Natalie, social media manager at Hays Travel, recently returned from her first-ever cruise holiday with Virgin Voyages. 

She set sail for seven nights on a luxurious adult-only ship heading towards five dreamy destinations of the Med. 

Here is the story of her epic trip…

"The Irresistible Med itinerary sets sail from Barcelona making that our first destination, and what a way it was to kick off the holiday! 

"We spent a few days exploring the city where we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the rich culture. We checked off a lot of bucket list destinations and delved into the fascinating districts. 

"Our favourite had to be the El Born area, with its modern and trendy vibe proving the perfect opportunity for a spot of shopping in the designer boutiques or a bite to eat in one of the local cafes.

"We then boarded the super-yacht inspired Valiant Lady for the next leg of the adventure! The ship hosted a sail away party for the first night so we got to spend the evening sipping fizz and indulging in delicious food. 

"The following morning we arrived at our first port of call in the French Riviera, I will always remember standing on the balcony of our cabin admiring the French coastline as we sailed into Toulon. 

"We spent our time in port wandering the quaint streets and meandering along the picture-perfect harbour (and of course stopping to sample some beers along the way). It’s a fascinating town that I am not sure I would have ever gotten the chance to visit any other way.

"Day two saw us arrive at Marina di Carrara which was a great base to head out and explore the Tuscany region of Italy. 

"With twelve hours in port this day, we had plenty of time to head to nearby Pisa by train, which we found to be an extremely easy journey. We strolled around the gorgeous city, enjoyed a gelato and taking in the vibrant atmosphere with a glass of wine in hand. Of course, we also had to stop to get the iconic shot of the unmissable leaning tower of Pisa!

"After a busy few days, it was time for a relaxing day at sea enjoying all that the ship had to offer. Once recharged we arrived in Ajaccio, Corsica, for the third stop on the itinerary. We wasted no time and hopped on an open-top bus for a tour of the town taking a picturesque journey along the coastline and enjoying the 360-degree views along the way. 

"I loved being able to take in the culture and relish in the atmosphere at each destination, we found the perfect way to do this was to visit the quaint street cafes, grab a coffee and watch the world go by. Unexpectedly for me, the chic and elegant Ajaccio was my favourite spot on the whole itinerary!

"Another peaceful day at sea was in order before arriving at Ibiza Town early evening on our penultimate day. Being able to experience the buzzing nightlife whilst on a cruise holiday was a definite highlight. 

"We headed into the town around 8pm and spent the evening strolling the cobbled streets in awe of the charming beauty around every corner, hopping between bars in the Dalt Vila area of town. It’s fair to say it was a late night that evening, so we headed back to the ship to recharge ready to spend more time exploring Ibiza Town by day.

"On our final day we covered a lot of ground in Ibiza. We took a walk along the marina admiring the luxurious yachts and then hiked around the Dalt Vila area taking in the panoramic views. 

"Exploring the town took a little longer as my head was turned at every enticing boutique we passed, which there was a lot of! Each individual boutique was full of unique artisan fashion and accessories, that gave me island lifestyle vibes (very dangerous for the bank balance!).

"We spent our last night onboard reflecting on our holiday and feeling grateful that we took the leap and set sail on a cruise holiday, it certainly won’t be the last. 

"It was truly like no other, with a sense of adventure and culture, blended with a luxurious resort like experience onboard. The memories I made will stay with me for years to come… at least until I book my next cruise holiday.”

Make sure to check back soon for part two where Natalie will share with us her experience onboard Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady.