Ports of Call

Our pre-cruise night was at the Hotel Barcelona Universal. A fair walk to La Rambla, a bit 'out of it' but next to the Paral.lel Metro Station & Montjuic Funicular. Nice rooms, small roof top pool, pricey buffet breakfast.

Avda. Paral.lel, 76-80. 08001 Barcelona
http://www.hotelbarcelonauniversal.com/

Villefranche-sur-mer, in the heart of the Cote d’Azur ( between Cannes & Monaco). Created in 1295 by Charles II d’Anjou, it is picturesque & charming
26 July 2005

Many of the luxury yachts at anchor off Villefranche - 26 July 2005

Many cruisers don't see Livorno, just using it as a port for Florence/Pisa, but it is a pleasant city with a lovely seafront & bustling streets with markets etc. Founded in the second half of C16 by the Medici. Guarding the Port is the Fortezza Vecchia (Old Fortress) with its imposing Matilde’s Keep (Mastio di Matilde), connected by internal waterways to the Fortezza Nuova (New Fortress) in the heart of the city. http://www.costadeglietruschi.it/

The quarter known as Nuova Venezia (New Venice), built during the 17th century, still preserves some of its original features; the Medicean Fossi, a network of navigable canals connecting the warehouses & homes of merchants.

These photos are however not typical and mainly snapped through the port shuttle bus window on our way to/from Piazza Municipio. Some are views of the city from the Port area.

Civitavecchia, the port for the City of Rome, founded in 108AD by Emperor Traian to provide a safe haven for the Capital of the Empire. There are nice beaches not far from the port entrance, and the train to Rome takes about an hour - 28 July 2005

Only a few photos mainly of the Maritime Station [Cruise Terminal] & Vesuvius as we sailaway.

For 2003 photos of Naples see http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=1013
For Pompeii [2003] see http://magwa.fotki.com/cruising/pompeii/
For info on the Naples Maritime Station see http://www.terminalnapoli.it/ and http://www.porto.napoli.it/en/

Our post-cruise night was at the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel, part of the World Trade Center leisure & business complex on Moll de Barcelona. Ideal for watching the ships from the rooftop pool & bar/cafe. The tourist buses stop outside, and it's adjacent to the central tower [Torre Jaume I] of the Barcelona Cable car to Montjuic.

Moll de Barcelona, 08039 Barcelona - highly recommended
http://www.grandmarinahotel.com

Photos of Barcelona around Plaza Catalunya [Plaça de Catalunya], overlooking the City & Port Vell [old port area] from the Cable Car & Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel - 24/25 July & 1/2 August 2005
For other views of the City sights please see those linked from our Norwegian Dream cruise back in 2003
http://www.magwa.co.uk/ndreamphoto.htm