We Went on a 7-night Cruise Across Italy, Spain, and France—and It Was the Best Time of Our Lives

For many Filipinos, Europe is the ultimate dream destination. Of course, it wasn’t any different for me. I got married last year and my husband and I knew that we wanted to go soon. Spain, France, and Italy were always my top three. 

With our goal in mind, a seven-night cruise across the Mediterranean Sea, which was a summer offering from Royal Caribbean, seemed like the perfect itinerary for us. My husband and I had never been on a cruise before, and if there was a first time for everything, this seemed like the right moment for this one.

I know a lot of people have reservations about going on cruises, and I’ve heard the preconceived notions—that cruises are for seniors or for families traveling with kids and seniors. But what if you’re neither? Is there space for the in-betweens on cruise ships? The answer, turns out, is yes. Plenty. A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, I’ve discovered, is a fun, vibrant, welcoming space for all to enjoy, no matter the age. I saw groups of friends, couples, solo travelers, and families with teenagers and young adults. I was there, too, and had the best time.

My husband and I are a 30-something couple, and I can tell you this now: our cruise experience with Royal Caribbean was an experience we will never forget, and we can’t wait to do it again. An easy 10 out of 10. 

Arriving in Europe

Our journey started in Rome, Italy, a day before we boarded the cruise. Our first day was spent walking around, visiting major attractions like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major—all majestic structures that left me quite mesmerized. But I loved the quiet streets, too. The cobblestone roads, the charming boutiques, the fragrant cafes, and travelers like me happily getting lost amidst it all.

Rome was the best welcome I could have asked for to that side of the world. It really was so surreal, so cinematic. Just as grand, or even more, as it looks in movies. So yes, a mental note for you: if you’re a Europe first-timer, start with a bang and fly in via Rome.

All aboard Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas

The following morning, we headed to the neighboring city of Civitavecchia to finally board Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas—a journey that took just a little over an hour. I was pleasantly surprised with the boarding process. It was such a breeze. You drop your luggage off, head to security check, and then to a boarding gate where they scan your digital pass that you can find on your Royal Caribbean app. It’s just like at an airport (and looked like one too), minus the frenzy. 

Approaching the Port of Civitavecchia on our bus, I was already amazed at how massive the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas ship was. I don’t think I’d ever seen a man-made structure that big that wasn’t a building. And walking right up to it was another story; we felt so small, so humbled by this glorious structure that was going to be our home for the next week. It was definitely an exciting moment. 

For context, the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas ship is 1,187 feet long and 215 feet wide. That’s about the length of four football fields and the width of two. Oasis of the Seas is 18 decks high (a.k.a. levels), and features 24 elevators, 2,801 guestrooms, and is manned by over 2,000 crew from all over the world. At its maximum occupancy, Oasis of the Seas accommodates over  6,700 guests. So yes. It’s a huge ship.

The thing that impressed me most about our cruise with Royal Caribbean was how organized and well-thought every part of the experience was. It is, without pun intended, a well-oiled machine.

Here are some things that made our Royal Caribbean cruise experience memorable:

The onboard dining

There are over 30 dining options on Oasis of the Seas, ranging from casual pizza to fancy steaks. You can choose among the complimentary dining options (you just walk in and get a plate of food anytime, how many times you want), specialty dining (comes at extra cost charged to your room), and other bars, lounges, and cafes. If you can’t live without your daily Starbucks, you’d be glad to know there’s one onboard, too.

Our favorite was the Mexican dining option called El Loco Fresh. Since it was only two floors above us, my husband and I would take our platefuls of delicious Mexican food down to our stateroom, and enjoy it on our private balcony while enjoying the view of the Mediterranean sea. 

The entertainment, activities, and amenities

There’s no shortage of things to do on Oasis of the Seas with also over 30 activities and amenities to enjoy on board. And here’s the part we weren’t expecting: watching the Broadway musical Cats in the ship’s Royal Theater to be one of those things.

But here are other amenities we found onboard that equally blew our minds: a sports court, an ice skating rink (that converts into a dance floor at night), a zip line, a mini-golf course, rock climbing walls, laser tag, casino floor, gym, spa, a running track, and much more.

There are scheduled shows, entertainment, and parties daily, and out of the shows we saw, our favorite was the amazing aqua show that took place regularly at the ship’s outdoor amphitheater. 

The Seapass

Every passenger gets a Seapass, which essentially is your all-in-one identification, guest pass, room key, and credit card while on board. You tap it when you board and disembark the ship. Or when you’re getting your Starbucks. Or when playing games in the arcade room. It made life on board so seamless. I swear, they got everything figured out!

The Royal Caribbean App

The app provides you with everything you need to know about your trip: a complete list of all dining options on board plus their schedules, all the amenities, activities (and booking them), show schedules, guided destination tours, and more. You can even view ship details on it: ETAs, weather, current speed, and schedules of gangway up and down so you can plan your shore activities ahead. 

The atmosphere

The atmosphere within the ship exuded warmth, friendliness, and good energy. This is perhaps something initiated and fostered by the Royal Caribbean crew themselves, but energy spreads. It’s infectious. As a result, what is created is a community of jolly vacationers all happy to mingle and be there.

Italy, Spain, and France: Where we went

Life on board was definitely amazing, but outside, we were living it up, too. The rest of the week was spent seeing all the best sights in the Mediterranean. Nighttime meant cruising and every morning we’d wake up in a new destination. With the cruise kicking off from Rome and Civitavecchia, the next day we were in Naples and spent the day immersing ourselves in the beauty and history of Italy’s Campania region.

Campania, Italy

Our first stop was at the ancient city of Pompeii. Stepping into this lost city felt like traveling back in time. The preserved city, frozen by volcanic ash, offers a glimpse into Roman daily life, as well as its last moments. It was a haunting, yet educational experience I won’t forget.

After Pompeii, we made our way to Positano. Colorful houses perched down the cliffs, overlooking the Mediterranean sea, creating a breathtaking scenery. I loved the walk all the way down to the small port, wandering through its narrow lanes lined with charming boutiques and cafes. My husband and I stopped at one to grab a quintessential Italian sandwich and espresso, and our day at Positano was thus complete.

Our last stop for the day was Sorrento, a charming town with a vibrant atmosphere. We loved strolling down Corso Italia, a popular walking street lined with shops and cafes. We did our shopping here, as we noticed that the prices were much more affordable here than in tourist-busy Positano. We also stopped for our first official gelato in Italy, and made our way to a quiet spot with a view of the Bay of Naples to enjoy it.

Barcelona, Spain

After one whole day cruising at sea, we crossed the Mediterranean and made our way to Spain. At 6 am we had already docked at Barcelona, and by 6:30 am, still dark, my husband and I were already walking out of the ship’s gangway. My husband, a half-Spaniard, was born in Barcelona, so there, right outside the port terminal was his dad and little sister in the car waiting to pick us up.

My father-in-law first took us to Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s iconic street for food, shopping, and entertainment. It was still very early in the morning so most places were only just opening, but I remember being so taken aback at how beautiful Barcelona was. We found a cafe to grab a light breakfast at and had my first authentic “Spanish latte” or café bombón, paired with a jamón croissant. They were, as expected, so delicious.

We also stopped by Casa Batlló, the surreal and whimsical building by Antoni Gaudí. Its undulating facade, colorful mosaic tiles, and unique architectural details create a truly mesmerizing view.

And speaking of mesmerizing views, when in Barcelona, you have to see Sagrada Familia. Another awe-inspiring masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi, this yet-to-be-finished basilica in Barcelona is a testament to his visionary genius. Its soaring towers, intricate stonework, and unique architectural style were breathtaking sights.

And of course, we couldn’t leave without having tapas and a little feast with family. My father-in-law took us to their favorite restaurant in their neighborhood in Badalona, called Pipa 5, where I undoubtedly had one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life. 

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

There wasn’t a corner of Palma de Mallorca I didn’t want to take a picture of. It really is just so beautiful. A major seaport located on the island of Mallorca, Palma is an idyllic European destination. 

We started our sightseeing at Catedral de Mallorca, a gorgeous Roman Catholic cathedral renowned for its impressive Gothic architecture. Then we made our way through Old Town, strolling its cobblestone roads and admiring the charming alleys and architecture. I can still hear the sound of horses strutting down the streets with their carriages. 

If you come in the summer (and you should), Palma also boasts lovely beaches for you to soak up the Mediterranean sun and sea.

Provence, France

When in France, what do you do? For this pair of 30-year-olds, well, we ate olives and drank wine. After all, we were in the region of Provence, abundant in vineyards and olive mills. We headed to an organic olive oil mill first—Bastide du Laval—to learn about making premium organic olive oil and to taste different kinds. We took home a few bottles from the souvenir store, of course.

For lunch, we found ourselves at Lourmarin, a very quiet, charming, and small village in Luberon. The village looked like it came right out of a postcard, with its lovely stone houses, cobblestone streets, and flower displays. If you’re looking for a quintessential Provençal experience, this is the place to go. 

Our last stop in Provence was the (much-awaited) wine tasting at La Cavale in Cucuron. We sampled some of their wines, learned about their production methods, and just enjoyed the beautiful setting overlooking the La Cavale vineyard (while sipping wine, of course).

Tuscany, Italy

For our last tour day, we made our way back to Italy. This time, in the beautiful region of Tuscany. Our first stop was at Pisa to—you guessed it—see the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was pretty cool to see it in person, I’ll admit. But no, we did not take a picture of us pretending to push it back up. Sorry to disappoint you.

Our final stop might be one of my favorites—Florence. Despite it being one of the busier cities we went to, it’s 100% worth visiting for its art, culture, and history. It is, after all, the birthplace of the Renaissance. We started off our sightseeing at Piazza di Santa Croce, where you can find the famed Basilica of Santa Croce, the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli. To the side of the basilica is the Monument to Dante Alighieri, a statue that honors the famous Italian poet.

I loved wandering the streets of Florence, and discovering plaza after plaza of more statues, monuments, and marvelous works of art.

But one of our top priorities in Florence was to stop by Vivoli, the oldest gelato shop in Florence that’s famous not just for its gelato but also—what we came for—the affogato. We had to line up a bit, but thankfully it moved quickly, and not long after, we finally got to try the Mark Wiens-approved coffee-based treat. It was delicious, and I’ll be longing for it until I can have it again.

For our last meal in Italy, my husband and I went for a Florentine steak and, of course, my most favorite dessert in the world and Italy’s specialty, tiramisu. I felt that it was appropriate. 

The most organized trip you’ll ever be on

Most of our tours and activities were booked with Royal Caribbean’s shore excursion packages. These are guided tours to destinations. Each destination will have a few shore excursion options, and you can choose the one you prefer. Booking is easy too—you can either do it from the app or at the Shore Excursion desk onboard during the cruise.

As a Europe first-timer and cruise convert, I can’t recommend this experience enough. If you’re planning to go to Europe whether for your first or your fifth time, joining Royal Caribbean’s cruises is a great way to see as many destinations as you can, in the most organized and stress-free way. Go alone, with your partner or friends, or your family. Royal Caribbean cruises are designed for all ages and we guarantee—it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Check out upcoming European Cruises with Royal Caribbean here.

Royal Caribbean

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