
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys
Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys
- ItineraryValletta to LivornoDuration9 days
- Dates27 Aug 25 to 4 Sept 25Prices from
Come aboard Le Dumont d'Urville for an unforgettable voyage.
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
This 9-day voyage in Sicily and Southern Italy aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville visits some of the Mediterranean's most compelling ancient, medieval, and Renaissance sites while also offering extensive opportunities to sample the foods and wines that have made this part of the world famous for its cuisine. Because there is so much to see and do, the itinerary is designed to allow for maximum time ashore.
From Valletta, Malta, your experience of Sicily begins in Syracuse, where you may choose to focus on Ortygia, the ancient center of this once-powerful Greek colony, and on the city's extensive archaeological park; enjoy a tasting at a nearby winery; or join excursions that combine exploration of historical sites with samplings of Sicilian arancini, cheeses, salamis, breads, and desserts.
The beautiful resort town of Taormina, perched high on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, is home to a stunning Greek theater, an Odeon from Roman times, buildings blending Arab and Norman cultures, and villas built by European aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is also your gateway to Mt. Etna and the vineyards that thrive in the rich volcanic soils of its slopes.
Reggio di Calabria, just across the Strait of Messina from Sicily, is home to the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia and the world famous Riace Bronzes. The surrounding area, both along the coast and in the interior mountains, boasts a number of intriguing castles and many wineries. During your time here, you may visit the hilltop Norman Castle in Vibo Valentia or the Aragonese Castle in the village of Pizzo, enjoying a variety of local food specialties whichever excursion you choose, including the native citrus bergamot and the ice cream and fruit delight called tartufo.
From the port of Agropoli, about 30 miles south of the Amalfi peninsula, travel to Paestum, founded by Greeks in the 6th century BC and one of Italy’s most important archaeological sites, containing Doric temples that are among the best-preserved ancient monuments in the Mediterranean. The region around Agropoli is famous for the production of Campania mozzarella, and you will have the opportunity to see it being made and to sample the end product.
No visit to Naples is complete without the opportunity to explore Pompeii, destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD and frozen in time. No other site so acutely captures everyday life in the early Roman Empire. Other excursions include Herculaneum, which shared Pompeii's fate, and a working farm near Sorrento, where you can make your own version of what is perhaps the region's most famous food, Neapolitan style pizza.
Spend a full day in the Eternal City of Rome, where exploration of monuments like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Vatican competes for your attention with tastings of street food and making Roman pasta.
Your final full day of discovery from Livorno includes a full day excursion to Florence for an introduction to the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Or if you prefer, you may explore the Etruscan ruins and museum at nearby Volterra. Alternatively, spend the day exploring Romanesque Lucca, birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, and medieval Pisa, with its magnificent Duomo, Baptistry, and Leaning Tower.
Your voyage
All-inclusive

Destination
Mediterranean
Valletta to Livorno
Duration
9 days, 8 nights on board
Smithsonian Journeys, Timeless

Smithsonian Journeys

Aneta Georgievska-Shine, Albert Leonard
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
No single supplement, Back-to-back offer, PONANT Bonus 25%
Ref: VL0845US - EU270825




Journey
Your daily itinerary
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, transfers before and after your cruise, and an included excursion in each port of call.
- Engaging lectures and discussions on board with two Smithsonian Journeys Experts, including archaeologist Albert Leonard and art historian and Renaissance scholar Aneta Georgievska-Shine.
- Discover monuments from the Roman Empire in Syracuse, Taormina, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Rome.
- Explore well-preserved Greek sites in Syracuse, Taormina, and Paestum.
- Encounter Pisa's Leaning Tower or the Duomo of Florence.
- Visit vineyards and sample the wines of Syracuse, Taormina, Reggio di Calabria, and Naples.
- Experience the variety of foods in the diet of this region on the Mediterranean, including the arancini, salami, and cheeses of Sicily; the desserts of Calabria; the mozzarella of Campania; and the pizzas and pastas of Naples and Rome.

Customize your journey:
Date
25 Aug 25
Sharing your journey with

Aneta Georgievska-Shine

Albert Leonard
Staterooms and suites
Elegance and refinement

Deluxe Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
204 ft²

Prestige Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
204 ft²

Deluxe Suite
Guests
3
Size
290 ft²

Prestige Suite
Guests
4
Size
409 ft²

Privilege Suite
Guests
3
Size
344 ft²

Grand Deluxe Suite
Guests
4
Size
484 ft²

Owner's Suite
Guests
4
Size
484 ft²
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Details
More information
What's Included
Important travel details
In your luggage
Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys
Itinerary
Embarkation 27/08/25 from 16:00 to 17:00 Departure 27/08/25 at 18:00
27 Aug 25 - Valletta

Arrival 28/08/25 early morning Departure 28/08/25 late afternoon
28 Aug 25 - Syracuse, Sicily

5 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 29/08/25 Departure 29/08/25 early evening
29 Aug 25 - Taormina, Sicily

3 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 30/08/25 Departure 30/08/25 late afternoon
30 Aug 25 - Reggio di Calabria

4 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 31/08/25 early morning Departure 31/08/25 early evening
31 Aug 25 - Agropoli

2 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 01/09/25 Departure 01/09/25 late afternoon
1 Sept 25 - Naples

5 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 02/09/25 early morning Departure 02/09/25 late afternoon
2 Sept 25 - Civitavecchia (Rome)

4 available excursionsto this stopover
Arrival 03/09/25 early morning Disembarkation 04/09/25 at 8:00
3 Sept 25 > 4 Sept 25 - Livorno

3 available excursionsto this stopover
Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys
Included package
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
Cruising Southern Italy and Sicily – with Smithsonian Journeys
Customize your journey
Maltese highlights (2 nights)
This specially designed program is an opportunity to get a sense of the extraordinarily rich history of this small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Learn about the importance of Malta as a crossroads of trade and as the headquarters of the Knights of St. John, as well as something of the island's Neolithic past as preserved in the prehistoric megaliths of Hagar Qim. Enjoy all of this while staying at one of the world's truly grand hotels.
Day 1 – Valletta, Malta
On arrival at the Malta International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Phoenicia Malta hotel (or similar), your home for the next two nights. Official check-in time is 3:00 p.m. A local representative will be present at a hospitality desk in the afternoon to welcome you and answer any questions you may have.
Join your fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception this evening. Dinner is independent and at your leisure.
Day 2 – Valletta
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before joining a guided walking tour of Valletta, Malta’s fortified capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin with a stroll to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views over the Grand Harbor. Your visit to the extraordinary interior of the 16th-century Co-Cathedral of St. John affords the opportunity to see Caravaggio’s massive masterpiece, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist. And during your tour of the Palace of the Grand Master, which serves today as the office of the president of Malta, you will see the richly decorated state rooms and tapestry chamber.
The balance of the day is at leisure, with independent lunch and dinner.
Day 3 - Valletta | Embarkation
After breakfast and check out of the hotel, drive inland to the city of Mdina, the capital of Malta until the Knights of St. John moved it to Valletta in the 16th century. Your walking tour includes the stunning Baroque Cathedral of St. Paul, built on the site where it is said Paul converted the Roman governor to Christianity in the months following his shipwreck on the island in the year 60. From Mdina, drive to the a nearby winery for a tasting of some of Malta's finest wines before stopping at a historic local restaurant for a lunch of traditional Maltese specialties.
After lunch, drive to the southern coast of the island to visit the Hagar Qim Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating to 3600 BC. Located on a hilltop overlooking the sea, Hagar Qim is among the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world. Following your guided tour of this extraordinary site, transfer to the pier to embark your ship.
Your hotel:
The Phoenicia Malta, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is Malta’s landmark hotel with a storied history spanning over 60 years. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, the hotel is situated in an ideal location just outside the walled city of Valletta and its 16th-century bastions. From the hotel’s front door, the historic wonders of Valletta, including St. John’s Co-Cathedral, are all within easy walking distance. The hotel boasts 136 rooms and suites combining old-world elegance and a fresh style. Its modern conveniences ensure a comfortable and luxurious stay.
Your program includes:
· 2 nights at The Phoenicia Malta (or similar), including breakfast
· Transfer and luggage handling from the airport to the hotel on the scheduled program arrival day
· Transfer and luggage handling to the pier on embarkation day
· Welcome cocktail reception on Day 1
· Breakfast on days 2 and 3
· Lunch on Day 3
· Sightseeing and programming as noted in the itinerary
· Local English-speaking guide
· Gratuities for the drivers and local guides
Your program does not include:
· Transfer from the airport to the hotel on any day other than the scheduled program arrival day
· Personal expenses and other services and meals not mentioned as included in the program
Please note:
· It is imperative that your flight arrival details are communicated at least 60 days prior to the beginning of your cruise in order to secure your transfer from the airport to the hotel.
· Early check-in and/or late check-out are available depending on availability and at a supplement. An additional night is possible, upon request and depending on hotel availability. Please, contact reservations or your travel agent for further details.
· The official currency is the Euro. Credit cards are largely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants.
· The duration of the visits is given as a guide only, and the order of the visits may change.
· This pre-cruise program is offered as a package. There will be no refunds for unused accommodations, meals, or excursions.
· Program is offered on a space available basis.
· Program is subject to change without notice.
Hotel contact information:
The Phoenicia Malta
The Mall
Floriana FRN1478
Malta
Telephone: +356.2122.5241
£970/person*
Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability.