7 Night Cruise sailing from Naples to Corfu aboard La Belle de L'Adriatique.

Detailed Itinerary:

(NOTE: Cruise operates in approximate reverse order to that outlined below)

DAY ONE: CORFU
Welcome on board the ship from 5pm. Settle into our cabins. We are introduced to the crew over a welcome cocktail before dinner on board. After dinner, the evening is free in Corfu.

DAY TWO: CORFU
After buffet breakfast on board, we have an optional guided visit of Corfu Town. Byzantine in origin, the name Corfu means "Town of the peaks" - a reference to the two hills where the ancient citadel stands. The well-preserved old town grew up between the two fortresses. We visit the Achillion Palace, built in 1890 for the Empress Elizabeth, which houses a wonderful museum and where the gardens have magnificent views over Corfu Town and the Ionian Sea. The visit is followed by a coach journey across the Kanoni Peninsula, where we see the Vlacherna Convent and Pontikonissi Island (Mouse Island). We end our excursion with a visit of old Corfu Town. There are many alleys and vaulted passageways here, and the most famous monument is the Church of Saint Spyridon, where the splendour of the Byzantine icons delights and astonishes visitors. We return on board for lunch and set sail for Katakolon (Greece). We cruise past the Ionian Islands and catch a glimpse of the peaceful little island of Paxos. Dinner is taken on board tonight as we cruise.

DAY THREE: KATAKOLON (Greece)
We arrive during the night in Katakolon. After breakfast on board we set off from Katakolon on our optional excursion to Olympia, birthplace of the famous Olympic Games which reached their peak in the 5th century, attracting more than 150,000 spectators. Running, wrestling, the pentathlon, horseracing and chariot races were among the disciplines contested in this legendary location. The ruins amaze and delight us and give us an insight into the sophistication of the ancient civilisation to which they belonged. We visit the Palestra, where the wrestlers battled, and the Sanctuary: the Doric Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera and finally the Stadium where the racing took place. The museum displays some of the most beautiful items that have been excavated and some striking sculptures. We return on board for lunch and set sail again, this time for Sicily. We spend the rest of the day (and night) cruising, taking dinner as we cruise.

DAY FOUR: TAORMINA (Sicily)
We have buffet breakfast and lunch as we cruise today. As the Belle de l'Adriatique approaches Sicily, we begin to recognise the spectacular mass of Mount Etna with its slopes covered in rich, luxuriant vegetation. Often called the "Furnace of the Gods", the largest active volcano in Italy is some 2800 metres high. According to the legend told by Homer in the Odyssey, this volcano was inhabited by the Cyclops who helped Vulcan to forge the weapons for the Gods. The volcanic eruptions were believed to be the result of their intense activity. Sicily is a real melting pot of civilisation, and thanks to its strategic position between Africa and Europe, it is a richly contrasting island which has managed to preserve many of its ancient relics. From the Greeks and Romans to the Arabs, Normans and Spanish. - the traces of each civilisation are still quite tangible and happily sit side by side in their protected habitat. We drop anchor and moor at the foot of Taormina, a spectacular medieval city perched on a rocky outcrop high above the Ionian Sea.
We have an optional guided visit of the town and Greek Theatre. Along the main thoroughfare we find most of the architectural masterpieces of the town: the Corvaja Palace, seat of Sicilian Parliament, the fortified Abbey of Badia Vecchia and the cathedral, where we can admire the columns constructed entirely of pink marble. One of the highlights for visitors is the Greek Theatre (we visit the outside only) dating from the 2nd century from where there are magnificent panoramic views of the coastline of Calabria and Mount Etna. We return on board for dinner and the ship sets sail for Palermo.

DAY FIVE: PALERMO (Sicily)
We have buffet breakfast as we cruise before arriving in Palermo. Well-known since ancient times, the city captivates us with its vibrant and baroque atmosphere and the wealth of Byzantine, Arab and Norman influences that pervade its architecture and its very soul. We have an optional guided visit of the town: La Martorana Church, famous for its spectacular mosaics on its cupola, the cathedral founded by the Normans in the 12th century, the Piazza Pretoria and its pretty Renaissance-style buildings. We return on board for lunch. This afternoon, our optional excursion is a discovery tour of Cefalu. This typical seaside town of fishermen's houses was built at the foot of an imposing rock which gave the town its name, and is bordered by beaches. It is well worth a visit, and not just for its richly decorated dome. We return on board for dinner and set sail again, heading for Naples.

DAY SIX: NAPLES (Italy)
We have buffet breakfast and lunch as we cruise today, arriving in the early afternoon in Naples, the capital of Campania, nestling in the heart of one of the most beautiful bays. We set off for our optional guided visit to Pompeii. An ancient and flourishing port town, Pompeii was completely destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the 24th of August, 79 AD. Covered by a thick layer of ash, the town was only discovered during the archaeological digs in the 18th century. Touring Pompeii's narrow streets, temples, forums and the villas covered in rich mosaics usually evokes strong emotions, as a visit to Pompeii is a return to the very roots of our own civilisation. We return on board for dinner.

DAY SEVEN: NAPLES (Italy)
After breakfast on board, we have an optional full-day excursion to Capri and Anacapri. We meet with our guide on the pier and set off by hydrofoil to the wondrous island of Capri. All through our journey on the water, we can see the famous coastline of Capri as well as the natural caves, surrounded by cliffs rising out of the sea whose summits are covered in vines and gardens. On arrival in the port of Capri, we continue our journey to the village of Anacapri, from where we have fantastic views over the Gulf of Capri, before we visit the Villa San Michele, the house that once belonged to the famous Swedish author and physician Axel Munthe, and now a museum. Our journey continues to Capri town where we visit the Piazza Umberto I surrounded by little white houses. We have lunch in a typical local restaurant. This afternoon, we visit the gardens of Augustus which have wonderful views of the famous rock formations of Faraglioni. We have some free time for shopping on the main square before we return to Naples. Tonight, our Gala dinner on board is followed by an evening of music and dancing. We moor for the night.

DAY EIGHT: NAPLES - France
After breakfast on board, we disembark around 9am