Italy Cruise from Civitavecchia to Valletta — 9 Days

8 nights · Italy · Departs Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy) · Visiting Gaeta, Naples, Salerno, Agropoli, Reggio Calabria, Giardini Naxos-Taormina, Siracusa, Valletta · Aboard Ponant Cruises on the Le Laperouse

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Le Laperouse
Civitavecchia Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Gaeta Cruise Port Guide: Shore Excursions & Expert Tips Naples Cruise Port: Pompeii, Pizza & Expert Shore Guide Salerno Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Cruise linePonant Cruises
ShipLe Laperouse
Duration8 nights
Port calls9
Departures1 sailings
From fare$9,340 per person
Year built2018
Guests264
Cabins92
Crew112
Length131 m
Beam18 m
Cruising speed15.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    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.

  2. Day 2

    Gaeta, Italy

    Gaeta sits on a rocky headland between Rome and Naples, where the Tyrrhenian coast shifts from harbour to beach. Explore its medieval quarter, then climb Monte Orlando to the Roman mausoleum of Lucius Munatius Plancus. At the Sanctuary of Montagna Spaccata, a dramatic cleft in the rock draws pilgrims and visitors alike. Leave time for tiella, Gaeta’s savoury stuffed pie, and a swim in the clear coastal waters.

  3. Day 3

    Naples, Italy

    Naples puts its history within reach: the port opens onto a compact city framed by Mount Vesuvius and the bay. UNESCO-listed streets lead to churches, palaces and the everyday theatre of southern Italian life. At the National Archaeological Museum, mosaics and objects from Pompeii and Herculaneum bring the Roman world sharply into focus. Stay close for Neapolitan pizza, or use Naples as a springboard to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Capri.

  4. Day 4

    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.

  5. Day 5

    Agropoli, Italy

    Agropoli is the Cilento’s lively seaside town, set south of Salerno on Campania’s Tyrrhenian coast. Climb through its medieval gateway and steep lanes to the hilltop castle, where views reach across the Gulf of Salerno. Then make time for Paestum, about 10 kilometres away, to see some of Italy’s best-preserved Greek temples. Back in town, the harbour and nearby beaches offer an easy pause for lunch or a swim.

  6. Day 6

    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.

  7. Day 7

    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.

  8. Day 8

    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.

  9. Day 9

    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 Laperouse Cruises

Published August 6, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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