There are endless possibilities for each day in port and while excursions are offered through NCL, GetWithTheGuide, Expedia, and many others, we wanted to provide some suggestions primarily based on previous trips we've taken. Please feel welcome to chart your own course or even have a relaxing day on the ship. Hop on Hop off buses are offered in nearly every city in addition to guided walking or bus tours. Please also feel free to always reach out to us to see what we're doing that day!

Located on the sunny southern coast of France, Marseille is France's oldest city and third largest (after Paris and Lyon). This port offers a free port shuttle that brings you directly to the centre of the city, which is roughly 5 miles away and is where the majority of tourist attractions are. To get the bus to come back to the port find the shopping centre Les Terraces du Port. Taxis, Uber and Bolt all also run in France if the shuttle lines are too long.

Some of the highlights in the city are the Cathédrale La Major, the Basilica of Notre-Dame-of-la-Garde, and Palais Longchamp (seen left to right above). The MUCEM is a museum dedicated to the history of the Mediterranean and is only a short walk from the port shuttle drop off point. Other points of interest are the many beaches: Plage des Catalans for active beach goers, Plages du Prado the largest beach and perfect for family fun, and Calanque Port Pin for the adventurers looking for a hike to the beach. Don't forget to stop in the old port area (Vieux Port) and Le Panier the art district.

If you're looking for a relaxing day, but still want to get off the ship this is a perfect day to take the tender boat to shore and walk around the quaint town that is Villefranche sur-Mer (middle photo). For a more adventurous day consider walking to the train and taking the 15-minute ride to Nice (pictured left) for a day of shopping, site seeing, or a relaxing day at a private beach. Before heading back to the ship walk along the Promenade des Anglais, which runs parallel to the beachfront. Another option is to board the train for a ride east to the city centre of Monaco, also known as Monte Carlo. For a scenic ride through the winding Côte d'Azur roads opt for an Uber. In Monaco, go shopping or walk along the waterfront to see the Monaco Opera and Casino de Monte-Carlo, eventually reaching the beautiful Old Town just beyond the Palais Princier.

We will be offering for everyone to join us for a private trip to Florence, a quick stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and a wine tasting paired with lunch at a Tuscan vineyard to thank everyone for making the trip to celebrate our marriage. We will have several hours in Florence to find the famous "wine in the wall" restaurant, walk the Ponte Vecchio, one of the remaining pre-WWI bridges in Europe, and visit the surreal Duomo. However, this will be a very long day with 5 hours of broken up driving and we understand that some people may want to stay closer to the ship or go only to one of these places. Livorno, the port city, has a quaint waterfront area featuring shops and restaurants that are walking distance from the port if you choose to forgo excursions this day.

From morning yoga on the pool deck to afternoon Pilates, bowling to repelling the rock wall, going to the adults only pool or enjoying the 3 waterslides, utilizing the 7th deck track or partaking in one of the many hosted activities throughout the day there is no lack of entertainment whether the ship is in port or not. However, the sea day is a great opportunity to take advantage of these activities without missing out on the port city.

Messina is one of the best cruise ports of this itinerary because most points of interest are within a mile of the terminal. Walk to the Bell Tower and Astronomical Clock (Orologio Astronomico) or the Cathedral of Messina. Sign up for a Godfather tour and travel 45 minutes south by car to Taormina and Savoca to see filming locations from 'The Godfather' and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Isola Bella. If you do not choose to partake in an excursion in Sicily, we recommend taking the 1-hour train from the port to Taormina and admire the breathtaking views and ancient monuments of Piazza IX Aprile. Walk by Porta Catania di Taormina, get an Aperol Spritz at San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel that was once a Church in the 1200s, and the 3rd century B.C Greek-Roman Ampitheater Ancient Theatre of Taormina. Restaurant suggestions in Taormina include Otto Geleng- Grand Hotel Timeo (center photo), Ristorante Le Naumachie, and Restaurant Armonia at Mazzaro Sea Palace. In Messina Michelin recommends Marina del Nettuno and Megan suggests Bar de Luca for gelato and Trattoria le Sirene for pasta and fish.

Salerno allows for a day of endless possibilities. Only a 30-minute drive from Pompei (center photo), Mt. Vesuvius and Herculaneum this is an easy day trip through an excursion company or via the train. By train this is a 1-hour trip, and the trains can be very busy, however the train is less than 1/10 the cost. To spend the day exploring Amalfi (photo 1), and the 34-mile coast requires a quick 35-minute ferry that will travel from the port of Salerno to the Amalfi Coast. Alternate options include a boat trip to Capri, a vineyard tour in Camerota, or staying in Salerno to visit the Duomo di Salerno, get a drink while admiring I Due Fratelli (photo 3) and eat at hidden gem restaurants just a few yards from the cruise port.