Discover the beauty of Southern Italy & The Mediterranean in 2025 on a staff-pick tour and cruise package!
Start in Rome, where you can see the ancient Colosseum and more on a city tour. Step back in time among the vast ruins of Pompeii, then explore from Salerno to Amalfi. The Amalfi Coast features sheer cliffs, a rugged shoreline marked by small beaches and pastel-coloured fishing villages. The coastal road between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento winds past grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves. Visit the towns of Ostuni, Lecce, Matera, Otranto and Monopoli. Be amazed by the spectacular town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the whitewashed stone houses - known as Trulli - were built entirely without mortar.
Set sail towards Greece onboard the ‘MSC Sinfonia’ Ship, your home away from home for the next 7 nights. Enjoy this ship’s stylish interiors, complete with modern comforts and the warmth of natural wood, brass and marble. Children will love the spray park, packed with fun water features and the other delightful new play areas. If you want to stay active, you will find onboard a high-tech golf simulator, plus a lavish pool complex, a fully-equipped gym and the MSC Aurea Spa, with its modern beauty treatments and Balinese massages. After a full day of exploring, relax at the panoramic Pasha Club Disco and enjoy a show at the Teatro San Carlo. The ship also features fantastic restaurants, such as Il Galeone and Il Covo, an outdoor buffet restaurant, La Terrazza, plus Cafe del Mare. For drinks, cocktails, coffee treats and more, head to spaces like Manhattan Bar, Cafe Le Baroque, Sinfonia Lounge, the poolside Capri Bar or the Buddha Bar, plus Shelagh’s House Irish Pub.
On the MSC cruise, you will explore Greece & Turkey including the stunning islands of Rhodes and Kos!
After a stop in Piraeus, the gateway to iconic Athens, the cruise will head to Rhodes, celebrated for its beautiful beaches, archaeological ruins and magnificent museums. Some of the optional shore excursions available here will take you to Lindos and the Temple of Athena, the Ruins of Kamiros or Lindo’s Grand Master’s Palace.
In Kos, once you check the pristine beaches, take the time to see the impressive 15th-century Neratzia Castle, the Ancient Agora ruins, with a temple, shrine and columns, or the 3rd-century Casa Romana villa, featuring lavish mosaics.
With return international flights, a 7-night MSC cruise, 9 nights in 4-star hotels and 29 meals, including daily breakfast, this will be a holiday to remember for years.
Want more? Add extra days to your itinerary pre or post-tour in Rome, Italy
Want to travel this year? Check out our Puglia, Amalfi & The Med 2024 package
Please note: Extra charges may apply. See the Important Info section and checkout cart for fees and details.
Today depart for the flight to Rome, Italy!
Please note: Due to flight scheduling and availability, some customers may be required to depart on Day 2, to arrive on Day 2. Flight times will be indicated on your final documentation, which you will receive 4-6 weeks prior to departure.
Meals included: In-Flight
Upon arrival in Rome, be met and transferred to the hotel to enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome
Meals included: None
Following breakfast at the hotel this morning, join a half-day guided tour of Rome with a local guide. You will experience some of the richest historical landmarks in the world. First see Piazza Venezia before walking towards the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio), designed by Michelangelo in the 1500s. Next, travel down Via dei Fori Imperial (Road of the Imperial Forums), the former centre of ancient political, commercial, and legal life. See the spectacular Colosseum (entrance not included), area of gladiators, and the Arch of Constantine, a monument dedicated to Emperor Constantine by the Senate and the people of Rome. In addition to these wonderful sights, see Palatine Hill, where former emperors and influential figures once lived, and the exterior of the gigantic Circus Maximus, the first and main site of chariot racing and mass entertainment. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome
Meals included: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before continuing your journey to the stunning Sorrento coastline. Arrive in Pompeii later this morning to learn about this magnificent archaeological site on a locally-guided tour. Built in the ancient Roman era, delve into the history and spectacle of the city buried from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. It remains surprisingly intact, and a great insight into the life of a commercial city of ancient Rome (entrance included).
Afterwards, continue to the beautiful Amalfi Coast after an approximately 270-kilometre travel day.
Overnight: Hotel Holiday Inn Cava Dei Tirreni or similar, Amalfi Coast Area
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, enjoy the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Amalfi Coast on an approximately 50-kilometre travel day. Uncover the stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula with your tour leader. A hugely popular holiday destination, the Amalfi coast features sheer cliffs, a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-coloured fishing villages. The coastal road between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento winds past grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves. Spend a full day exploring the beautiful villages of Positano and Amalfi with your tour leader.
Head to Salerno port terminal to board the ferry to Positano.
Upon arrival, marvel at the cliffside village of Positano on the southern Amalfi Coast. This is the coast's most picturesque and photogenic town with vertiginous houses dotting the cliffside down to the sea in a cascade of sun-bleached peach, pink and terracotta colours. No less colourful are its steep streets and steps lined with wisteria-draped hotels, smart restaurants and fashionable boutiques.
Continue by ferry to Amalfi an outstanding example of the Mediterranean landscape, this is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, it was the seat of a powerful maritime republic. The Arab-Norman Sant’Andrea cathedral at the heart of the town, with its striped Byzantine facade, survives from this era.
Overnight: Hotel Holiday Inn Cava Dei Tirreni or similar, Amalfi Coast Area
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, head southeast through sun-baked landscapes to the region of Puglia. On the way, stop at Matera for a guided tour and exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sassi (Italian for “stones”) - a labyrinth of cave dwellings, churches, staircases, and arches, hewn out of the solid rock.
First occupied in the Palaeolithic Age, the myriad of natural caves were gradually burrowed deeper and expanded into living spaces by peasants and artisans throughout the classical and mediaeval eras. Today, these underground residences are being re-inhabited by Italians, and staying in one of the ‘Sassi di Matera’ cave hotels has become one of Europe’s most exotic new experiences.
In the late afternoon arrive in Lecce and take the remainder of the day at leisure after an approximately 375-kilometre travel day.
Overnight: 8PiuHotel or similar, Lecce
Meals included: Breakfast
Head to Otranto on an approximately 100-kilometre travel day, a historic seaside town and port on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy. It’s a small town with a lovely holiday atmosphere and makes a good destination for a day trip. The picture-perfect blue waters, white buildings and diving rocks make Otranto the frequent cover star of maps, books, and articles about Puglia.
On a clear day, it is possible to see over the Strait of Otranto to Albania. The name of Otranto is probably best known abroad for The Castle of Otranto, Horace Walpole’s pioneering Gothic novel.
However, the creepy castle of Walpole’s imagination bears little resemblance to the fortress of the real Otranto.
In the afternoon return to Lecce and enjoy a half-day guided tour of the city with a local guide. The Baroque architecture here is recognised for its hugely decorative gargoyles, columns, and gremlins. See the Basilica of Santa Croce that features sculptures and a rose window, Piazza del Duomo and the Sant’Oronzo Column, a Roman column topped with a bronze statue of the city’s patron saint (entrances not included).
Overnight: 8PiuHotel or similar, Lecce
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, your journey continues to Ostuni, a unique town with winding streets and beautifully decorated, colourful window frames that can fool you into thinking you’re somewhere in Greece. Enjoy a stroll around the old town with your tour leader to see the amazing monuments and mediaeval buildings.
The cultivation of olives is one of Puglia’s greatest resources and economic certainties - enjoy a tasting of authentic local Italian olive oil while you’re here.
In the afternoon, head to the spectacular town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the small, whitewashed stone houses here - known as Trulli - which are clustered together throughout the city and built entirely without mortar.
Today travel an approximately 120-kilometre travel day.
Overnight: Hotel Victor Country or similar, Alberobello Area
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, travel towards Monopoli, a cosy town with quaint narrow streets and pretty squares. Enjoy an orientation tour of the old town with your tour leader. Like so many towns on the Adriatic, Monopoli’s history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castles that tell many a story.
In the afternoon continue to Polignano a Mare, a shining gem on the coast, perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.
Polignano offers all the right ingredients for a perfect day out. The tiny old town, reached through the Porta Vecchia gate, combines charming, white-washed streets with beautiful old churches such as the Chiesa Matrice. Enjoy the ocean view from one of three panoramic terraces offering breathtaking views of the beautiful Adriatic Sea and coastline.
You can enjoy a swim at the famous beach just a few minutes’ walk from the old centre. A firm favourite with the locals, the beach has crystal clear waters and is flanked on two sides by cliffs from which children and teenagers dive all through the day until sunset.
Later this afternoon, return back to Alberobello and check into the accommodation after an approximately 70 km travel day.
Overnight: Hotel Victor Country or similar, Alberobello Area
Meals included: Breakfast
Departs: 19:00
Today travel to the city of Bari. Enjoy free time this morning to further explore this incredible city. Perhaps visit some of the city highlights such as the 11th-century Basilica of San Nicola, a key pilgrimage site, surrounded by narrow streets. To the south, the Murat Quarter with 19th-century architecture, a promenade and pedestrianised shopping areas.
In the afternoon you will be transferred to the cruise terminal to embark on your spectacular Mediterranean voyage!
Today's drive is approximately a 55-kilometre travel day.
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Dinner
Enjoy fun new experiences around the clock on an MSC Cruises' ship, from enriching indoor and outdoor activities during the day to magical night-time entertainment. With cinemas, tournaments and competitions, outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family and magical night-time entertainment, you’ll have a hard time choosing between all the things you can see and experience.
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Docked: 07:00 - 18:00
Piraeus is one of the oldest ports in the world so it's the perfect spot to be introduced to the treasures of Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean. Piraeus has been the port of Athens since ancient times. It’s a city filled with incredible wonders including Mikrolimano Bay, Agia Triada (Church of the Holy Trinity), and the Archaeological Museum. Nowadays, Piraeus is a bustling centre with attractive waterfront cafés and restaurants, making it an ideal stop in the Mediterranean. Use it as a stepping stone to see the Acropolis and greater Athens.
MSC cruises offer plenty of exciting things to see including:
• The Dramatic Ruins of the Parthenon on the Acropolis
• Pláka Discovery
• Corinth Canal Cruise
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Docked: 10:00 - 22:00
Rhodes, a Greek Dodecanese island destination, is celebrated for its beautiful beaches, archaeological ruins, and magnificent museums. Its historical Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest mediaeval city in the European continent!
MSC Cruises Excursions offer plenty of exciting things to see including:
• Lindos and the Temple of Athena
• The Ruins of Kamiros
• The Grand Master’s Palace
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Docked: 08:00 - 19:00
Kos in Greece is the second most popular island of the Dodecanese after Rhodes. It is well developed touristically and its facilities get quite busy during the summer season. Famous for its beaches, the island offers many historic landmarks that are a result of various cultures that influenced it throughout the years. Kos also makes a great destination for cycling enthusiasts!
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Docked: 07:00 to 17:00
The coastal city of Bodrum in Türkiye is a European destination offering luxury hotels, fishing village expeditions, ocean vistas and local experiences.
Bodrum sits upon the southern coast of a Turkish peninsula bearing the same name and offers a great mix of sights and pleasures ranging from aquatic to ancient and nocturnal. Perhaps take a day trip around the peninsula in clear blue water, then let loose on a strip in the town aptly called Bar Street, or take a glimpse of Bodrum’s past with a visit to a castle built during the Crusades.
Bodrum is world renowned as a paradise for tourists featuring charming neighbourhoods, various ancient sites for sightseeing, exquisite bays, turquoise sea, mild Mediterranean climate, modern transportation and vibrant nightlife.
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Enjoy fun new experiences around the clock on an MSC Cruises' ship, from enriching indoor and outdoor activities during the day to magical night-time entertainment. With cinemas, tournaments and competitions, outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family and magical night-time entertainment, you’ll have a hard time choosing between all the things you can see and experience.
Overnight: MSC Cruises ‘MSC Sinfonia’
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Disembark: 07:00
Enjoy breakfast on board before arriving back at the port of Bari. After disembarking the ship, be met by a representative and transferred to the hotel in Rome for the night after an approximately 430-kilometre day.
Overnight: Hotel Dei Congressi or similar, Rome
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, according to your flight time, be transferred to the airport for the return flight home.
Meals included: Breakfast; In-Flight
Please note: Some flights may arrive +1 day later.
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