Exclusive Snapshot of Malta

Escape the 50+ person mob tours the cruise lines offer with this group tour of never more than 30 guests (and often less). Leaving the port, you will be driven to Mdina. Approximately 30 minutes away and Malta's first capital, Mdina dates back to before Roman times. Together with the guide, you will stroll through the quaint winding streets, admire the beautiful palazzos still used as homes by Malta's oldest families, and enjoy the view from the bastions of the 'Silent City'. The total walking time with stops is approximately 45 minutes.

After leaving Mdina, you will have a short photo stop outside the Mosta Dome Church, the third-largest dome in Europe. In 1942, the church had 300 people inside when a bomb pierced the dome and miraculously failed to explode.

Arriving in Valletta, you will begin your approximate 90-minute walking tour of the capital city of Malta. You will visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a panoramic view of Malta's natural harbors and the historic cities of Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa in the distance.

Continuing through Valletta's main streets, you will walk to St. John's Co-Cathedral, the 16th-century knight's own church. Revealing a staggering display of Baroque art, it houses some of Malta's finest art treasures. The two masterpieces by Caravaggio, "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" and "St. Jerome," hang in the Oratory.

At the end of the tour, you will walk past various important buildings before reaching your transport, which will be waiting to return you to the port below. Guests wishing to remain in town may do so but are responsible for getting themselves back to the cruise pier at their own expense.

Please Note: The St. John's Co-Cathedral will not be open to the public on Sundays and public holidays. In such instances, visits to the cathedral will be substituted with a visit to the Grand Master's Palace. The same would apply in case of any last-minute closures of St. John's Co-Cathedral. The order in which the sites are visited may change according to the logistical needs of the day.

Exclusive Pompeii and Amalfi Coast

Departing from the Maritime Station cruise pier in groups of no more than 30 guests, you will meet your guide and your driver and begin an approximately 50-minute drive to the door of the Amalfi Coast: Vietri sul Mare, the charming coastal village known as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. You will have approximately two hours to yourself in Vietri to shop, take pictures, enjoy the local ceramics, or stroll the narrow streets and several churches at your leisure.

After your time in Vietri, sit back and enjoy an approximately 45-minute drive towards Mount Vesuvius and the ancient city of Pompeii, which lies in its shadow. Ironically, one of the ancient world's worst disasters preserved time in Pompeii, where you will experience life as it was lived in 79 AD. Once a thriving Roman town, it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, when 30 feet of volcanic ash and pumice stone buried the city.

Upon arrival in Pompeii, enjoy some free time before beginning your guided exploration. As you enter through one of its ancient gates, you'll find yourself surrounded by lavish temples and porticoes, beginning to glimpse the lifestyle of its inhabitants. Admire the mansions and artwork of wealthy patricians who moved to Pompeii to escape the turmoil of Rome, and view countless paintings and inscriptions. See the streets with raised pavements on both sides and the stepping-stones that ensured pedestrians a safe crossing at intersections. Your guided visit to Pompeii lasts approximately 2 hours.

At the end of your tour, you will drive back to Naples.

Please Note: The entrance fee to Pompeii is included in the tour price; however, all guests must present a valid photo ID on the day of the tour. Lunch is not included in the tour price. Crowds are to be expected at all sites and lines for certain attractions may exceed over one hour to enter. The tour itinerary may be reversed but will still cover the mentioned sights. Heavy traffic congestion should be anticipated and may affect the duration of the excursion. On select days or holidays, heavy delays in traffic may contribute to a change of itinerary at the operator's discretion. Your tour of the ruins is guided.

Exclusive Soller and Valldemosa

For guests who only have one day to get a good taste of this delightful island, here is a perfect tour. Accompanied by an official local guide, you will see and learn about Mallorca.

After picking up guests at the cruise port, the tour proceeds through the spectacular Sierra Tramuntana mountain range that was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011. As your vehicle makes its way through the valleys and passes, you will be rewarded with dramatic views of this rugged area around every turn.

You will drive first to Valldemossa, one of the most beautiful villages of Mallorca situated at just over 1300 feet above sea level. You will see why this location was sought after by writers and artists as a place of inspiration. The composer and pianist Frederic Chopin spent time here and the town now hosts a Chopin Piano Festival each year. Upon arrival, take a stroll past the most interesting and beautiful places in the village. After your walking tour, you will have some free time to relax and to try the famous "coca de patata," a small potato cake that is famous in Valldemossa.

Next, drive along a coastal road with great views of the mountains and the sea. You will be able to view some beautiful places in the distance such as Sa Foradada, Son Marroig, as well as the small village of Deia or Llucalcari.

The drive will take you to the valley of Soller where you will drive through the port area of Puerto de Soller, a small resort area on a bay marked with two lighthouses.

You will then drive from the seafront, up through the Soller Valley where you may see and smell the citrus trees that it is famous for. After that, you will be driven back to the port area, with a small orientation of a few of Palma's sites, before returning to the cruise pier.