Nice, France Riviera Cruise from Villefranche-sur-Mer to Dubrovnik — 15 Days

14 nights · Nice, France Riviera · Departs Villefranche-sur-Mer (France) · Visiting Monte Carlo, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino, Porto Venere, Carrara, Livorno, Calvi, Civitavecchia-Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Gallipoli, Otranto, Monopoli, Dubrovnik · Aboard Emerald Cruises on the Emerald Kaia

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Emerald Kaia
Villefranche-sur-Mer Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Monte Carlo Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Santa Margherita Ligure Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Guide Portofino Cruise Port
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Cruise lineEmerald Cruises
ShipEmerald Kaia
Duration14 nights
Port calls16
Departures1 sailings
Year built2026
Guests128
Cabins64
Crew92
Length120 m
Beam16 m
Cruising speed22.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

    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.

  2. Day 2

    Monte Carlo, Monaco

    Monte Carlo makes a striking first impression, with superyachts in Port Hercule and the Alps rising behind the coast. A short walk leads to Casino Square, where Belle Époque architecture frames the famous casino and designer boutiques. For a quieter contrast, climb to Monaco-Ville for the Prince’s Palace, cathedral and views across the harbor. The principality is compact and easy to explore on foot, though its steep streets reward comfortable shoes.

  3. Day 3

    Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy

    Santa Margherita Ligure pairs a working harbour with pastel façades, palm-lined promenades and the Ligurian Sea. Ferries connect the town with Portofino, while coastal paths lead toward the abbey at San Fruttuoso. Browse the shops and cafés along the waterfront, then visit the 17th-century Basilica of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia. Allow time for a seafood lunch; local menus often feature anchovies, Ligurian pesto and fresh fish.

  4. Day 3

    Portofino, Italy

    Portofino is a small Ligurian harbour, framed by green hills and pastel façades. On its crescent waterfront, fishing boats share the view with polished yachts. From the piazzetta, lanes climb to Castello Brown, a former fortress overlooking the harbour and coast. Walk on to the lighthouse at Punta del Capo, or take a boat to nearby Santa Margherita Ligure. A table by the water offers the best reason to linger.

  5. Day 4

    Porto Venere, Italy

    Porto Venere gives the Ligurian coast a striking address, often quieter than nearby Cinque Terre. Past pastel harbor houses, climb to Doria Castle for sweeping views across the Gulf of Poets. At the headland, the striped Church of San Pietro stands above the sea beside Byron’s Grotto. The village and Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto islands form part of a UNESCO-listed landscape worth lingering over.

  6. Day 5

    Carrara, Italy

    At Marina di Carrara, Tuscany’s marble country meets the coast. The city of Carrara sits inland beneath the Apuan Alps, where white stone has been quarried since Roman times. Visit the marble quarries, then explore the old town’s cathedral and Piazza Alberica, lined with elegant palazzi. This is a port for travelers drawn to working craft, mountain scenery and the enduring beauty of stone.

  7. Day 6

    Livorno, Italy

    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.

  8. Day 7

    Calvi, France

    Calvi rewards a day ashore with a rare pairing: a fortified Genoese citadel and a broad, pale-sand beach. Climb its steep lanes to the ramparts, where the harbor and crescent-shaped bay open beneath the Corsican hills. Below, cafés and shops line the old town, while the waterfront leads towards several kilometres of sand. Come for the views, then linger over local seafood or explore Balagne’s villages and vineyards beyond town.

  9. Day 8

    Civitavecchia-Rome, Italy

    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.

  10. Day 9

    Sorrento, Italy

    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.

  11. Day 10

    Amalfi, Italy

    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.

  12. Day 11

    Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Italy

    Giardini Naxos sits on Sicily’s Ionian coast, beneath Mount Etna and a short drive from Taormina. Its waterfront pairs pebble beaches with cafés, gelaterie and views across the bay. Sicily’s first Greek colony was founded here in 734 BC. A nearby archaeological park preserves traces of its ancient streets and walls. Come for a seaside day, or use the port as a gateway to Taormina. There, the Greek Theatre commands sweeping views of Etna and the coast.

  13. Day 12

    Gallipoli, Italy

    Gallipoli lies on Salento’s Ionian coast. Its old town fills an island joined to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge. The harbor still serves fishing boats. Narrow lanes lead to the Baroque Cathedral of Sant’Agata and palazzi that recall centuries of trade. Beyond the walls, clear water and sandy beaches offer an easy change of pace. Stay for sunset, when the Ionian Sea turns the waterfront gold.

  14. Day 13

    Otranto, Italy

    Otranto brings you to Salento’s Adriatic edge, where a walled town faces the sea. Walk from the harbor into the historic center, then visit Otranto Cathedral. Its celebrated medieval floor mosaic depicts biblical scenes and figures from history. Nearby, the Chapel of the Martyrs commemorates victims of the 1480 Ottoman siege. Aragonese Castle guards the waterfront, while cafés serve seafood and regional Salento cooking. Compact and walkable, Otranto makes a rewarding port call without a long transfer.

  15. Day 14

    Monopoli, Italy

    Monopoli rewards a slower arrival. Fishing boats still line its old harbor, and whitewashed lanes lead into a compact historic centre. At the waterfront, the 16th-century Castle of Charles V overlooks the port. Nearby, the cathedral honors the Madonna della Madia, whose icon, local tradition says, arrived by sea. Come ashore for Adriatic light, fresh seafood, and the pleasures of Puglia’s limestone streets.

  16. Day 15

    Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Spend a day inside Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, best explored on foot. Walk the city walls for close views of fortifications, roofs, and harbor. Then follow Stradun to Rector’s Palace and the Franciscan monastery. Book wall access in advance during busy months, and start early in summer. Mount Srđ offers a higher view, reached by cable car or road. Leave time for side lanes; their quieter corners reveal the city’s daily rhythm.

Emerald Kaia Cruises

Published August 12, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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