My Beloved and I just returned from a trip to Barcelona, where we spent a few days wandering the…read morerestaurants, tapas bars and public markets, before boarding the cruise ship MSC World Europa.
The ship put in at Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina (Sicily) and Valletta (Malta) before returning to BCN. I'm not usually a fan of cruising, but my wife is, and I like my wife, so there I went.
Aboard ship, we were privileged guests, provided first-class service in and by the ship's "Yacht Club" program.
The best part of the trip, for me, was Barcelona, which I've likened to a mix of San Diego and New Orleans in its culture, size and vibe. I'd go back for a longer visit.
Surprisingly, the same goes for Genoa, a second-tier city that's attractive and interesting enough to entertain, but isn't a world-class tourist destination. Sort of like Denver, or Baltimore.
Naples is always going to be an exciting and gratifying dive into grimy excess, rife with great food and stunning, decaying architecture; loud and pushy people who are just naturally agitated; heart-rending art and music; dangerous traffic; and gorgeous women (and, I'm told, men). It's a party that gets out of hand and spills into the streets, where those who weren't invited are quick to throw hands with those who are too wasted to remember how they got there.
Marseille is Naples without the good parts.
I didn't leave the ship to visit Messina or Valletta, deciding instead to stay on board and wallow in luxury, like Scrooge McDuck on vacation. As guests of the ship's Yacht Club, we were offered an array of exclusive benefits, including:
- A deluxe suite on the access-limited Yacht Club deck
- Access to priority embarkation and disembarkation in all ports, including a walk-on escort in Barcelona who made what might have been an hours-long check-in process take less than half an hour... and we sipped champagne while it happened.
- Round-the-clock concierge team and a dedicated butler, along with priority room service.
- A dedicated fine dining restaurant that didn't require reservations.
- Priority access to entertainment and other venues.
- Private solarium and sundeck featuring dipping pools and whirlpool baths, plus chairside cocktail service.
- The Top Sail Lounge, which offered crafted drinks, gourmet finger foods, and desserts, a private sun deck, and panoramic views of the ocean.
- Complimentary "Premium Extra Package", featuring a wide selection of beers, cocktails, wines, top-shelf liquor, and an array of non-alcoholic beverages.
- Unlimited Wi-Fi, shipwide, for up to two devices per guest.
- Complimentary access to the Spa's Thermal Suite.
Also, with a single request sent through my butler, the ship's bakery provided freshly-baked kouign-amann, every morning, which were delivered to my suite.
I'm always glad to hear people mock those who cruise. I want them to keep thinking that the experience and its participants are awful, so that when I decide to cruise again, the only people I'll run into will be people who want to be there, and those who, like me, have arranged to avoid pretty much everyone else on the ship.
