Cruise & Rail: A Taste of Italy & Venice (2027) 2027 (Taormina to Venice)

Arrive at the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in Sicily, where you will be greeted and transferred to the Grand Hotel Timeo (or similar) for a one-night-stay. A Belmond property, the Grand Hotel Timeo invites you to soak in the classic, easygoing glamor Sicily is known for. This evening, join your fellow guests for a five-star Welcome Dinner complete with a champagne toast to honor the start of an incredible journey together.

After a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Settle into your cabin and watch the dreamy Sicilian landscapes pass by outside your window as the train winds its way to Ragusa, a hilltop town bursting with Baroque charm. With its honey-hued churches and grey-stone houses tumbling down the hillside, it’s a photographer’s dream. Later, enjoy a fun cooking demonstration, where we’ll get hands-on with regional flavors and learn the secrets of traditional Sicilian cuisine.

Wake up to a gourmet breakfast in the elegant dining car of the Golden Eagle Danube Express, following a rare overnight train crossing of the Strait of Messina—a unique and memorable moment of the journey. Framed by the panoramic windows, rugged hills and olive groves offer a spectacular welcome to the day. Today, we stop in the lively Sicilian capital, Palermo. A gentle walking tour through its vibrant old town reveals a captivating blend of architectural styles. We conclude with an aperitif and concert at the grand Teatro Massimo, Italy’s largest opera house. This afternoon, choose to delve deeper into Palermo at your own pace: visit Corleone to explore its Anti-Mafia Museum and enjoy breathtaking mountain views, or head to Monreale to admire the golden mosaics of its world-famous Norman Cathedral.

Arrive in the charming coastal town of Maratea, often referred to as the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian,” set dramatically between the mountains and the sea. This morning, ascend to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, where sweeping panoramic views stretch across the Tyrrhenian coastline, offering one of southern Italy’s most breathtaking vistas. Later, continue to the elegant Santavenere Hotel, beautifully positioned above the sea. Here, enjoy a relaxed and immersive pizza-making class, led by expert chefs who will introduce you to the art of traditional Italian pizza—from preparing the dough to selecting authentic local ingredients. The experience concludes with the pleasure of enjoying your freshly made pizza in refined coastal surroundings, combining regional flavor with effortless Italian hospitality.

This morning, we arrive in the elegant city of Verona. Immortalized as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona reveals a rich tapestry of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance heritage during an informative guided walking tour. Highlights include the magnificent first-century Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra, one of the best-preserved in the world, alongside the city’s historic squares and atmospheric streets. Later this afternoon, we continue onward to Venice, where we arrive in time for a one-night hotel stay in the heart of this extraordinary city, allowing time to relax and soak up the unique ambience of the canals and palazzi ahead of our final day. In the evening, join your fellow guests for a celebratory dinner to mark the end of the first chapter of your journey. Tomorrow, the next chapter begins: an all-inclusive stay aboard the beautiful S.S. La Venezia.

Following breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the S.S. La Venezia to board your cruise of the Venetian Lagoon. With the rest of your day at leisure, why not take some time to explore the city at your own pace, get lost among the winding canals, or people-watch at one of Venice’s many charming wine bars.

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.

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.

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.

Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market.

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.

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.

Disembark the ship. If you have arranged a Uniworld departure transfer, you will be transferred to Venice Marco Polo International Airport for your flight home.