Tastes of Italy with Adriatic Coastal Cruise

Rome, Italy, the Eternal City, is a stunning blend of ancient history and vibrant modern life. Iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Pantheon showcase its glorious past. Cobblestone streets lead to charming piazzas, bustling markets, and world-renowned museums. Rome's culinary scene delights with traditional Italian cuisine and lively cafes. The city's rich culture, impressive architecture, and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it an unforgettable destination for travellers.

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. This evening, head to a local restaurant for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers, enjoying a taste of traditional Italian cuisine.

Rome, Italy, the Eternal City, is a stunning blend of ancient history and vibrant modern life. Iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Pantheon showcase its glorious past. Cobblestone streets lead to charming piazzas, bustling markets, and world-renowned museums. Rome's culinary scene delights with traditional Italian cuisine and lively cafes. The city's rich culture, impressive architecture, and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it an unforgettable destination for travellers.

Begin your first full day in Rome with a skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums. Discover remarkable artworks and treasures, gaze up at the iconic Sistine Chapel and admire the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica. Afterwards, set out on a walking tour of the city, taking in landmarks such as the Spanish Steps and views of the Colosseum. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Enhance Your Journey – Colosseum Guided Visit

Join an optional guided visit inside the Colosseum for deeper insight into the history and significance of this world-famous monument.

Rome, Italy, the Eternal City, is a stunning blend of ancient history and vibrant modern life. Iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Pantheon showcase its glorious past. Cobblestone streets lead to charming piazzas, bustling markets, and world-renowned museums. Rome's culinary scene delights with traditional Italian cuisine and lively cafes. The city's rich culture, impressive architecture, and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it an unforgettable destination for travellers.

Early risers may wish to join your Tour Director for a tranquil dawn walk through Rome before the city stirs to life. Take in the serene beauty of iconic sights, including the intricate sculptures of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, bathed in the soft morning light. Afterwards, stop at a local cafe for a traditional Italian breakfast — a cornetto and cappuccino.

Board your coach for the scenic journey south to Sorrento, with a stop en route at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the ancient city, preserved under ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Continue to Sorrento.

Sorrento may have become a jumping-off point for visitors to Pompeii, Capri, and Amalfi, but you can find countless reasons to love it for itself. The Sorrentine people are fair-minded and hardworking, bubbling with life and warmth. The tuff cliff on which the town rests is spread over the bay, absorbing sunlight, while orange and lemon trees waft their perfume in spring. Winding along a cliff above a small beach and two harbors, the town is split in two by a narrow ravine formed by a former mountain stream. To the east, dozens of hotels line busy Via Correale along the cliff—many have "grand" included in their names, and some indeed still are. To the west, however, is the historic sector, which still enchants. It's a relatively flat area, with winding, stone-paved lanes bordered by balconied buildings, some joined by medieval stone arches. The central piazza is named after the poet Torquato Tasso, born here in 1544. This part of town is a delightful place to walk through. Craftspeople are often at work in their stalls and shops and are happy to let you watch; in fact, that's the point. Music spots and bars cluster in the side streets near Piazza Tasso.

Today is at leisure to explore Sorrento at your own pace. Known for its dramatic coastline, charming piazzas and fragrant lemon groves, this beautiful town invites relaxed discovery. You may wish to wander lively Piazza Tasso or look down into the Valley of the Mills, where historic ruins sit amid lush greenery at the base of a deep gorge. This evening, a special Insider Experience awaits.

Insider Experience – Sorrento Cooking Class

Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Italian dishes using fresh local ingredients. Guided by expert chefs, create authentic recipes before sitting down to enjoy your meal.

Enhance Your Journey – Discover Capri

Join an optional excursion to Capri and explore this stunning island, from its picturesque villages to its famous blue waters.

Sorrento may have become a jumping-off point for visitors to Pompeii, Capri, and Amalfi, but you can find countless reasons to love it for itself. The Sorrentine people are fair-minded and hardworking, bubbling with life and warmth. The tuff cliff on which the town rests is spread over the bay, absorbing sunlight, while orange and lemon trees waft their perfume in spring. Winding along a cliff above a small beach and two harbors, the town is split in two by a narrow ravine formed by a former mountain stream. To the east, dozens of hotels line busy Via Correale along the cliff—many have "grand" included in their names, and some indeed still are. To the west, however, is the historic sector, which still enchants. It's a relatively flat area, with winding, stone-paved lanes bordered by balconied buildings, some joined by medieval stone arches. The central piazza is named after the poet Torquato Tasso, born here in 1544. This part of town is a delightful place to walk through. Craftspeople are often at work in their stalls and shops and are happy to let you watch; in fact, that's the point. Music spots and bars cluster in the side streets near Piazza Tasso.

Enjoy a slower start to your morning before boarding your coach for the trip to Naples. You'll then continue to Florence. Arrive in the heart of the city this afternoon and take time to explore before an exciting Insider Experience this evening.

Insider Experience – Florence Sensory Exploration

Discover Florence’s culinary delights alongside its hidden cultural gems on this engaging exploration. Florence is recognised as the birthplace of the renaissance, and it is here you’ll find fine masterpieces from this period. You’ll also taste local dishes and visit one of the many famous wine windows around the city, where you can order a delicious Italian red through a small window carved into a wall.

Today venture into the Tuscan countryside. Visit Siena and explore its medieval streets, seeing the impressive Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral. Afterwards, continue to a special Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Tuscan Winery Experience

Delight in an authentic wine tasting experience and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch paired with regional wines. This relaxed experience offers an authentic taste of Tuscany’s hospitality and traditions.

Today is at leisure to enjoy Florence at your own pace. Wander the historic streets, browse local shops or relax in one of the city’s lively piazzas. Art lovers may wish to visit the renowned Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, or admire landmarks including the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

Enhance Your Journey – Explore Pisa

Join an optional excursion to Pisa to see the world-famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli, also home to the striking cathedral and baptistery.

Travel to Venice, a city of marble and stone built atop an island and intersected with great, gondola-studded canals. With such rich history, culture and artistry, you’ll find something extraordinary at every turn. This afternoon, discover the revered craft of glassblowing with a visit to a traditional glass furnace on Murano, and watch local artists demonstrate their skills. This evening, explore the city at your own pace.

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.

Following an engaging Insider Experience this morning, join a guided tour of the city’s most famous landmarks, admire St Mark’s Square, a masterpiece blending Gothic, Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles. You’ll also pass the impressive 14th-century Doge’s Palace, once the residence of the Venetian doges and the seat of government, before exploring the maze-like streets and canals of Venice. This evening, enjoy a memorable Farewell Dinner at an authentic Venetian restaurant.

Insider Experience – Gondola Workshop

Visit a local squero (gondola workshop) and learn about the craftsmanship behind these iconic boats and the centuries-old trade that keeps the tradition alive.

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, travel via Slovenia’s vibrant capital, Ljubljana, to Opatija, where you’ll board your ship and settle in for an unforgettable seven-night Adriatic cruise.

Enjoy some free time in Opatija before you set sail and drop anchor off the stunning island of Krk, where you can take a refreshing swim in the Adriatic. After a leisurely lunch on board and a relaxed afternoon of sailing, your ship will arrive at the island of Rab. The evening is yours to explore the charming Old Town of Rab, a beautifully preserved late medieval settlement nestled on a slender peninsula. Stroll along the white-washed harbour foreshore at your own pace, and perhaps indulge in a meal at a local restaurant overlooking the lively port marina.

This morning, your ship drops anchor near the island of Pag, where you may like to enjoy a swim (weather permitting). Later, arrive in Zadar and set out on a guided walking tour through the atmospheric Old Town. Admire Roman columns and gateways, beautiful churches, baroque palaces and Renaissance buildings. The tour concludes at the Sea Organ, an architectural sound installation powered by sea waves and tubes beneath the marble steps. Nearby, the Sun Salutation - a circle of multi-layered glass panels - absorbs solar energy by day and creates a waterfront light display at sunset. Both were designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić.

Enhance Your Journey – Zadar Local Dinner Experience

Enhance your evening in Zadar with a memorable taste of Dalmatia at Hotel Bastion's Kastel Restaurant. Settle in for a special three-course dinner showcasing traditional Dalmatian flavours and regional specialties, accompanied by warm Croatian hospitality.

Šibenik's main monument, its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, built of pale-gray Dalmatian stone and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands on a raised piazza close to the seafront promenade. From here a network of narrow, cobbled streets leads through the medieval quarter of tightly packed, terra-cotta–roof houses, and up to the ruins of a 16th-century hilltop fortress. The city has never been a real tourist destination. Before the Croatian war for independence, it was a relatively prosperous industrial center, but when the factories closed, Šibenik sank into an economic depression. However, the cathedral more than warrants a look, and it makes a decent base for visiting the waterfalls of Krka National Park.

Šibenik is known as the gateway to the magical Krka National Park, and today you will spend the afternoon at the dramatic waterfalls this area is famous for. Afterwards, return to the MV Princess Eleganza. Your ship remains in port overnight in Šibenik. Following dinner on board your ship this evening, you may like to head into town to enjoy exploring Šibenik’s beautiful squares, as well as its narrow, winding streets.

Insider Experience – Krka National Park

Experience the natural beauty of Krka National Park. Here, explore the dramatic waterfalls, where the highlight is Skradinski Buk, a large natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and countless cascades at the other, where the rushing river forces its way through a barrier of tiny islets. Take a walk along wooden jetties and bridges to admire the falls, and the unique flora and fauna.

Šibenik's main monument, its Gothic-Renaissance cathedral, built of pale-gray Dalmatian stone and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands on a raised piazza close to the seafront promenade. From here a network of narrow, cobbled streets leads through the medieval quarter of tightly packed, terra-cotta–roof houses, and up to the ruins of a 16th-century hilltop fortress. The city has never been a real tourist destination. Before the Croatian war for independence, it was a relatively prosperous industrial center, but when the factories closed, Šibenik sank into an economic depression. However, the cathedral more than warrants a look, and it makes a decent base for visiting the waterfalls of Krka National Park.

After breakfast, enjoy a walk through the historic town of Šibenik. Wander through the well-preserved, white-walled Old Town with your guide. Arrive in Split later this afternoon and set out on a guided walk through the town, exploring the Palace of Diocletian. Your ship will moor close to town in the evening, giving you the chance to enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants located on the picturesque Riva Promenade.

On arrival at the Croatian island of Vis, disembark to explore this remote and largely untouched natural beauty during a scenic drive around the island. Return to the ship for lunch before sailing to Korčula. Join a local guide to explore the city’s maze of cobblestone medieval streets and elegant squares, flanked by palaces of the old nobility. This Old Town may not be as well-known as Dubrovnik, but this destination is every bit as rewarding for those lucky enough to visit. Your ship moors near to the town overnight, meaning you can enjoy dinner in one of the local restaurants.

Off the coast of Croatia in the southern Adriatic Sea lie some thousand islands and the largest of them, Korçula, is considered the most beautiful. With an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine per annum, which guarantees a wide assortment of Mediterranean vegetation, it is not difficult to understand why seasoned travelers compare Korçula to a latter-day Eden. Separated from the mainland by a channel of only one mile, Korçula's main town, named the same as the island, ranks among the best preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean. It is the island's main tourist, economic and cultural center. Thanks to its strategic location along the sea trade routes, Korçula has always attracted travelers and settlers. Korcula was founded by Greek colonists, who were followed by Illyrians, Romans and finally the Croats. The Korçula Statute of 1214 is one of the oldest legal documents to have been adopted in this part of Europe. The same century saw the birth of the famous world traveler, Marco Polo. The house said to be his birthplace can be seen in town. Korçulans have always been known as keen seafarers, excellent shipbuilders, stonemasons and artists. From their many voyages, sailors brought back new ideas, which eventually mixed with local customs. To this day, Korçula has maintained the tradition of performing knightly games such as the chivalrous Moreska dance, which has been in existence for more than 400 years. Visitors to Korçula enjoy its stunning location, natural beauty and medieval ambiance. And if that's not enough, the town offers numerous attractions that are within walking distance from the pier, including the City Museum and the Bishop's Treasury.

Stop at the idyllic island of Badija for a swim in the warm azure waters of the Adriatic Sea before continuing to Dubrovnik. Spend the afternoon on a guided walk through the unrivalled ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, the medieval Old Town of Dubrovnik. A guided tour of Dubrovnik’s World Heritage-listed fortress begins at the impressive Pile Gate, which has stood guard at the entry of this unique walled city for centuries. Within the ancient fortifications, wander through narrow limestone alleys and marble paved boulevards to see the grand Gothic-Renaissance Rector’s Palace, the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, and the inspiring Sponza Palace before returning to your ship later this evening for a Farewell Dinner on board.

Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of Dubrovnik. Lying 216 km (135 miles) southeast of Split and commanding a jaw-dropping coastal location, it is one of the world's most beautiful fortified cities. Its massive stone ramparts and fortress towers curve around a tiny harbor, enclosing graduated ridges of sun-bleached orange-tiled roofs, copper domes, and elegant bell towers. Your imagination will run wild picturing what it looked like seven centuries ago when the walls were built, without any suburbs or highways around it, just this magnificent stone city rising out of the sea.In the 7th century AD, residents of the Roman city Epidaurum (now Cavtat) fled the Avars and Slavs of the north and founded a new settlement on a small rocky island, which they named Laus, and later Ragusa. On the mainland hillside opposite the island, the Slav settlement called Dubrovnik grew up. In the 12th century the narrow channel separating the two settlements was filled in (now the main street through the Old Town, called Stradun), and Ragusa and Dubrovnik became one. The city was surrounded by defensive walls during the 13th century, and these were reinforced with towers and bastions in the late 15th century.From 1358 to 1808 the city thrived as a powerful and remarkably sophisticated independent republic, reaching its golden age during the 16th century. In 1667 many of its splendid Gothic and Renaissance buildings were destroyed by an earthquake. The defensive walls survived the disaster, and the city was rebuilt in baroque style.Dubrovnik lost its independence to Napoléon in 1808, and in 1815 passed to Austria-Hungary. During the 20th century, as part of Yugoslavia, the city became a popular tourist destination, and in 1979 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the war for independence, it came under heavy siege. Thanks to careful restoration, few traces of damage remain; however, there are maps inside the Pile and Ploče Gates illustrating the points around the city where damage was done. It’s only when you experience Dubrovnik yourself that you can understand what a treasure the world nearly lost

Your journey draws to its conclusion after breakfast this morning with a transfer to the airport.