I have had a love affair with Europe ever since I traveled to France and Italy with my parents right after high school graduation. We celebrated a slew of big moments including my 18th Birthday, my parents turning 50 and their 25th wedding anniversary! It was quite a trip and I loved every second of it…
When I was 20, I studied abroad in Paris and traveled all around while I was there for the better part of a year. In my early 20s I visited Greece for the first time and in my late 20s and early 30s, my best friend and her husband moved to London for two years so I made two trips a year to see them. We traveled to Switzerland, Germany, Italy and France, which was amazing. 
Most recently I revisited Spain for Casey’s Birthday, which was such a fun trip. It’s safe to say I have been incredibly lucky to experience all the European countries that I have in my life, but there are still so many cities and towns within these places that are on my bucket list.
Traditionally, I have always flown to different countries in Europe that I was visiting and for some reason, it never occurred to me to travel around those same areas via a cruise ship. But that whole mentality changed after I went on my first cruise to the Caribbean with Celebrity back in March. Before going, I was admittedly a little nervous about heading out into the open seas on a huge ship because I had never done it before and didn’t know what to expect. But let me tell you, sailing on the Celebrity Silhouette was an extremely luxurious and seamless experience and we had a fabulous time.The thing is, when you are going on any big trip, as much fun as planning it can be, it’s not for everyone and can become stressful and tedious. But with a cruise, everything is taken care of for you! No need to worry about booking hotels or figuring out transportation because an itinerary is already created for you. 
And once you settle into your room onboard, you can unpack, get settled and not think about it for at least a week or longer depending on which package you choose. Because let’s be honest, no one likes having to pack up and move hotels every few days! Plus Celebrity Cruises has now made it easier than ever to book an unforgettable and stress-free cruise vacation that includes round-trip airfare, transfers, veranda stateroom, free drinks, and $150 to spend on-board. 
Ok, so all of that said, let’s circle back to those of you that have never been on a cruise before and might be concerned that you won’t find what you’re looking for? I understand where you’re coming from, but the places you can go with Celebrity is pretty massive, with travel including seven continents, 72 countries and more than 250 ports-of-call, so believe me, there is sure to be the right cruise option for you! 
And since we are talking Europe, there are packages that sail to Italy, Turkey & Greece; Greek Isles & Mediterranean; Western Mediterranean; Scandinavia & Russia; Italy & Greek Isles; Iceland & Ireland; Italy & Dalmatian Coast; British Isles; Italy & Croatia; and more!
Right now, I have my eye on this pretty little itinerary:
DAY 1: Barcelona, Spain “Formerly a sleepy Spanish city, Barcelona has recently been reborn as an eclectic fusion of the modern and medieval. Seek inspiration from the creations of its modernist architect, Antonio Gaudí, or the Picasso Museum. Or, take in the breathtaking cathedrals in the Gothic Quarter.”
DAY 2: Valencia, Spain “Best known as the birthplace of paella, Valencia has steadily moved onto the radar of savvy travelers. It’s a vibrant, friendly, mildly chaotic place with two outstanding fine-arts museums, an accessible old quarter, Europe’s newest cultural and scientific complex – and one of Spain’s most exciting nightlife
scenes.”
DAY 3: Alicante, Spain “Boasting some of the finest beaches in all of Spain, Alicante is the largest city on the Costa Blanca. Relax on the pristine sand of La Playa de San Juan, shop the Explanada de España and conquer the Castillo de Santa Barbara to see how Alicante achieves the perfect balance of history and modernity.”
DAY 4: At Sea “This day is yours to do as much or as little as you like. Take a Celebrity iLearn class and bring your vacation photos to life. Catch some sun at the pool where butlers keep you refreshed with chilled towels and sorbets. Schedule a stone massage at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®. Join a yoga class in the fitness center withfloor-to-ceiling views of the sea. Take a food-and-wine-pairing workshop to step up your culinary game. Check your Celebrity Today daily newsletter for a list of what’s going on each day. Experience the pools, spas and more onboard your ship.”
DAY 5: Valletta, Malta “In addition to a number of significant works of art, this town is known for the many fortifications built by the Knights of Malta, who for years helped care for European pilgrims and crusaders en reoute to and from the Holy Land.”
DAY 6: Catania,Sicily,Italy “Located on the east coast of Sicily, Catania is situated at the foot of the largest volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. Elegant, modern, and an important hub in Europe’s tech industry, Catania is also rich with baroque architecture, medieval castles, Roman era theatres, and a flourishing cultural and artisticcenter.”
DAY 7: Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Italy “Framed by Mount Vesuvius along a dramatic skyline, the 2,800 year-old port city of Naples is chock full of historical sites, churches, and museums that make it an incredible place for you to explore. And in the region where pizza was first invented, you know the food is going to be incredible.”
DAY 8: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy “Civitavecchia was settled in 108 A.D. by the Emperor Trajan and has since served faithfully as a gateway to the capital of the Empire—Rome. Once the center of the Ancient World from which emperors ruled over nearly all of western civilization, Rome is still a cultural mecca. Stroll the ancient halls
of the Colosseum or gaze upon the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.”
And that’s just the itinerary outside of the cruise ship! When I had “at sea” days, I took full advantage of their Canyon Ranch SpaClub, as well as wine tasting, pool time, and sampled a number of their Michelin-starred restaurants (YUM).
Have I convinced you yet?! I guess what I am saying is, after finally taking a cruise, and an excellent one at that, my perception of “traveling by sea” was changed and I’ve become much more opened minded to different types of travel. So, if this has perked your interest at all, take a gander at some of these amazing European trips that Celebrity offers and say goodbye to the stress of traveling abroad! For more information or to book this trip, check out the CelebrityCruises website.
A few more photos below from my time in Spain…
This post was in collaboration with Celebrity Cruises. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all My Style Pill collaborations!
