Europe Cruise: Rome

Day 1 Rome, Italy

2,500 years of history are woven into the fabric of modern Rome. You can feel it in the glory of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Or as you wander sidestreets that open onto piazzas, fountains, Bernini sculpture, and elegant courtyards. Famous treasures are legion in Rome: the Colosseum…the Forum…St. Peter’s Cathedral…the Trevi Fountain…the Spanish Steps. Take time out between sights to do as the Romans do: enjoy a three-hour lunch, shop, people-watch, or savor the best gelati in the world.

Day 2 Ischia, Italy

Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. Some sights worth seeing are the Church of Soccorso (a tiny white-washed church located in the square on the Punta del Soccorso in Forio, that looks out onto the crystal clear sea), and Castello Aragonese (a castle located on a small island near Ischia Ponte). There are many wonderful beaches located here as well, namely Lido di Ischia and Cartaromana beach.

Day 3 Sorrento, Italy

This Mediterranean land has been depicted, described and immortalized in song by artists, poets and travelers from every period of history. Along the coast, rugged and inaccessible cliffs soar upwards between beautiful beaches, hidden caves, enchanting bays and sheltered coves. Whereas inland, the high plains, rolling hills and lofty mountains are seared by deep valleys to create a truly unique landscape in which man has also left a clear sign of his remarkable work: the more impervious areas have been modeled into the now-famous terraces, those huge steps descending into the sea on which man has planted vineyards and groves of orange, lemon and olive trees. There are the gardens of delight which exude an inebriating perfume of blossom in spring. The mild climate and predominantly fine weather all year round make the Sorrentine Penisula an ideal destination in any season. The first town in the Peninsula is Vico Equense with its Giusso Castle on the coast and the austere Mont Faito (1400 metres high) which allows you to pass from the sea to the mountain in just a few minutes. Next we find Meta di Sorrento , a town hidden in a maze of alleyways whose small hamlets and sun-drenched beaches are a must for visitors. Piano di Sorrento is a bustling town which harmoniously blends its sea-faring vocation with its rural identity and its role as a major shopping centre. The hill rising up behind the town is traversed by narrow roads flanked by high walls that enclose centuries-old orange and lemon groves.

Day 4 Lipari and Stromboli, Italy

Celebrated by the poet Homer, who described it as “a floating island, a wall of bronze and splendid smooth sheer cliffs," Lipari is the largest of the 17 Aeolian Islands, and also the name of its only real town. Rising from the cobalt seas on the northeast of the Sicilian coast, Lipari’s location makes it a popular base for exploring the archipelago. However, this fascinating place more than holds its own as a worthy destination. Located on a plateau of red volcanic rock on the southeastern shore, Lipari boasts two beaches on either side. Its mountains, volcanoes and stunningly beautiful waters attract adventure-seekers from throughout the world. Settled in the 4th millennium B.C., the island offers such historic sites (and sights) as the impressive cliff top citadel. Built in the 1500s, the citadel’s high defensive wall still stands, enclosing the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew, an archaeological museum and two baroque churches.

The Aeolian island of Stromboli doesn’t just have a volcano – it actually is an active volcano, its smoldering cone attracting credentialed and amateur enthusiasts throughout the year. Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea just north of Sicily, one side of the island is scarred and blackened from eruptions, while the eastern side is lush, green and populated by whitewashed homes. The best show this island has to offer is a one-of-a-kind spectacular natural display of fire and brimstone. At night, the lava glows as it makes its way down the Sciara del Fuoco (Slope of Fire) to meet the sea with a loud hiss. During the 1946 on-location filming of the movie Stromboli, the relationship between star Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini also heated up and caught fire. Those who seek adventure yet want an assurance of safety can take a guided tour of the volcano’s cone.

Day 5 At Sea

Day 6 Porto Cervo, Italy

The most well-known village in Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo is a modern purpose-built resort started in 1962. Its collection of traditional-style Mediterranean low-rise buildings in peach, cream and white stucco with terracotta-tiled roofs are designed to attract those seeking a taste – or more – of the sun-kissed luxury resort experience. Porto Cervo comprises an attractive pedestrian-centric center known as the Piazzetta, along with a web of narrow hilly roads behind a sizeable harbor. The marina accommodates up to 650 fast and flashy craft boats, a yacht club and mall, as well as its own shipyard. No wonder, then, that Porto Cervo is a favored destination among the international jet set and yachting experts.

Day 7 Porto Vecchio, France

This fashionable resort town lies on the magnificent Gulf of Santa Giulia near the southern tip of Corsica. Combine a day at the beach with a visit to one of the prehistoric sites nearby.

Day 8 Rome, Italy

2,500 years of history are woven into the fabric of modern Rome. You can feel it in the glory of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Or as you wander sidestreets that open onto piazzas, fountains, Bernini sculpture, and elegant courtyards. Famous treasures are legion in Rome: the Colosseum…the Forum…St. Peter’s Cathedral…the Trevi Fountain…the Spanish Steps. Take time out between sights to do as the Romans do: enjoy a three-hour lunch, shop, people-watch, or savor the best gelati in the world.