Tuscany, Cinque Terre & the Portofino Coast

From under the Tuscan sun to the Italian Riviera, embark on a journey that fills your senses with art, cuisine, wine, and the best of nature – from rolling Tuscan hills with vineyards of grapes and olives to the magnificent Mediterranean Italian Riviera, lined with fragrant gardens along a picturesque... Read MoreFrom under the Tuscan sun to the Italian Riviera, embark on a journey that fills your senses with art, cuisine, wine, and the best of nature – from rolling Tuscan hills with vineyards of grapes and olives to the magnificent Mediterranean Italian Riviera, lined with fragrant gardens along a picturesque coastline... And suddenly, you are living _la dolce vita_... Our 8-day journey brings extraordinary experiences, from nature to knowledge. Bicycling atop the walls of Lucca... or walking through the medieval alleys of Siena. It's laughter. It's sharing, such as _vino_ made from grapes in the vineyards you've just explored. It's about becoming a part of day-to-day Italy... learning to cook Italian-style... savoring the extraordinary beauty of nature from Portofino along the Mediterranean's Italian Riviera... exploring villages of Cinque Terre National Park, overlooking the sea... and going off-the-beaten-path for an Italian cultural connection unlike any other.

Starting at: $5,990

(Not Including Airfare)*

A Week In... Tuscany & Umbria

The sun-dappled hill towns of central Italy seduce the senses with a festival of daily life which guests experience firsthand: wine tastings in bountiful vineyards, a chef-hosted cooking class, ceramic making, hand weaving, medieval crafts... In Tuscany, spend two nights at a historic Medici estate-turned-luxury... Read MoreThe sun-dappled hill towns of central Italy seduce the senses with a festival of daily life which guests experience firsthand: wine tastings in bountiful vineyards, a chef-hosted cooking class, ceramic making, hand weaving, medieval crafts... In Tuscany, spend two nights at a historic Medici estate-turned-luxury hotel in the Chianti countryside near Florence, with a cooking class at a farmhouse cooking school and a rooftop wine tasting lunch, a guided visit to a winery and a museum, and discovery of the ancient city of Arezzo, dating back to Etruscan times... Sightseeing delights during a two-night stay at a restored monastery in Umbria include a guided visit to medieval Gubbio, truffle hunting and ceramic insights... Two nights in Perugia at a palace hotel feature exploration of Assisi, an exclusive wine experience at a renowned vineyard, a hand-weaving workshop, a basilica visit, and special access to "Gaite" workshops in Bevagna... And in the magnificent city of Rome – an overnight is preceded by a visit to Spoleto and a guided tour of an ancient underground Roman church in Narni.

Starting at: $5,590

(Not Including Airfare)*

A Week In... Venice, Florence & Rome

All roads lead to Rome... They wind toward the Eternal City from Venice, labyrinthine city of art, romance, and palazzo-lined waterways... or to Florence, hip center of fashion, finance and culture, where Gucci, da Vinci, the Renaissance, and gold currency were born... They are the backroads that embark... Read MoreAll roads lead to Rome... They wind toward the Eternal City from Venice, labyrinthine city of art, romance, and palazzo-lined waterways... or to Florence, hip center of fashion, finance and culture, where Gucci, da Vinci, the Renaissance, and gold currency were born... They are the backroads that embark on a sojourn through the vineyards of Tuscany, sampling wine and local cuisine... They arrive at the hub of the Ancient World, in the heart of the modern metropolis, to discover the glories of Rome... And in today's modern Italy, the roads are joined by high-speed rail that closes the distance and makes the most of your time... a journey of timeless pleasures... Traveling by high speed train from Venice to Florence and Rome reveals Italy's history in just one week... etched into art in famed museums... poured in Tuscan wines aged in a 4th-century abbey cellar... sculpted in timeless antiquities and architectural masterpieces... and frescoed with astonishing splendor in Vatican City. Take a walking tour of Venice with a local guide. Attend a wine-pairing lunch, with a taste of locally produced olive oil and cellar-aged Sangiovese wines. And explore these three cities in-depth and in detail, immersing in their incomparable history, intricate architecture, and irresistible cultural charm.

Starting at: $6,590

(Not Including Airfare)*

A Sicilian Odyssey

Discover cultural footprints forever present... Over the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. And today... Vestiges of the ancient Greeks... Read MoreDiscover cultural footprints forever present... Over the centuries, the island of Sicily was colonized by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Normans and assorted others before becoming part of Spain, then the Bourbon Kingdom, and finally part of Italy. And today... Vestiges of the ancient Greeks and Romans entice in Agrigento and Taormina... the presence of the Normans lingers in Palermo... a distinctive style of Sicilian architecture began in the Baroque Valley centuries ago and flourishes today... Byzantine and Arab art mingle with Italian influences... taste impressive wines from grapes grown in volcanic soil... all for a taste of the authentic Sicily.  Join us for an odyssey through time as you discover a history book of experiences, authentically engaging and always enlightening, as you become a part of Sicily's extended family.

Starting at: $9,490

(Not Including Airfare)*

A Week In... Naples, Capri & Amalfi

Discover the cultural and natural treasures of Naples, the Isles of Capri and Ischia, and the Amalfi Coast in a celebration of beauty and bounty that goes beyond the expected with insider opportunities to experience life in southern Italy. Featuring accommodations in the Leading Hotels of the World,... Read MoreDiscover the cultural and natural treasures of Naples, the Isles of Capri and Ischia, and the Amalfi Coast in a celebration of beauty and bounty that goes beyond the expected with insider opportunities to experience life in southern Italy. Featuring accommodations in the Leading Hotels of the World, this new all small group trip takes guests on a weeklong excursion that ensures an authentic look at _la dolce vita _sunrise to sunset. Enjoy sea view rooms at a historic hotel in Naples that Enrico Caruso once called home, embark on a day's excursion to Ischia via high-speed ferry, spend two nights indulging in Mediterranean island pleasures in a former villa on Capri, and stay in a cliffside hideaway in Amalfi with the splendors of one of the most beautiful coasts in the world right outside your door.

Starting at: $9,990

(Not Including Airfare)*

A Week In... Puglia

Explore the long heel of Italy's boot to discover sights, tastes, and gorgeous seascapes you'll find nowhere else... like Matera, where the Sassi houses are caverns and the streets are sometimes the roofs of other houses... Trulli houses, tiny fairy castles made of limestone slabs, built without mortar... Discover... Read MoreExplore the long heel of Italy's boot to discover sights, tastes, and gorgeous seascapes you'll find nowhere else... like Matera, where the Sassi houses are caverns and the streets are sometimes the roofs of other houses... Trulli houses, tiny fairy castles made of limestone slabs, built without mortar... Discover Renaissance frescoes in Galatina. Stay multiple nights in "masserias," fortified 16th-century farmhouses turned into elegant hotels. Enjoy wine and olive oil tastings at vineyards yet undiscovered by the maddening crowds… tour of a medieval castle enticing with soul-stirring views and wines… and meals tempting with bounty of the sea and land...

Starting at: $5,990

(Not Including Airfare)*

Rome, the Amalfi Coast & Sicily - Southbound

_Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome_ was one of the earliest small ship cruises in our Mediterranean portfolio; updated for today's traveler, you'll explore stories of antiquities steeped in history and mythology, experience a myriad of natural wonders, and spend two nights in Malta and two nights in Rome... Read More_Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome_ was one of the earliest small ship cruises in our Mediterranean portfolio; updated for today's traveler, you'll explore stories of antiquities steeped in history and mythology, experience a myriad of natural wonders, and spend two nights in Malta and two nights in Rome at premier hotels. They've been conquered in turn by different invaders, with some, like Malta and Sicily, boasting a history of occupation that dates back thousands of years. Once you see the sensational views from the cliff-top, Maltese city of Mdina, walled since medieval times, you'll discover why so many visitors were eager to claim this island gem for their own. Sicily, inhabited since the Ice Age, was a favorite trophy for the Greeks in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, followed in turn by a succession of rulers, including the Romans, the Vandals, the Arabs, the Normans, the Swabians, the House of Aragon and the Bourbons. The landscapes on this large Mediterranean island have proven to be fertile ground for vineyards, citrus groves, almond and cherry trees – and beaches. While its conquerors had their own reasons for turning Sicily into one of their colonies, travelers today revel in the archaeological treasures they left behind. You'll see an ancient Greek theatre and temple in Siracusa, a Roman renovation in Taormina, an open-air Arab casbah in Palermo, and Punic and Norman fortifications in medieval Erice – mingling with magnificent frescoed duomos, grand piazzas, Baroque balconies and terraced towns that speak volumes about Sicilian life, past and present. And spend two nights in the heart of Rome for the ultimate "Roman Holiday"...

Starting at: $12,890

(Not Including Airfare)*

Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome - Northbound

_Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome_ was one of the earliest small ship cruises in our Mediterranean portfolio; updated for today's traveler, you'll explore stories of antiquities steeped in history and mythology, experience a myriad of natural wonders, and spend two nights in Malta and two nights in Rome... Read More_Sicily, the Amalfi Coast & Rome_ was one of the earliest small ship cruises in our Mediterranean portfolio; updated for today's traveler, you'll explore stories of antiquities steeped in history and mythology, experience a myriad of natural wonders, and spend two nights in Malta and two nights in Rome at premier hotels. They've been conquered in turn by different invaders, with some, like Malta and Sicily, boasting a history of occupation that dates back thousands of years. Once you see the sensational views from the cliff-top, Maltese city of Mdina, walled since medieval times, you'll discover why so many visitors were eager to claim this island gem for their own. Sicily, inhabited since the Ice Age, was a favorite trophy for the Greeks in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, followed in turn by a succession of rulers, including the Romans, the Vandals, the Arabs, the Normans, the Swabians, the House of Aragon and the Bourbons. The landscapes on this large Mediterranean island have proven to be fertile ground for vineyards, citrus groves, almond and cherry trees – and beaches. While its conquerors had their own reasons for turning Sicily into one of their colonies, travelers today revel in the archaeological treasures they left behind. You'll see an ancient Greek theatre and temple in Siracusa, a Roman renovation in Taormina, an open-air Arab casbah in Palermo, and Punic and Norman fortifications in medieval Erice – mingling with magnificent frescoed duomos, grand piazzas, Baroque balconies and terraced towns that speak volumes about Sicilian life, past and present. And spend two nights in the heart of Rome for the ultimate "Roman Holiday"...

Starting at: $12,890

(Not Including Airfare)*

Rome, Sicily & Malta

Starting at: $12,990

(Not Including Airfare)*

Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles - Northbound

Sail the Mediterranean to fabled islands of antiquity and romance... to turquoise seas, archipelagos, and out-of-the-way places where Jason searched for the Golden Fleece and Odysseus pursued Destiny. From the island of Malta to the South of France, enjoy world-renowned wine, local delicacies, and the... Read MoreSail the Mediterranean to fabled islands of antiquity and romance... to turquoise seas, archipelagos, and out-of-the-way places where Jason searched for the Golden Fleece and Odysseus pursued Destiny. From the island of Malta to the South of France, enjoy world-renowned wine, local delicacies, and the cultural treasures of historic empires.   Cruise on an elegant small ship to the islands of Corsica, Sicily, Elba, Sardinia, and Malta, on a 12-day odyssey to medieval towns and baroque cities – including Catania, Noto, Valletta, Siracusa, Olbia, and Taormina – where Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians have all left their mark. Discover ancient ruins and ornate cathedrals, palaces, monasteries, hidden gardens, coastal villages, and outstanding wineries. Admire the view from Napoleon's hillside villa in Portoferraio; immerse in the breathtaking panoramas at the top of Mount Etna; explore Bonifacio, a labyrinthine citadel perched on sea-cliffs above the dramatic Corsican coast; lose yourself in the rich Baroque art of Sicily, the intimate classical charm of Ortigia, and the charming village of Aix-en-Provence. You will also spend four nights on land, in luxury hotels in Marseilles and the island of Malta. Local guides and expert lecturers offer insights along the way, and your ship is_ _designed to access small harbors and remote destinations where large ships can't go

Starting at: $11,490

(Not Including Airfare)*