Malta Cruise from Valletta to Villefranche-sur-Mer — 8 Days

7 nights · Malta · Departs Valletta (Malta) · Visiting Siracusa, Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Palermo, Cagliari, Bonifacio, Portoferraio, Villefranche-sur-Mer · Aboard Ponant Cruises on the L'Austral

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L'Austral
Valletta Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Siracusa Cruise Port Guide: Ortigia & Expert Shore Excursions Giardini Naxos Cruise Port: Expert Guide to Taormina & Beyond Palermo Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Image courtesy of Ponant Cruises ©

Cruise linePonant Cruises
ShipL'Austral
Duration7 nights
Port calls8
Departures1 sailings
Year built2011
Guests264
Cabins132
Crew140
Length142 m
Beam18 m
Cruising speed14.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Valletta, Malta

    Valletta makes a powerful first impression, its honey-coloured walls rising above Grand Harbour. Founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, Malta’s compact capital rewards exploration on foot. Enter St John’s Co-Cathedral for Caravaggio’s monumental paintings, then follow Republic Street to cafés, palaces and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. From the terraces, watch ferries cross the harbour and look towards the Three Cities. Allow time for steep lanes and quiet side streets.

  2. Day 2

    Siracusa, Italy

    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.

  3. Day 3

    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.

  4. Day 4

    Palermo, Italy

    Palermo rewards curious travellers with a vivid mix of Arab-Norman architecture, lively markets and Sicilian cooking. Start at the cathedral, where Norman, Gothic and Baroque details reflect the city’s layered past. Then walk through the Capo market or visit the Palatine Chapel, famed for its Byzantine mosaics. Leave time for pasta con le sarde or arancini; Palermo’s strongest impressions often arrive at the table.

  5. Day 5

    Cagliari, Italy

    Cagliari rewards those who look beyond the waterfront. Sardinia’s capital rises above the Gulf of Angels, its old Castello quarter perched over a working port. Walk the bastions for broad views, then explore the Roman amphitheatre carved into limestone. Below town, Poetto’s long beach meets salt lagoons where flamingos feed. Return for fregola with seafood or bottarga, the island’s prized cured mullet roe.

  6. Day 6

    Bonifacio, France

    Bonifacio clings to limestone cliffs at Corsica’s southern tip, its old town rising above a narrow, sheltered strait. From the harbor, climb through the medieval citadel’s steep lanes for sea views reaching Sardinia on clear days. Below, boats thread the fjord-like inlet, while the famed King Aragon’s Staircase descends 187 steps toward the water. Come ashore ready for slopes, stone, and a striking sense of history.

  7. Day 7

    Portoferraio, Italy

    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.

  8. Day 8

    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.

L'Austral Cruises

Published September 22, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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