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: $8,990

(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: $10,490

(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: $6,590

(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 seaside 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 seaside 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)*

Venice & the Dalmatian Coast

Beautiful, historic and richly resilient, Croatia's Dalmatian Coast has reemerged among Europe's hottest holiday destinations.... offering golden sand beaches, vineyards bucolic with lemon trees, olives and vines, lavender fields fragrant from afar, limestone caves sculpted in time... the architectural... Read MoreBeautiful, historic and richly resilient, Croatia's Dalmatian Coast has reemerged among Europe's hottest holiday destinations.... offering golden sand beaches, vineyards bucolic with lemon trees, olives and vines, lavender fields fragrant from afar, limestone caves sculpted in time... the architectural artistry of the Venetian Republic... fortified towns and terra cotta tableaus that play out in palaces and promenades... Walk with us to places immortalized with local color, sip and savor wines masterfully crafted, toast traditions and tales fondly shared, and become part of the stories, past and present, that make your vacation memories last lifetimes. Guided visits and shore excursions choices include revered UNESCO World Heritage sites as you cruise between Venice, the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro. Discover the architectural masterpiece that is Venice... the Gothic Cathedral of St. Lawrence in Sibenik... the ancient Roman Palace of Diocletian in Split... the walled city of Dubrovnik, renowned for its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monasteries, palaces, fountains, and churches... the stunning harbor town of Kotor... and the lavender-scented island of Hvar, where Stari Grad Plain astounds with its intact ancient Greek land system. Your elegant ship is perfectly sized and ideally suited for island exploration where the bigger ships can't go, charts a course for destinations of scenic serenity like the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, where private shore excursions reveal maritime treasures and seaside settlements worthy of leisurely discovery. Two nights at a premier hotel in Venice bring the aura of daily life amidst architectural masterpieces, ancient squares and the ever-present lacework of canals.

Starting at: $9,990

(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: $10,990

(Not Including Airfare)*

Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles - Southbound

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 South of France to the island of Malta, 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 South of France to the island of Malta, 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'll 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: $11,890

(Not Including Airfare)*

The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites

Time to enjoy an interlude of Alpine magic... by definition, an interlude means a short play or dramatic entertainment, a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition or an intermission or pause... all of which apply in some form to our delightful respite in the alpine countries... Read MoreTime to enjoy an interlude of Alpine magic... by definition, an interlude means a short play or dramatic entertainment, a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition or an intermission or pause... all of which apply in some form to our delightful respite in the alpine countries of Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria... Journey through some of the most inspiring scenery on earth, and climb to mountain summits via aerial cable car for sweeping panoramas of alpine splendor. Explore the exciting cities of Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Lucerne, and colorful Alpine villages and towns like Bolzano, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Oberammergau. Savor a real taste of the Alps at a Swiss cheese-making demonstration, lunch with a tour and schnapps tasting at a 400-year-old farm, dinner in Berchtesgaden's salt mines, lunch in the Dolomites and meeting a noted Italian mountain climber, and an adventure at the summit of Mt. Titlis in the Swiss Alps. Your spirits will soar as high as the mountains as you discover the Alps...

Starting at: $9,990

(Not Including Airfare)*