Tastes of Italy with Adriatic Coastal Cruise

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Overview

Includes return flights from the UK*. Embark on a 17-day journey from Rome to Dubrovnik, blending Italy’s rich flavours with Adriatic charm. Explore iconic cities, coastal villages, and cultural treasures. Enjoy boutique stays, authentic cuisine, and a scenic cruise along the Adriatic coast. From Roman ruins to Croatian shores, this curated experience offers indulgence, discovery, and unforgettable Mediterranean beauty.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Rome

Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel. This evening, head to a local restaurant for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers, enjoying a taste of traditional Italian cuisine.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Two Nights, Rome, Bettoja Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio or similar

Day 2: Rome

Begin your first full day in Rome with a skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums. Discover remarkable artworks and treasures, gaze up at the iconic Sistine Chapel and admire the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica. Afterwards, set out on a walking tour of the city, taking in landmarks such as the Spanish Steps and views of the Colosseum. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Enhance Your Journey – Colosseum Guided Visit

Join an optional guided visit inside the Colosseum for deeper insight into the history and significance of this world-famous monument.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento

Early risers may wish to join your Tour Director for a tranquil dawn walk through 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 morning light. Afterwards, stop at a local cafe for a traditional Italian breakfast — a cornetto and cappuccino.

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 to Sorrento.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Two Nights, Sorrento, So’ Lifestyle Hotel or similar

Day 4: Sorrento

Today is at leisure to explore Sorrento at your own pace. Known for its dramatic coastline, charming piazzas and fragrant lemon groves, this beautiful town invites relaxed discovery. You may wish to wander lively Piazza Tasso or look down into the Valley of the Mills, where historic ruins sit amid lush greenery at the base of a deep gorge. This evening, a special Insider Experience awaits.

Insider Experience – Sorrento Cooking Class

Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Italian dishes using fresh local ingredients. Guided by expert chefs, create authentic recipes before sitting down to enjoy your meal.

Enhance Your Journey – Discover Capri

Join an optional excursion to Capri and explore this stunning island, from its picturesque villages to its famous blue waters.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Sorrento, Florence

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.

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.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Three Nights, Hotel Indigo Florence by IHG or similar

Day 6: Florence, Siena, Tuscany

Today venture into the Tuscan countryside. Visit Siena and explore its medieval streets, seeing the impressive Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral. Afterwards, continue to a special Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Tuscan Winery Experience

Delight in an authentic wine tasting experience and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch paired with regional wines. This relaxed experience offers an authentic taste of Tuscany’s hospitality and traditions.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Florence

Today is at leisure to enjoy Florence at your own pace. Wander the historic streets, browse local shops or relax in one of the city’s lively piazzas. Art lovers may wish to visit the renowned Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by artists such as Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, or admire landmarks including the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

Enhance Your Journey – Explore Pisa

Join an optional excursion to Pisa to see the world-famous Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli, also home to the striking cathedral and baptistery.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Florence, Venice

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.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Two Nights, Venice, NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa or similar

Day 9: Venice

Following an engaging Insider Experience this morning, join a guided tour of the city’s most famous landmarks, admire St Mark’s Square, a masterpiece blending Gothic, Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles. You’ll also pass the impressive 14th-century Doge’s Palace, once the residence of the Venetian doges and the seat of government, before exploring the maze-like streets and canals of Venice. This evening, enjoy a memorable Farewell Dinner at an authentic Venetian restaurant.

Insider Experience – Gondola Workshop

Visit a local squero (gondola workshop) and learn about the craftsmanship behind these iconic boats and the centuries-old trade that keeps the tradition alive.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10: Venice, Ljubljana, Opatija, Embark Ship

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Seven Nights, MV Princess Eleganza

Day 11: Opatija, Krk, Rab

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: Rab, Pag, Zadar

This morning, your ship drops anchor near the island of Pag, where you may like to enjoy a swim (weather permitting). Later, arrive in Zadar and set out on a guided walking tour through the atmospheric Old Town. Admire Roman columns and gateways, beautiful churches, baroque palaces and Renaissance buildings. The tour concludes at the Sea Organ, an architectural sound installation powered by sea waves and tubes beneath the marble steps. Nearby, the Sun Salutation — a circle of multi-layered glass panels — absorbs solar energy by day and creates a waterfront light display at sunset. Both were designed by Croatian architect Nikola Bašić. Return to your ship for dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Šibenik, Krka National Park

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.

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Šibenik, Split

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15: Vis, Korčula

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 16: Korčula, Badija, Dubrovnik

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner