Girl of many PORTS So many cities in so little time

and unwind. And to take some really stunning pictures.

Back on board the Sapphire Princess, I enjoyed a relaxing hot stone massage in the Lotus Spa.

The treatment rooms have recently been re-fitted, but most of the massages are also available outside in a private cabana.

Our next stop was Livorno, on the west coast of Tuscany. After a scenic drive through lush countryside of rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, we arrived at Torre a Cenaia wine cellar for a tour and tasting.

Suitably satisfied with wine and prosciutto, we took a fascinating horse and cart ride around the vineyards. Back on board ship, all standard meals and drinks are included, but for £18.50 per person you can upgrade your dining experience to include extras.

My favourite was Sabatini’s restaurant, where the mussels and lobster were absolutely delicious.

The following day we docked in Monaco, and hailed a cab for a 30-minute drive to Nice.

Adventure

There I took a segway tour – certainly a good way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time.

Looking around, it was clearly a popular mode of transport for all ages. My tour guide said she’d even had a 90-year-old take part the week before. Be sure to stop by Fenocchio Maitre Glacier in the old town square for one of the superb ice creams. You can choose from flavours including pina colada, and poppy and lavender.

After a hectic schedule I loved returning to the ship for sessions by the pool followed by evenings of scrumptious food and wine.

And it’s so exciting to go to bed and wake up the next morning in another country.

Our last destination was Barcelona, where I was awestruck by Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia Church.

The queues usually quieten down around 2pm, so it’s a good time to go if you want to avoid crowds.

And of course Las Ramblas is great for people watching and picking up souvenirs.

What a fantastic week of relaxation, amazing food and terrific destinations. I’m already planning my next cruise adventure.

A 14-night Mediterranean cruise on the Sapphire Princess, calling at Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseille, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Alghero and Ceuta, departs from Southampton on August 17. Price from £1,699pp. princess.com. Also see fortysevenhotel.com torreacenaia.it and fenocchio.fr.

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