Heather & Alexander

After disembarking your ship you will walk to the jetfoil terminal for a 40-minute ride to Capri. From the dock at Marina Grande, the funicular will transport participants up the terrace to Capri Town. The view from the town overlooks the marina and the Sorrento Peninsular. Capri has become very commercial in recent years, but you will enjoy visiting La Piazzetta, the heart of the shopping and nightclub area. Wander through the narrow streets and explore the shops and sights. Time permitting; it may be possible to visit the beautiful Augustus Gardens, overlooking the famous Faraglioni of Capri and Marina Piccola. Return to the marina by funicular and travel by watercraft back to the mainland. Driving south, the next stop is the fabled town of Sorrento. Legend states it was the sirens of Sorrento who attempted to lure Ulysses onto the rocks. Lunch (with a flute of Italian champagne and house wine) will be served at a typical restaurant or hotel. After lunch, board your coach for the transfer to Pompeii. Located 12 miles from Naples is the Roman town of Pompeii at the foot of Mount Vesuvius. This archaeological site is considered to be the world's finest example of a Roman town and its way of life. In 79 AD, the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the town under 20 feet of ash and pumice stone, preserving the entire city. During the walking tour of the ruins, admire the mansions and art of wealthy patricians who moved to Pompeii to escape the turmoil of Rome; view countless paintings and inscriptions and the streets with raised pavements on either side. At intersections are stepping-stones that ensured pedestrians a safe crossing. This prosperous Roman City had an extensive forum, lavish baths, temples and villas richly decorated with frescoes. Excavations have revealed details of everyday life such as the wine jars still set in the counter of the wine shop. Time permitting; a stop will be made at a cameo factory, where you will learn about the delicate art of cameo carving and have an opportunity to purchase some of the handicrafts.

Departing the port of Livorno, a short drive through the beautiful Tuscan countryside takes you to the historic university town of Pisa, situated on the banks of the Arno River. A short walk will take you to the Field of Miracles to marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Enjoy the beauty of this architectural wonder as you take in the scenery from the piazza. Upon reaching Florence, your guide will escort you along the city streets to the Piazza del Duomo, where the Cathedral, Bell Tower and Baptistery share the same square. The cathedral is one of the longest in the world, and took over 140 years to build. Its 14th century bell tower is richly decorated with colored marble and fine sculptures, while the baptistery is festooned with magnificent mosaics and a copy of Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" cast in bronze. You'll stop in the Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Florence and the city's largest square where you will see a copy of Michelangelo's "David" and the Loggia dei Lanzi. Pause for a photo opportunity with your local guide at the nearest point to Ponte Vecchio, famous for its covered design and shopping opportunities. Lunch (with a flute of Italian champagne and house wine) will be served at a first class restaurant or hotel. Following lunch, you'll reach the Church of Santa Croce, known as Italy's Westminster Abbey for the Italian monarchy buried there. After an external explantation of the church you'll have limited time at leisure to explore or shop.

Explore the famous ancient ruins, reflecting twelve centuries of Roman cultural, political and religious history, as your guide escorts you through the ruins of Imperial Rome. After arriving in Rome, you will debark your coach and walk to the Trevi Fountain. Capture the essence of the city's grandest fountain and a masterpiece of Baroque Rome. Follow the tradition and toss a coin into the fountain to ensure your return to Rome. You'll visit the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Rome, where the creation of the Roman civilization is reflected in the vast ensemble of ruins. You'll walk through Via Sacra (Sacred Way), the route followed by religious and triumphal processions. The imposing triumphal Arch of Titus was erected in AD 81 by the Emperor Domitian in honor of the victories in battle of his brother and father in Judea. Symbol of the "Eternal City," the Roman Colosseum is one of the most important monuments of ancient Rome. A masterpiece of classical architecture, the Colosseum is an enormous amphitheater where gladiators, Christians and wild beasts once battled to the death in front of 50,000 spectators. There, you'll have time for photographs both inside and outside the Colosseum. You will also see the impressive Arch of Constantine. Lunch (with a flute of Italian champagne and house wine) will be served at a first class restaurant or hotel. Afterwards, you will drive to the Vatican City to visit St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. Among the many fine pieces of art on display are Michelangelo's "Pieta" and the beautifully carved Bernini Pulpit. A brief time will be allotted for you to explore or shop at your leisure.

This excursion will take you on a journey through the historical and maritime past of Marseille, known as the melting pot of Europe. You will pass Marseille's large industrial harbor as you depart the pier and head towards the city center. En route to the Notre-Dame de la Garde Cathedral, you will see the historic, older section of the city. You'll stop at Vieux Port, the Old Harbor and heart of the city where you will have magnificent views of St. John and St. Nicholas Forts, which guard the entrance to the port, as well as the Town Hall and the main avenue of the city, La Canebiere. You'll visit the Notre-Dame de la Garde, a beautiful basilica set high atop the hills above the Old Harbor. From this area, you will have a panoramic view of the city, coast and surrounding mountains. The interior of the basilica was finished with multi-colored marble mosaics by the Dusseldorf School. The journey from the Cathedral to Longchamp Palace will take you along the beautiful Kennedy Corniche Road, which runs alongside the sea. You will stop to take photos and to view the beautiful islands guarding the entrance to Marseille. Your final stop will be at Longchamp Palace, a monumental castle adorned with magnificent fountains, waterfalls and gardens. Your return will be via "La Canebiere," the main avenue of the city. Time permitting; there is souvenir shopping in the Vieux Port and Notre-Dame de la Garde.

Take in the scenic splendor of three of the French Riviera's most intriguing cities: Nice, Eze, and Monaco. You'll pass along the Lower Corniche Road bordering the sea before reaching Nice. From your coach you'll have breathtaking views of your ship anchored in the Villefranche harbor. You'll visit the well-known city of the jet set. Your tour begins with a breathtaking panoramic view from the residential area of Mont Boron. A scenic drive will take you past the Franciscan Monastery, gardens, and Roman Arena as well as the more sophisticated area of Park Imperial and Cimiez Hill for a view of the beautiful mansions. Before leaving the city, enjoy a stroll along the famous palm-lined Promenade des Anglais and through the old city and stop at the Cours Saleya to admire its colorful array of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. (This is an antique market on Mondays.) After leaving Nice, the Middle Corniche road offers beautiful vistas as you climb toward the mountain top village of Eze. This charming medieval village is perched on a craggy peak 1,400 feet (420 meters) above the Mediterranean. You'll have exceptional views of Villefranche and Beaulieu. Enjoy an exhilarating walk along its narrow cobblestone streets lined with many shops and local artisans. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. At the Rock of Monaco, an ancient walled city overlooking the sea, your guide will escort you through the old town area. You'll view the Oceanographic Museum, the 19th century neo-Romanesque cathedral and Prince's Palace from the outside. There will be time to take photographs from the city walls or of the Prince's Palace. Your coach will travel a portion of the Grand Prix Motor Race circuit before reaching the city of Monte Carlo. Upon arriving in Monte Carlo, your coach will stop at the parking garage below Place du Casino, the square in front of the Grand Casino, where you will have approximately 1 hour to explore this exciting area at your leisure.

In the morning we will travel on a cog-wheel train enjoying the breathtaking views of the picturesque little villages with the incomparable mountain of Montserrat rising majestically as a backdrop. We'll listen to a singing performance by the "Escolania" children's chorus in the Basilica bringing to life the old traditions of the region, and the afternoon will be spent back in Barcelona, discovering the incomparable works of Gaudi and Picasso. We'll need our camera for this honeymoon trip!

Barcelona, the capital of the Catalonia region, is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in the world. This vibrancy will capture us as we tour the colorful Gothic Quarter, and savor the beautiful panoramic view from the top of Montjuich. Our honeymoon trip to Spain would not be complete without visiting Gaudi's fabulous Guell Park declared an artistic monument and world heritage site.

With your wedding gift we will reserve a night in our Honeymoon Suite and indulge in luxury that exceeds all of our expectations. Our honeymoon suite is not just romantic; it's spacious, comfortable, luxurious and very private. Thank you for Suite Memories!

To complement our fine dining experience on our honeymoon cruise, we'll choose from the extensive wine list and enjoy a fine bottle of wine on you. Cheers!

What could be better than knowing we'll have breakfast to enjoy between the sheets? We'll order eggs florentine, cinnamon rolls, freshly squeezed orange juice and hot coffee which all seem to taste better served to us in bed!

It's casual, fun and perfect for an afternoon lunch. With so many restaurants in town, we'll choose the most perfect, casual restaurant where we'll take delight in the juiciest burgers, fresh sandwiches, chicken and fries!

With your wedding gift we will enjoy people watching and gourmet dining at Le Bistroquet, it's more than a restaurant it's an institution. This trendy Monte Carlo restaurant has been the hang out for the rich and famous for years. After dinner we'll take a romantic stroll around the city and maybe enjoy a flutter at the Casino.

We would love just one more night to celebrate and indulge in romance! At our favorite restaurant we’ll enjoy spectacular cuisine and sip on classical cocktails and concoctions while toasting to us and our ‘last’ night on our escape in paradise!

We look forward to reserving an intimate candlelit dinner. We'll choose a quiet restaurant with a warm atmosphere, outstanding cuisine and impeccable service.

With so many ice cream parlors in town, we'll try everything from hot fudge sundaes to soft serve ice cream and thick milkshakes. Who cares about the diet on our fantastic getaway!

We will visit all the trendy stores on the main street in the heart of the busy city, checking out the classically elegant European clothes in all the boutiques. We'll shop until we drop!

Ports of Call: Barcelona, Spain; Naples, Capri, Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (Nice), France; Provence (Marseilles), France; Barcelona, Spain

We will be picked up from our hotel in Barcelona, Spain and taken to the cruise terminal to start our adventure. Upon arriving back in Barcelona, we will also need a transport back to the airport.

Any help to get to and from our destination is a wonderful gift. We will be thanking you long after take off.

Thank you for allowing us to pre-plan our trip. It all goes towards having the ultimate getaway made possible by your generous registry gift.

From the excellent service at the hotel to the attentive waiters at dinner, there's going to be a long list of people to thank for helping us have the perfect time away from home.

We can plan to start our trip with a romantic flair! What better way than with the decadence of this unbeatable combination?