Mediterranean Discoveries

Mediterranean Cruise Holiday - 17 Days - Mediterranean Discoveries

In A Nutshell: Relaxing, contrasting, luxurious.
Great For: Seeing many parts of the Mediterranean without having to pack and unpack every day
We Say: Superbly presented, and exclusive to Journeys of Distinction. See the Med’s top five countries on a ten-night luxury cruise, topped and tailed with a few days in two of Europe’s greatest cultural cities.

Day One - Fly from UK
Mid morning British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona. We also offer flights on other airlines, from other departure airports and other flight times – just ask for details. Relax in the executive lounge before you fly. On arrival in Barcelona, your local guide will meet you and take you by private transfer to the luxurious Claris Hotel for your two-night stay. Centrally located, just a few metres from Passeig de Gràcia, one of the main avenues, this is great location for you to enjoy the city from. The rest of the day is free and evening are free for you to relax and enjoy the comforts of your luxury hotel.
Included Meals: Inflight
Hotel: Claris

Day Two - Barcelona
Explore Barcelona on a comprehensive half day tour visiting the key sites in this cosmopolitan and bustling city. Highlights include Plaza Cataluna, the true heart of the city, the busy Via Laietana, The Cathedral and the famous Gothic Quarter. The rest of the day and the evening are free for you to relax and explore.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Claris

Day Three - Barcelona-Join cruise
Enjoy a leisurely start to your day or do some last minute shopping before your early afternoon transfer to your cruise ship, the MS Nieuw Amsterdam, a spacious and elegant mid-sized ship that is part of the Holland America Line fleet.We have chosen Holland America as our cruise partner because we believe their standards and service provide the best match for Journeys of Distinction. Fine dining is very much a feature of this cruise and all meals are included whilst on board. Our June departure is based on a Category C cabin and our October departure is based on a Category D cabin, both of which are Ocean-View Staterooms offering two lower beds which can be converted to a queen size bed, with bathtub and shower. Upgrades to higher cabin categories are available – please ask us for details.
Included Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Four - Set sail
Familiarise yourself with the ship’s layout and enjoy the onboard facilities. You’ve a relaxing day before cruise ship sets sail this afternoon.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Five - Monte Carlo
Arriving just before lunch, Monaco’s Monte Carlo is the essence of the Mediterranean Riviera, famous for the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit as well as hotels, casinos, glamour, couture fashion, grand yachts and celebrity sightings. You have plenty of time here since the ship does not set sail again until late evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Six - Livorno-Florence - Pisa
An early morning arrival into Livorno, the port that is closest to Tuscany’s greatest treasures – Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance with its magnificent art and architecture and elegant shopping and Pisa with its famous leaning tower and nearby ancient Lucca. The ship sets sail again this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Seven - Civitavecchia - Rome
Early morning arrival into Civitavecchia from where you can visit the many treasures of Rome and the Vatican including St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and more. You have a full day here as the ship does not set sail again until the evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Eight - Messina
This morning offers much in the way of scenery as you cruise through the Messina Strait, a narrow strip of water between the southern tip of Calabria on mainland Italy and the eastern tip of Sicily. Afternoon stop at Messina, the gateway to Taormina and its views of snowcapped Mount Etna. Late evening departure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Nine - At sea
Take full advantage of the ship’s many facilities on your day at sea, whether you choose to be active and energetic or just to relax and unwind.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Ten - Nafplion
Early morning arrival into Nafplion in Greece. From here you can tour the country’s most prized ruins: the Ascelpion in Epidaurus, sanctuary of the god of healing; the Grand Palace at Mycenae, once King Agamemnon's domain; Athens and its stupendous Acropolis. The four-mile-long Corinth Canal facilitates shipping between the Ionian sea and the Aegean, as it has for a hundred years. Afternoon departure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Eleven - Katakolon
Early morning arrival into Katakolon in Greece, gateway to Olympus, the site of the original Olympic Stadium and host to some of the 2004 Olympic Games. Afternoon departure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Twelve - Kerkira
Early morning arrival into Kerkira on the island of Corfu. Fortresses flank your entrance to this most beautiful of the Ionians. Lose yourself in the Venetian old town or head north for dramatic seascapes. Afternoon departure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Thirteen - Dubrovnik
Early morning into Dubrovnik, Croatia. Magnificent medieval walls protect thisWorld Heritage Site and former naval city state. There is much to explore here including a beautiful 14th-century Franciscan monastery, Sponza Palace and graceful stone palazzi. Afternoon departure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Fourteen - Venice
Your final morning of cruising brings you into Venice at lunchtime. St. Mark’s Square is Venice's heart, with palatial arcades and charming cafés. Tour the exquisite Doges Palace, once home to the dukes of Venice. Ply the canals in a gondola; shop for exquisite Venetian glass; or do a spot of people watching from the timeless Caffé Florian. Return to the ship for your final night of fine dining and entertainment on board.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cruise ship: MS Nieuw Amsterdam

Day Fifteen - Venice
Early morning departure from your cruise ship. Your local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel, BAUERS L’Hotel, for your two night stay. Located in the heart of Venice, two minutes walking distance from St Mark's Square and shopping and cultural area, the hotel has a distinctive 1940’s facade with luminous Art Déco windows and is situated by the magnificent baroque church of San Moisé and the bustling Rio San Moisé. The hotel has the biggest spa in Venice, set over two floors, with a wide choice of treatments. The rest of the day and evening are free.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Bauers L’Hotel

Day Sixteen - Venice
This morning there is a half day walking tour of Venice taking in all the key sites including the Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Procurate, Santa Maria Formosa, Pantheon, Rialto Bridge and market, Golden Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Rest of the day and evening are free for you to relax in the comfort of your hotel or to step out and make the most of the nightlife of Venice on your last evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Bauers L’Hotel

Day Seventeen - Venice - UK
Your local guide will meet you and take you by private transfers to the airport for your British Airways return flight to London Heathrow arriving mid afternoon.We also offer flights on other airlines, from other departure airports and other flight times – just ask for details.
Included Meals: Breakfast