Sicily Italy Cruise from Giardini Naxos to Venice — 13 Days

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.

Marina di Ragusa, Italy

Marina di Ragusa pairs a handsome yacht harbour with a broad sweep of sandy beach on Sicily’s south coast. Its seafront invites an unhurried walk, with cafés and restaurants close to the water. Inland, Ragusa Ibla rewards the journey with honey-coloured Baroque streets and church façades. Modica and Scicli add further UNESCO-listed Baroque architecture to a day inland.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

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.

Messina, Italy

Messina faces Calabria across the narrow Strait of Messina, with mainland Italy visible from its waterfront. At noon, figures move across the cathedral’s clock tower, a daily spectacle best seen from the square. Nearby, Montorsoli’s 16th-century Fountain of Orion rewards a closer look. Excursions reach Taormina and Mount Etna, but Messina’s compact center also merits an unhurried walk.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Land Tour (Land Tour)

Maratea (Ask Travel Agent)

Venice, Italy

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.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• Verona (Ask Travel Agent)
• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)

Padua, Italy

Padua rewards visitors who look beyond Venice’s canals. Its compact historic centre holds Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel, famed for a landmark fresco cycle. The vast Basilica of Saint Anthony draws pilgrims and art lovers. Arcaded streets lead to lively piazzas, market stalls and the University of Padua, founded in 1222. Allow time for coffee beneath the Palazzo della Ragione’s soaring medieval roof.

Venice, Italy

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.

King George Island Antarctica

King George Island, in the South Shetlands, is one of Antarctica’s most accessible gateways. At Fildes Bay, expedition ships can bring you ashore among research stations, stark headlands and wind-shaped beaches. Look for gentoo and chinstrap penguins, along with seals resting near the waterline. Here, the scale of the continent becomes tangible: ice, ocean and weather set the terms of every visit. This is no town to browse; it is a rare landing on a working scientific frontier.

Venice Islands, Italy

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.

King George Island Antarctica

King George Island, in the South Shetlands, is one of Antarctica’s most accessible gateways. At Fildes Bay, expedition ships can bring you ashore among research stations, stark headlands and wind-shaped beaches. Look for gentoo and chinstrap penguins, along with seals resting near the waterline. Here, the scale of the continent becomes tangible: ice, ocean and weather set the terms of every visit. This is no town to browse; it is a rare landing on a working scientific frontier.

• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Land Tour (Land Tour)
• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)
• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Venice Islands, Italy

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.

Chioggia, Italy

Chioggia gives you the Venetian lagoon without Venice’s crowds. Set between the Adriatic and the southern lagoon, this working fishing town rewards a closer look. Walk Corso del Popolo, cross canals on small bridges, and visit the lively fish market near the harbor. Then pause for the fresh catch before choosing between the old town and Sottomarina’s long beach.

• Coastal Cruising (Coastal Cruising)

Venice, Italy

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.