| | | | | Arrive | Depart |
| 11th11 | MayMay | 202525 | Civitavecchia, Italy, embark on the Emerald Sakara | | |
| Italy's vibrant capital lives in the present, but no other city on earth evokes its past so powerfully. For over 2,500 years, emperors, popes, artists, and common citizens have left their mark here. Archaeological remains from ancient Rome, art-stuffed churches, and the treasures of Vatican City vie for your attention, but Rome is also a wonderful place to practice the Italian-perfected il dolce far niente, the sweet art of idleness. Your most memorable experiences may include sitting at a caffè in the Campo de' Fiori or strolling in a beguiling piazza. Your deluxe cruise begins in Rome, where you'll be transferred to your Emerald Cruises luxury yacht to begin your journey of the Western Mediterranean. Please book your flight to arrive into Rome prior to 02:00 PM. |
| 12th12 | MayMay | 202525 | Gaeta, Italy | | |
| Gaeta is a popular holiday destination set on a headland that juts out towards the Gulf of Gaeta, in the Lazio region of Southern Italy. A key attraction in Gaeta is Montagna Spaccata (Split Mountain), a natural sea grotto. According to legend the miraculous split rock was created when God sent a lightning bolt making three giant cracks in the mountain. |
| 13th13 | MayMay | 202525 | Salerno, Italy | | |
| Salerno is an Italian city located on the Gulf of Salerno. Famous for being home to the first medical university, Salerno is a great destination for anyone looking for gorgeous sea views filled with sunshine and Italian food. Salerno is in the Campania region of southwestern Italy. One of Salerno's key drawcards is the Duomo di Salerno, a historic cathedral dating back to the 11th century. The city also boasts an impressive medieval castle, Castello di Arechi, which offers panoramic views over the city and the Tyrrhenian Sea. |
| 14th14 | MayMay | 202525 | Giardini Naxos, Italy | | |
| Overlooking the Ionian Sea on the east coast of Sicily, Giardini Naxos holds historical significance as it was the site of the first Greek colony in Sicily, established in 735 BC. Swim in its clear and glimmering waters or visit the nearby beautiful town of Taormina. |
| 15th15 | 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. Siracusa boasts an abundance of sunshine — the city is bathed in golden rays for most of the year, casting a glow on its architecture and highlighting the Mediterranean waters that encircle it. The piazzas of Siracusa are lively spaces where locals and visitors gather to socialise and dine. Piazza del Duomo is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. |
| 16th16 | MayMay | 202525 | Valletta, Malta | | |
| 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. Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is a living testament to the Baroque period, with well-preserved buildings, ornate churches, and magnificent fortifications. The city is located on a hilly peninsula, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, and it hosts lively markets and festivals. |
| 17th17 | MayMay | 202525 | Porto Empedocle, Italy | | |
| Porto Empedocle, positioned on the Strait of Sicily, is named after the philosopher, poet and politician, Empedocles, who resided there in the 5th century BC. It's a popular holiday haven for beach-loving tourists and is near the Valley of the Temples, the largest archaeological site in the world and an outstanding example of Greater Greece art and architecture. |
| 18th18 | MayMay | 202525 | Palermo, Italy | | |
| Once the intellectual capital of southern Europe, Palermo has always been at the crossroads of civilization. Favorably situated on a crescent-shaped bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino, it has attracted almost every culture touching the Mediterranean world. To Palermo's credit, it has absorbed these diverse cultures into a unique personality that is at once Arab and Christian, Byzantine and Roman, Norman and Italian. The city's heritage encompasses all of Sicily's varied ages, but its distinctive aspect is its Arab-Norman identity, an improbable marriage that, mixed in with Byzantine and Jewish elements, created some resplendent works of art. No less noteworthy than the architecture is Palermo's chaotic vitality, on display at some of Italy's most vibrant outdoor markets, public squares, street bazaars, and food vendors, and above all in its grand climax of Italy's most spectacular passeggiata (the leisurely social stroll along the principal thoroughfare). Bold and vibrant, Palermo was under Arabian rule in the 9th and 10th centuries, which left a significant influence on its architecture, culture and cuisine. Palermo is famed for its street food — Must-try dishes include pane e panelle (chickpea fritters) and cannoli, sweet pastry filled with ricotta. |
| 19th19 | MayMay | 202525 | Sardinia, Italy | | |
| Arbatax is known for its maritime heritage, and its port has been a hub of activity since ancient times due to its strategic coastal location. One of the most iconic sights in Arbatax is the Rocce Rosse or Red Rocks, a dramatic outcrop of red porphyry cliffs plunging into the blue sea. |
| 20th20 | MayMay | 202525 | Bonifacio, Corsica, France | | |
| Located in the South of Corsica, Bonifacio is one of the island’s most beautiful destinations. From its breathtaking views and sandy white islands to its historic citadel, the city is a must visit for anyone travelling to the island. DiscoverMORE Bonifacio is a picturesque hamlet located on the southern tip of the French island of Corsica. It's often mistaken for an Italian township due to its proximity to the Italian island of Sardinia. Bonifacio is known for its deep natural harbour and the captivating medieval citadel perched atop white limestone cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. |
| 21st21 | MayMay | 202525 | Saint-Tropez, France | | |
| At first glance, it really doesn't look all that impressive. There's a pretty port with cafés charging €5 for a coffee and a picturesque old town in sugared-almond hues, but there are many prettier in the hills nearby. There are sandy beaches, rare enough on the Riviera, and old-fashioned squares with plane trees and pétanque players, but these are a dime a dozen throughout Provence. So what made St-Tropez an internationally known locale? Two words: Brigitte Bardot. When this pulpeuse (voluptuous) teenager showed up in St-Tropez on the arm of Roger Vadim in 1956 to film And God Created Woman, the heads of the world snapped around. Neither the gentle descriptions of writer Guy de Maupassant (1850–93), nor the watercolor tones of Impressionist Paul Signac (1863–1935), nor the stream of painters who followed (including Matisse and Bonnard) could focus the world's attention on this seaside hamlet as did this one sensual woman in a scarf, Ray-Bans, and capris. Vanity Fair ran a big article, "Saint Tropez Babylon," detailing the over-the-top petrodollar parties, megayachts, and Beyoncé–d paparazzi. But don't be turned off: the next year, Stewart, Tabori & Chang released an elegant coffee-table book, Houses of St-Tropez, packed with photos of supremely tasteful and pretty residences, many occupied by fashion designers, artists, and writers. Once a hangout for Colette, Anaïs Nin, and Françoise Sagan, the town still earns its old moniker, the "Montparnasse of the Mediterranean." Yet you might be surprised to find that this byword for billionaires is so small and insulated. The lack of train service, casinos, and chain hotels keeps it that way. Yet fame, in a sense, came too fast for St-Trop. Unlike the chic resorts farther east, it didn't have the decades-old reputation of the sort that would attract visitors all year around. For a good reason: its location on the south side of the gulf puts it at the mercy of the terrible mistral winter winds. So, in summer the crowds descend and the prices rise into the stratosphere. In July and August, you must be carefree about the sordid matter of cash. After all, at the most Dionysian nightclub in town, a glass of tap water goes for $37 and when the mojo really gets going, billionaires think nothing of "champagne-spraying" the partying crowds—think World Series celebrations but with $1,000 bottles of Roederer Cristal instead of Gatorade. Complaining about summer crowds, overpricing, and lack of customer service has become a tourist sport and yet this is what makes St-Tropez—described by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro as the place you can see "the greatest number of faces per square meter"—as intriguing as it is seductive. The resort town of Saint-Tropez is one of the most famous holiday destinations in Europe. From the soft white sand edging blue water to the on-trend beach clubs, decadent dining and luxury boutiques, Saint-Tropez is the ultimate French Riviera experience. Learn the story of Saint-Tropez at the Musée d'Histoire Maritime or peruse modern art inside a former chapel at the Annonciade. |
| 22nd22 | MayMay | 202525 | Nice, France, disembark the Emerald Sakara | | |
| United with France only since 1860, Nice has its own history and atmosphere, which dates back 230,000 years. It was on Colline du Château (now château-less) and at the Plage des Ponchettes, in front of the Old Town, that the Greeks established a market-port in 350 BC and named it Nikaia, which would become Marseilles' chief coastal rival. The Romans established themselves a little later on the hills of Cimiez (Cemenelum), already previously occupied by Ligurians and Celts, and quickly overshadowed the waterfront port. After falling to the Saracen invasions, Nice regained power as an independent state, becoming an important port in the early Middle Ages.So cocksure did it become that in 1388, Nice, along with the hill towns behind, effectively seceded from the county of Provence, under Louis d'Anjou, and allied itself with Savoie. Thus began its liaison with the House of Savoy, and through it with Piedmont and Sardinia, it was the Comté de Nice (Nice County). This relationship lasted some 500 years, tinting the culture, architecture, and dialect in rich Italian hues.By the 19th century Nice was flourishing commercially, locked in rivalry with the neighboring shipping port of Genoa. Another source of income: the dawning of tourism, as first the English, then the Russian nobility, discovered its extraordinary climate and superb waterfront position. A parade of fine stone mansions and hotels closed into a nearly solid wall of masonry, separated from the smooth-round rocks of the beach by what was originally named Camin deis Anglés (the English Way), which of course is now the famous Promenade des Anglais. This magnificent crescent, which is seeking UNESCO recognition, is one of the noblest in France. Many of Nice's most delightful attractions—the Cours Saleya market, the Old Town streets, the Hotel Negresco, and the Palais Masséna—are on or close to this 10-km (6-mile) waterfront, making it the first stop for most visitors, while the redevelopment of Nice's port, around the other side of the Colline du Château, makes it easier for amblers who want to take in the Genoese architecture or peruse the antiques at the Puces de Nice, now part of the Promenade des 100 Antiquaires, along Quai Papacino. Nice also has the distinction of the "Family Plus" label, with free strollers, play areas, and restaurants with child-friendly activities. Your luxurious yacht cruise concludes in Nice, where you'll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home or to continue your holiday. Please book your flight to depart out of Nice after 11:00 AM. The itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons. As such Emerald Cruises cannot guarantee the cruise will operated unaltered from the itinerary states above. |
