18 nights · Marghera-Fusina, Italy · Departs Venice (Italy) · Visiting Ravenna, Ancona, Kotor, Taranto, Crotone, Siracusa, Trapani, Amalfi, Sorrento, Civitavecchia-Rome, Portoferraio, Livorno, La Spezia, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Marseille, Barcelona · Aboard Azamara Cruises on the Azamara Onward
Image courtesy of Azamara Cruises ©
| Cruise line | Azamara Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship | Azamara Onward |
| Duration | 18 nights |
| Port calls | 17 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $7,159 per person |
| Year built | 1999 |
| Guests | 804 |
| Cabins | 352 |
| Crew | 373 |
| Length | 181 m |
| Beam | 25 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
Arrive in Venice by water, where the lagoon’s canals replace ordinary streets. St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace anchor the celebrated Piazza San Marco. Take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal, then explore a quieter neighborhood on foot. Confirm your ship’s terminal and transfer arrangements before setting out; cruise access varies. Near Rialto, the market and bridge offer a lively glimpse of the city’s trade. Give yourself time to leave the main routes and follow smaller canals.
Ravenna rewards travellers who look beyond the shoreline. From Porto Corsini, the historic centre lies about 12 kilometres inland. Eight UNESCO-listed monuments preserve some of Europe’s finest Byzantine mosaics. See the Basilica of San Vitale and the intimate Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, famed for its starry ceiling. Dante’s tomb and quiet piazzas complete a city best explored on foot, at an unhurried pace.
Ancona rewards travelers who look beyond the Adriatic waterfront. Greek settlers from Syracuse founded the city, whose Roman arches, medieval lanes, and hilltop cathedral still shape its character. Climb to San Ciriaco for views across the harbor, then linger over seafood and Verdicchio in the old town. The beaches and limestone cliffs of the Conero Riviera lie just south.
At the head of Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor, the old town sits beneath steep mountains. Enter through the Sea Gate and follow stone lanes to St Tryphon’s Cathedral. Venetian-era walls frame squares, churches, and cafés within a compact UNESCO-listed center. For a broader view, climb toward San Giovanni Fortress; the steps are demanding. Take water and allow time for the ascent, especially in summer heat. From the harbor, the bay’s changing light makes a memorable arrival and departure.
Taranto rewards travelers who look beyond Italy’s familiar circuit. Its old town occupies an island between the Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo, linked to the modern city by bridges. The Aragonese Castle guards the channel, while the Cathedral of San Cataldo preserves a long history beneath its Baroque interior. At MArTA, the National Archaeological Museum, gold jewelry and Greek-era finds reveal Taranto’s importance in Magna Graecia.
Crotone puts ancient Magna Graecia within easy reach of Calabria’s Ionian coast. Greek settlers founded Croton in the eighth century BC, and Pythagoras later taught here. In the old town, narrow lanes lead to the 16th-century Castle of Charles V and the cathedral. At Capo Colonna, the last standing column marks Hera Lacinia’s ancient sanctuary. The headland opens to broad Ionian views.
Siracusa rewards visitors who look beyond its handsome waterfront. On Ortigia, the old island heart, Greek temples, Baroque palaces and lively markets sit within an easy walk. Across the channel, Neapolis Archaeological Park preserves a Greek theatre, Roman amphitheatre and the famed Ear of Dionysius. Pause for granita or fresh seafood, then watch the light soften over the Ionian Sea.
Trapani sits on Sicily’s western tip, where salt pans, fishing boats and old stone streets define the waterfront. Erice rises above the coast, reached from Trapani by cable car in about ten minutes. Stay in town for the Basilica-Santuario di Maria Santissima Annunziata and the lively lanes around the fish market. Local menus bring couscous, tuna and seafood to the table, reflecting Trapani’s long links with North Africa.
Amalfi brings the coast’s drama within easy reach: cliffs, lemon terraces and a harbor backed by steep streets. Start in the old center, where the striped façade of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew rises above Piazza Duomo. Then choose your pace: browse lanes and cafés, visit the Paper Museum, or take the winding road to Ravello. Sea views come with history here, and the pleasure of seeing one of Italy’s celebrated shorelines at close range.
Sorrento rises above the Bay of Naples, facing Mount Vesuvius across water busy with ferries. From here, ferries connect with Capri, while the town rewards a slower day among old lanes, churches, and sea-view terraces. Follow the scent of citrus to shops selling Sorrento lemons, locally made limoncello, and finely crafted marquetry. Then pause over lunch: the region’s seafood and Campanian produce are best enjoyed without hurry.
Your ship docks at Civitavecchia, Rome’s seaport, about 50 miles northwest of the capital. Rome’s great monuments are within reach, but the port town rewards a closer look. Walk the waterfront to Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress begun under Pope Julius II; explore the old streets and market. Prefer a quieter day? The town’s seafront and nearby beaches offer an easy change of pace. Choose Rome for art and antiquity, or Civitavecchia for coastal life beyond the terminal.
Portoferraio rises above Elba’s deep-blue harbor, its honey-colored walls reflecting the ambition of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Walk the steep lanes between the Medici fortresses, then visit Villa dei Mulini, Napoleon’s residence during his 1814–15 exile. Beyond the old town, clear coves and pale beaches invite a swim. Vineyards and coastal roads reward a longer stay. This is Tuscany with salt air and a storied past.
Livorno rewards those who look beyond the cruise terminal. Its canals, built in the style of Venice, wind through historic Venezia Nuova. The seafront promenade leads to Terrazza Mascagni, where black-and-white paving frames the sea. At Mercato Centrale, locals shop beneath a vast iron-and-glass roof. Try cacciucco, the city’s rich fish stew. Florence and Pisa are within reach, but Livorno merits time of its own.
La Spezia sits at the head of the Gulf of Poets. Here, Liguria’s steep hills meet a sheltered stretch of Mediterranean coast. Its working harbor gives the city a lively maritime character, while cafés and broad streets reward an easy stroll. Trains connect La Spezia with the villages of the Cinque Terre; ferries sail to Portovenere. Allow time for the city itself, not just its celebrated neighbors.
Villefranche-sur-Mer makes an unusually graceful first impression: pastel houses rise above one of the Riviera’s deepest natural harbors. Wander the old town’s narrow lanes, then visit the 16th-century citadel and its museums. Jean Cocteau’s painted Chapel of Saint-Pierre adds a distinctive local detail. Nearby trains connect you with Nice; roads lead to Èze and the wider Côte d’Azur.
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded by Greek settlers around 600 BC, and it still faces the Mediterranean with confidence. Begin at the Vieux-Port, where fishing boats share the waterfront with cafés and ferries bound for nearby islands. Climb to Notre-Dame de la Garde for sweeping views, or explore Le Panier’s narrow lanes and lively squares. The Calanques’ limestone coves lie beyond the city; local markets bring Provençal flavors closer.
Barcelona is a Mediterranean port city built on Roman foundations, with Gothic lanes and striking modernist architecture. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya towards the waterfront and the old town. Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell show the city at its most distinctive. Set aside time for a market lunch and a walk through El Born, where medieval streets meet lively cafés. Barcelona’s beaches offer a welcome pause between visits.
Published September 20, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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