Mediterranean Jewels Cruise

Day 1 - Barcelona

Arrive: Tue 06 October 2026 / Depart: Tue 06 October 2026 at 17:00

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is said to have been founded by the Phoenicians, and was once the rival of the powerful states of Venice and Genoa for control of the Mediterranean trade. Today, it is Spain's second largest city and has long rivaled, even surpassed Madrid in industry and commerce. The medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter and the elegant boulevards combine to make the city one of Europe's most beautiful. Barcelona's active cultural life and heritage brought forth such greats as the architect Antonio Gaudi, the painter Joan Miro, and Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years here. Other famous native Catalan artists include cellist Pau Casals, surrealist Salvador Dali, and opera singers Montserrat Caballe and Josep Carreras. Barcelona accomplished a long-cherished goal with the opportunity to host the Olympics in 1992. This big event prompted a massive building program and created a focal point of the world's attention.

Day 2 - Majorca

Arrive: Wed 07 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Wed 07 October 2026 at 17:00

Spain's Balearic Islands are among Europe's most popular resort destinations. Mallorca is the largest and most developed of these islands. Rome and Carthage battled over this territory and portions of ancient Roman constructions still remain. Founded almost 2,100 years ago, the city of Palma de Mallorca, the island's busy capital city boasts a considerable store of history. Mallorca welcomes its visitors to an island, which can be both exciting and tranquil. The abundant sightseeing and sunshine are yours to enjoy.

Day 3 - Mahon, Spain

Arrive: Thu 08 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 08 October 2026 at 16:00

Mahon is the capital of Menorca, second largest of the Balearic Islands. It stands out from the others because of the abundance of prehistoric structures, and because its culture was influenced by British occupation in the 18th century. The people who built the prehistoric constructions are believed to have been responsible for similar works in Sardinia, and for Stonehenge in England. Believed to have been founded by the Carthaginian General Mago, Mahon was held by the Moors from the 8th to the 13th century and in turn occupied by the English, the French and the Spanish. Mahon was finally ceded to Spain by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Malta

Arrive: Sat 10 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 10 October 2026 at 23:00

Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. A British Crown Colony until 1964, Malta received the George Cross for its valiant resistance to German occupation in WWII. The island's rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital, and Medina, the capital until 1565. In Valletta the Knights of St. John built such masterpieces as St. John's Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Masters, along with the fortifications that guard the town's magnificent harbors.

Day 6 - Mgarr (Victoria)

Arrive: Sun 11 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 11 October 2026 at 16:00

A port not often visited by cruise ships, being more accustomed to welcoming fishing boats and private yachts. Malta’s smaller sister-isle has a lot of charm to offer. Villages such as Mgarr all boast tall, elaborately carved churches, the result of a combination of fine-grained, easily carved stone, time, and stonemasons whose skill is matched only by their religious devotion. The city of Victoria was so named to honor the British queen’s Diamond jubilee.

Day 7 - La Goulette

Arrive: Mon 12 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 12 October 2026 at 18:00

La Goulette, known in Arabic as Halq al-Wadi, is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The Kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574

Day 8 - Cagliari

Arrive: Tue 13 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Tue 13 October 2026 at 18:00

The pleasingly green, quiet island of Sardinia offers the visitor scenic beauty and a relaxed lifestyle. Cagliari, the island's capital, features handsome Italianate architecture and several churches reflecting a variety of influences. Impressive views are provided by the city's hillsides, with one of the best panoramas available from the old walls of Terrazzo Umberto. The island's natural charm has attracted pleasure-seekers to the Costa Smeralda since the Aga Khan sought shelter ashore from a storm at sea.

Day 9 - Olbia/Sardinia

Arrive: Wed 14 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 14 October 2026 at 18:00

The rugged Italian island of Sardinia is blessed with a rocky coastline interrupted by soft sand beaches and washed by limpid seas. Olbia is a very ancient town. It was founded by Phoenicians, and later occupied by Greeks and Romans in their turns. The church of San Simplicio dates from the 11th or 12th century, and that dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle is medieval. The town’s Museum of Archaeology can help you visualize the timeline. Everything changed dramatically in the 1960s, when the Prince Karim Aga Khan selected a 20-kilometer stretch of the nearby coastline to develop an exclusive resort complex he called the Costa Smeralda. Today this enchanting shoreline is encrusted with jewel-like resorts and hotels, private villas and beach facilities, yacht marinas and heliports. It is reputedly the most expensive real estate per square meter in Europe. Without doubt it is beautiful, and it is not necessarily that expensive to just look.

Day 10 - Bonifacio

Arrive: Thu 15 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 15 October 2026 at 18:00

The scented isle of Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon, was controlled for centuries by Genoa and did not become a region of France until 1768. As late as the last century, the rugged island was still a haven for bands of brigands. Today, the island's inviting beaches and scenic beauty attract an increasing number of tourists hoping to escape the much more hectic pace of the Riviera. Bonifacio, perched at the top of towering white cliffs, is a striking sight from the sea. Watch for the 15th-century staircase carved into the cliff face which runs right down to the water's edge as you approach the harbor.

Day 11 - Rome

Arrive: Fri 16 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 16 October 2026 at 17:00

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 12 - Amalfi, Italy

Arrive: Sat 17 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 17 October 2026 at 18:00

The Amalfi Coast has been called the greatest meeting of land and sea on earth. Situated in the Campania region between Sorrento and Salerno, Amalfi and Positano are the two main towns on the world-famous Amalfi Drive - renowned as the most scenic and romantic road in Italy. The road is carved into the side of rocky cliffs plunging into the sparkling sea. Erosion has sculpted the rocky slopes into gargoyle shapes and hollowed out fairy grottoes where the air is tinted turquoise by the glowing blue water below. During the Middle Ages, Amalfi was an independent maritime state with a population of 50,000. The ship compass was invented here in 1302. Approximately 10 miles away from Amalfi is the village of Ravello. An enchanting village with wonderful views and quiet lanes, Ravello boasts romantic gardens surrounding medieval ruins, affording magnificent views of the entire Bay of Salerno.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - Sarande

Arrive: Mon 19 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 19 October 2026 at 18:00

This important port on Southern Albania curls around a superb natural harbor, dominated by the hilltop 16th century Lekuresi Castle with distinctive round towers. In the town center are the ruins of a 5th century synagogue, later a Christian basilica, with remnant mosaic floors. Another picturesque ruin is the Forty Saints Monastery from the 6th century, which is thought to have been an important pilgrimage site. But the main attraction in southern Albania is the archaeological site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with extensive ruins of communities dating from prehistory, though the Greek and Roman eras, as well as the Byzantine period, until the medieval period.

Day 15 - Gallipoli

Arrive: Tue 20 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Tue 20 October 2026 at 17:00

The compact city resides on the western side of the Italian boot heel, in the friendly, laid back Puglia region. An Aragonese Fortress marks the old city, which dates from the 13th Century. The Antica Fontana fountain is a Greek relic possibly from the 3rd Century BCE. The imposing, baroque Cathedral of Sant’Agata was decorated in the 17th century with elaborate carvings by the same artisans who made nearby Lecce a baroque showplace, in the native limestone. Stop by the Antica Farmacia Provenzana for a headache cure, or just to see the accumulated paraphernalia of its long, and still active, life as a business in this charming city in the far south of Italy.

Day 16 - Taormina

Arrive: Wed 21 October 2026 at 09:00 / Depart: Wed 21 October 2026 at 21:00

On the heights above the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland, the Greeks built a magnificent city, later expanded by the Romans. Its strategic location ensured its continued importance throughout history, and today makes it one of the most attractive and important archaeological sites in Europe. The dominant feature is the large Greco-Roman theater, which boasts striking views of the still-active volcano Mt. Etna. Ruins and remnants are strewn across the hillside setting, inviting visitors to stroll and explore, either on their own or with guides. The town, likewise, is loaded with charm and appeal that invites walking and wonder. Snow-capped Mt. Etna is accessible for visitors when it is not too active.

Day 17 - Lipari Islands

Arrive: Thu 22 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Thu 22 October 2026 at 18:00

Lipari is the largest of the seven major islands making up the Aeolian Islands. They were originally named after Aeolus, the mythical god of wind who the ancients believed made his home in a cave here. Recently renamed the Lipari Islands, they were created by volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago and have a primitive rocky beauty accented by Mediterranean greenery. Their natural beauty and easy lifestyle have made the islands increasingly popular for those who wish to escape the modern world and its stresses. The crystal clear aqua-blue waters and the volcanic beaches are some of the most inviting in Italy. Many are inaccessible except by fishermens' boats. An abundance of fish and shell fish makes for some very good restaurants specializing in seafood.

Day 18 - Sicily

Arrive: Fri 23 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 23 October 2026 at 16:00

Bright stone buildings mark the rambling layout and baroque architecture of Trapani. Extending out into the sea, the towns characteristic shape of a scythe, frames the majestic Tower of Ligny, which rises from its most extreme point. Originally under Arab dominion, Trapani was a blossoming center for the production of salt, tuna, and coral. The city became famous throughout the Old World in the 16th century, when the work of Trapanese coral artisans was revealed. Their gorgeous collection of works in coral is preserved in the Pepoli Museum.

Day 19 - Porto Cervo

Arrive: Sat 24 October 2026 at 10:00 / Depart: Sat 24 October 2026 at 19:00

Porto Cervo is an Italian seaside resort in northern Sardinia. It is a frazione of the comune of Arzachena, in the province of Sassari. Created by Prince Karim Aga Khan and various other investors, Porto Cervo is the main centre of Costa Smeralda. It has a resident population of 421 inhabitants

Day 20 - Calvi

Arrive: Sun 25 October 2026 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 25 October 2026 at 18:00

Settled first by the Romans, then ruled by Genoans for nearly half a millennium, Calvi was freed by Corsica's native son Napoleon in 1791. In 1982 it was given special status and now enjoys a uniquely autonomous position within the realm of France. Ringed with alternating precipitous cliffs and fine sand beaches, the island resembles a mountain thrust up out of the water, but its ruggedness is tempered by brilliant sunlight and groves of olive and orange trees. Napoleon once said that he could recognize Corsica with his eyes closed - by its perfume alone. While touring Corsica, be advised that the roads about this mountainous island are quite winding with many curves.

Day 21 - Monaco

Arrive: Mon 26 October 2026 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 26 October 2026

The Principality of Monaco is the epitome of Riviera chic. This tiny enclave of 370 acres surrounds a sheltered harbor that draws yachts from around the world to enjoy the beautiful scenery, mild weather and elegant casino. Glamorous Monte Carlo is one of Monaco's four quarters, which also include La Condamine, the business district; Monaco-ville, the capital; and Fontvieille, an area built on reclaimed land. Ruled by Prince Albert II, Monaco has a population of over 32,000, of which about 16 percent are citizens, or Monégasques.