| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 5th05 | MayMay | 202525 | Valletta, Malta, embark on the MS Caledonian Sky | | |
| 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. Fly from the UK and arrive in Valletta, transfer to your ship. This evening, get to know your Cruise Director and fellow travellers at a Welcome Reception. |
| 6th06 | MayMay | 202525 | Siracuse, Sicily, Italy | | |
| Siracusa, known to English speakers as Syracuse, is a wonder to behold. One of the great ancient capitals of Western civilization, the city was founded in 734 BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and soon grew to rival, and even surpass, Athens in splendor and power. It became the largest, wealthiest city-state in the West and a bulwark of Greek civilization. Although Siracusa lived under tyranny, rulers such as Dionysius filled their courts with Greeks of the highest cultural stature—among them the playwrights Aeschylus and Euripides, and the philosopher Plato. The Athenians, who didn't welcome Siracusa's rise, set out to conquer Sicily, but the natives outsmarted them in what was one of the greatest military campaigns in ancient history (413 BC). The city continued to prosper until it was conquered two centuries later by the Romans.Present-day Siracusa still has some of the finest examples of Baroque art and architecture; dramatic Greek and Roman ruins; and a Duomo that's the stuff of legend—a microcosm of the city's entire history in one building. The modern city also has a wonderful, lively, Baroque old town worthy of extensive exploration, as well as pleasant piazzas, outdoor cafés and bars, and a wide assortment of excellent seafood. There are essentially two areas to explore in Siracusa: the Parco Archeologico (Archaeological Zone), on the mainland; and the island of Ortygia, the ancient city first inhabited by the Greeks, which juts out into the Ionian Sea and is connected to the mainland by two small bridges. Ortygia is becoming increasingly popular with tourists, and is starting to lose its old-fashioned charm in favor of modern boutiques.Siracusa's old nucleus of Ortygia, a compact area, is a pleasure to amble around without getting unduly tired. In contrast, mainland Siracusa is a grid of wider avenues. At the northern end of Corso Gelone, above Viale Paolo Orsi, the orderly grid gives way to the ancient quarter of Neapolis, where the sprawling Parco Archeologico is accessible from Viale Teracati (an extension of Corso Gelone). East of Viale Teracati, about a 10-minute walk from the Parco Archeologico, the district of Tyche holds the archaeological museum and the church and catacombs of San Giovanni, both off Viale Teocrito (drive or take a taxi or city bus from Ortygia). Coming from the train station, it's a 15-minute trudge to Ortygia along Via Francesco Crispi and Corso Umberto. If you're not up for that, take one of the free electric buses leaving every 10 minutes from the bus station around the corner. This morning, arrive in Syracuse, founded by Greek political exiles around the fifth century BC. You have a free day to explore this ancient city at your leisure. Or, perhaps head out on an optional tour to visit the ancient Neapolis Archaeological Park, the island of Ortigia, the Arethusa Spring and the Temple of Apollo. Later, join your fellow travellers for a Gala Welcome Dinner. |
| 7th07 | MayMay | 202525 | Crotone, Italy | | |
| Discover Crotone in Calabria, boasting a spectacular coastline and a rich history dating back to 710BC. This morning, visit Santa Severina. Admire the town’s stunning cathedral built in the 13th century, with a spectacular circular baptistery from the Byzantine period. Return to the ship for lunch on board. This afternoon, enjoy this historic city at your leisure. |
| 8th08 | MayMay | 202525 | Otranto, Italy | | |
| Located right in the heel of the Italian boot, Otranto’s scenic landscape often plays the protagonist in displaying the beauty of Puglia, Italy’s easternmost region. Facing the Adriatic sea, the seducing weather and pristine waters have made it a popular destination where on a clear day, wanderers can see the coast of Albania. Like much of Italy, the city boasts a rich and mixed history. Once a Greek and Roman port, it was later occupied by the Byzantines, the Normans and the Spanish before the Ottoman invaded in during their Jihad to conquer Europe. Remains of forts are still visible and are a living testimonial of the town’s rich history along with Otranto’s cathedral, which still encloses today the relics of martyrs who refused to convert to Islam. Dock in the port town of Otranto, where you’ll have the day at leisure to explore. Perhaps join an optional guided city tour, visiting the town’s Romanesque cathedral and the Castello Aragonese, a fortified castle. Alternatively, take an optional tour to historic Lecce, a beautiful baroque town filled with sandstone palaces and churches. Your ship will stay docked in port until late evening, so you may wish to savour dinner at your leisure at a local restaurant. |
| 9th09 | MayMay | 202525 | Monopoli, Italy | | |
| Today, you'll visit Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its trulli, which date back to the 15th-17th centuries during the Kingdom of Naples. These unique structures were built without mortar by resourceful Puglian farmers. Facing heavy taxes, the farmers pulled out keystones to collapse roofs and dismantle walls so that the village appeared uninhabited to tax collectors. As you stroll among the trulli, observe their subtle differences as your guide shares engaging commentary on their architecture and historical context. |
| 10th10 | MayMay | 202525 | Ancona, Italy | | |
| Ancona is the capital of Italy's Marche region. Ancona's main attraction is her tactile museum for the blinds. It's also a great place to take a dip and enjoy great sea views under the sunshine. Spend a relaxing morning on board as you sail to Ancona. On arrival, enjoy time at leisure to explore. Perhaps, embark on one of the optional tours on offer, including a guided walking tour of Ancona or a visit to nearby Urbino, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site renowned for its dazzling architecture. |
| 11th11 | MayMay | 202525 | Ravenna, Italy | | |
| A small, quiet, well-heeled city, Ravenna has brick palaces, cobblestone streets, magnificent monuments, and spectacular Byzantine mosaics. The high point in its civic history occurred in the 5th century, when Pope Honorious moved his court here from Rome. Gothic kings Odoacer and Theodoric ruled the city until it was conquered by the Byzantines in AD 540. Ravenna later fell under the sway of Venice, and then, inevitably, the Papal States.Because Ravenna spent much of its past looking east, its greatest art treasures show that Byzantine influence. Churches and tombs with the most unassuming exteriors contain within them walls covered with sumptuous mosaics. These beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics put great emphasis on nature, which you can see in the delicate rendering of sky, earth, and animals. Outside Ravenna, the town of Classe hides even more mosaic gems. Visit Ravenna, known as the City of Mosaics and an elected capital on three separate occasions. Admire glorious Roman and Byzantine architecture, and eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed monuments. Set out on a guided tour and explore some of the impressive structures including the Basilica of San Vitale, an octagonal building renowned for its mosaics that date to the sixth century. See the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, one of the best-preserved monuments in the city located in a nearby chapel. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional full-day tour, combining Ravenna with a visit to Bologna, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities known for its gastronomy. Savour lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the historic Piazza Maggiore, the central square lined by medieval buildings including the Basilica of San Petronio and, at its heart, the famous Fountain of Neptune, built in 1556 by order of the pope. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a Captain’s Farewell Dinner. |
| 12th12 | MayMay | 202525 | Venice, Italy, disembark the MS Caledonian Sky | | |
| 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. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. |
