DAY 01 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – ROME – CIVITAVECCHIA
After meeting at 04:30 in the morning at the international terminal of Istanbul Airport, we depart for Rome at 09:10 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1861. After arriving in Rome at 09:50 local time, transfer to Savona port where our MSC SEAVIEW ship will depart. After ship check-in and passport procedures, settling into cabins and free time. Our ship will leave the port at 19:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 02 MESSINA (TAORMINA)
Our ship will dock at Messina port at 12:00 noon. After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the “Taormina Tour” organized as an extra by our guide. On this tour, we will pass through magnificent scenic slopes and visit the world-famous town of Taormina. In Taormina, the Cathedral, Corvaia Palace and the Roman Theatre (from the outside), and Umberto Street are among the places we will see. After the free time we will give for shopping, return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 20:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 03 VALLETTA
Our ship will dock at Valletta port at 09:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join our extra “Mosta & Valletta & Mdina & Marsaxlokk tour” organized by our guide. Our first stop is Mosta. On this tour, we visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, which has Europe’s third-largest dome. With an outer diameter of 56.2 meters, the interior paintings of this massive basilica were done especially by painter Giuseppe Cali. We will see the replica of the 200 kg bomb that was dropped by German Nazi planes during World War II in 1942, pierced the dome and sank into the church floor without exploding, and we will learn about the church’s interior and exterior architecture. Then we visit Mdina, the old capital of Malta and a natural set where many scenes of the famous series Game of Thrones were filmed. While walking through the narrow streets of this medieval city known as the Silent City, we will see the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Falson Mansion built in the 13th century by the Falson family, one of Malta’s noble families, the Carmelite Monastery built in Baroque style in the 17th century, the Vilhena Palace, and Mdina’s old houses. Afterwards, we continue our tour by visiting the fishing village called Marsaxlokk. You should not miss the view of the small charming fishing boats called Luzzo, with their unique Maltese colors and design. At the same time, in this charming fishing village where an open market is set up, we will have free time for our guests who wish to have lunch at local restaurants offering menus of fresh fish and seafood. After our free time, we will set off towards Valletta. We will carry out our Valletta city tour. Valetta was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2018 by the Council of Ministers of the European Union. During our tour, we will have the chance to see the magnificent walled city of Valetta from the outside. After the bus tour, we will explore the city by walking through the lively streets of the capital Valletta with our guide. Our first stop will be the Barracca Gardens, built on the upper part of the defensive walls surrounding this magnificent city. Built by the Knights of St. John, these gardens also offer a magnificent view of the Grand Harbour and the three old walled cities. At the end of our tour, we return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 17:00.. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 04 CRUISING AT SEA
On this day spent sailing at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can make use of the ship’s indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis, and sunbathing areas. Those who want can shop at duty-free stores, try their luck at the casino, or benefit from the various music and entertainment performances held in dozens of bars. Various meal options await you throughout the day. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 05 BARCELONA
Our ship will dock at Barcelona port at 08:00 noon. After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the “Barcelona City Tour” organized as an extra by our guide. Our city tour in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most beautiful metropolises, will begin with our private bus waiting for us at the port. La Rambla Street, Christopher Columbus Monument, Maremagnum Artificial Harbor, Barceloneta Beach, the Olympic district and port, Catalunya Square, Paseo de Gracia street, where Gaudi’s houses have been turned into an open-air street museum, and his most fundamental work, Sagrada Familia, are among the places we will see. During our tour, we will go up Montjuic hill and take scenic photos. After free time for shopping, we will return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 06 MARSEILLE
Our ship will dock at Marseille port at 08:00 in the morning. Free time for breakfast, shopping, and personal activities. Guests who wish will depart for the “Marseille City Tour & Aix En Provence Tour” organized as an extra by their guides. In Marseille, an important seafaring city, we will begin our tour by first visiting the “Notre Dame de la Garde Cathedral,” located on a high hill. After this visit, the Longchamps Fountain, Saint Charles train station, old town, Hotel de Ville, and the marina area are some of the places to see. Then we will go to Aix en Provence, located 40 minutes from Marseille. It will begin with the famous 12th-century St. Saviour’s Cathedral, with its Romanesque façade and covered arched passageway. Later, during the pleasant walk we will take in the old part of the city, you will see the ancient inns there and the Mazarino district, designed in the 17th century by the brother of Cardinal Mazarino. Our ship will leave the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 07 GENOA
Our ship will dock at Genoa port at 08:00 in the morning. After breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the “Genoa & Portofino Tour” organized as an extra by our guide. With our private vehicle waiting for us, we head to the city center of Genoa, the port city. It is the capital of an important seafaring kingdom that once ruled the Mediterranean geography, including Istanbul. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Doge’s Palace, and the House of Christopher Columbus are important points we will see. In the second part, we go to Portofino, located 1 hour from Genoa, the town of lovers, famous in songs. After the free time we will give in this peaceful seaside town, we return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 08 CIVITAVECCHIA (ROME) - ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Our ship will dock at Civitavecchia port at 07:00 in the morning. After breakfast, we carry out our ship disembarkation procedures and then leave the ship. With our private vehicle waiting for us at the port, we head to Rome Airport. After our arrival at the airport, following check-in and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 19:45 on Turkish Airlines flight TK1864. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 00:20 local time. End of our tour.