Cruise the sparkling Mediterranean and Aegean aboard Norwegian Spirit; enjoy a three-night stay in a Barcelona hotel and two-nights in Venice – plus two nights in Verona, setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and two nights in stylish Milan.
‘Spanish Flair to Italian Charm’, a new fly-cruise-and-stay holiday, is exclusive to Worldwide Cruise Centres (worldwidecruisecentres.com.au). The holiday packs plenty of experiences and sights into three unforgettable weeks.
Prices for the 21-night holiday start from A$7999 per person twin share from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth to Barcelona and return from Milan.
Book before 31 October 2015 and you qualify for a free beverage offer. For inside and ocean view cabin categories, it’s a soft-drink package, while balcony cabins and above receive a free Unlimited Beverage Package – representing quite a saving!
Other exclusive touches on ‘Spanish Flair to Italian Charm’ include first class Italian train travel, a tour that skips the queues for Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona, a walking tour of Venice, a gondola ride through Venetian canals and a boat cruise on a renowned Italian lake. All hotels on the holiday are four star and include daily breakfast.
‘Spanish Flair to Italian Charm’ gets underway with a flight to Barcelona on 27 May 2016, as European springtime turns to summer.
You’ll spend three nights in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s fabulous cathedral, is one of the world’s most visited buildings. An included guided tour lets you skip the tourist queues and discover the magnificent interior. Take the lift up the tower near the entrance (admission included) to admire wonderful views of this enchanting Spanish seaside city. At leisure, stroll Barcelona’s historic La Rambla pedestrian mall and discover the city’s legendary dining scene.
Time now to board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit for a 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruise to Venice. Almost 270 metres long and 32 metres wide, Norwegian Spirit offers an endless list of pleasant diversions: 14 dining options, 10 bars and lounges, Maharaja’s Casino and the Roman Spa and Fitness centre, the Tivoli Pool and four outdoor hot tubs. All shipboard main meals (excluding specialty restaurants) are included.
First port of call is the historic town of Toulon in France’s Provence region, on the Mediterranean coast. Perhaps visit the morning market on Cours Lafayette.
Next, to Italy’s Tuscany region, where Livorno port gives access to Florence and Pisa, each highly walkable and resplendent in art and history.
Get set for a day in Rome now. No visit is complete without a visit to the Colosseum, St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican and the Pantheon. Another of Italy’s best-known cities follows: Naples, known for architecture, music and gastronomy.
Sailing into Greek waters, you’ll visit Mykonos, perhaps the most classic Greek island of them all, with whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and windmills set against a dark blue sea. Then to Turkey and Istanbul, melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures and faiths. The Grand Bazaar, 17th-century Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace are the key sights.
Half a day in the Turkish port town of Kusadasi lets you visit Ephesus, one of Asia Minor’s best-preserved Greek-Roman cities, followed next day by Athens, full of enticing restaurants and classical wonders. Maybe sample ouzo, favourite tipple in Greece’s capital.
A day at sea gives you time to prepare for Venice. The ship overnights here. After disembarking, you’ve two more nights to spend in this incomparable maritime city. A walking tour from St Marks Square shows you the city’s monuments: St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile, Marco Polo’s house and Malibran Theatre among them. You’ll glide along intricate Venetian waterways by gondola, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people.
A first class train journey speeds you to Verona, where two nights in a four-star hotel lets you wander this romantic city, a Roman trade centre since the 3rd century BC.
Another First Class train trip takes you to Milan, Italy’s capital of fashion and design. Two nights here includes a full-day visit to one of Italy’s most famous lakes, Como, with time to explore the historic towns of Como and Bellagio. A walking tour of Bellagio includes a visit to the Cathedral and boat cruise on the lake.
Now, after three fun-filled weeks, time to sip a cappuccino, perhaps with biscotti, before jetting back to Australia.
To find your local Worldwide Cruise Centres agent go to:
www.worldwidecruisecentres.com.au
SOURCE Worldwide Cruise Centres