Tastes of Italy with Adriatic Coastal Cruise

Arrive in Rome and be transferred to your hotel. After time to settle in, embark on a guided walking tour through the heart of the city, exploring its iconic sights like the Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Colosseum, alongside its hidden gems. Tonight, head to a local restaurant for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers and delight in your first deep dive into Italian cuisine. Stay Two Nights: Rome, Bettoja Hotel Massimo d'Azeglio or similar (D)

What better way to start your first full day in Rome than with a skip-the-line guided tour of the Vatican Museums? Immerse yourself in the treasures of the museum, gaze in awe at the iconic Sistine Chapel, and marvel at the grandeur of St. Peter's Basilica. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps exploring further or relaxing in one of the city's charming cafés. (B)

Enhance Your Journey - Colosseum Guided Visit Join a guided visit to the Colosseum to learn in-depth the historical context and insights to this world-famous icon.

Enhance Your Journey - Italian Street Food Tour Gain an authentic insight into local culture with a wander through the city's lively local markets, where you can savour Italian street food, whether it's pizza by the slice or golden, steaming arancini and more.

Early risers may choose to join your Tour Director for a tranquil dawn tour of Rome, before the city stirs to life. Take in the serene beauty of iconic sights, including the intricate sculptures of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, bathed in the soft glow of morning light. After working up an appetite, stop for a traditional Italian breakfast - a cornetto and cappuccino - at a local café.

Then, board your coach for the scenic journey south to Sorrento, with a stop en route at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the ancient city, preserved under ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Continue your journey to Sorrento. Stay Two Nights: Sorrento, Grand Hotel Vesuvio or similar (B)

Spend the day at leisure to explore Sorrento at your own pace. Renowned for its breathtaking coastline, charming piazzas, fragrant lemons, and dramatic cliffs, this captivating region invites you to discover its many delights. You might like to spend time wandering the bustling Piazza Tasso, the popular square in Sorrento, or gaze down in wonder at the Valley of the Mills, a collection of modern ruins half buried by greenery at the bottom of a gorge. Tonight, a memorable Insider Experience awaits. (B)

Insider Experience - Limoncello Tasting Experience Learn about Sorrento's lemon cultivation and production before the exciting chance to taste locally made limoncello, lemon cream, orange and lemon marmalades, and more. During your tasting, enjoy the opportunity to learn popular Italian phrases with a language lesson.

Enhance Your Journey - Full Day Discovery of Capri Join a full-day adventure to Capri and explore this stunning island from its blue grottoes to its elegant villas and picturesque villages.

Enhance Your Journey - Amalfi Coast Scenic Drive Take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast and admire spellbinding scenes of dramatic cliffs, sweeping coastlines and turquoise seas.

Enjoy a slower start to your morning before boarding your coach for the trip to Naples. You'll then continue to Florence. Arrive in the heart of the city this afternoon and take time to explore before an exciting Insider Experience this evening. Stay Three Nights: Hotel Indigo Florence by IHG or similar (B)

Insider Experience - Florence Sensory Exploration Discover Florence's culinary delights alongside its hidden cultural gems on this engaging exploration. Florence is recognised as the birthplace of the renaissance, and it is here you'll find fine masterpieces from this period. You'll also taste local dishes and visit one of the many famous wine windows around the city, where you can order a delicious Italian red through a small window carved into a wall.

Today is yours to uncover the splendours of Florence. Whether you're an art lover or simply enjoy wandering, there's much to discover. Visit the renowned Uffizi Galleries to see masterpieces by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo, or take time to explore the city's charming streets. Admire architectural wonders, including the iconic Ponte Vecchio, and enjoy the atmosphere of Florence's lively piazzas. (B)

Enhance Your Journey - Explore Pisa For those wishing to venture further, an optional excursion to Pisa offers the chance to see the world-famous Leaning Tower up close. Beyond the tower, enjoy the beauty of the Piazza dei Miracoli and the striking cathedral, or simply relax in the historic city.

Enhance Your Journey - Discover Cinque Terre Opt for a journey to Cinque Terre, a dramatic stretch of coastline where five colourful villages cling to cliffs above the sea. Explore the charming streets, take in breathtaking views, and experience the unique beauty of this coastal paradise.

Venture into Tuscany's sun-kissed countryside. Visit Siena and spend time exploring the medieval streets and marvel at the impressive Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral. Continue to an exciting Insider Experience. (B/L)

Insider Experience - Tuscany Winery Experience Meet the family operating a Tuscan winery and vineyard, hear their stories, and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch paired with local wines. This is a day of cultural immersion, where you'll experience the warmth and flavours of Tuscany firsthand.

Travel to Venice, a city of marble and stone built atop an island and intersected with great, gondola-studded canals. With such rich history, culture and artistry, you'll find something extraordinary at every turn. This afternoon, discover the revered craft of glassblowing with a visit to a traditional glass furnace on Murano, and watch local artists demonstrate their skills. This evening, explore the city at your own pace. Stay Two Nights: Venice, NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa or similar (B)

Following an exciting Insider Experience this morning, join a guided tour of the city's most famous landmarks, including Saint Mark's Basilica, a magnificent cathedral showcasing a mesmerising blend of gothic, byzantine, Romanesque, and renaissance architectural styles. You'll also wander by the impressive 14th-century Doge's Palace that once served as the residence of Venetian Doges and seats of power, before exploring the maze-like streets and laneways of Venice. For dinner, enjoy a memorable Farewell Dinner at an authentic Venetian restaurant. (B/D)

Insider Experience - Gondola Workshop Visit a local squero, a gondola workshop, and learn about the craftsmanship behind the iconic boats and centuries-old trade.

After breakfast, travel via Slovenia's vibrant capital, Ljubljana, to Opatija, where you'll board your ship and settle in for an unforgettable seven-night Adriatic cruise. Stay Seven Nights: aboard the MV Princess Eleganza (B/D)

Enjoy some free time in Opatija before you set sail and drop anchor off the stunning island of Krk, where you can take a refreshing swim in the Adriatic. After a leisurely lunch on board and a relaxed afternoon of sailing, your ship will arrive at the island of Rab. The evening is yours to explore the charming Old Town of Rab, a beautifully preserved late medieval settlement nestled on a slender peninsula. Stroll along the white-washed harbour foreshore at your own pace, and perhaps indulge in a meal at a local restaurant overlooking the lively port marina. (B/L)

This morning your ship will drop anchor near the island of Pag, where you may like to go for a swim (weather permitting). Arrive in Zadar later in the day and enjoy a guided afternoon walking tour through the atmospheric Old Town. Admire its Roman columns and portals, beautiful churches, baroque palaces and Renaissance buildings.

This tour will conclude at the Sea Organ, an architectural sound art object and musical instrument powered by sea waves and tubes beneath large marble steps. Nearby is the Sun Salutation, a monument of 300 multi-layered glass plates that absorb solar energy by day and create a waterfront light show at sunset. Both were created by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić. Return to your ship for dinner this evening. (B/L/D)

Šibenik is known as the gateway to the magical Krka National Park, and today you will spend the afternoon at the dramatic waterfalls this area is famous for. Afterwards, return to the MV Princess Eleganza. Your ship remains in port overnight in Šibenik. Following dinner on board your ship this evening, you may like to head into town to enjoy exploring Šibenik's beautiful squares, as well as its narrow, winding streets. (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Krka National Park Experience the natural beauty of Krka National Park. Here, explore the dramatic waterfalls, where the highlight is Skradinski Buk, a large natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and countless cascades at the other, where the rushing river forces its way through a barrier of tiny islets. Take a walk along wooden jetties and bridges to admire the falls, and the unique flora and fauna.

After breakfast, enjoy a walk through the historic town of Šibenik. Wander through the well-preserved, white-walled Old Town with your guide. Arrive in Split later this afternoon and set out on a guided walk through the town, exploring the Palace of Diocletian. Your ship will moor close to town in the evening, giving you the chance to enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants located on the picturesque Riva Promenade. (B/L)

On arrival at the Croatian island of Vis, disembark to explore this remote and largely untouched natural beauty during a scenic drive around the island. Return to the ship for lunch before sailing to Korčula. Join a local guide to explore the city's maze of cobblestone medieval streets and elegant squares, flanked by palaces of the old nobility. This Old Town may not be as well-known as Dubrovnik, but this destination is every bit as rewarding for those lucky enough to visit. Your ship moors near to the town overnight, meaning you can enjoy dinner in one of the local restaurants. (B/L)

Stop at the idyllic island of Badija for a swim in the warm azure waters of the Adriatic Sea before continuing to Dubrovnik. Spend the afternoon on a guided walk through the unrivalled ‘Pearl of the Adriatic', the medieval Old Town of Dubrovnik.

A guided tour of Dubrovnik's World Heritage-listed fortress begins at the impressive Pile Gate, which has stood guard at the entry of this unique walled city for centuries. Within the ancient fortifications, wander through narrow limestone alleys and marble paved boulevards to see the grand Gothic-Renaissance Rector's Palace, the Dominican and Franciscan Monasteries, and the inspiring Sponza Palace before returning to your ship later this evening for a Farewell Dinner on board. (B/L/D)

Your journey draws to its conclusion after breakfast this morning with a transfer to the airport. (B)