Ultimate Mediterranean & Atlantic Passage Cruise

Day 1 - Fort Lauderdale

Arrive: Sat 09 November 2024 / Depart: Sat 09 November 2024 at 17:00

There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - At Sea

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - At Sea

Day 7 - At Sea

Day 8 - Horta

Arrive: Sat 16 November 2024 at 11:00 / Depart: Sat 16 November 2024 at 18:00

Some say the Azores are a remnant of lost Atlantis, and some say they sprang from flowers dropped by an angel. Neither theory seems preposterous during the drive from sea level up to mile-wide volvanic crater rimmed with lush greenery and brilliant flowers. Looking out to sea, you may glimpse Capelinhos, the volcano that rose from the Atlantic only four decades ago.

Day 9 - Ponta Delgada, Azores

Arrive: Sun 17 November 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 17 November 2024 at 16:00

You'll be astonished to see, in the depths of the huge crater at the center of the island, two lakes--one emerald green, the other sky-blue. Your guide will explain. More astonishments: a cluster of hot springs bubbling in the mist.

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - At Sea

Day 12 - Tangier

Arrive: Wed 20 November 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 20 November 2024 at 18:00

Tangier is Africa's whitewashed gateway to Europe and the Mediterranean. Wide palm-lined boulevards and humming souks are Tangier's distinctively Moroccan features, but Spanish, French and Berber characteristics are found everywhere: arched wooden doors, hefty silver ornamentations, tightly-woven carpets that tell tribal legends.

Day 13 - Cruising the Strait of Gibraltar

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - Florence/Pisa

Arrive: Sat 23 November 2024 at 08:00

Access to the best of Tuscany: Florence, with its magnificent art and architecture and elegant shopping; Pisa's Leaning Tower; and ancient Lucca. Sample shore excursions: Tuscan Countryside & Wine Tasting; Florence & the Academia.

Day 16 - Florence/Pisa

Depart: Sun 24 November 2024 at 19:00

Access to the best of Tuscany: Florence, with its magnificent art and architecture and elegant shopping; Pisa's Leaning Tower; and ancient Lucca. Sample shore excursions: Tuscan Countryside & Wine Tasting; Florence & the Academia.

Day 17 - Rome

Arrive: Mon 25 November 2024 at 07:00

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter. Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 18 - Rome

Depart: Tue 26 November 2024 at 23:00

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter. Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.

Day 19 - Naples, Italy

Arrive: Wed 27 November 2024 at 10:00 / Depart: Wed 27 November 2024 at 18:00

Rising behind the wide curve of its bay with brooding Mount Vesuvius and the deep blue sea as a backdrop, Naples, Italy enjoys a magnificent natural setting. It is the third-largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan, and arguably the most colorful and seductive of them all: Splendor and squalor live side by side in 21st-century Naples, and the mix is intoxicating. Cruise to Naples, home to world-class museums and attractions. Naples has something for everyone - superb restaurants, eclectic shopping, a thriving contemporary art scene and an edgy and vibrant street life. But once you’ve had enough of the pounding traffic and jostling crowds while sightseeing in Naples, there are endless opportunities for exploration further afield. The celebrated Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, both victims of Vesuvius’ devastating 79 C.E. eruption, lie just south of the city. Explore Naples' history or take a short ride over to the island of Capri on a Naples shore excursion. The delightful town of Sorrento and the magnificent scenery of the Amalfi Coast are also within easy reach, and the dolce vita glamour of Capri—not to mention the healing thermal waters of Ischia—are a short hydrofoil hop from the mainland. Naples cruises offer a perfect mix of cultural and natural attractions.

Day 20 - Catania, Sicily

Arrive: Thu 28 November 2024 at 11:00 / Depart: Thu 28 November 2024 at 18:00

Sicily’s second-largest city is intimately connected to the active volcano that towers above it. The smoking, gurgling peak of Mt. Etna, one of the island's most iconic landmarks, has shaped Catania significantly, most notably in the 1600s when an eruption sent lava flowing to the sea. But the real damage happened some 25 years later when an earthquake rocked and destroyed the city. Catania was reconstructed in the Baroque style using the lava rock at hand, earning the historical center its UNESCO World Heritage status. In the 20th century, Catania had a reputation as a rough-and-tumble port, but recent decades have seen major restoration and revitalization, making the city an ideal spot to explore local street markets, visit Roman ruins and learn about a rich history that dates back to Ancient Greece. Catania’s central location on the eastern Sicilian coast also makes it a great base for exploring nearby Taormina and Syracuse, the wineries on Mt. Etna and idyllic local beaches.

Day 21 - At Sea

Day 22 - Athens

Arrive: Sat 30 November 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 30 November 2024 at 17:00

No modern metropolis is more steeped in myth than Athens, Greece. From the gritty port of Piraeus—gateway to Greece’s fabled isles—to the Parthenon—eternal symbol of Western civilization—Athens has attracted adventurers and classicists for centuries. This heritage is still very much alive for modern visitors sightseeing in Athens: ancient stadiums and temples dwell alongside apartment blocks, modern performances are staged in the marble amphitheaters where Greek drama was born and millennia-old monuments are scattered in the archaeological park that circles the Acropolis. One of the world’s oldest maritime powers, Athens is blessed with a balmy climate and stunning coastline. The seaside suburbs of Athens are scalloped with sandy beaches, fancy yacht clubs and glamorous beach bars. While the Athenian lifestyle is known for late-night dinners and dancing until dawn, the city shines brightly by day in the bustling markets, lively cafés and fascinating museums that illuminate Greece's past and present. Contemplate the magnitude of all that culture and ancient tourist attractions while marveling at the sun setting into the Aegean or rising over the Acropolis.

Day 23 - At Sea

Day 24 - Alexandria

Arrive: Mon 02 December 2024 at 06:00

Haggle for handcrafted jewelry in Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s giant souk. Hear the call to prayer. Venture out to Giza, where the iconic pyramids and sphynx testify to the glory that was ancient Egypt.

Day 25 - Alexandria

Depart: Tue 03 December 2024 at 18:00

Haggle for handcrafted jewelry in Khan el-Khalili, Cairo’s giant souk. Hear the call to prayer. Venture out to Giza, where the iconic pyramids and sphynx testify to the glory that was ancient Egypt.

Day 26 - At Sea

Day 27 - Malta

Arrive: Thu 05 December 2024 at 04:00

Thick sandstone walls fortify Valletta, holding within its stone streets and glorious architecture. It fees like a travesty, walking over the detailed inlaid marble floors of the the cathedrals, but they are there to be seen and appreciated. The Silent City is Mdina, on the far side of the island, where no cars are permitted to disrupt the serene streets. Keep an eye out for the legendary, aged yellow buses of Malta which appear to be on their last legs, but are in fact a revered and flawlessly maintained piece of Maltese heritage.

Day 28 - Malta

Depart: Fri 06 December 2024 at 16:00

Thick sandstone walls fortify Valletta, holding within its stone streets and glorious architecture. It fees like a travesty, walking over the detailed inlaid marble floors of the the cathedrals, but they are there to be seen and appreciated. The Silent City is Mdina, on the far side of the island, where no cars are permitted to disrupt the serene streets. Keep an eye out for the legendary, aged yellow buses of Malta which appear to be on their last legs, but are in fact a revered and flawlessly maintained piece of Maltese heritage.

Day 29 - La Goulette

Arrive: Sat 07 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 07 December 2024 at 18:00

Stroll Tunis' spirited medina where close-packed souks offer silver, perfumes, spices, carpets and other treasures at fire sale prices. Sharpen your haggling skills here—it's anticipated! At the edge of the Sahara, the Phoenician city at Carthage now lies in windswept ruins, but once was the glorious rival of Rome.

Day 30 - At Sea

Day 31 - Alghero

Arrive: Mon 09 December 2024 / Depart: Mon 09 December 2024

The city of Alghero on Sardinia was founded in 1102 by the powerful Doria family from Genoa on the Italian mainland—though long before they arrived, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all had settlements in the area. The civilization that had the most influence on the island's fifth-largest city was, however, not Italy but Spain; specifically Catalonia. One of Alghero’s nicknames is Little Barcelona, and the local dialect has much in common with the Catalan spoken on Las Ramblas. The Catalans conquered Alghero in 1353 and colonized it, building the city walls that can still be seen today. Thanks to their economic and military power, the Algheresi—both Italians and colonists—enjoyed a golden age of prosperity lasting well into the 16th century. Today this cosmopolitan and outward-looking city of traders and mariners is a pleasure to wander around, its buildings pink, white and gold in the sunshine, above the clear blue sea. Sitting on a promontory behind the walls built by the Catalans, the compact old town (it makes up just one-tenth of the city today) is where the sights are concentrated and is easy to explore on foot.

Day 32 - Gibraltar

Arrive: Tue 10 December 2024 at 14:00 / Depart: Tue 10 December 2024 at 23:00

This strategic link between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean has been ruled by the Spanish, British and Moors. As long as the Barbary Apes remain, the British will rule Gibraltar this is the tradition that has held for 350 years. These pesky primates are a favorite with visitors despite their incessant chatter and light-fingered ways. Ride to the top of the Rock for great views over the Strait of Gibraltar-on a clear day you'll see Africa.

Day 32 - Cruising the Strait of Gibraltar

Day 33 - Seville

Arrive: Wed 11 December 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 11 December 2024 at 18:00

Hanging off the southwestern edge of Spain, Cádiz is one of Andalucía’s regional capitals and a place bursting with personality. Europe’s oldest continually inhabited city, with a history stretching back 3,000 years, has fallen on hard times in recent years, but a combination of pride, good humor and stoicism keeps it on an even keel. The famous Carnival, one of Spain’s most important in the genre, is a thrilling fiesta into which Cádiz pours all its energy and ingenuity. The city’s fond nickname, la tacita de plata ("little silver cup"), alludes to its curious geography—it juts out on a long peninsula into a sheltered bay. Old town Cádiz is a warren of cobbled streets where the houses, painted white or dusty ochre, have the weather-beaten look of a place subjected to centuries of wind and salt. This ancient city has one good example of everything that matters: a great food market, a theater (the Teatro Falla, a grand Art Nouveau Moorish gem), a gorgeous cathedral, impressive fortifications and a beach—the picturesque and famous La Caleta.

Day 34 - Casablanca

Arrive: Thu 12 December 2024 at 06:00 / Depart: Thu 12 December 2024 at 18:00

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and its most important port. While Rabat is the country's official capital, Casablanca is its economic and cultural hub, the place where Moroccans go to make it big. There has been a settlement here since before the Romans, and although the Barbary pirates and Portuguese also left their marks, it wasn't until the French colonial period that Casablanca truly came into its own. The modern city was the first in the world to be laid out by aerial survey, and was barely 20 years old when its name was framed forever in the Hollywood classic of the same name. But Casablanca isn't just a place for movie nostalgia—its tremendous Hassan II Mosque puts Moroccan tradition on a distinctly modern trajectory, while its trams whisk you past Art Deco architecture to Dubai-inspired malls and city beaches. Casablanca's central location on the Atlantic coast also means that day trips to the historic imperial cities of Marrakech and Rabat are an easy option. We suggest you gulp down a shot of Moroccan espresso at a street café and dive right in.

Day 35 - At Sea

Day 36 - At Sea

Day 37 - At Sea

Day 38 - At Sea

Day 39 - At Sea

Day 40 - At Sea

Day 41 - At Sea

Day 42 - At Sea

Day 43 - Fort Lauderdale

Arrive: Sat 21 December 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Sat 21 December 2024

There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.