Western Mediterranean 8 netter • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy til Barcelona, Spain • Legend of the Seas

The Eternal City endures with endless adventures, so it’s definitely worth exploring before your cruise from Civitavecchia. Rome is just an hour from the port by train, so spending a few days here is easy and convenient. Start each morning with a frothy cappuccino and a warm, flaky cornetto in an al fresco café and watch the city wake. Then head to the Palazzo Massimo, home to one of the world's biggest collections of ancient art. Or visit the thermal Baths of Diocletian, where you can see two ancient, decorated tombs dating back to the early second century AD. And of course, no visit to Rome is complete without a trip to the famous Colosseum, which once hosted gladiator contests, battle reenactments and Roman dramas. If you’re a foodie, you’re in the right city. Roman cuisine is all about simple, fresh, unfussy flavors. Think thin and crispy pizza cooked in wood ovens, homemade pasta tossed in simple sauces, crispy fried vegetables and decadent breakfast pastries often stuffed with cream.

While traveling to Florence or Pisa, enjoy a scenic drive through the celebrated Tuscan countryside with its rolling hills, olive and cypress trees and medieval villages. After climbing Pisa's Leaning Tower, explore the atmospheric white, rose and red piazzas (squares). In Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, you can marvel at the paintings in the Uffizi Gallery and cross the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, packed with local boutiques to poke your head into.

The third-largest Italian city and one of the oldest in Europe, Naples combines deep history and modern verve. Check out the extravagant Royal Palace of Naples, the former home of the royal family, with its beautiful tapestries and frescoes. People-watch from a streetside cafe in the Sanita district with a glass of wine and slice of classic margherita pizza.

Palma de Mallorca is the perfect place to immerse yourself in history and beauty. Go back in time to the 14th century at Bellver Castle, with its mix of Arab arches and Roman-inspired fortification. Catch a wave on the golden sands of El Arenal beach. Then, tuck into cocarrois, a local take on empanadas, or cool off in the quiet gardens and medieval ruins of the 10th-century Arab Baths.

After your arrive in Málaga, soak in the ancient history at La Alcazaba Moorish fotress and the ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre. Then, unwind on sunny La Malagueta beach or in the orchids and ferns at La Concepcion Botanical Garden. Check out the works of the city's most famous former resident at the Picasso Museum, and savor regional, fresh-caught pescado frito (fried fish) with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Afternoons in Barcelona are best spent eating Spanish tapas in a cozy bar. Then take a Gaudí-inspired architecture crawl to see modernist wonders like Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, Park Güell and the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Família. Explore medieval dockyards at the Maritime Museum— or throw on an apron and learn the centuries-old art of Catalan cuisine in a chef-led cooking class.