The Best of Italy, Croatia & Malta

• Day 1 UK to Venice

  Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport and transfer to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.

  Venice is a city unlike any other. No matter how often you've seen it in photos and films, the real thing is more dreamlike than you could imagine. With canals where streets should be, water shimmers everywhere. The fabulous palaces and churches reflect centuries of history in what was a wealthy trading center between Europe and the Orient. Getting lost in the narrow alleyways is a quintessential part of exploring Venice, but at some point you'll almost surely end up in Piazza San Marco, where tourists and locals congregate for a coffee or an aperitif.

• Day 2 Venice

  With your early morning arrival at Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.

   

• Day 3 Burano

  Start your morning in one of two of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Vicenza or Padua. In the afternoon, you'll reboard the ship for scenic sailing across the lagoon as we head towards Mazzorbo and Burano. In the evening, you may wish to take your free time to stroll into town to appreciate this charming island when most of the tourists have left for the evening. Burano’s brightly painted fishermen’s cottages are an artist’s dream -hot pink, chartreuse, orange, lemon yellow, and more.

• Day 4 Mazzorbo

  Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its captivating islands. Start with a visit to Torcello's famous basilica with an art historian, then stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano during your free time after lunch. Alternatively, you can take the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artisans of Murano at work.

   

• Day 5 Chioggia

  Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market. Chioggia, is a charming coastal town in the Veneto region, often called "Little Venice" for its picturesque canals and historic architecture. Located on a small island in the Venetian Lagoon, it boasts colorful buildings, bustling fish markets, and scenic bridges. Key attractions include the elegant Church of San Domenico and the vibrant Corso del Popolo. Known for its fishing heritage and serene beaches, Chioggia offers a unique blend of maritime tradition and Venetian charm, making it a delightful destination for visitors seeking a tranquil yet vibrant experience.

   

• Day 6 Venice

  This morning, join a sailing excursion where you’ll explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. Later, during lunch, we sail back to Venice.

   

• Day 7 Venice

  As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants.

   

• Day 8 Venice

  It’s time to say goodbye to the S.S. La Venezia and make our way to Fusina to board the Seabourn Ovation and begin the next chapter of your journey. Settle into your new home and enjoy the exceptional inclusions, from fine dining to unlimited beverages.

   

• Day 9 Rovinj

  On the Istrian peninsula of Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast, tiny, red-tiled Rovinj is perched on a domed headland now attached to the mainland. The town’s narrow, cobbled streets spiral up to the Church of St. Euphemia, whose Venetian-style campanile crowns the community. The outer, sea-level rim is lined with high-quality restaurants, and the warren of alleys open into unexpectedly pleasant plazas with open-air cafes.

  One of the true jewels of the Mediterranean, Rovinj is a jaw-droppingly beautiful town, which juts out into sparkling Mediterranean. Dominated by the pencil-like bell tower of the Venetian Saint Euphemia Cathedral, pine tree forests flow to the borders of the quaint Old Town - which evokes the romantic, tangled backstreets of the Venice. Rovinj - or Rovino in Italian - is a city of split personalities, with two official languages - having been owned by the Kingdom of Italy between 1919 and 1947.

• Day 10 Vis Island

  Located some 30 miles off the Croatian coast, Vis is the most westerly inhabited island in the Adriatic and the largest in the Vis archipelago-a designated UNESCO Global Geopark and biodiverse haven for bottlenose dolphins, giant devil rays, and blue-fin tuna. Closed to foreigners until 1989, Vis remains sparsely populated, much of it covered in vineyards, pine groves, and citrus orchards.

• Day 11 Vis Island

  Today is yours to relax and enjoy everything your ship has to offer. You may wish to lounge on deck, take in uninterrupted sea views, indulge in fine cuisine, or sip a cocktail by the pool as the Mediterranean sun drifts overhead.

• Day 12 Valletta

  Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French, and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. The island's rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital.

  Malta's capital, the minicity of Valletta, has ornate palaces and museums protected by massive fortifications of honey-color limestone. Houses along the narrow streets have overhanging wooden balconies for people-watching from indoors. Generations ago they gave housebound women a window on the world of the street. The main entrance to town is through the City Gate (where all bus routes end), which leads onto Triq Repubblika (Republic Street), the spine of the grid-pattern city and the main shopping street. Triq Mercante (Merchant Street) parallels Repubblika to the east and is also good for strolling. From these two streets, cross streets descend toward the water; some are stepped. Valletta's compactness makes it ideal to explore on foot. City Gate and the upper part of Valletta are experiencing vast redevelopment that includes a new Parliament Building and open-air performance venue. The complex, completed mid-2013, has numerous pedestrian detours in place along with building noise and dust. Before setting out along Republic Street, stop at the tourist information office on Merchant Street for maps and brochures.

• Day 13 Taormina

  This harbour on the eastern shore of Sicily near Messina gives us close access to the fabulous Greco-Roman ruins of Taormina, as well as the active volcano Mt. Etna. The temples, streets, and large amphitheatre of Taormina make it one of Italy’s premier ancient sites. Its location overlooking the sea and with the backdrop of snow-capped Etna complete the package and make it among the most famous attractions in the Mediterranean region.

  The medieval cliff-hanging town of Taormina is overrun with tourists, yet its natural beauty is still hard to dispute. The view of the sea and Mt. Etna from its jagged cactus-covered cliffs is as close to perfection as a panorama can get-especially on clear days, when the snowcapped volcano's white puffs of smoke rise against the blue sky. Writers have extolled Taormina's beauty almost since it was founded in the 6th century BC by Greeks from nearby Naxos; Goethe and D. H. Lawrence were among its well-known enthusiasts. The town's boutique-lined main streets get old pretty quickly, but the many hiking paths that wind through the beautiful hills surrounding Taormina promise a timeless alternative. A trip up to stunning Castelmola (whether on foot or by car) should also be on your itinerary.

• Day 14 Lipari

  Lipari is the largest of the seven major islands making up the Aeolian Islands. Their natural beauty and easy lifestyle have made the islands increasingly popular for those who wish to escape the modern world and its stresses. The crystal-clear, aqua-blue waters and the volcanic beaches are some of the most inviting in Italy. An abundance of fish and shellfish makes for some very good restaurants specializing in seafood.

  The largest and most developed of the Aeolians, Lipari welcomes you with distinctive pastel-color houses. Fields of spiky agaves dot the northernmost tip of the island, Acquacalda, indented with pumice and obsidian quarries. In the west is San Calogero, where you can explore hot springs and mud baths. From the red-lava base of the island rises a plateau crowned with a 16th-century castle and a 17th-century cathedral.

• Day 15 Sorrento

  With an idyllic cliff-top location on the Bay of Naples, Sorrento has inspired legends for centuries. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were said to live here, luring sailors onto the rocks. Today, citrus trees scent the air and add zest to the city's limoncello liqueur.

  Sorrento may have become a jumping-off point for visitors to Pompeii, Capri, and Amalfi, but you can find countless reasons to love it for itself. The Sorrentine people are fair-minded and hardworking, bubbling with life and warmth. The tuff cliff on which the town rests is spread over the bay, absorbing sunlight, while orange and lemon trees waft their perfume in spring. Winding along a cliff above a small beach and two harbors, the town is split in two by a narrow ravine formed by a former mountain stream. To the east, dozens of hotels line busy Via Correale along the cliff-many have "grand" included in their names, and some indeed still are. To the west, however, is the historic sector, which still enchants. It's a relatively flat area, with winding, stone-paved lanes bordered by balconied buildings, some joined by medieval stone arches. The central piazza is named after the poet Torquato Tasso, born here in 1544. This part of town is a delightful place to walk through. Craftspeople are often at work in their stalls and shops and are happy to let you watch; in fact, that's the point. Music spots and bars cluster in the side streets near Piazza Tasso.

• Day 16 Civitavecchia

  Your journey concludes in Civitavecchia. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Rome. Depending on flight timings, guests may choose to join an optional add-on excursion in Rome, with an airport transfer included afterwards.

  Italy's vibrant capital lives in the present, but no other city on earth evokes its past so powerfully. For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here. Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness. Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza.

The Best of Italy, Croatia & Malta Itinerary