Corsican Cruise

Passengers are welcome to board at 6:00 p.m. You will be introduced to the crew at a welcome cocktail. Tonight enjoy dinner and an evening of activities on board. Our ship will cruise to Corsica overnight.

The ship will begin to cruise to Corsica. Take in the beauty of the Gulf of Porto, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admire the red cliffs and maquis underbrush in the Scandola Nature Reserve, and glide by the Gulf of Girolata and the dazzling Calanques de Piana. Feel free to attend the lecture about the natural beauty found on and around this Mediterranean island: The Beauty of the Island Summed up in Five Ports of Call. Corsica is best experienced through its beauty, its culture, and its people. As LA BELLE DES OCEANS enters its first Corsican port, join us on the deck for a tasting of traditional myrtle liqueur and a pastry.

In the afternoon, two excursions offered:

CLASSIC package: Ajaccio and the Îles Sanguinaires. Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, has a rich and historical past. We’ll also stop at the Pointe de la Parata, get a good glimpse of the Îles Sanguinaires, and stroll through this exceptional natural area.

DISCOVERY package: The sights and scents of Corsica Cross the maquis—the Corsican underbrush exploding with a potpourri of flowers and plants—for a visit to Corsica PAM in Ocana.

Tonight’s meal and entertainment will have genuine Corsican flair!

Today, join a full-day excursion to the Calanques de Piana and the village of Porto (pre-booking only). Our coach will travel along the picturesque coastline dotted with rocky inlets until we reach Porto. Enjoy some time exploring the village before we jump on a local boat that will take us to Cap Rosso, where the sheer cliffs and rock sculptures of the Calanques de Piana seem to jet up from the water and radiate a red hue along the coastline. We’ll return to Ajaccio by coach.

Or, join the  DISCOVERY package: A visit to the Maison Bonaparte, a national museum. Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military leader and emperor, was born in this house on August 15, 1769. The museum retraces the history of the Bonaparte family in Corsica as well as the series of exiles they experienced. This is a great opportunity to learn about the former emperor's life. The visit will begin on the third floor, where you’ll learn about Corsican life at the end of the 18th century, Bonaparte’s parents, his childhood, and his last visit to Corsica on his return from Egypt in 1799. The rooms on the second floor exhibit the decor under Napoleon III. Other exhibits address Bonaparte’s death, the legends built around him to glorify his actions, and Napoleon III’s visits to Ajaccio during the Second French Empire.

In the afternoon, this excursion is offered:

DISCOVERY package: An afternoon at Mare E Sol or Capo Di Feno. Chill at one of the white beaches and take a dip in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea! Small huts offer a variety of food and snacks during your pause.

At the end of the day, we'll begin to cruise to Bonifacio. We'll enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment.

Excursion for both packages:

This morning, set out on a guided tour of Bonifacio. Bonifacio is rich with a history told along its small streets and paths, the thousand-year-old fortress, and the sturdy stone homes perched high above the sea waves.

In the afternoon, join an excursion to the nature reserve on the Archipelago of Lavezzi. The islands are scattered with sculpted granite boulders and impressive cliffs.

In the evening, you’ll have a delicious, in-season dinner at a traditional inn accompanied by Corsican music and songs.

This morning, two excursions are offered:

CLASSIC package: Set out on a guided tour of Porto-Vecchio. The old town includes the ruins of a 16th-century citadel and gorgeous views of the marina.

DISCOVERY package: A trip to Palombaggia Beach (with the possibility of a picnic lunch from the ship).

In the late afternoon, begin to cruise towards Bastia.

Today, offer an excursion for both packages: Cap Corse. Located to the north of Bastia and Saint-Florent, Cap Corse is a 25-mile-long promontory with several attractive fishing villages, a gorgeous coastline, and a couple of good beaches. Cross through some of the most charming villages on the island, including the adorable fishing village of Erbalunga, lovely Santa Severa, the typical village of Luri, and beautiful grove-lined Pino. We’ll stop off in Patrimonio for a tasting of wine, cold cuts, and cheese at the Montemagni estate. Although Corsica has a mostly Mediterranean climate, it experiences great contrasts in weather because of its location and mountains. It's wine, though, truly benefits from the warm summers and exceptional sunshine.

At the end of the day, continue to cruise towards l’Ile-Rousse. Join us for a lecture in the lounge: The Bonapartes: A Corsican Family.

This morning, two excursions are offered:

CLASSIC package: A tour of Calvi and its citadel. 
You’ll discover its large marina and immense bay surrounded by unique landscapes and often snow-capped mountains.

OR

Discover the old villages in the Balagne region. These are the fertile hills of the island—commonly referred to as the Corsican gardens—where more than thirty villages are perched on cliffs or hidden in narrow valleys.

DISCOVERY package: Kick back at Bodri or Ghjunchitu beach.

We’ll then spend the afternoon crossing the Mediterranean to Nice. Tonight is the festive gala evening.

Enjoy breakfast on board this morning before disembarking at 9AM.