European Highlights

Step on board in Venice, the magical city renowned for its art, architecture and culture. Watch the sunlight dapple on the water as we ease our way through the archipelago. An overnight stay provides you with ample time to explore the city.

Awake and further explore central Venice on your own this morning, as you investigate the out-of-the-way passages that reveal beautiful, hidden piazzas, or cross the lagoon to Murano and Burano to view the world-renowned glassblowing craftsmen. If you did not take yesterday's included guided tour, you may do so today. Or opt for one of the many optional tours. As your ship sets sail, enjoy a spectacular view of the lagoon as we head out to the Adriatic Sea.

Experience the age of antiquity as you wander through the center of the city that is built around Diocletian's Palace, walking through the well-preserved cellars before continuing to the Ethnographic Museum. In this historic quarter, you will notice the results of over 17 centuries of construction, passing pre-Romanesque churches and Gothic chapels. You may also choose to journey through the Croatian hinterland to the famous waterfalls of the Krka National Park. Or spend the entire day discovering the small, more intimate destinations along the Dalmatian Coast.

Where city meets coastline, you will sail to this beautiful 12th-century walled city in Croatia. The playwright George Bernard Shaw once declared, 'Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik.' Enjoy an entire day here to take an inclusive tour and take in magnificent views of the city and countryside. Then enter the city on foot through the historic Pile Gate, passing by the Sponza Palace, the 15th-century Onofrio's Fountain and stop inside the Dominican Monastery to see Renaissance paintings. You may also wish to consider exploring the famed Dubrovnik Riviera with a cruise along the Lapad peninsula.

Spend the entire day on the romantic island of Corfu, resplendent with charming pastel town houses and pristine white beaches. Our included tour takes us on a drive to Kanoni, where we will make a photo stop to view tiny Mouse Island and the Vlacherna Monastery. Following the coastline through Garitsa Bay, you will reach the UNESCO Site of the Old Town. See the fabled Esplanade, one of Europe's largest public squares, and the Liston Promenade, once exclusively reserved for the local aristocracy.

According to the ancient Greeks that lives by these waters more than 2,500 years ago, the legends of Scylla and Chardybdis lay hidden beneath the turquoise surface in the depths of the Strait of Messina. Tonight, dine on freshly prepared cuisine that connects you to the flavors of Italy as we sail toward Rome.

In Naples, your choice of excursions abounds. Take in magnificent examples of Greek and Roman architecture and the Piazza del Plebiscito, the grandest public square in the city, facing the former Royal Palace of the King of Naples. Optionally, also explore Herculaneum, Italy's 'other' Pompeii, drive along the stunning Amalfi Coast, or take a trip to the summit of Vesuvius. In your spare time, sample a hot espresso, a slice of pizza (the world's first pizzeria opened here in 1830) or a locally made limoncello.

Uncover more ancient treasures of Rome and its surroundings today. Join an excursion that features the city's major highlights, plus St. Peter's Basilica, the Colosseum, or Piazza Navona. Discover the hidden gems of the city along the Tiber River. Alternately, visit Tarquinia's Etruscan necropolis or the excavated town of Ostia.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tuscany with an included, well-curated tour of Pisa. Alternatively, enjoy a full-day tour that combines Pisa and Florence. Begin with a scenic drive through the countryside to Florence, where you will stroll by the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Then on to the medieval Ponte Vecchio, and the attractive Basilica di Santa Croce, resting place of Michelangelo. In Pisa, you will have time to explore the Square of Miracles, including the famous Leaning Tower, the Cathedral and Baptistery.

Enjoy a full day in Monaco, the playground for the rich and famous, as well as the gateway to the beautiful South of France. Visit medieval Monaco, stopping at the Prince's Palace and St. Nicholas Cathedral, the burial site of the royal family, including American actress Grace Kelly. You will have time to step inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the most prestigious and celebrated gambling mecca on Earth. As an option, venture out of town to the legendary perfumeries in Grasse, or stroll along the English promenade in glamorous Nice.

Visit Marseille, France's oldest city, rich in timeless treasures. Discover its atmospheric Old Port, overseen by two 17th-century fortresses. The picturesque quay was built on the order of Louis XII and Louis XIII and is one of the world's most romantic walks. As you explore, take in the beauty of its natural harbor, dotted with elegant yachts. Marvel at the church of Notre Dame de la Garde and Palais Longchamp, or venture to Aix-en-Provence with its tree-shaded squares and wide boulevards.

Soak up the charm of sunny Barcelona, the Catalonian capital of culture. Stroll along Las Ramblas, take in the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí or explore the myriad side streets of the ancient Gothic Quarter. Take an included tour today, or opt for one of the many optional shore excursions we offer.

Discover the best of Barcelona as you visit the Columbus Monument, Port Vell and the Arc de Triomf, among the many monumental sights you will see. Other scenic highlights include the Olympic Port, built for the 1992 Olympic Games, and the Passeig de Gràcia, a gracious boulevard renowned for its architecture, including stunning works by Gaudí.

Uncover the rich history of Cartagena today, brimming with remarkable architecture spanning the ages—from the days of Rome to art nouveau. Outside the city, marvel at the beauty of the sanctuary of the Virgin of Fuensanta, Murcia's patron saint, and the baroque- and Gothic-style cathedral. Alternately, explore Cartagena's impressive Roman Theater and Roman Forum.

Today you can experience firsthand the stuff of Andalusian dreams. Birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Málaga is the gateway to Andalusia, the seductive province of rolling hills and endless olive groves. An included tour features the 11th-century Alcazaba Palace, residence of Arabian caliphs, the ancient Moorish Gibralfaro Castle, the Renaissance Cathedral and Picasso's birthplace. Or, choose to explore the mighty Alhambra palace in Granada, one of Spain's most treasured sites.

Sail through the famed Strait of Gibraltar today into the Alboran Sea, the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean. According to legend, the Rock of Gibraltar, an enormous geological wonder is one of the Pillars of Hercules—the other being Monte Hacho, a low mountain in Ceuta, a Spanish province in North Africa. As you cruise, perhaps soothe your body with a hot sauna and a few minutes amid the gently falling snow of the Snow Grotto. This evening, enjoy cocktails in the Explorers' Lounge and an authentic Italian meal at Manfredi's Italian Restaurant.

Vigo lies on the western edge of Europe and is home to the continent's largest fishing fleet, which sets sail each day and returns with its catch at sunset. But this 'Gateway to the Atlantic' is more than just a fishing port. The old city, Casco Vello, is brimming with charming houses set amid winding lanes and steep alleys that are delightful to explore. Take a trip farther inland to magnificent Santiago de Compostela. Visit the cathedral and meander through the Old Town of this important place of pilgrimage. Or journey to the Galicia region, famed for its superb Albariño wines and delicious tapas dishes.

About 350 miles long, the English Channel separates southern England from northern France. William the Conqueror crossed these waters to become King of England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The most triumphant crossing unfolded on D-Day, when Allied troops landed on Normandy's shores. The channel's narrowest point stretches about 20 miles between Dover and Calais. Here, you may glimpse Dover's famed cliffs, seen from a distance as a long white strip resting on the horizon. As you traverse this historic waterway, you might also see Cherbourg, perched on the end of France's Cotentin Peninsula, whose southern shores lead to the historic walled city of Saint-Malo and the monastic island of Mont Saint-Michel.

Today, call on the Isle of Portland; despite its name, the 'island' is actually a narrow limestone peninsula that juts out into the English Channel from Dorset's coastline. The famous Portland Stone is quarried here. It has been used to construct many of London's buildings as well as those found further afield—the United Nations Building in New York, for example, was built from Portland stone. Explore the scenic Jurassic Coast and the beautiful Dorset countryside as you learn about the involvement of Portand's residents in the Normandy beach landings. Or you can enjoy a tour of Bovington's Tank Museum and discover the town's leading role in the development of military technology.

Call today on the city of Dover, its importance as a port dating back to the Bronze Age. You can journey to the medieval city of Canterbury, made famous through Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, to visit the shrine of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. Or, immerse yourself in natural beauty at Sissinghurst Castle and Garden, an Elizabethan-era mansion which showcases a classic English country garden.

Discover the celebrated Royal Borough of Greenwich—part of which, Maritime Greenwich, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. London is just a short drive away, so you can take in the regal city and all its splendor. See the Tower of London, Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and St. Paul's Cathedral. Or step off the ship in Greenwich, where you may visit its excellent National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory from where the world's clocks are set.

Disembark your ship this morning as your journey comes to a close.