Catalonia to the Cote D’Azur with Atlas Ocean Voyages

I have recently been lucky enough to embark on a spectacular journey on board one of the newest, most innovative cruise lines at sea, Atlas Ocean Voyages for an exclusive epicurean expedition. This was a 7 night sailing in true luxury from Barcelona to Nice, visiting a range of ports from quaint towns such as L’ille Rousse, to the strikingly spectacular shorelines of St. Tropez and Cannes.

Upon embarkation in Barcelona, I was greeted by extremely warm and welcoming staff offering canapes and champagne and this level of charming service did not drop throughout the week. I stayed in a veranda stateroom offering more amenities than I could’ve wished for, from lavish L’Occitane shampoos to large wall mounted TV’s and a re-stocked minifridge every day. It was pure opulence. The bathrooms were incredibly well appointed, including a walk in shower with a rain head and body jets. These sumptuous staterooms gave me everything and I had the perfect opportunity to relax on my private veranda with a glass of champagne, taking in the magnificent sights of Cannes, marvelling at the extravagant superyachts harboured nearby.

The itinerary was perfect and had a true blend of charming coastal towns such as Propriano, Corsica and dazzling cities like Cannes, lined with designer shops, boutique hotels and supercars driving between. One of the highlights however, has to be Saint Tropez. Not much needs to be explained as it is already a world renowned destination, and when you visit, it is everything you expected and more. The main harbour was lined with spectacular superyachts but behind the bustling main streets and extravagant boutiques was the real beauty and history of Saint Tropez.

Narrow cobbled side roads with tall, pastel coloured terraces either side. Between were alleyways opening up to show stunning views of the French Riviera. Whilst here, Atlas held an included cultural immersion experience which was unforgettable, a guiding walking tour of Saint Tropez with a local expert, followed by a game of Pétanque with a glass of locally sourced Rose…or two.

The food onboard was carefully crafted and varied daily. And also some of the best cuisine I have ever tasted. For breakfast, there was a range of ways you could dine; the main restaurant had a choice of table service, ordering breakfast from the menu, or there was a buffet, containing delicacies from all over the world to choose from, with a choice of smoothies, fresh juices, hot drinks and much more. I however, preferred ordering my breakfast to my stateroom and enjoying a pastry and coffee from the comfort of my private veranda, taking in the views of Spain, Corsica and the Cote D’azur each day. 

There was a range of places you could eat for lunch from Paula's Pantry, offering snacks like croissants and toasties to freshly squeezed juices and coffees, my personal favourite being the berry blast; mixed berries with a subtle kick of chilli, unique but delicious! Dining was primarily in the Main, Lisboa Restaurant with open seating and whatever time we wanted. There was always space to dine on your own but if you chose to do so, sit with others. This was a huge advantage of being on board a yacht style ship carrying only 190 guests, there was always space. The menu changed every night and offered exquisite options for everybody, with vegan and plant based delicacies also being a specialty for Atlas, whatever the need, these talented chefs could cater for. I do believe Atlas is the cruise line to look out for, with many other agents, and customers on board, saying the same in regards to cuisine and dining. We also reserved on the last night, 7AFT, an open air chophouse where I had the finest cuts of meat and most delicious seafood cooked to perfection on a world famous Josper Grill. This dining experience topped off a truly incredible voyage.

Onboard entertainment was great and there was a host of different activities and entertainment. During the days, there were cook offs in the Lisboa Restaurant and pool deck. As well as this, lectures were held In the theatre where guest Chef, Julieta Davey, known as Mama Cacao and art dealer, Brian Liss provided information about their works. These proved very popular with guests onboard, just like the wonderful evening entertainment. Anne Steele, a performer who has shared the stage with the likes of Boy George, Cyndi Lauper and more, was onboard to perform 70s, 80s, 90s and today's music in the Dome, and it was fantastic! Other singers gave us disco nights, songs upon requests, opera and I could not fault any of them.

Atlas Ocean Voyages are unique in many different ways, but I believe the main reason which helps this new cruise line stand out from the rest, is their ultimate and inspiring focus on these different types of expedition sailings. Every sailing is an expedition, whether it be polar, cultural or epicurean. I believe this is incredibly important for the clientele Atlas are aiming to sell their product to as some people may be very interested in the idea of an expedition sailing, however might not want to dive straight into travelling to the bottom of the globe to visit Antarctica.

So why not try an epicurean adventure closer to home in the Mediterranean? Or visit the Caribbean for a cultural expedition. The itineraries Atlas provide are unique and enhance the immersion in a destination, especially as they are only sharing these unique ports with less than 200 other guests. In my experience, when we visited both Propriano and L’ille Rousse in Corsica, I could explore as much as I wanted, at my own pace, on my own as we were the only ship in port therefore nowhere was overcrowded or too busy.

Call Panache Cruises on 0161 513 8200 if you want to learn more about Atlas Ocean Voyages.