Treasures of the Mediterranean
Discover the islands of Lipari, Ponza, Stromboli, Corsica, Sicily, Elba and Malta… see fortified medieval towns, ornate cathedrals, ancient castles, and the dramatic cliffside drive along the Amalfi Coast on the Italian mainland… feel like a jetsetter pulling into ports aboard Le Ponant, designed to access small harbors and remote destinations that large ships can’t maneuver. And on land… spend two nights in glittering Monte-Carlo along the French Riviera, where you’ll explore Provence and the tiny principality of Monaco, and enjoy one night on Malta.
Only With Tauck
Private evening at Palazzo Parisio on Malta
Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and cruise ship accommodations, motor coach transportation, port charges, land excursions, admissions, entertainment, sightseeing, special dinners, porterage, and the services of the Tauck Directors, hotel and ship staff, and local guides and drivers are included. Bar & restaurant beverages are included throughout the day aboard ship, including house wine & spirits. Transportation from Malta International Airport to the Hotel Phoenicia Malta is included, regardless of the time you check in to the hotel, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of your tour. Transportation from the Monte Carlo Bay Resort or Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport or Nice Ville, Nice Riquier or Monaco Monte-Carlo Train Station is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports may be shared with other Tauck guests.
Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Phoenicia Hotel Malta. A transfer is included from Malta International Airport to the Phoenicia Hotel Malta. Rich in historic treasures, Valletta was founded by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. Join us tonight for a Tauck Exclusive welcome reception and dinner at Palazzo Parisio; originally the hunting lodge of Grand Master Don Antonio Manoel de Vihena who ruled the Order of the Knights of Malta between 1722 and 1736. The property was lived in by noble families for centuries and is still owned by the great-granddaughter of the Marquis Scicluna, who owned the palazzo at the end of the 19th century.
Meals – Dinner
Lodging – The Phoenicia Malta
A guided tour of Malta includes the medieval walled city of Mdina, perched atop a cliff, and a drive around St. Julian’s Bay, a favorite setting for the colorful Maltese boats that are often photographed here for worldwide enjoyment. Return to Valletta for a walking tour and The Malta Experience, an audio-visual show that tells the dramatic story of Malta’s 7,000-year history; Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a virtual open-air museum of Baroque architecture. Visit the splendid St. John’s Co-Cathedral to see its silver and gold-leafed interior and rare art treasures, including the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Italian painter Caravaggio. Le Ponant awaits in the Grand Harbour; set sail for Sicily tonight.
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Go ashore at Giardini-Naxos and transfer ashore by Zodiac for a choice of sightseeing excursions. The first possibility is a visit to Taormina, a terraced town clinging to high cliffs on the east coast of Sicily with Mt. Etna towering in the distance sightseeing. A guided tour takes you to Teatro Greco, featuring both Greek and Roman elements, and for a stroll along the Corso Umberto, Old Town, Taormina’s main pedestrian street lined with cafés and pasticcerie. Or, join us for a visit to Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe – and still very active. Travel by cable car up its slopes and board a special off-road vehicle, accompanied by local guides, for the ascent to one of the world’s most stunning panoramas 9,514 ft. (2900 meters) above sea level. View Mount Etna’s varied landscapes up close and gain insights into volcanic activity. Everyone enjoys some afternoon free time in Taormina before Le Ponant departs for Siracusa.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – The Best of Mount Etna
The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari sits on red volcanic rock and looks like “a wall of bronze” according to the Greek poet Homer. Archaeological remains found have yielded clues to civilizations which date to 1700 BC, including the Neolithic stones that sit alongside ancient tombstones, and ruins of Greek walls and Roman villas. The Spaniards found their way here in the 16th century, building the castello (castle) and the 17th-century cathedral that is perched above the harbor. Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, noted for its colorful houses, 17th-century cathedral and 16th-century castle. You have a choice of two sightseeing excursions today – a walking tour of Lipari plus a visit to the Archaeological Museum or a drive across the island and a visit to the village of Quattropani and its unique vineyard. Back aboard ship, experience a different view of these volcanic islands when you sail by the island of Stromboli tonight, home to one of the world’s few constantly active volcanoes – it has continuously erupted for 2,000 years. The view is unforgettable.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Island Tour & Organic Winery
Le Ponant calls on mainland Italy and the picturesque town of Amalfi. You can explore Amalfi today on a guided that includes a drive along the dramatic Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Arrive in stunning Ravello, perched on cliffs overlooking the sea, for a visit to Villa Rufolo. This beautifully restored castle boasts amazing architectural, a history rich with cultural legacies, and outstanding coastal views; enjoy a wonderful lunch of seasonal specialties in Ravello. Or, if you wish, go on a guided walk in picturesque Amalfi followed by a drive along the Amalfi Coast to Positano, a stunning cliffside town that has been a magnet for the world’s jetsetters – writers, painters, film stars, royalty, fashion designers – for centuries. Your walk ends with a return to Amalfi by motorboat where you’ll get a different perspective on this fabulous coastline. Everyone who has traveled ashore returns to Le Ponant late afternoon; spend the evening as you please aboard ship.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Discover Amalfi & Positano
Le Ponant anchors in Ponza, giving you lots of time to explore this largest island in Italy’s Pontine Archipelago. Your visual take-away will be the island’s dramatic coves and cliffs, the main town’s yellow and pink houses, vineyard-covered hillsides, and an 18th-century harbor. Enjoy time as you please before reboarding Le Ponant, where cocktail hour precedes another dinner at sea. Evening sea breezes make nights extra-special aboard Tauck’s Mediterranean cruise.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into the nearly hidden Corsican port of Bonifacio with a deep, narrow harbor sitting at the base of sheer limestone cliffs – a highlight of most Mediterranean cruises. Your entrance into the harbor aboard Le Ponant will be remembered forever… keep your camera at the ready! The fortified 12th-century town is built on the top of the cliffs with great views of the sea. You have a choice of exploring today; take Le Petit Train for a ride to the town’s walled fortress area where you’ll explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion. Or, board a local boat for a cruise along the coast of Bonifacio for a visit to the Lavezzi Islands and a beach visit. Make an afternoon return to Le Ponant, and set sail once again, bound for Elba.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Coastal Cruise & Beach Visit
Awaken today in the secluded harbor of Portoferraio on the island of Elba. Here you’ll learn about the isolated life of Napoleon Bonaparte on Elba, who spent a brief exile here in 1814 prior to his daring escape. You’ll have two choices of sightseeing – visit Villa San Martino, where he lived for a time; spend some free time in Porto Azzurro; and go to a wine tasting at a family-owned Elba winery before reboarding the ship. Alternatively, take a walking tour of Portoferraio and the Teatro dei Vigilanti. Return to the ship mid-afternoon; say farewell to Le Ponant, the captain and crew this evening at a reception and dinner.
Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excursion Choices – Portoferraio & Napoleon
Disembark Le Ponant in Nice, France, for a brief sightseeing tour and time to explore on your own. Next, travel to the medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence for a walking tour that introduces centuries of history, chronicled in the architectural treasures that are found along its cobblestone streets; visit the grave of artist Marc Chagall, a picture of serenity overlooking panoramic views of the countryside. Continue on to Monte-Carlo, arriving in Monaco in mid-afternoon; join us for a visit to the palace and gardens, schedule permitting. Your hotel is located in the heart of glittering Monte-Carlo, close to the famed waterfront casino.
Meals – Breakfast
Lodging – Fairmont Monte Carlo
See more of Monte-Carlo today, visiting the royal palace and gardens in Monaco-Ville or spending time exploring as you please. Join us this evening at the hotel for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner to toast warm memories of a fabulous Mediterranean cruise!
Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging – Fairmont Monte Carlo
Tour ends: Nice, France. A transfer is included from the Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Cote d’Azur International Airport;
you should allow a minimum of 3 hours for check-in.
Meals – Breakfast
