Journey to Dalmatia - Rome to Trieste Cruise

Day 1 - Rome

Arrive: Wed 25 September 2024 / Depart: Wed 25 September 2024 at 19:00

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 - Amalfi, Italy

Arrive: Thu 26 September 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 26 September 2024 at 18:00

Discover chic Positano with its relaxed, sophisticated air and white Moorish-style houses clinging to steep slopes around a sparkling bay filled with colorful fishing boats. Then visit enchanting Amalfi and admire the 12th-century Capuchin monastery and see the beautiful 11th-century Cathedral and cloister before exploring on your own. Browse Positano’s boutiques for the town’s locally made casual cotton clothes or search for unique souvenirs in Amalfi. Enjoy delicious fresh seafood and pasta or tempting pastries and espresso in a spectacular seaside, mountainous setting.

Day 3 - Sicily

Arrive: Fri 27 September 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 27 September 2024

Messina, the third largest city in Sicily, was the most important port of departure for European knights on their way to the Crusades in the Middle Ages. Today, this extensively rebuilt port city still boasts many historically and architecturally significant landmarks, particularly the renowned cathedral with its unusual astronomical clock, the 12th century Catania Church and the ornate Teatro Vittorio Emanuele. Messina is also the starting point for a day trip to the peak of breath-taking Mt. Etna-Crateri Silvestri.

Day 4 - Malta

Arrive: Sat 28 September 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Sat 28 September 2024 at 19:00

Malta’s major port and capital, the entire city of Valletta was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. The centerpiece is the impressive 19th century Mosta Dome, visible from anywhere on the island, with its inlaid marble floor and the gilded, carved stone flowers set around the interior dome. For a tranquil afternoon, stroll the San Anton Palace Gardens, artistically laid out in Three Villages - Attard, Lija and Balzan. Or, for spectacular vistas, take a day tour to Dingli Cliffs, which offer striking views of the sea and rugged coastline. Valetta is also a portal to day trips to nearby Mdina, with its landmark Baroque Cathedral of St. John; and Rabat, the provincial township that was once part of the Roman city of Melita, where you can explore several fascinating archaeological digs.

Day 5 - Cruising the Ionian Sea

Day 6 - Igoumenitsa

Arrive: Mon 30 September 2024 at 07:00 / Depart: Mon 30 September 2024 at 18:00

Day 7 - Durres

Arrive: Tue 01 October 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Tue 01 October 2024 at 20:00

Discover ancient Durres with its modern new resort coastline. Visit the Archaeological Museum on the waterfront for an impressive historical overview. Then explore the remains of the public baths, the aqueduct and the largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkans dating back to the 7th Century. Ahmet Zogu’s Villa, perched atop the Durres hill, offers splendid views of the Adriatic. Stroll along the waterfront and enjoy a snack of fresh figs and olives, or a coffee at one of the seaside cafés. Browse the palm tree lined shopping district for handcrafted wooden boxes, fanciful woolen socks and the fine local Skenderbeu Brandy in this emerging Albanian port.

Day 8 - Kotor

Arrive: Wed 02 October 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 02 October 2024 at 18:00

Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro, located in a most secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The old port, surrounded by an impressive city wall built by the House of Nemanjicc, is very well preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Numerous other attractions include the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon in the old town (built in 1166), and ancient walls which stretch directly above the city. Nightlife also attracts tourists to Kotor with pubs, taverns, cafes, and nightclubs.

Day 9 - Zadar, Croatia

Arrive: Thu 03 October 2024 at 11:00 / Depart: Thu 03 October 2024 at 20:00

Found on the northern Dalmatian coast of Croatia, Zadar is rich with thousands of years of history. Ruled at various times by the Romans, Ostrogoths, and Byzantium, the city became a center of commerce and naval power rivaling that of Venice. Today, Zadar’s history, culture, and architecture draw visitors from around the world, as does Plitvice National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 10 - Rijeka

Arrive: Fri 04 October 2024 at 08:00 / Depart: Fri 04 October 2024 at 18:00

Rijeka is a Croatian port city on Kvarner Bay in the northern Adriatic Sea. It’s known as a gateway to Croatia’s islands. Korzo, the main promenade, is lined with Habsburg-era buildings. Nearby, the 19th-century Ivan pl. Zajc Croatian National Theatre has ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt. The hilltop Trsat Castle complex, which includes a religious shrine, has sweeping views of the islands of Kvarner Bay.

Day 11 - Venice (Trieste)

Arrive: Sat 05 October 2024 at 06:00 / Depart: Sat 05 October 2024