After spending three incredible days in Barcelona, we were giddy with excitement to get on board The Scarlet Lady for our second cruise with Virgin Voyages.
As I write this, I can’t help but laugh to myself. Prior to starting my business, I was someone who’d always thought that cruises were “not for me.” This was based on very outdated perceptions of cruising and frankly, a lack of information on my part.
That’s not to say one size fits all—the key is finding the cruise line and experience that is going to go above and beyond your expectations, which is what Virgin Voyages has done for me and countless other travelers as well.
WHAT TO EXPECT ABOARD VIRGIN VOYAGES
Since this was our second time on board, we had a better idea of what to expect. We knew which restaurants on board we wanted to visit first (I’m looking at you, Pink Agave) and had a lot of fun shopping before our trip for something to wear on Scarlet Night, the biggest party on board during a Virgin Voyage.
We loved getting to make all our dinner reservations in advance using Virgin Voyages’ mobile app and were quick to book massages and tickets to onboard entertainment right after we got on the ship.
(Hot tip: download the app in advance and you’ll stay way ahead of the curve.)
MARSEILLE – A TASTE OF PROVENCE
The first port on our cruise was the city of Marseille, which I’ve come to learn is part of both Provence and The French Riviera (Côte d’Azur if you’re a local). In addition to being France’s oldest city, Marseille is also considered by many to be its most diverse city, which has led to it becoming a culinary mecca, blending flavors from around the world with its traditional Provencal roots.
As a historic port city, Marseille has welcomed generations of immigrants from North Africa, Italy, Greece, and beyond, each bringing their own rich culinary traditions. This fusion has resulted in a vibrant food scene, including dishes ranging from classic bouillabaisse to spicy Moroccan tagines, aromatic couscous, and fresh Mediterranean seafood dishes.
Since we love to try new foods when we travel, we joined a walking food tour in Marseille, and it did not disappoint. During this excursion, we got to try local specialties such as baked camembert, panisse (chickpea fritters) and pastis, which both tasted a lot like ouzo and became cloudy when mixed with ice the same way ouzo does.
We also tried and brought home navettes, cookies that were first created for sailors to have something to snack on during long journeys that would not go stale. They have such a simple flavor profile and are delicious when dunked in coffee.
Our day spent in Marseille was a great way to get a small, first taste of Provence—now I’m even more excited to spend a week in Provence next year than I was before.
CANNES AND ANTIBES
The following day, we visited Cannes, and I was immediately blown away by the number of yachts just casually chilling there in the harbor as we approached the gorgeous beach ahead of us. Rather than spending the day in Cannes, we chose to take a day trip to nearby Antibes, a true gem along The French Riviera.
Located between Cannes and Nice, Antibes is quieter than nearby Cannes and is a charming resort town with a beautiful coastline to walk, delicious food, a harbor full of yachts to charter (or just gaze at), and lots of charming shops and restaurants to visit.
One of the highlights of our visit to Antibes was stopping into an absinthe bar to visit the “green fairy,” learn how to properly prepare a glass (I had never mixed it with water or sugar before, whoops), and of course enjoy a glass or two. The bar was located in a shop basement and its walls were lined with photos of celebrities and locals who had spent time there over the years (of course Cyndi Lauper was the first one I clocked). The entire experience felt like a brief step backward in time and I’m so glad we spent our day there.
If you are spending some time on The French Riviera during summer, Antibes is a fantastic option. It is not nearly as crowded as Cannes and will give you a great base to explore the entire Riviera when you’re not luxuriating at your hotel—check out Hotel Belles Rives, it is [chef’s kiss].
After our excursion, we got back on board the ship and enjoyed a great dinner and some drinks. We had a sea day ahead of us, followed by visits to Mallorca and Ibiza which I will tell you all about next time.
