Italy, Algeria & Spain Cruise: Trapani, Algiers & Granada

Day 1 - Rome

Arrive: Thu 02 December 2027 / Depart: Thu 02 December 2027 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 2 - Sicily

Arrive: Fri 03 December 2027 at 13:00 / Depart: Fri 03 December 2027 at 19:00

Few reminders still exist of Trapani’s ancient history, but from Phoenician days it was a trading port, well positioned for commerce with Africa, Naples, and the western Mediterranean. The Middle Ages is the era most evident in its old town, now a pedestrian zone. Aging palaces, some imposing and others in various stages of decay, cluster along a peninsula stretching into the bay. Worthy of note is the ominously named Chiesa del Purgatorio, home to wooden statues known as Misteri, that are paraded through the streets on Good Friday. Further out are saltpans, and plains punctuated by medieval windmills, home to some 170 species of birds.

Day 3 - Tunis

Arrive: Sat 04 December 2027 at 09:00 / Depart: Sat 04 December 2027 at 18:00

Not your typical tourist site, this town entices you to stroll along the vegetable stands, head into the markets and wander into almost any welcoming cafe. And if that's not enough, visit the Bardo Museum and its stunning selection of mosaics.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - Algiers, Algeria

Arrive: Mon 06 December 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Mon 06 December 2027 at 18:00

Day 6 - Cartagena, Spain

Arrive: Tue 07 December 2027 at 13:00 / Depart: Tue 07 December 2027 at 20:00

Strategically located along historic sailing routes, Cartagena has been colonized by a veritable who’s who of Mediterranean superpowers over the millennia, resulting in a rich and multi-layered cultural heritage, and a history both glorious and turbulent. From atop a hill, Concepción Castle served as a fortress for Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Castilians. The 13th century Old Cathedral stands on the remains of a Roman Theater just discovered in 1987. More recent architectural contributions include modernist designs of public buildings and private dwellings by pupils of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.

Day 7 - Motril, Granada

Arrive: Wed 08 December 2027 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 08 December 2027 at 20:00

In AD 711 Moors from North Africa conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula, and retained portions of it for 800 years. Granada was the last stronghold, and a symbol of economic, cultural, and artistic prosperity until it too was overcome in 1492. The city’s glory is embodied in the magnificent Alhambra, a compound of palaces and gardens that is a masterpiece of Moorish style. It appears that a primary goal of the architects was to cover every single inch with decoration. As Islam bans the representation of figures of any kind, the decorative elements are made up of complex, detailed, and intertwining geometric and floral images, and Arabic script.

Day 8 - Malaga

Arrive: Thu 09 December 2027 at 06:30 / Depart: Thu 09 December 2027

Málaga is the lively capital of the Costa del Sol, famed for its beaches and mild climate, and gateway to Andalusia, with its Moorish architectural heritage. The city’s Alcazaba is a fine example, an 11th century citadel sitting in majestic splendor overlooking the African coast. It contains three magnificent palaces and graceful gardens with ornate fountains. In addition to their rich cultural heritage, Malagueños are also very proud of their most famous citizens – Picasso, for whom there is a museum commemorating his birth here, and actor Antonio Banderas, so far without a monument.