Day 1 Arrive in Nice / Monte-Carlo
Tauck's jewel among Mediterranean cruises begins 6:30 PM at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d'Azur Airport to the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco. Your hotel is in the heart of Monte-Carlo, where the Principality is right at your doorstep. Meet your traveling companions this evening at the welcome cocktail reception and dinner. (D)
Day 2 Trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence – rest of day in Monte-Carlo
Visit the picturesque town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a Provençal hilltop town that was built in the 13th century; you'll be taken with its medieval look, and easily understand why it became an artists' enclave. Return to the Fairmont Monte Carlo where you'll spend the remainder of the day exploring as you wish; your hotel is steps from the Monte-Carlo Casino, where lady luck favors the fortunate few! (B)
Day 3 Nice to be in Nice / Embark Le Ponant
Experience the glamour of Monaco today as you get a royal taste of what life is like on the chic French Riviera during an optional guided visit to Monaco's Palace and Gardens before journeying to Nice for a brief city sightseeing tour. See the Promenade des Anglais along the seafront, or discover the daily flower market in Cours Saleya. Board your yacht, Le Ponant, for the start of one of Tauck's most popular Mediterranean cruises. Among the many inclusions on this cruise are a daily cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, and wine each evening with dinner aboard ship. (B, D)
Day 4 Wine tasting on Napoleon's island of Elba
Le Ponant in the Mediterranean cruises to the island of Elba and the secluded harbor of Portoferraio. Today you'll learn about the isolated life of Napoleon Bonaparte, who spent a brief exile on the island in 1814 prior to his daring escape. Visit the Palazzina dei Mulini, where he lived with his sister in 1814; spend some free time in Porto Azzurro; and go to a wine tasting at a family-owned Elba winery before reboarding the ship. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Corsica's hidden harbor of Bonifacio
Sail into the nearly hidden Corsican port of Bonifacio with a deep, narrow harbor sitting at the base of sheer limestone cliffs – a highlight of most Mediterranean cruises. Your entrance into the harbor aboard Le Ponant will be remembered forever... keep your camera at the ready! The fortified 12th-century town is built on the top of the cliffs with great views of the sea. Hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town's walled fortress area; explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion. Make an afternoon return to Le Ponant, and set sail once again, bound for Ponza. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Island life on Ponza and Mediterranean cruising
Arrive on Ponza, the largest island in Italy’s Pontine Archipelago. Some of the island's most recognizable sights include dramatic coves and cliffs, while the main town features yellow and pink houses, and a harbor full of fishing boats. Spend the morning exploring before an afternoon sail to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Travel the Amalfi Coast to Ravello
Go ashore today to set out on the mountainous route along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Stop in Amalfi, the “queen of the Costiera,” for a guided walking tour and a visit to the Duomo, dating back to the 9th century. Arrive in stunning Ravello, perched on cliffs overlooking the sea. Visit Villa Rufolo, the former residence of several popes, where you'll get some pretty spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea below. Lunch is also pretty spectacular today; dine on regional specialties at a restaurant overlooking the sea, followed by free time to explore Ravello on your own. An afternoon drive along the dramatic Amalfi coast returns you to the ship. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Lipari and the fiery lava of Stromboli
Sail to Lipari, the largest of the seven Aeolian Islands. A tender takes you ashore to explore vestiges of Lipari's ancient days under Greek and Roman rule, which stand on its rugged terrain alongside medieval fortresses and other evidence of centuries of struggle for the island’s control. You'll have a guided sightseeing tour with an opportunity to visit the archaeological museum; everyone has a little free time to explore. Weather permitting, a swim off the ship’s stern and a nighttime sail by volcanic Stromboli are some of the magical pleasures of small ship cruising. One of the world's few continually active volcanos, if it provides its usual dramatic natural show the view you'll have of the crimson lava flows at night is unforgettable! (B, L, D)
Day 9 Cruise to Sicily and explore Taormina
Go ashore at Giardini-Naxos for a memorable visit to Taormina, clinging to the cliffs above the Ionian Sea. Best known as a popular seaside resort, the island also entices with mesmerizing views of Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe, and archaeological wonders chronicling its development from the 2nd century to the Middle Ages. See them on a stroll along the Corso Umberto through Old Town, lined with piazzas, palazzi and duomos, and take a guided tour of the ancient Greek Theatre, hewn out of a rocky mountain slope during the Hellenistic period, remodeled by the Romans, and devastated by marauding conquerors centuries later. Do more sightseeing as you wish or return to the ship to relax or swim (weather permitting) – a true pleasure on Mediterranean cruises! (B, L, D)
Day 10 Malta memories & disembark ship
Le Ponant sails into the Grand Harbor of Valletta in Malta this morning for disembarkation. Enjoy an orientation tour of the walled, pedestrian-only city of Mdina and a coastal drive around St. Julian’s Bay en route to your hotel in Valletta. Malta’s capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a virtual open-air museum that is easy to explore on foot. From the 12th century onwards, Mdina has been home to Malta’s noble families whose impressive palaces line its narrow, shady streets. An optional walking tour this afternoon includes a visit inside St. John’s Co-Cathedral to see its stunning interior and art treasures – the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, a masterpiece in oil by the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio, Flemish tapestries and silver artifacts reward visitors. A farewell cocktail reception and dinner marks the end of one of our most popular small ship / Mediterranean cruises. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Ciao, Mediterranean
Tauck's southbound Mediterranean cruises end in Valletta, Malta. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Phoenicia Malta to Malta International Airport; you should allow 3 hours for flight check-in. (B)
This is the Mediterranean as you’ve always dreamed it should be, explored aboard a sailing ship small enough to reach remote, treasured islands that larger vessels overlook... Mediterranean cruises don't get any better than this – discover the islands of Lipari, Ponza, Stromboli, Corsica, Sicily, Elba and Malta. See fortified medieval towns, ornate cathedrals, ancient castles, and the dramatic cliff-side drive along the Amalfi Coast on the Italian mainland. Feel like a jetsetter pulling into ports aboard Le Ponant, designed to access small harbors and remote destinations that large ships can’t maneuver. And on land... spend two nights in glittering Monte-Carlo along the French Riviera, where you'll explore Provence and the tiny principality of Monaco, and enjoy one night on Malta.
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All gratuities to Tauck?Director, ship staff and local guides included
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Only 60 guests aboard Le Ponant – just 32 staterooms – for club-like cruising that rewards with more personalized services
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Private Tauck Shore Excursions – $695 Value!
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Visit six Mediterranean islands best accessed by small ship – Elba, Corsica, Ponza, Lipari, Sicily and Malta – for unique shore excursions off-the-beaten path
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Explore the walled medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, see the remains of Taormina’s ancient Greek Theatre, and enjoy a wine tasting on Elba, Napoleon’s island base during exile from France
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A memorable nighttime sailing by the volcanic island of Stromboli to view its fiery eruptions of molten lava
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Daily cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship
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26 meals (10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea for an authentic taste of regional cuisine
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Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
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Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes and porterage
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The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package, at the price quoted.
