-popping architecture. Visit Ravello to understand what drew artists like Truman Capote here, and hike or ferry-hop between its many gorgeous and distinctive towns and villages.

It’s one of the best places to visit in Italy for the first-time traveler, however, due to its renown, the shoulder season is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast to avoid the busiest time.

Even in high summer, the Amalfi’s undulating coastline with its snaking highway and high-stepping bridges offers numerous sunny nooks in which to escape the crowds.

Read: Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast: Which Should You Visit?

The pastel-hued destination for high flyers of the 1960s, Portofino is a perfectly formed jewel of a fishing village located on its namesake peninsula in Liguria . It’s one of the best places to visit in Italy for the first-time traveler, as it’s undeniably glamorous and close to a whole host of other Italian Riviera destinations such as the Cinque Terre.

Portofino is surrounded by a marine park that protects flourishing acres of seagrass meadows. Above the water, sleek superyachts moor in one of the world’s most exclusive marinas.

Roped alongside them, and colorfully coordinated with the bright carousel of tall, narrow buildings on the quayside, are the traditional gozze ligure fishing boats. Boutiques and upscale restaurants inhabit what were once the homes of fishermen.

After wandering the town’s polished cobbles, order a Paciugo gelato sundae on the quayside and enjoy the top-tier people-watching.

Read: Best Things to Do in Portofino

On the Adriatic coast about an hour’s drive from Emilia-Romagna’s capital of Bologna, the smaller, less well-known Ravenna quietly presides over a trove of UNESCO-listed treasures.

It’s the best place to visit in Italy for first-timers who are concerned about crowds but don’t want to miss out on the country’s astonishing cultural treasures. In Ravenna, the former capital of the Western Roman Empire, you’ll find Byzantine frescoes and mosaics to rival the Sistine Chapel.

While Ravenna is a thriving city, you can enjoy this more off-the-beaten-path experience in Italy without feeling a sense of being crowded. Ravenna has a historic center offering excellent traditional restaurants as well as Adriatic-washed crescents of sand located only a short bus or car ride away.

One of the best food cities in Italy , Bologna has superb name recognition thanks to its meaty Bolognese pasta sauce.

If food is an important factor when considering the best places to visit in Italy for the first time, then Bologna should be your list-topper. On the outskirts of the city sits Eataly FICO, the world’s first food theme park. And amid Bologna’s brick-hued streets, you’ll breathe in the aromas of classic Italian cooking wafting from its busy trattorias.

But while Italian food is central to this city, it isn’t all of what Bologna is about. Besides its 12th-century Two Towers, it is also home to the oldest university in the West. While visiting, you’ll see students wandering beneath the colonnades clutching traditional prosciutto-stuffed flatbreads, or piadini , for fuel between classes.

Read: What to Eat in Bologna

Colosseum, Rome

Once the epicenter of the Roman Empire and now the capital of modern Italy, Rome remains a city of remarkable attributes.

Its nickname of “the Eternal City” is realized by the weave of historic buildings and ruins embedded throughout the more modern cityscape. From the Colosseum to the Baths of Caracalla, Rome and its secrets reward repeat visits. This is why it’s one of the best places to visit in Italy for the first time. Go once, and you’ll always have a burning desire to return.

The city thrums with life. Its many neighborhoods are distinctive and ever-engaging, from Campo Marzio to trendy Trastevere . For a first trip to Italy, Rome leaves an indelible stamp—an often surprisingly unvarnished introduction to what makes Italy one of the world’s great destinations.

Discover what a first time in Italy feels like on a cruise to this stunning European country. Browse our Italy cruises and book a memorable vacation to a destination of irrepressible culture and irresistible cuisine.

Chris Allsop

Chris Allsop is a UK-based food and travel journalist whose writing has appeared in The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, and The Guardian, among other titles. When he’s not trying to arrange yet another trip to Italy, he’s obsessively on the lookout for new farmhouse cheeses to match up with his latest sour beer.

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