Ponant

Daily Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Valletta

   Depart 18:00

   Malta

   

   Valletta, Europe's smallest capital, is a fortress city of exceptional grandeur raised from bare limestone in just fifteen years after the Knights of St. John repelled the great Ottoman siege of 1565 — its rigid Renaissance grid of sun-drenched streets concealing a density of baroque palaces, gilded oratories, and subterranean World War II shelters unrivaled anywhere in the Mediterranean. The Grand Harbour, framed by golden bastions plunging into startlingly blue water, offers one of the most dramatically photogenic arrivals in the world for arriving vessels. Spring and autumn deliver the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this UNESCO-listed gem.

2. Day 2

   Porto Empedocle, Italy

   Arrive 12:00Depart 18:00

   Italy

   

   Porto Empedocle is Sicily’s gateway to the Valley of the Temples—a UNESCO ridge of seven Doric masterpieces including the extraordinarily preserved Temple of Concordia, rivaling anything in Greece. Must-dos include dawn visits to the Valley of the Temples, exploring Camilleri’s Montalbano country, and breakfast granita with brioche. Visit March through June or September through November for comfortable temperatures; evening visits offer illuminated temple views against the Mediterranean sky.

3. Day 3

   Trapani (Sicily)

   Arrive 07:00Depart 19:00

   Italy

   

   Trapani is western Sicily's sickle-shaped port city where ancient salt flats, cloud-wrapped medieval Erice, and the crystal-clear Egadi Islands converge at the Mediterranean's cultural crossroads. Visit April through October via Seabourn or Windstar for cable-car ascents to Norman-era pastry shops, sunset salt-flat reflections, and the Arab-influenced seafood couscous that distinguishes this coast from anywhere else in Italy.

4. Day 4

   Palermo

   Arrive 06:00Depart 22:00

   Italy

   

   Palermo is the Mediterranean's most intoxicating crossroads of civilisations — Arab arches meet Byzantine gold mosaics beneath Norman royal chapels in the extraordinary Palatine Chapel, a monument to 12th-century multicultural brilliance that is Sicily's single greatest work of art. The Ballarò and Capo street markets, among southern Italy's most atmospheric, tumble through the ancient city in a sensory barrage of swordfish, blood oranges, jasmine, and street food improvised across centuries. Do not leave without tasting arancini and sfincione, Sicily's gloriously thick street pizza. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer the ideal climate — warm enough for the sea, cool enough for extended walking.

5. Day 5

   Lipari

   Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00

   Italy

   

   Lipari, the largest of Sicily's volcanic Aeolian Islands, has been a Mediterranean trading hub for over 6,000 years, featuring a dramatic Castello, world-class archaeological museum, and gateway access to Stromboli's erupting crater. Must-dos include exploring the fortified old town, tasting caper-laced Aeolian cuisine and Malvasia wine, and island-hopping to Vulcano and Stromboli. May through October offers ideal conditions.

6. Day 5

   Stromboli

   Italy

   

   Stromboli is an active volcanic island in the Aeolian archipelago that has erupted continuously for over two thousand years, earning its nickname as the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean. Must-dos include witnessing nighttime eruptions from the sea, hiking to the Sciara del Fuoco viewpoint, and tasting salt-cured capers and Malvasia wine on a terrace beneath the glowing summit. May through October offers calm seas and clear skies for the best eruption viewing.

7. Day 6

   Salerno

   Arrive 07:00Depart 16:00

   Italy

   

   Salerno is a historic Campanian port city nestled between the Amalfi Coast and Cilento National Park, home to Europe's first medieval medical school and a magnificent Romanesque cathedral with Byzantine bronze doors. Visitors should not miss the Lungomare Trieste promenade at sunset and a plate of hand-rolled scialatielli ai frutti di mare in the atmospheric old town. The mild Mediterranean climate makes Salerno enchanting year-round, though late spring through early autumn offers the most luminous light and the fullest expression of its coastal character.

8. Day 7

   Reggio Di Calabria

   Arrive 07:30Depart 23:59

   Italy

   

   Reggio di Calabria is the toe of Italy's boot, home to the magnificent Bronzi di Riace bronze warriors and a sun-drenched waterfront promenade overlooking the Strait of Messina and Sicily. Must-dos include visiting the Magna Grecia museum, tasting 'nduja and grilled swordfish, and walking the Lungomare with Mount Etna in view. May through October offers the warmest weather and calmest strait conditions.

9. Day 8

   Taormina

   Arrive 08:00Depart 22:00

   Italy

   

   Taormina is a cliffside Sicilian jewel 200 meters above the Ionian Sea, featuring an ancient Greek theater with Mount Etna as its backdrop, the exquisite Isola Bella bay, and some of Sicily's finest cuisine. Must-dos include a performance at the Teatro Antico, the cable car to Isola Bella, and tasting Etna volcanic wines. April through June and September through October offer ideal temperatures.

10. Day 9

    Siracuse, Sicily

    Arrive 07:00Depart 18:00

    Italy

    

11. Day 10

    Valletta

    Arrive 06:00

    Malta

    

    Valletta, Europe's smallest capital, is a fortress city of exceptional grandeur raised from bare limestone in just fifteen years after the Knights of St. John repelled the great Ottoman siege of 1565 — its rigid Renaissance grid of sun-drenched streets concealing a density of baroque palaces, gilded oratories, and subterranean World War II shelters unrivaled anywhere in the Mediterranean. The Grand Harbour, framed by golden bastions plunging into startlingly blue water, offers one of the most dramatically photogenic arrivals in the world for arriving vessels. Spring and autumn deliver the most comfortable temperatures for exploring this UNESCO-listed gem.

Cabin Categories

Deluxe Stateroom

balcony

D

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A bathroom with shower A private 4 m² balcony A window and panoramic glazed swing door

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Prestige Stateroom Deck 4

balcony

1

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A bathroom with shower A private 4 m² balcony A panoramic sliding bay window

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Prestige Stateroom Deck 5

balcony

2

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A bathroom with shower A private 4 m² balcony A panoramic sliding bay window

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Prestige Stateroom Deck 6

balcony

3

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A bathroom with shower A private 4 m² balcony A panoramic sliding bay window

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Deluxe Suite Deck 6

suite

DS

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Priority boarding (depending on port of embarkation) Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival Butler service An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day One king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) An armchair and sofa (167 x 70 cm) A bathroom with shower and small bathtub A private 5 m² balcony A panoramic sliding bay window

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Owner's Suite

suite

OS

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Private return transfer Priority boarding (depending on port of embarkation) Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival Butler service An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day A bedroom with one king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A living/dining room with a sofa, armchair, second TV, 4-seater table, and sliding courtesy door A bathroom with shower and Balneo bathtub A one-hour spa treatments per person (for 2 people) in the well-being space, chosen from the facial and body treatments on offer Included premium pass: access to a selection of premium spirits at the bar A private 9 m² balcony Two panoramic sliding bay windows

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Prestige Suite Deck 5

suite

4

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day A bedroom with king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A lounge with convertible sofa to a king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), armchairs, second TV, and sliding courtesy door Two bathrooms with showers A private 8 m² balcony Two panoramic sliding bay windows

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Prestige Suite Deck 6

suite

5

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: Priority boarding (depending on port of embarkation) Champagne and fruit basket upon arrival Butler service An assortment of sweet or savoury canapés and fruit basket every day A bedroom with king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm) A lounge with convertible sofa to a king-size bed (180 x 200 cm) or two single beds (90 x 200 cm), armchairs, second TV, and sliding courtesy door Two bathrooms with showers A private 8 m² balcony Two panoramic sliding bay windows

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Superior Stateroom Deck 3

suite

6

In addition to the common services provided to all our suites and staterooms: One king-size bed or two single beds (180 x 200 cm) A bathroom with shower A window (except for stateroom 300: a round porthole only)

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