Cruising from Barcelona to Rome
Month: November 2019
Accomodations: 3-Night cruise aboard the MSC Divina departing Barcelona, heading to Marseille, France and Genoa, Italy, ending in Civitavecchia, Italy (Port of Rome). Lovely experience! We adored our stop in Genoa and could have spent another full day there touring around. We enjoyed it a bit more than the day spent in Marseille as there was not much to see in this port and visitors should be cautious of certain neighborhood areas.
Air B&B 3-night stay at Pantheon in the Window, Rome Italy (Truly an incredible and safe location right in the city center of Rome and within walking distance to beautiful shops, restaurants and attractions. About a 25-minute walk to Vatican City.
Our Favorite Meal: Trattoria del Gatto Bianco – Via della Stelletta, 8, Rome A truly authentic family-owned restaurant with less than a dozen tables and warm service by the owners themselves (along with their sweet baby granddaughter). The children enjoyed generous heaps of fresh spaghetti with sweet tomato sauce. The adults snacked on salty meats, cheeses, olives and artichokes from their signature cutting board and for dinner enjoyed oven baked lasagna and ravioli.
Our Best Traveling Tip: The number one thing on most people’s list when visiting the incredible city of Rome is a stop at Vatican City to see St Peter’s Square, The Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Planning ahead is key and we were sure to book advanced Skip the Line tickets for these attractions. But be sure to read the FINE PRINT.
The tour company found through TripAdvisor.com advertised our tickets as “Skip the Line’, but this benefit only applied to access for The Vatican Museum and The Sistine Chapel. When it came to St. Peter’s Basilica itself, we were told to wait on the regular line with everyone else – not ideal for anyone, let alone our party with three young children and two older adults. Regardless, we rescheduled our time at The Vatican for the following afternoon (best time for the shortest queues here is 5:00 pm by the way!) and all worked out.
If you are traveling in a group and want to see city highlights with convenience and ease (and hardly any walking), our favorite recommendation is to buy tickets for a Hop On Hop Off bus (HO-HO Bus, some refer to it as!) We’ve enjoyed doing this in almost every European city visited and always book with Big Bus Tours.
Cruising away from Barcelona 
All aboard MSC Divina 
Excited for their first on board dining 
Loving the view from top deck 
South of France coast approaching Marseille 
View of Marseille from ship 
Welcome to Marseille 
Cathedral Saint Marie Majeure de Marseille 
Cathedral Saint Marie Majeure de Marseille 
Cathedral Saint Marie Majeure de Marseille 
Charming French homes 
Lavendar everywhere being so close to Provence 
Yes we do 
Silly time! 
Arc de Triomf, Marseille 
Balconies for days 
Chateau d’If (from The Count of Monte Cristo movie) 
Partners in crime 
Adult cocktail time! 
Hugs at breakfast buffet 
Port Station in Genoa, Italy 
For the love of arches! 
1,200 year old San Giovanni di Pre Church 
San Giovanni di Pre Church 
Peeking into the lower church 
Quiet Genoa streets 
Italian homes 
Romantic flower shop in Piazza Banchi 
San Pietro in Banchi, Genoa 
San Pietro in Banchi, Genoa 
Simple church on exterior, incredible interior! 
Hand making pesto 
The freshest pesto EVER 
Coolest street performer 
Amazing! 
Love to light candles in churches 
Genoa architecture was spectacular 
Piazza Ferrari 
Moulding love! 
My sweetheart My happy place 
My crew (minus one sleeping) 
Oh the detail! 
Stumbled upon this beautiful fountain 
Cristiphew Columbus Monument 
Welcome to Port of Roma! 
The Roman Senate – gorgeous! 
Sistine chapel exterior 
Wow, lot of mast heads 
Rotunda entering The Sistine Chapel 
Leading to the Sistine Chapel was hallway after hallway of beauty! 
Leading to the Sistine Chapel was hallway after hallway of beauty! 
Yay for Italia!! 
The famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel 
Chalis glory 
The Pantheon at night 
Very cool guards outside the Embassy 
Fresh and delicious cutting board 
She loves eating Italian 
Most amazing pasta ever 
Good morning Roma! 
View from our Air B&B terrace! 
Horse & carriage outside The Pantheon 
The Pantheon is unreal 
Roasted chestnuts sidewalk 
Piazza Venezia 
Men being men at The Coliseum 
Wow, it’s real! 
With my babe 
At The Coliseum 
Reminded us of The Gladiator movie! 
Sister time 
At the Coliseum 
Selfie time again! 
Coliseum pano 
Goofing off at The Coliseum 
One of my favorite photos! 
Thrilled to be at The Vatican! 
Walking up St Peter’s Square to The Vatican 
Grandparents! 
Special family, special memory 
St Peter’s Bascillica 
Too gorgeous! 
Michaelangelo’s La Pieta 
Incredible arcitecture 
Marble and more 
Baldachino where Pope conducts mass 
London loved the popes 
Vatican entrance corridor 
Trevi Fountain in all her glory 
Wet but excited 
Trevi Fountain selfie 
Gelato cures all 
A beautiful end to an amazing trip!
