Sailing the Mediterranean

Arrive at the Venice Marco Polo Airport, in Italy. Venice, a beautiful city known for its architecture and artwork, was an important city during the Renaissance Period and to date remains an important city. Transfer to your hotel on seat in coach basis. Check-in and relax a little. In the evening set off on your walking tour of Venice. Walk along the historic streets of Venice and take in the cultural and traditional atmosphere of Venice. Take in the spectacular city that has been immortalized in innumerable Hollywood and Bollywood movies, plays and novels for many generations. You may then opt for a romantic and peaceful Gondola ride. Enjoy a leisurely canal ride in a traditional gondola with the gondolier serenading you in the background. Return back to your hotel room in Venice after this enchanting day.

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So begin your day with a scrumptious buffet breakfast. Then set off on a half-day excursion on a seat in coach tour to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Murano is famous for its glass blowing factory. Then visit the colorful island of Burano and check-out hand crafted artistic lace work. You can even buy and take some mementos back home. Then head to Torcello the place that once used to be the largest center in the Venetian lagoon, Torcello. Return to your hotel and check-out. A private transfer will take you to the port where you’ll board the MSC Magnifica and set off on the next leg of your journey. The latest addition in the Musica luxury class ship, MSC Magnifica is opulent and absolutely magnificent. Dinner and overnight aboard the MSC Magnifica.

Begin the morning with a healthy breakfast, with the sea breeze blowing through your hair as you cruise along the Mediterranean Sea. At 13.00 hours, you will have your first docking at the Port of Brindisi in Italy. You can either sit back on the ship deck and put up your feet and relax, or you can join one of the on-shore excursions at an extra cost. You could even opt to traverse through the mystifying streets of Brindisi on your own. If you decide to become a wanderer, check-out the beautiful sculptures Brindisi has to offer. The Aragonese Castle built in the 15th century, or the Milan cathedral (Duomo di Milano) built in a Romanesque fashion or simply manoeuvre through the streets, taking in the sounds, sights, smells and imbibing in the culture and traditions of the people. Be sure to board the ship again as the MSC Magnifica sets sail at 1800 hours sharp. Dinner will be served on board and you can spend a peaceful night in your cabin.

Have a healthy breakfast with the gushing sea in the backdrop dock at the Katakolon port at 0800 hours in Greece. You can relax on board or set off on your journey, discovering Katakolon. You may even opt for the excursion tour at an extra cost. Katakolon is the ancient city that lies on the Greek coast and is a gateway to Olympia, the historic city where the first Olympic Games were held. This port has a lot to offer with its archaeological museums, classical and Roman sculptures. MSC Magnifica departs from Katakolon at 1300 hours, so make sure you return back to the cruise on time. Have dinner on board with the picturesque sea waves under the twinkling night sky. Return back to your cabin for the night.

Have a leisurely breakfast and cruise along, as you arrive at İzmir, Turkey by 0900 hours. Once again, you may choose to stay on board to enjoy all on board activities or discover the exotic city you are docked in. İzmir is the third most populated city in Turkey. Experience diversity in İzmir with its confluence of Levantine, Greek, Armenian and Jewish heritage. Be back aboard on time as the ship departs at 1500 hours. Dinner will be served on board and you can return to your cabin for a night of sleep filled with colourful dreams.

Have a healthy breakfast and gear up, as today you’ll arrive at the beautiful and majestic city of Istanbul at 0730 hours. We recommend that you take a shore excursion to see this enigmatic city. Visit Topkapı Palace or visit Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) and Hagia Sophia on your shore excursion, which would be at a supplement cost. The MSC Magnifica departs from the port of this once glorious Byzantine Empire by 1630 hours. Dinner will be on board, followed by a peaceful night in your cabin.

Spend the entire day cruising along the sea. On today’s voyage, you may start your day with a leisurely late breakfast and then enjoy the various facilities and services available on board. Recreation options on board MSC Magnifica are endless. Soak up the sun in the solarium or choose from 3 swimming pools, one under the ingenious ‘Magrodome’ retractable roof – perfect for winter cruising. Anyone for tennis or basketball for that matter, not to mention jogging? MSC Magnifica boasts all the fine dining and entertainment amenities you would expect on a superior luxury liner and much more. With a choice of 5 restaurants, numerous bars, an internet café and cigar lounge - not forgetting the plush 1,200-seat theatre, cinema, casino and disco – the MSC Magnifica truly lives up to her Italian name – magnificent! There are also many activities organized for tiny tots, in case you happen to be travelling with kids. Lunch and dinner will be provided on the cruise. After such an entertaining day, return back to your cabin for a peaceful night aboard the MSC Magnifica.

Begin the day with a delicious breakfast. The ship will dock at Dubrovnik port in Croatia at 1130 hours. You can even choose to be a lone traveller and wander off on your own or continue to choose from the shore excursions. This beautiful port city has been nicknamed ‘Pearl of the Adriatic.’ See the remnants of the Croatian war along the cobbled streets of the Old Town. All Game Of Thrones fans go crazy and get a feel of Kings Landing as you walk along the heritage streets of Old Town, one of the sites where this fantasy series is shot. You can even join one of the Game Of Thrones walking tour at your own expense and feel transported to the mythical land of Westeros. Return back to your ship on time as the MSC Magnifica will set sail at 1630 hours. Dinner will be served on board and you can have restful night in your cabin.

Have a lovely breakfast and prepare for the disembarkation processes as your magnificent cruise vacation ends today. Nevertheless, the land journey continues. Dock at Venice at 0900 hours and disembark. Transfer to the train station and board your onward train to Florence. A centre of medieval European trade and finance, its beautiful artistic and cultural heritage is the reason why it finds itself on Forbes list of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Enjoy the scenic train ride and check-in to your hotel on reaching Florence. Spend a peaceful night at your hotel in this historic city of Florence.

Begin the day with a buffet breakfast, after which get ready to tour through the streets of Florence. A seat in coach city tour of Florence awaits you. Witness the salient architectural marvels that adorn the city streets of Florence, a city that was the artistic hub during the Renaissance period. Touring through these streets will make you feel transported to another time, an ancient time vibrant with tradition, culture and art. Then in the afternoon join a seat in coach tour to the iconic symbol of Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Return to your hotel in Florence for an overnight stay.

Begin the day with a buffet breakfast fit for an adventurous day. Find your way through the picturesque streets of Florence, to the pick-up point of your seat in coach tour. Spend the day in the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Apart from the famous Italian pizza, this place is also known as the birthplace of the famous 14th century Italian Renaissance. Begin this romantic and dreamy tour with Siena. The local guide accompanying you on the tour will guide you through the medieval streets, helping you understand the marvel and importance of this ancient city. Drive on until you reach the exquisite Siena cathedral in the interiors of Siena. The façade of this cathedral is considered as one of the most enigmatic features in Siena. Continue on to the seat of the civic authority, the Palazzo Comunale. Built on the ruins of an already existing building, this structure is almost 7 centuries old. Then visit one of the greatest medieval squares of Europe, the centre of Siena, Piazza del Campo. You then have some time to get the local taste of Tuscany. Maybe you can gorge on that famous pizza for lunch, (not included) or take back some Tuscan souvenirs in your shopping spree. Onwards on your journey with a stop in Monteriggioni, a place known for its wine and countryside charm, with fascinating vineyards and landscapes dotted with Romanesque churches, villas and castles. You have some free time to get a sip of the world famous wines that Monteriggioni has to offer. The journey will then take you forward to San Gimignano, an ancient medieval town. This place is home to some very fine and magnificent towers, evident from its alternate name, the town of fine towers. You have free time to explore this town, with its Gothic and Romanesque architecture, seen all over the town in its churches and town squares. End the day on a beautiful farm and get a taste of farm food with sliced cold meats, bruschettas, salami and cheese. Make your way back through the streets you traversed, all the way to your hotel room in Florence for a relaxing overnight stay.

After a buffet breakfast, check-out of your hotel and make your way to the train station in a seat in coach. Board the train and head to Rome, a city steeped in history that spans more than two and half thousand years. Arrive at this city, the birthplace of the Roman Mythology, make your way to your hotel, and check-in. You have the afternoon off to explore the glory of Rome on your own. If you want to view the crypts and catacombs and venture into the dark history of ancient Rome, you can opt for the seat in coach tour that departs in the afternoon, for a supplement cost. Spend the night in your hotel room in this archaic city of Rome.

Feast on your buffet breakfast and then make your way to the starting point of the Ancient Rome walking tour. This tour starts at the Colosseum and ends at the Roman Forums. A complimentary visit inside the Colosseum will take you to the world of gladiators and bull fights. This tour also takes you to Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Capitoline Hill and Piazza Navona. In the afternoon join the Vatican tour, which comes accompanied with an audio guide. Visit the St Peter’s Basilica and head to the Sistine Chapel to see some of finest paintings by Michelangelo. Post a glimpse in the enthralling history of Rome, return back to your hotel room for a peaceful night.

A scrumptious buffet breakfast later, check-out of your hotel. Make your way to the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome to fly off to your onward destinations with memories that you will cherish for an entire lifetime.