Day 1 – Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy

Departs 07:00 pm.

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome’s seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome’s Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world’s greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 2 – At Sea

Day 3 – La Spezia (tours to Florence /Pisa), Italy

Arrives 07:00 am, departs 07:00 pm.

Day 4 – Ajaccio, France

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Day 5 – At Sea

Day 6 – Mallorca (Palma), Spain

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 06:00 pm.

Palma is the capital city of the island of Mallorca, which is one of Spain’s Balearic Islands. The city is tucked into the protected Bay of Palma, creating an impressive view from the Mediterranean Sea with its imposing Gothic Cathedral towering above the old town and remnants of medieval walls that testify to its ancient history. Mallorca has a varied history, from the Roman occupation in the 2nd century to Moorish control from the 9th to the 13th century. Later reconquered by the Spanish kings, it rose to wealth and power due to its strategic position along the seagoing trade routes between Africa and Europe.Today, Palma is the largest city, and also the main tourist area, with beaches on either side of the city that overflow with resort hotels. If you venture beyond these environs, the island’s natural beauty abounds, and life continues in a predictably underdeveloped atmosphere of simplicity. This aspect has long been an attraction for writers, painters and musicians that find inspiration here.Two main languages are spoken on Mallorca – Castilian Spanish and the Balearic dialects of Catalan – hence the different versions of names and spellings throughout the Balearic Islands.

Day 7 – Alicante, Spain

Arrives 08:00 am, departs 04:00 pm.

Stroll the city’s old quarter and take in a visit to the Castillo de Santa Barbara. Also, Alicante is known for its miles of beaches.Stroll down the wide, palm-lined Esplanada de España, visit the imposing Castillo de Santa Barbara, or simply sit back and relax with an apéritif on the terrace of a café overlooking the harbor. No wonder locals hail this charming city on Spain’s Costa Blanca as “la millor terreta del mon” – the best place on Earth. Lying across a stretch of the Mediterranean from Algeria, Alicante reflects Spain’s long and sometimes turbulent relationship with Islamic Africa. Moorish influence is found not only in the city’s architecture, but also in the date palm groves outside the city. The Algerian influence can also be seen – and tasted – in the Old Quarter. Wherever you go, do not be alarmed by the talking traffic signals. Alicante is home to one of the main offices for La ONCE, one of Spain’s associations for the blind.Stroll the city’s old quarter and take in a visit to the Castillo de Santa Barbara. Also, Alicante is known for its miles of beaches.

Day 8 – Barcelona, Spain

Arrives 07:00 am.

The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew – Barcelona is one of the world’s greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain’s autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi’s Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic – also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler’s paradise.