I joined European tour boarding a cruise ship for 11 days from June 5 (Thursday) to 15 (Sunday) and returned to Japan last night after spending seven nights on board. This time, I write about this matter.
I boarded Emirates departing from Kansai International Airport late at night on June 5 (Thursday), and after about 10 hours flight I arrived at Dubai International Airport in UAE. After about 3 hours of transit at the said airport, I transferred to another Emirates flight, and after 7 hours flight I arrived in Nice, France at 13:40 on June 6 in local time (20:40 on June 6 in Japan time). After arriving in Nice, I got on a bus about 1 hour and had sightseeing in Monaco, and then I went back to Nice and stayed overnight at a hotel. And next morning, I got on a bus about 3 hours and moved to Marseille, and boarded a cruise ship named “MSC World Europa” and I started a cruise for 7 days and 8 nights. Ports of call were ①Marseille, France ② Genoa, Italy ③ Naples, Italy ④Messina, Italy ⑤ Valletta, Malta ⑥ Barcelona, Spain. And there was one day, a full day cruise without any port of call.
Incidentally, according to a report, it seems that Japan has entered the rainy season, but in various places where I visited this time, the bright sunlight poured down and I was blessed with clear sunny weather and a pleasant temperature symbolizing an image of the Mediterranean region. And I was energized by the bright red sunlight from beyond the horizon of the Mediterranean Sea and the sunset sinking below the horizon was melancholic and moving when viewing from the deck of the ship.
By the way, the ship I boarded this time is the world’s largest luxury cruise ship placed into service in 2022. This ship has a total tonnage of about 210,000 tons, total length of 333 meters, maximum width of 47 meters. cruising speed of 22.7 knots (equivalent to about 42.0 kilo meters), passenger capacity of 6.762 people and crew members of 2.138 people, and I could hardly feel any rocking at all. And there are restaurants, pools and jacuzzies, lounge bars, clubs, casino, fitness center, theater, shops and so on available on the ship. And at the theater and the deck, there are various shows and events every evening. The crew’s manners were also refined and satisfactory. There was a formal dinner (formal attire) on one of the days during the cruise, and the color of the outfit (dress code) was determined by the day. However, these were not strict regulations, but just for fun. There was no need to be too particular, and the passengers were enjoying themselves in their own outfits.
In addition, this trip to Europe is about 14 years and 5 months since I visited Stockholm, Sweden, Helsinki, Finland, and Frankfurt, Germany in November 2011, as a chairperson of the Counsil of the Kansai Productivity Center with over 20 members. My visit to France and Italy was actually for the first time in 44 years, and this was my first visit to Barcelona, Spain. And the previous visits were for business and work-related inspections. Therefore, it was my first experience of traveling for tourism purposes like this and what’s more, travel by a cruise ship. There was a very fresh impression, but there was also some confusion.
There is a classification of Western Europe and Eastern Europe and Southern Europe and Northern Europe in Europe. When looking back at the past, it is a history of conflicts in which there have been periods of peace amidst wars since B.C., and even now, intense fighting continues between Ukraine and Russia. It is a repetition of wars over race, religion, and territory. Conquerors and rulers alternate by the era, and traces can be found everywhere.
I had lived in the United States for five and a half years, and after that I visited for business many times and I have visited most major cities in the United States. Europe where I visited this time has thousands of years of history and culture, but the United States has only about 250 years of history since its founding. I feel the difference in length and depth of history between the United States and Europe. Deep down in the hearts of Europeans, it seems to me that there is a certain degree of contempt for Americans, saying that “the United States was founded by people who left their homes for various reasons and emigrated to the New World”. On the contrary, to Americans, Europeans “are powerless but have a strong sense of pride and are very arrogant”. I think it is causing a misunderstanding. I can sense it in recent behavior of Vice President Vance and Mr. Elon Musk too.

■■This time’s itinerary and major destinations:
■The second day after leaving Japan ~To Monaco after arriving in Nice, France:
Monaco is a small country facing the Mediterranean Sea and famous for the Casino de Monte Carlo and F1 World Championship Monaco Grand Prix. As a luxury resort area, the sophisticated restaurants, yacht harbor, historical palace are an attraction. It is said that the tax benefits attract the world’s wealthiest people. I did not have time to check out the casino this time (fortunately?). I visited Monaco Cathedral where Rainier Ⅲ and Grand Duchess Grace held a wedding ceremony and both were buried, Prince’s Palace of Monaco, and Port Helcule (Port of Monte Carlo).
■The morning of the third day ~I got on a bus about 3 hours from Nice, France and moved to Marseilles Harbor, France:
I boarded a cruise ship there and at night departed for Genoa, Italy.
■The early morning of the fourth day ~Arriving in Genoa:
Genoa is the largest port city in Italy. It reached its heyday as a maritime republic in the 12th to 13th centuries. Mr. Columbus who discovered the Americas was born in Genoa. I visited the Cinque Terre that means five villages, the first of the five World Heritage sites where I visited this time, and in the evening, I departed for Naples, Italy.
■Just after noon on the fifth day ~Arriving in Naples:
It began when the Greeks named it Neapolis (new city) in the 7th to 6th centuries B.C. Through the Roman period, Norman rule, Spanish governorship, it continued to be a cultural center under a complex series of rulers.
After arriving in Naples, I visited Capri Island by speedboat (about 50 minutes one way). This Island is a historic resort area where ancient Roman Emperors built villas. At night, I departed for Messina, Sicily.
■The morning of the sixth day ~ After arriving in Messina, I went to Taormina:
This town is located on a hill at altitude of 250 meters on the eastern coast and it is one of Sicily’s leading resort areas facing the Ionian Sea and overlooking Mount Etna (active volcano) to the south. After that, I visited Greek Theater, the second of the five World Heritage sites where I visited this time. At night, I departed for Valletta, Malta. The view of Mount Etna reflected the sunset from the deck of the ship was fantastic.
■The morning of the seventh day ~Arriving in Valletta:
I went sightseeing in Valletta, the capital of Malta, which is the third of the five World Heritage sites, and visited Upper Barrakka Gardens, St John’s Co-Cathedral, and Grandmaster’s Palace.
This was the most memorable city during this trip. In particular, the interior and religious paintings of St John’s Co-Cathedral were magnificent. In the evening, I departed for Barcelona, Spain.
■The eighth day ~A full day cruise towards Barcelona:
■The early morning of the nineth day ~Arriving in Barcelona:
Barcelona became famous because the Olympics was held in 1992. It has less Islamic influence than other Spanish cities and it is a port city with a European-style streetscape. The most famous landmark is the Sagrada Familia which is the fourth of the five World Heritage sites.  Construction started in 1882, and Mr. Gaudi who was a talented architect recommended as a full-time architect in the following year died in a traffic accident in 1926, and since then, it was said to be “forever unfinished”, but it is gradually approaching completion. Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul, the fifth of the five World Heritage sites, was designated as a World Heritage site together with Palace of Catalan Music considered Montaner’s masterpiece. At night, I departed for Marseille, France.
■The tenth day ~Arriving in Marseille:
I got on a bus from Marseille and moved to Nice. After arriving in Nice, I did a little sightseeing and then went to the airport. I took an evening Emirates flight back home via Dubai.
■The eleventh day ~Arriving at Kansai International Airport two hours late in the evening on June 15 (Sunday).

■■I was able to relax on the ship, but the departure times of the ship at each port were fixed, so the schedule was quite tight. There are so many sights I could not see this time and I have my impression that I have only scratched the surface.
During my trip, I thought I would report more frequently, but there was sightseeing during the day and events on the ship in the evening. On top of that, the route was so far from land that communication was completely impossible. Therefore, the report was sent after returning to Japan. This was a very meaningful trip, but I also realized that it takes a lot of physical strength.