Italy & Portugal Transatlantic 14 Nights • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy to Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Celebrity Ascent

Rome, Italy: Civitavecchia was settled in 108 A.D. by the Emperor Trajan and has since served faithfully as a gateway to Rome, the capital of Italy. Once the center of the Ancient World from which emperors ruled over nearly all of western civilization, Rome is still a cultural mecca. Only a few cities in the world can boast such a well-preserved level of architecture, art, and religious iconography. There’s an enormous wealth of culture and history to discover on a cruise to Rome. Visit the ancient halls of the 50,000-seat Colosseum, gaze upon the ceilings of Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, and stroll the Capitoline Museum. Roman culinary prowess is well respected and beloved the world over. Experience authentic pizza, hearty bowls of fresh pasta, excellent cheeses, wines, seafood, and delightful desserts like tiramisu and gelato at family-run trattorias that have been preparing these traditional dishes for centuries. Walk the cobblestoned piazzas making your way to narrow side streets where you’re sure to find craftsman shops and beautiful boutiques filled with gorgeous handmade accessories and homewares for keepsakes and souvenirs.

As you approach this lovely port from the sea, you’ll marvel at the castles and cathedrals, perched on successive terraces. Originally settled over 2,700 years ago, Cagliari retains much of its original seaside charm. Pristine waters and white sand beaches surround the island, offering great opportunities to scuba, snorkel, and swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea on your Cagliari cruise. Once home to Italian nobility and aristocrats, this ancient city boasts the 3,000-year-old ruins of Nora, ancient temples and thermal baths of Sardinia, and the Neolithis Nuraghic Village of Su Nuraxi di Barumini.Savor the distinct Italian flavor of Cagliari cuisine with pasta feasts, fresh seafood, and prime meats on menu at bistros and restaurants throughout the city. A stroll down Vias Garibaldi and Manno will bring you to the finest artisan shops and boutiques. Lovely handcrafts, regional cheeses, and island wines can be found at the open-air markets around the city for delightful keepsakes and souvenirs. With every Vespa that zips by and every golden-domed palazzi you see, you will come to realize that Cagliari is the most Italian of the Sardinian islands.

The great Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Made of limestone, it towers 1,400 feet above the mouth of the majestic Mediterranean Sea and is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a nature reserve.

Funchal, the largest city on Madeira island, is known as the "Floating Garden" because of its remarkable variety of vegetation, fruit, and flowers. With cruise Madeira everywhere you look you'll find sprawling scenic splendor, from the deeply gouged cliffs to the lush, verdant valleys reminiscent of parts of Hawaii.

Royal Naval Dockyard has something for everyone. Taste local flavors and stroll through the shops and museums. Or have a close encounter at Dolphin Quest, where you can see, pet and swim with these magnificent marine mammals.