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Magic In The Mediterranean

Aboard Seven Seas Mariner with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Departure Date

1 October 2025

Duration

12 Nights

Fly Cruise From

£9,349pp

Cruise Reference

ART-0MARE17

Cruise Overview

The infinite variety of street life, the nooks and crannies of the medieval Barri Gòtic, the ceramic tile and stained glass of Art Nouveau facades, the art and music, the throb of street life, the food (ah, the food!)—one way or another, Barcelona will find a way to get your full attention.

The capital of Catalonia is a banquet for the senses, with its beguiling mix of ancient and modern architecture, tempting cafés and markets, and sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches.

A stroll along La Rambla and through waterfront Barceloneta, as well as a tour of Gaudí's majestic Sagrada Famíliaand his other unique creations, are part of a visit to Spain's second-largest city.

Modern art museums and chic shops call for attention, too.

Barcelona's vibe stays lively well into the night, when you can linger over regional wine and cuisine at buzzing tapas bars.
One of the best ways to arrive in Catalonia is by sea, especially via the Costa Brava.

This coastline, also known as the Rugged or Wild Coast, stretches from Blanes to the French border.

Its name aptly refers to the steep cliff of ancient twisted rocks, which runs its entire length and is bounded inland by the Catalan mountain ranges.

The intensity of the coast’s colour, the ruggedness of the rocks and the scent of the plants all combine to add to its attraction.

The history of this region is long and varied.

Traces can be found of the advanced culture of the Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.

With Wilfred I and the independence of Catalan countries, the Catalan dynasty was born.

Later, in 1479, Catalonia became a part of unified Spain following the marriage of Isabel, Queen of Castile, and Fernando, King of Aragon.

The port of Palamos, some 36 miles northeast of Barcelona, has been in existence for nearly 700 years thanks to its location on one of the deepest natural bays in the western Mediterranean.

The town itself is the southernmost of a series of resorts popular with sun worshippers.

For the most part, Palamos has managed to retain some of the charm of a fishing village.

The port also serves as a gateway to such inland locations as Girona, the capital of the province.

Art lovers may want to visit Figueras, famous for its bizarre Teatre-Museu Dali, the foremost of a series of sites associated with the eccentric surrealist artist, Salvador Dali.

If you choose to stay in Palamos, you can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the town or spend some time at a nearby beach.

The town has a long seagoing tradition and busy harbour.

The fish auction, prompted by the arrival of the fishing boats, is a spectacle worth seeing.

The Fishing Museum illustrates the history and the life of the families who live off the sea.
Since being designated a European Capital of Culture for 2013, with an estimated €660 million of funding in the bargain, Marseille has been in the throes of an extraordinary transformation, with no fewer than five major new arts centers, a beautifully refurbished port, revitalized neighborhoods, and a slew of new shops and restaurants.

Once the underdog, this time-burnished city is now welcoming an influx of weekend tourists who have colonized entire neighborhoods and transformed them into elegant pieds-à-terre (or should we say, mer).

The second-largest city in France, Marseille is one of Europe's most vibrant destinations.

Feisty and fond of broad gestures, it is also as complicated and as cosmopolitan now as it was when a band of Phoenician Greeks first sailed into the harbor that is today's Vieux Port in 600 BC.

Legend has it that on that same day a local chieftain's daughter, Gyptis, needed to choose a husband, and her wandering eyes settled on the Greeks' handsome commander Protis.

Her dowry brought land near the mouth of the Rhône, where the Greeks founded Massalia, the most important Continental shipping port in antiquity.

The port flourished for some 500 years as a typical Greek city, enjoying the full flush of classical culture, its gods, its democratic political system, its sports and theater, and its naval prowess.

Caesar changed all that, besieging the city in 49 BC and seizing most of its colonies.

In 1214 Marseille was seized again, this time by Charles d'Anjou, and was later annexed to France by Henri IV in 1481, but it was not until Louis XIV took the throne that the biggest transformations of the port began; he pulled down the city walls in 1666 and expanded the port to the Rive Neuve (New Riverbank).

The city was devastated by plague in 1720, losing more than half its population.

By the time of the Revolution, Marseille was on the rebound once again, with industries of soap manufacturing and oil processing flourishing, encouraging a wave of immigration from Provence and Italy.

With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Marseille became the greatest boomtown in 19th-century Europe.

With a large influx of immigrants from areas as exotic as Tangiers, the city quickly acquired the multicultural population it maintains to this day.

Cruise Itinerary

Aboard Seven Seas Mariner

Launch Year: 2001 Length: 216 Width: 28 Currency: USD Capacity: 684 Crew Count: 467 Deck Count: 8 Cabin Count: 342

If you wish to sail amidst the stunning glaciers of Alaska in comfort and style, you’ll find your ideal voyage in the summer itineraries of Seven Seas Mariner®. In other seasons, the ship explores the wonders of Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

Your home at sea offers much more than home, from Broadway-calibre entertainment on Deck 6 to a putting green on Deck 12 to relaxing whirlpools on Deck 11. Explore the deck plans to make the most of your time on board.

You’ll find time spent on board the ship to be just as enriching as time ashore. Relax by the pool, compete in a friendly game of trivia or bocce ball, indulge in treats at afternoon tea and gain insight from an expert lecturer.

Soothing colours accented by appealing patterns and textures dominate the interiors of Seven Seas Mariner®. The common spaces offer everything from wide-open views on the upper deck to intimate tables for bridge in the Card Room.

Seven Seas Mariner Facilities

Seven Seas Mariner Includes

Cabin Details

Attention to detail distinguishes Regent Seven Sea Cruises™ and the exceptional suites on Seven Seas Mariner®. Every guest enjoys spacious closets, well-appointed bathrooms and a private balcony with views of the shimmering sea.

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