Valletta – Civitavecchia · 18–27 July 2028

Approaching Valletta by sea, you enter one of the Mediterranean’s great natural harbours, framed by honey-coloured fortifications and tightly packed historic buildings rising above the waterfront. Nearby, the old city’s bastions, domes and narrow streets give the area a grand yet lived-in atmosphere, with views across the water to the surrounding Three Cities.

Approaching Gozo by sea, you are met by a rugged limestone coast, small harbours, and a quieter, more rural atmosphere than on Malta’s main island. Nearby, visitors can look out for steep cliffs, sheltered bays, and the honey-coloured villages that give the island its relaxed Mediterranean character.

Arriving by ship in Syracuse, you come to a broad Sicilian harbour with sunlit waterfronts and a relaxed Mediterranean feel. Nearby, the old city on the island of Ortigia, baroque streets, sea views and the archaeological heritage of ancient Syracuse make this one of the most atmospheric stops on Sicily’s east coast.

Approaching Taormina by sea, you are greeted by a dramatic Sicilian coastline of steep green hills, rocky headlands and clear blue water, with the town perched high above rather than directly on the quay. Nearby, you can head up toward Taormina for sweeping views, elegant streets and the famous ancient Greek Theatre, while the shoreline below has a relaxed holiday feel.

Arriving by ship at Lipari, you are greeted by a bright Mediterranean harbour backed by steep volcanic slopes and a town rising above the waterfront. Nearby, you can head toward the old quarter and hilltop fortifications for sweeping views, while the island’s white pumice tones, dark rock and clear sea give the whole place a vivid, sunlit atmosphere.

Arriving in Trapani by sea, you come alongside a working Sicilian harbour with the old town stretching nearby on a low peninsula between open water and salt flats. The atmosphere is bright, breezy and distinctly Mediterranean, with ferries, fishing boats and views toward the historic centre and the Egadi Islands offshore.

Arriving in Bonifacio by sea is unforgettable: the harbour lies beneath towering white limestone cliffs, with the old town seeming to perch dramatically above the water. Near the port you can soak up the lively marina atmosphere, while the cliffside citadel and views across the strait are the standout sights nearby.

Approaching Bastia by sea, you arrive beneath a hillside town framed by the blue Tyrrhenian and the rugged outline of northern Corsica. Near the port, you can look toward the old harbour and compact historic quarters, with a lively Mediterranean atmosphere of ferries, fishing boats, and sunlit waterfront streets.

Civitavecchia greets arriving ships with a broad working harbour, sea walls, ferries and a stretch of Tyrrhenian coastline that feels more practical than picturesque at first glance. Just beyond the port, you can find an old seafront town atmosphere, waterfront promenades and views toward the Lazio coast, with Rome lying further inland as the great nearby draw.