Western Mediterranean Cruise: Italy, Spain, Tunisia & Malta

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Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!

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Cristo Re & rooftoops, Messina, Sicily

Join us on this fantastic celebration of the cultural riches and natural beauty of the Western Mediterranean as we set sail aboard the luxurious MSC Splendida. 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, Spain, France, Tunisia, and Malta, 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 our magnificent Mediterranean dream vacation is all sold out.

Itinerary at a Glance & Port Call Times

Italy, Spain, Tunisia & Malta Cruise
Day	Port of Call	Arrive	Depart
2	Civitavecchia/Rome, Italy		7 pm
3	Savona/Genoa, Italy	9 am	6 pm
4	Marseilles, France	8 am	6 pm
5	Barcelona, Spain	12 am	2 pm
6	Tunis, Tunisia	2:30 pm	7:30 pm
7	La Valletta, Malta	9 am	6 pm
8	Messina & Taormina, Italy	7 am	2 pm
9	Rome	8 am

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exciting Mediterranean journey begins this evening as you check-in for your overnight jet flight bound for Rome.

Day 2: Rome, Italy. Arrive in Rome, vibrant capital of Italy. After customs formalities, you'll be escorted to Civitavecchia to board the Costa Concordia and begin your weeklong Mediterranean cruise. MSC Splendida (D)

Savona port

Day 3: Savona/Genoa, Italy. With origins dating back to the middle of the Bronze Age, Savona's ancient structures and winding streets are just minutes from the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and is an area rich in culture. Explore on your own, or join an optional shore excursion to Genoa, Liguria's capital and ancient Maritime Republic. (B,L,D)

Marseilles Harbor

Day 4: Marseilles, France. This morning, arrive in Marseilles whose history dates back to 600 B.C. when it was founded by the ancient Greeks. Since then, it has grown to become the second largest city in France and the country's largest commercial port. Enjoy the splendor of Marseilles by visiting its must-see sites including the Old Port, the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde Phare de Sainte Marie lighthouse, the Centre Bourse, and the adjacent rue St Ferreol district (the main shopping district in central Marseilles. We also recommend a ride along the Kennedy Corniche, a coastal road with excellent views across the Bay of Marseilles. (B,L,D)

Plaça Real, Barcelona

Day 5: Barcelona, Spain. Explore Spain's most exciting, flamboyant and sophisticated city, capital of Cataluña and home to the 1992 Olympics. An optional shore excursion takes you to the Barrio Gotico (old quarter), a 14th century maze of tiny houses, stately palaces and intriguing shops.

Flamenco dancers, Barcelona

See the famous palm tree-lined Plaça Real square, hub of Barcelona nightlife. Walk the beautiful shaded Las Ramblas boulevard, which the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca once said "the only street in the world which I wish would never end." Visit one of the many cafés where Catalan voices accompany dancers swaying to the Sardana or the impassioned foot-stamping Flamenco.

Sagrada Família, Barcelona

Marvel at one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 20th century, Antoni Gaudí's lavishly extravagant Cathedral of Sagrada Família. This magnificent architectural creation began in 1882 and still under construction today. Ascend its towers, adorned with giant colorful fruit and constructed of such a thin lattice of stone that they seem to defy gravity, for some of the best views of the city. (B,L,D)

Mosque tower, Tunis

Day 6: Tunis, Tunisia. This afternoon arrive at Tunis, Tunisia, where whitewashed, blue-shuttered buildings hide a treasure trove of Ottoman art. On an optional shore excursion, inspect illuminated manuscripts from the Koran, follow the twisting lanes and alleys of the old Inner City, and marvel at the ornate Palace of Dar Ben Abdallah and the magnificent Mosque, whose 184 columns were "recycled" from the rocky ruins of Carthage. (B,L,D)

La Valletta, Malta

Day 7: La Valletta, Malta. Today you'll have an opportunity to visit the fascinating port of La Valletta on the island of Malta, where the Knights of St. John established their headquarters in 1530. An optional shore excursion takes you to St. John's Cathedral, the Grand Master's Palace, the Armory and a hospital, which became the site of a modern East/West Summit in 1989. (B,L,D)

Messina harbor, Sicily

Day 8: Messina & Taormina, Italy. Disembark this morning in Messina, a pleasant Sicilian town offering breathtaking views of the Bay of Naxos and the Calabrian coast. Its harbor has been a hub of Mediterranean trade since the Greeks founded the city in the 8th century BC. Explore the fascinating archeological heritage of this historical medieval city whose Arab, Gothic, and Norman influences are evident throughout town and its surrounding area. (B,L,D)

Taormina, Sicily, with Etna volcano and Naxos in distance

Beach at Taormina, Sicily

Then on to Taormina, a charming and ancient town perched on an imposing hill about 300 meter above the Ionian Sea, backed by a very steep rock topped by a Saracen castle, another 150 meters higher. Taormina has been a popular tourist destination since the 19th century, with gorgeous beaches (accessible via an aerial tramway) and remarkably warm water. But Taormina's most impressive asset is an ancient Greek Theater, one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily, remarkably preserved and situated with sweeping views over the sea and the volcano Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Italy.

Ruins of the Roman Forum on Palatine Hill

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)

Colosseum, Rome

Day 10: Rome/USA. Your memorable Mediterranean journey ends as you say arrivederci Roma and transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA. Arrive in the USA later today. Or, continue your stay in Rome by adding a late return and extra nights to your package. (B)

About Your Cruise Ship

MSC Splendida

Destination FAQs

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Italy, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Spain, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to France, click here.

testimonial photo [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 travelmates 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

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