Malta Cruise from Valletta — 10 Days

9 nights · Malta · Departs Valletta (Malta) · Visiting Porto Empedocle, Trapani, Palermo, Stromboli Island, Lipari Island, Salerno, Reggio Calabria, Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Siracusa · Aboard Ponant Cruises on the Le Boreal

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Le Boreal
Valletta Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Porto Empedocle Cruise Port Trapani Cruise Port: Erice, Salt Pans & Expert Shore Guide Palermo Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Image courtesy of Ponant Cruises ©

Cruise linePonant Cruises
ShipLe Boreal
Duration9 nights
Port calls10
From fare$8,780 per person
Year built2010
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

    Porto Empedocle, Italy

    Porto Empedocle is a working Sicilian port with an unusually distinguished neighbour: Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. Just a short drive inland, this UNESCO-listed site preserves some of the finest Greek temples outside Greece. Closer to shore, the pale cliffs of Scala dei Turchi rise above the water near Realmonte. Come for ancient history, then linger over Sicilian seafood and the unhurried rhythms of a port town.

  3. Day 3

    Trapani, Italy

    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.

  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

    Stromboli Island, Italy

    Stromboli rises from the Tyrrhenian Sea, its active volcano visible long before you reach the island. Whitewashed houses and bougainvillea line narrow lanes in the villages of San Vincenzo and Ginostra. From the water, look toward the Sciara del Fuoco, where glowing fragments sometimes descend toward the sea. For a closer encounter, follow local guidance: access to upper trails depends on volcanic conditions and regulations.

  6. Day 5

    Lipari Island, Italy

    Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic chain off Sicily’s northern coast. The town rises around a citadel, home to the Aeolian Archaeological Museum and its collection of island finds. Walk the old lanes to Marina Corta, then choose a waterfront table for fresh seafood. Beyond town, pumice quarries and coastal viewpoints reveal a landscape shaped by fire and sea.

  7. Day 6

    Salerno, Italy

    Salerno puts southern Italy within easy reach, with ferries and roads leading toward the Amalfi Coast. Yet the city rewards a closer look: its old lanes gather around the handsome Duomo di San Matteo. Inside, bronze doors and a richly decorated crypt recall Salerno’s medieval importance as a center of learning. Climb to Arechi Castle for broad views across the Gulf, or venture inland to the Greek temples at Paestum.

  8. Day 7

    Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Reggio Calabria faces Sicily across the Strait of Messina, at Italy’s southern toe. Its waterfront promenade, the Lungomare Falcomatà, frames views of Mount Etna and the island beyond on clear days. At the National Archaeological Museum, the celebrated Riace Bronzes reveal the city’s deep Greek past. Look beyond the galleries to lively piazzas, elegant Liberty-style buildings, and cafés serving the region’s distinctive bergamot.

  9. Day 8

    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.

  10. Day 9

    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.

  11. Day 10

    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.

Le Boreal Cruises

Published September 3, 2026
Last updated October 11, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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