In April 2025 we took our first trip to Europe — a repositioning cruise aboard the Celebrity Apex, Barcelona to Southampton, sailing west through the Strait of Gibraltar, stopping in Lisbon, two nights in Porto, and La Coruña before disembarking in Southampton, England. We added two days in Barcelona before boarding and two days in London after. It was our second Celebrity sailing, having cruised Alaska on the Solstice in 2018, and our first time in a Sky Suite thanks to the Celebrity Move Up program. Here’s our complete honest review.
Read the full series in order:
Barcelona — Day 1 Arriving jetlagged but determined — churros con chocolate, octopus at La Boqueria, and wandering the Gothic Quarter. → Barcelona Day 1 – Exhilarated & Snacky
Barcelona — Day 2 Park Güell, the awe-inspiring Sagrada Família, and some excellent meals in the Eixample. → Barcelona Day 2 – Beautiful Park Guell and Awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia
Barcelona — Day 3 (Unplanned) An unexpected embarkation delay gave us a bonus morning at La Pedrera — one of the trip’s surprise highlights. → La Pedrera – Unplanned Day 3 in Barcelona and the Ordeal That Wasn’t
Lisbon Passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and arriving in one of Europe’s most charming cities — and yes, we ate everything. → Lisbon – Charming and Tasty
Porto & Guimarães Two very different experiences from the Porto Leixões terminal — the riverside city and a medieval day trip. → Porto and Guimarães – Awesome Time Traveling in Portugal
La Coruña & Eden Restaurant Our final port day in Galicia and the best meal we’ve ever had at sea — dinner at Eden aboard the Apex. → La Coruña and the Best Meal at Sea
London — Day 1 First impressions of the UK after disembarking in Southampton — Westminster, the Thames, and more. → Fascinating London – Day 1
London — Day 2 The Tower of London, the British Museum, the West End, and trying to fit everything into one final day. → Exhausted in Brilliant London – Day 2
Dining Roundup Our favorite bites across Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, London, and onboard the Apex. → Celebrity Apex Dining Review – Best Bites Onboard, in Spain, Portugal, & London
Celebrity Move Up We also wrote a detailed guide to the Celebrity Move Up program based on this sailing. → Celebrity Move Up Program: 7 Proven Things You Must Know Before You Bid
Planning a similar itinerary? We’re sailing the Celebrity Xcel from Barcelona in June 2026 — watch for more Mediterranean content coming soon. And if you have questions about any of these destinations, drop them in the comments!