If you caught this earlier post, you know that our first trip on the Celebrity Ascent completely changed our perspective on cruising. We loved it so much that just seven months later, we were back, this time with the whole family in tow for an epic 17-day European vacation.
We designed the perfect “land-and-sea” sandwich: kicking things off with three days in Barcelona, embarking on a 10-day dream circuit aboard the Ascent, and wrapping it all up with four days in the heart of Rome. While the 10-day cruise was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip, the entire 17-day journey was the ultimate test of family travel, and it passed with flying colors.
Even though the Ascent feels sophisticated and “grown-up,” our kids (ages 9 and 6) navigated it like total pros. They found their own rhythm, balancing high-energy evenings at the Kids Club with meetups on the dance floor for silent disco and at the Martini Bar for their favorite treat: virgin strawberry daiquiris.
From private boat charters to cooking classes, here is the play-by-play of a 17-day itinerary that I can only describe as the best vacation we’ve ever had.
The Kickoff: Barcelona
We started with three days in Barcelona, staying at the Catalonia Catedral. If you’ve ever traveled through Europe with kids, you know the struggle: finding an affordable hotel room that actually fits a family of four is nearly impossible. Usually, you’re forced to book two separate rooms or pivot to an Airbnb just to get enough beds.
The family room at Catalonia Catedral is a rare find, spacious, thoughtfully laid out, and genuinely comfortable for all of us. Having that extra square footage in the heart of the Gothic Quarter made it the perfect “home base” to reset and recharge before boarding our cruise. The staff was warm and welcoming, the breakfast spread offered more than enough delicious options to start the day, and the rooftop pool was a lovely bonus. We even squeezed in a relaxing afternoon swim! We would absolutely stay here again and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other families visiting Barcelona.
Highlights & Recommendations: Make dinner reservations for every night. Do not wing it, especially if you’re traveling with kids. We loved Tapeo (El Born area) and ate like absolute champs there. We also visited both Park Güell (booked via Viator) and La Sagrada Familia (booked via Get Your Guide) and highly recommend purchasing entrance tickets in advance.
A cool experiences we did was starting the day with a two-hour walking tour with a local guide. She took us to the main attractions, helped us navigate the city and metro, and captured professional-quality photos of our family along the way, ending right at La Sagrada Familia, just before our entrance time. We planned it perfectly and it was such a seamless and memorable way to experience the city. We booked everything through the GetYourGuide app. The exact tour was called, “Barcelona: Instagram Tour of the Most Scenic Spots” by Pickapictour.
We loved Barcelona and would go back in a heartbeat. Our days were jam-packed with exploring, sightseeing, shopping, and eating our way through the city. We logged a gazillion steps and made it a point to treat ourselves to foot massages on our final day before heading to the cruise port, highly recommend if you’re walking the city with kids.
Stop 1: Ajaccio, Corsica
Our first taste of the cruise life was pure magic. We kept it simple: wandering through winding streets, ducking into local boutiques, and accidentally stumbling into a stunning art museum. We eventually landed at Brasserie L’Instant for a long, lazy lunch in town, just taking in the surroundings. It was the perfect mix of low-key and “boujee-luxe,” a total hidden gem that would have never been on my radar otherwise.
Stop 2: La Spezia & Cinque Terre
This was a beautiful, busy day. We started in Vernazza for a family photoshoot with Lovvia Memories. Having a local photographer capture us there was the best decision. The photos are priceless.
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The Highlights: We did a pesto-making class in Manarola, then spent the afternoon at Fegina Beach in Monterosso, where we snagged umbrellas and chairs to just soak it all in.
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Pro Tip: Use the train! We purchased the family train ticket in advance, and it makes hopping between the villages incredibly easy.
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The Food: Lunch at Trattoria dal Billy was reallyyyy good. The place was tiny, but the meal and Aperol Spritz was fantastic!
Stop 3: Cannes, France
For our day in Cannes, we hired a private driver to take us along the French Riviera. Frst to Nice for a quick photo stop and that unbeatable coastal view, then up into the medieval hilltop village of Èze, and finally down into Monte Carlo, Monaco for lunch. Èze and Monte Carlo are both absolute dream spots, the kind of places that feel like they’re straight out of a movie.
In Èze, we spent a few hours wandering the cobblestone streets, stopping at the local perfume factory before losing ourselves in the quaint, flower-lined alleys of the village. From there, it was on to Monte Carlo, where we explored the marina and the glamorous streets before sitting down for a leisurely lunch.
Stop 4: Cagliari, Sardinia
By day four, we were exhausted and ready to chill. We had a lazy beach day, and the water in Sardinia was breathtaking… crystal clear and so refreshing.
Stop 5: Valletta, Malta
Malta is a magical destination. We spent the morning wandering the town, wishing we had more time. Then, we took a 40-minute car ride to meet our boat.
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The Hookup: We used a local taxi driver named Shaun (+356 7705 2138) and booked the boat through Viator, Janet and Sam (+356 9974 1674).
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The Highlight: The boat ride starts near Mellieha and takes you to Gozo, Comino, and Blue Lagoon, which is probably the coolest place(s) I’ve ever been. It was honestly one of the favorite days of my life, ever. We booked this on the Viator app, and the tour was called: Malta Private Boat Tour: Gozo, Comino, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, product code: 49599P7. Communication was great. Our boat captain was adorable and friendly. Couldn’t recommend this enough!
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Tip: Bring your own drinks, snacks, towels, and plenty of Euros for ice cream on the water and tips! We stopped In a small shop in town and purchased a few drinks and sandwiches, which came In clutch!
Stop 6: Sicily
We took a Celebrity excursion to Taormina on Father’s Day, which made it extra special. It’s such a charming village. We started with a scenic coastal boat cruise before heading into town. Casey and kids got to jump in the water from the boat. Of course, they were the only ones who jumped in! This was our only “shared” boat activity, and our only shared excursion in the entire trip. We got on a large coach bus from the port with others from the cruise. It was honestly fine. I do think if given the opportunity, a private driver and private boat ride is the way to go, however, if you’re looking for easy and safe, then booking through the cruise ship is your best bet!
After the boat ride, we were starving! We had an incredible lunch and managed to find the most beautiful silk scarf while shopping in town. We hated when our time was up and so wish we could have stayed longer. A future Malta and Sicily longer trip is now on the list!
Stop 7: Naples & Capri
Another “favorite day ever” contender. We hired Misal Sorrento Boat Charter for a full-day private boat to Capri. It was truly magical. We had a delicious waterside lunch before heading into the center of Capri to shop. I highly recommend renting a private boat vs taking a public ferry for a more personal experience and to maximize time in Capri. The boat was docked about a 10 minute cab ride from the cruise port. Catching a cab was easy, as they’re lined up right outside the port.
The Grand Finale: Rome
We ended the cruise in Civitavecchia and took a private driver to Rome for four extra days.
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Stay: Hotel Terrace Pantheon Relais (the hotel was a bit rundown, BUT the family room was large and the location is 10/10).
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Eat: Ristorante La Pollarola for lunch and Dar Poeta in Trastevere for incredible pizza. For a special dinner, Costanza Hostaria is one of our favorites to go back to. We’ve eaten there several times, and have also recommended it to so many people who equally love it.
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Do: We did a Pasta (fettuccini and ravioli) and Tiramisu class that was a blast for the kids, plus a group tour of the Colosseum. The cooking class was booked on Viator and the Colosseum was booked on Get Your Guide.
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Final Thoughts
Beyond the destinations, the ship itself gave us some unexpected memories. I splurged on a Prada bag at the What Goes Around store, and Casey and our daughter, Harley, even went to an art auction. We ended up buying a painting that reminds us of this exact vacation. We’re officially “art people” now!
Our time on the Celebrity Ascent was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we hope happens more than once. It was the perfect mix of luxury, adventure, and family connection. The ship combined with this itinerary was truly something special.
