This itinerary is for a past tour program.
Check out our current tour & cruise packages in the Mediterranean.
Join us on this fantastic celebration of the cultural riches and natural beauty of the Eastern Mediterranean as we set sail aboard the Costa Romantica, one of the most comfortable and elegant ships in the fleet of Italy's premier luxury cruise line.
Our journey is an exotic living mosaic, where every port recalls another magnificent era of castles and fortresses, steaming volcanoes, ancient cultures, exotic art, and architectural treasures and grandeur. We'll visit fascinating ports of call in Italy, Greece and Sicily, while enjoying the lavish Italian lifestyle aboard our cruise ship.
If you're dreaming of a luxury cruise vacation without compromise, this is one opportunity you can't afford to miss. But hurry and reserve your space before your magnificent Mediterranean dream vacation is all sold out.
| Eastern Mediterranean Cruise: Italy, Greek Isles & Sicily | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Port of Call | Arrive | Depart |
| 2 | Citavecchia/Rome, Italy | 7 pm | |
| 3 | Catania, Sicily | 1 pm | 7 pm |
| 4 | At sea | ||
| 5 | Rhodes, Greece | 9 am | 7 pm |
| 6 | Patmos, Greece | 7 am | 1 pm |
| Mykonos, Greece | 6 pm | 11 pm | |
| 7 | Heraklion/Crete, Greece | 8 am | 1 pm |
| 8 | At sea | ||
| 9 | Citavecchia/Rome | 9 am | |
Day 1: Depart USA. Your Mediterranean journey begins this evening as you check-in for your overnight jet flight.
Day 2: Rome. Arrive in Rome, vibrant capital of Italy. After customs formalities, you'll be escorted to Civitavecchia to board the Costa Romantica for your exciting Mediterranean cruise. (D)
Day 3: Catania, Sicily. Located at the base of the active volcano Mount Etna, Catania was founded by the Greeks and then taken over by the Romans. Explore independently or select from optional tours to Taormina (the most popular Sicilian beach resort), a Jeep tour of Mount Etna or a tour of historic Catania including Saint Agatha's Cathedral, the Ursino Castle, Biscari Palace and the Roman Ampitheatre (B,L,D)
Day 4: At sea. All the fantastic facilities of the ship are available to you as you spend a leisurely day at sea. Stroll the ample decks, enjoy an invigorating dip in the pool, and take advantage of the many leisure activities aboard your luxury ship. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Rhodes, Greece. Today you'll visit Rhodes, the beautiful "Island of Roses." In the heart of the island's biggest city, also named Rhodes, is the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe, a fascinating web of Byzantine, Turkish and Latin ruins. Its mighty fortifications provide the finest surviving examples of defensive architecture of the time. Lindos, with its whitewashed houses clustered beneath a soaring castle-capped acropolis, is Rhodes' most picturesque village and most important Doric settlement because of its natural harbor and vantage point built 125 meters above sea level. Wander about on your own or take advantage of optional shore excursions. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Patmos & Mykonos, Greece. Disembark this morning in Patmos, a lively island with whitewashed houses, flowered courtyards, tavernas and shops. Patmos is famous in history as the place where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation. An optional tour takes you to the cave where St. John lived and the nearby Monastery, built on one of the island's highest points, housing priceless icons and manuscripts in its Treasury. Return to the ship to continue sailing to Mykonos.
Arrive early this evening in Mykonos, where chic crowds flock to the island's trendy restaurants, discos and clubs each night, and where you can sit seaside, sipping ouzo and watching the sunset while listening to traditional Greek music. Before heading back to the ship, enjoy a stroll through Mykonos town with its labyrinth of winding alleyways and whitewashed buildings, basket-laden donkeys, cascading geraniums and upscale shops and cafes. (B,L,D)

Day 8: At sea. Rest and relax onboard after yesterday's long day of touring. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Rome. Arrive in Rome this morning. After breakfast, disembark from your cruise and enjoy a full day to explore Rome, the Eternal City. You'll find a treasure trove of ancient ruins, art, music and architecture, religious passion, all juxtaposed against the frenetic pace and cutting edge modern fashion of an ultra-modern European city. Your hotel is ideally located within short distance of many major attractions, as well as the best shopping and dining. (B)
Day 10: Rome/USA. Your memorable Mediterranean journey ends as you say arrivederci Italia and transfer independently to the airport for your return flight to the USA. Arrive in the USA later today. Or, continue your stay in Italy by adding a late return and extra nights to your package. (B)
For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Italy, click here.
For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Greece, click here.
The Costa Romantica cruise ship epitomizes Italian design, contemporary comforts, and luxury cruising. Marble accents, sleek furnishings, and modern Italian artwork create an atmosphere that is vibrant, chic, and restful. The Romantica's well-appointed staterooms, sweeping public areas, and array of leisure facilities make it one of the most comfortable and elegant ships in the upscale Costa fleet.
Paneled in light cherry wood, the Romantica's 678 staterooms are fairly spacious and have ample storage. All cabins feature pastel hues in an elegant minimalist style and include a personal safe, TV, refrigerator, private bathroom with shower and hairdryer, and small sitting area with a table and two chairs. Outside cabins and suites are also available.
The Costa Romantica is registered in Italy.
[Italian Treasures] was wonderful and we are very pleased that we chose Friendly Planet as our tour provider. Our tour director, Flavio Nicoletti, was top-notch in every way. He was professional, knowledgeable, friendly and fun-loving. He went out of his way on many occasions to ensure that our group had the best possible experience. He arranged wonderful excursions, including an evening at a Tuscan Farmstead which my travel mates and I will always remember as a highlight of our trip. I co-host a radio Morning Show in North Carolina. During the trip I called into the show to report on the trip. Flavio even agreed to join me during the call and go on the air with us! He did a great job! My friends and I now feel that we have a friend in Rome. We are so thankful to Flavio and to Friendly Planet for making our once-in-a-lifetime trip so special and memorable.
— Tamera Rumfelt, Kernersville, NC