11 Night Cruise sailing from Genoa roundtrip aboard MSC Lirica.

The MSC Lirica offers cozy comfort in a traditional yet elegant setting. Like beautiful lyrics set to music, the MSC Lirica cruise ship is perfectly in tune with the sea. Her timeless Italian design and ambiance features gleaming marble, plush fabrics and fine artwork. If you are looking for a more casual resort ambience, decorated in an opulent yet relaxed style, the delightful MSC Lirica cruise liner is your ideal choice. Our warm Mediterranean hospitality will put you right at ease and our modern array of amenities will ensure your every wish is catered for!

Highlights of this cruise:

Genoa
Cradled between land and sea and with a working port, the Italian vacation destination of Genoa on the west coast of Italy displays its past through her many palaces and the surrounding ancient terraced hills.

Genoa has many different faces; at once a modern metropolis and a rigorous custodian of artistic heritage, as well as an industrious marketplace with centuries-old parks perfect for relaxation.

Genoa hides her riches in an historical centre that looks traditionally seaward yet at the same time exhibits a new beauty achieved by restoring the splendour of ages past.

We will help you on the fastest route to uncovering Genoa's gems through our fantastically diverse programme of day trip packages and the best deals on sights and attractions. If you can bring yourself to leave your luxury MSC cruise liner , Genoa is a great place to spend the day. Just some of the exciting highlights on offer include an historic city tour where you can roam the attractive, sinuous streets of the old town and take in key places of interest.

Art-lovers will particularly enjoy the works by Rubens in the Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace).

Already familiar with Genoa? Then we heartily recommend an excursion to the enchanting seaside village of Portofino on Italy's Riviera. Finally, as always, we cater to all cruise passengers, so why not ensure that your youngsters have a great day away from ship, too!

Take the family to Genoa's acclaimed aquarium (one of Europe's largest) and create some great holiday memories for everyone

Civitavecchia, Rome
The port city of Civitavecchia lies about an hour from Italy's capital and is where your MSC luxury cruise liner will dock before taking lucky cruise holiday-makers to the city of Rome.

Rome - where do we start? It is the ultimate cruise holiday destination. There is perhaps no other city so crammed full of history, with layer upon layer of fabulous ruins, imperial temples.not to mention Etruscan tombs, early Christian churches, medieval bell towers, Renaissance palaces and baroque basilicas.

And all of these magnificent sights lie under the extraordinary warmth and light of the Roman sun.

Rome truly is a dream city and will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your Mediterranean cruise.

The most convenient way to experience this city is to join us on one of our day trips; as there is so much to do, our comprehensive excursion packages really cover the best that this city has to offer, including great deals on all the sights. In Rome you will find that an extraordinary concentration of history, legend and monuments coexists with an equally extraordinary concentration of people busily going about their everyday life.

So be sure to get your cultural fill but allow time for more hedonistic concerns too. dine on the famous Roman cuisine till you can eat no more and get drunk on architecture and sunshine!

Our stop at Civitavecchia/Rome will truly provide a day off ship unlike any other - and we look forward to sharing it with you.

Istanbul
Istanbul offers a wonderful introduction to Turkey and a unique holiday destination.
The former capital of three powerful empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - is a fascinating mix of past and present, modern and traditional.

The museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars and the sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. In addition to Istanbul's unique historical and cultural background, the city's innumerable attractions, contemporary hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shops make Istanbul one of the most fascinating destinations of your Mediterranean cruise vacation.

The bewitching Mullah calls to prayer ring out across the city, punctuating each day with haunting resonant tones and lending a distinctly Eastern air to this European city. In fact, Istanbul literally straddles the two continents of Europe and Asia, bisected by a wide waterway, the Bosphorous Strait.

The rich architectural and cultural hallmarks of this city will make a day away from your luxury cruise liner into a fascinating extravaganza of sights and sounds.

Our extensive package of excursions with great deals on attractions in and around Istanbul provides the best way to get the most from Istanbul. First time visitors can enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing experience in the Deluxe Istanbul tour, which covers key attractions from the Blue Mosque to Topkapi Palace. The Grand Bazaar provides unrivalled shopping opportunities and is the perfect place to pick up an authentic handcrafted rug, traditional ceramics or stunning jewellery.

Keen cruise fans can go from one ship to another and opt for the Bosphorous boat tour, a relaxing and scenic tour of the sights along Istanbul's Bosphorous Strait.

Yalta
World War II history buffs will be eager to leave their MSC cruise liner for the day to visit this unique destination of historical importance.

Yalta, in southern Ukraine on the north coast of the Black Sea.

As always, our excursion packages not only help you enjoy the best deals on the local sights, but are designed for all passengers and their different tastes.

Interested in history and politics? Come ashore and visit Livadia Palace where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met in 1945 at the Yalta Conference to decide the future of Europe. If political affairs don't float your boat, we have romance and art in store instead!

A visit to the lovely 'Swallow's Nest' turreted castle that hangs dramatically on a cliff top over the sea can still be enjoyed on the same tour. Lovers of literature will be keen to leave the ship to visit the home of Chekhov, where he wrote some of his works - and to visit the small Chekhov museum, which will be a highlight of the holiday for fans of this acclaimed Russian writer.

With vacations carte blanche to indulge yourself, you are warmly invited to join us for a traditional Ukrainian lunch together with a folklore show.

You can make your trip to this part of the world last longer by taking home souvenirs such as the delicious Ukrainian honey, or even a small bottle of Vodka, of which there are many varieties.

Odessa
Odessa is a major sea port located on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, a country formerly part of the Russian Republic. The mild climate and multitude of beaches have made this large attractive city into a popular holiday resort.

Odessa marries old with new, seen in the mix of architectural styles ranging from Renaissance to Art Nouveau. Gilded domes and pretty pastel colours contribute to the story-book atmosphere. Locals, known as Odessans, are proud of their historical and cultural heritage; classical music in particular forms a large part of the city's cultural scene and the Opera House is renowned for its ballet performances.

Take this opportunity to leave your luxury MSC cruise liner for the day and sample a taste of the East. With MSC Cruises you will enjoy the best deals on excursion packages so be sure to check below for the latest activity programmes.

A good way to make the most of your vacation time in the Ukraine is to join us on the Odessa city walking tour. We will take you shopping along Deribasovskaya Street in the heart of old Odessa, where government stores rub shoulders with major retail outlets. Looking for souvenirs to bring back to the ship? The delightful 'Matryoshka' or Russian 'nesting' dolls make great gifts.

Enjoy a spot of people-watching from the pavement-side cafes and try delicious Ukrainian specialties such as Varenyky - dough pies. Relax in the city's leafy parks such and don't miss the famous Potemkin steps, the formal entrance to the city, accessed from the port.

Piraeus, Athens
Your Greece cruise really begins to take shape when your MSC cruise ship docks in the port of Piraeus. If you're not heading straight for Athens you could do worse than opt for a seafood lunch at one of the many excellent harbourside restaurants. And, don't be put off from ordering a glass of wine because you once tried Retsina and didn't like it, the pine barrels used to make Retsina make it something of challenge for Northern Europeans, but Greece has many excellent wines that are well worth trying. Naturally the fish is as fresh and delicious as anything in the Med'.

Athens is dominated by the flat-topped hill of the Acropolis site of the Parthenon, one of the most famous classical monuments in the world. Even today it's simple perfection represents one of architecture's outstanding moments. A Greece cruise will introduce you to the unique charm that is Athens. It may be choked with traffic and burdened with a mountain of debt but its lively character will seduce you and the thousands of other visitors who flock here every year! Street markets, vine-covered taverns, souvenir stalls and ancient monuments are all part of Athens, making it a unique cruise destination.

A tour of the historic sites is a must here; choose from the Acropolis, Parthenon and archaeological museum or admire the views and ancient temples in old Cape Sounion. For those who prefer a gentler itinerary, our panoramic tour of Athens takes in the main sights with photo opportunities from the comfort of your coach.

Cruise passengers that really wish to immerse themselves in ancient Greek history can step back in time during our 'voyage to ancient Greece', which includes an un-missable stop at the brand new Acropolis Museum.

You can then return to the ship with a suitable souvenir to remember your holiday by, as well as a lasting sense of wonder.

Sorrento
Sorrento is a small Italian holiday town located on the Bay of Naples, on the south coast of Italy.

Located on rugged cliffs, Sorrento is set in a spectacular location, amidst mountains, rolling hills, lemon and olive groves and vineyards.

If you are travelling on a luxury MSC cruise liner holiday in spring, you will notice the delicate scent of orange blossom filling the air. With a warm, dry climate Sorrento is ideal at any time of year.

Leave your cruise ship and head for the ancient town itself where an abundance of sights and attractions await you.

Our programme of excursion packages offer the best deals on Sorrento sightseeing, shopping as well as trips further afield. In town you can shop for traditional wares such as fine linen, lace, or 'tarsia' - wood-inlaid art.

Take home a reminder of Italy's culinary heritage and pick up a traditional digestif made from the fruits of the region - lemons, tangerines and oranges - distilled into limoncello and other delicious liquors.

Sorrento has many festivals throughout the year and passengers may be able to witness some of the folk festivities whilst on vacation here. With many civilisations having left their mark on the city, from Etruscan to Byzantine, a trip to the Archaeological Museum is worth a visit.

With Capri just a boat-ride away and a wealth of pretty farmhouses, ancient castles and churches within easy access, Sorrento is the gateway to the poetic heart of Italy.