2012

This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled onboard or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a book poolside.

 

Located in northeastern Sicily on the slopes of the Peloritani Mountains, Messina is an ancient place with a fascinating history. Walk by the ruins of the Santa Maria Alemanna Church, built in 1220 A.D. You'll also want to see the Duomo, a Romanesque and Norman cathedral that includes a display of artifacts in its treasury.

 

Throughout history, from Romans to Arabs, from Turks to Normans and St. It has hosted many cultures and civilizations until the Knights of St. John, and today it bears the traces of these cultures. Destroyed by bombings during the Second World War, Valletta regained its old architectural texture with successive repairs. The houses with bay windows, narrow streets, palaces, churches and cathedrals form the eye-catching architectural texture of the city. Another striking feature of the houses made of yellow malt stone are the door handles and the decorations and lanterns on the door edges. Valletta, the capital of Malta, is a very busy and lively city.

 

This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled onboard or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a book poolside.

 

Genoa is Italy's sixth largest city and a historical port city in northern Italy, the capital of the Region of Liguria.In ancient times it was the most important harbor of the Mediterranean sea and has a long history as a rich and powerful trade centre. Genova is also reknown for its excellent culinary product "pesto" and other typical and delicious dishes and food (notably fish, seafood, "focaccia", "farinata", "torta pasqualina", "cappon magro", etc.)

 

Civitavecchia Port is located 70 km from Rome, the capital of Italy. ROME is like an open-air museum, with its thousands of years of history, cobblestone streets, and delicious Italian cuisine. The independent state of Vatican City, where the spiritual leader of Catholics—the Pope—resides, is situated within the city of Rome. Rome offers a rich architectural and historical experience, with must-see landmarks including the Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

 

 

This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled onboard or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a book poolside.

 

Crete is the largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest one in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, the visitor can admire the remnants of brilliant civilizations, explore glorious beaches, impressive mountainscapes, fertile valleys and steep gorges, and become part of the island’s rich gastronomic culture. Crete is, after all, a small universe teeming with beauties and treasures that you will probably need a lifetime to uncover!

 

Piraeus is the main port of Athens, the biggest in Greece, and one of the most important in the Mediterranean Sea. Piraeus is walking distance from Kastella, a hill strewn with beautiful houses that offers a majestic view of the Saronic Gulf. Other points of interest include an archaeological museum, Mikrolimano, where you can enjoy an ouzo accompanied by seafood mezedes.

 

Istanbul is supremely exotic, warmly welcoming, and quite unique – after all, where else can you tour Europe and Asia on the very same afternoon? Must sees include Haghia Sophia, decorated in 30 million tiny mosaic tiles, the greatest church in Christendom for 1000 years, then a mosque and now a museum; and Topkapi, palace of sultans, complete with harem quarters. And of course shopping in the Grand Bazaar, a medieval version of a mall, for unusual gifts to take home, stopping along the way in a café for a cup of Turkish coffee or mint tea.

 

Istanbul is supremely exotic, warmly welcoming, and quite unique – after all, where else can you tour Europe and Asia on the very same afternoon? Must sees include Haghia Sophia, decorated in 30 million tiny mosaic tiles, the greatest church in Christendom for 1000 years, then a mosque and now a museum; and Topkapi, palace of sultans, complete with harem quarters. And of course shopping in the Grand Bazaar, a medieval version of a mall, for unusual gifts to take home, stopping along the way in a café for a cup of Turkish coffee or mint tea.