Best of Western Mediterranean
Celebrity Constellation from Barcelona to Venice
11 Days | September 23- October 4, 2021
Starting At $2195.00
Explore the wonders of the Mediterranean on a European cruise vacation and you’ll discover the many cultures, rich histories, and iconic cuisines of some of the oldest civilizations in the world. The Mediterranean Sea is encircled by beautifully diverse and vast terrains. From the French Riviera’s sun-kissed beaches through the Balkans, the Greek Isles, and Israel, our unparalleled, culturally immersive European cruises deliver the Mediterranean like no other.
Highlights
Price Includes:
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Ports of Call:
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PER PERSON PRICES:
Interior $2195 Double…..$3770 Single
Oceanview $2645 Double…..$4675 Single
Balcony: $3575 Double…..$6535 Single
***Call U S Tours for competitive Air pricing***
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Barcelona
Today, arrive into beautiful Barcelona, Spain. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. The rest of the day is on your own.
Day 2 Barcelona/Board the Celebrity Constellation
This morning after breakfast, start your day with a sightseeing tour by bus. Some of the sights include: the famous Gaudi houses, Olympic Village, Olympic Port, the beach and Fisherman’s Quarter, and Plaza de Colon. After the conclusion of your tour, the bus will drop you off at the cruise pier where you will board the Celebrity Constellation. The ship will set sail at 5:00 p.m.
Day 3 Provence, France
Situated on the French Riviera, Toulon is more about small-town charm and natural beauty than glitz and glamour. As you pull into the city’s huge natural harbor, you’ll see towering Mont Faron — after you dock, take the 6-minute cable car ride to the summit, where you’ll be greeted to sweeping views of the Mediterranean and the city below. Cruise to Provence to stroll down the Cours Lafayette and take in the smells of oregano, thyme and freshly baked pastries from the local street vendors. Then, explore the city’s naval heritage — it’s been the French Navy’s base for over 500 years — at the Musee de la Marine, or take a boat tour of the Rade de Toulon, the city’s military harbor.
Day 4 Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy
La Spezia, which lies between Genoa and Pisa, and is just minutes to the east of Cinque Terre-the five fishing ports that enjoy National Park status-is home to the Palio del Golfo, an annual boat race that sees the Gulf of Poets; 13 historic villages face off against one another in celebration of the annual Festa del Mare. The town also offers fantastic shopping opportunities, as well as plenty of trattorias to enjoy local, Ligurian cuisine.
Day 5 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Civitavecchia was settled in 108 A.D. by the Emperor Trajan and has since served faithfully as a gateway to Rome, the capital of Italy. Once the center of the Ancient World from which emperors ruled over nearly all of western civilization, Rome is still a cultural mecca. Only a few cities in the world can boast such a well-preserved level of architecture, art, and religious iconography. There’s an enormous wealth of culture and history to discover on a cruise to Rome. Visit the ancient halls of the 50,000-seat Colosseum, gaze upon the ceilings of Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, and stroll the Capitoline Museum. Roman culinary prowess is well respected and beloved the world over. Experience authentic pizza, hearty bowls of fresh pasta, excellent cheeses, wines, seafood, and delightful desserts like tiramisu and gelato at family-run trattorias that have been preparing these traditional dishes for centuries. Walk the cobblestoned piazzas making your way to narrow side streets where you’re sure to find craftsman shops and beautiful boutiques filled with gorgeous handmade accessories and homewares for keepsakes and souvenirs.
Day 6 Naples, Italy
Framed by Mount Vesuvius along a dramatic skyline, the 2,800 year-old port city of Naples is chock full of historical sites, churches, and museums that make it a fascinating place for you to explore. For all of Rome’s notoriety and reputation, Naples, with its historic city center deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has just as many important archeological sites and landmarks. Visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale for a world-class collection of Egyptian and Graeco-Roman artifacts. And, if you’d like to venture a little deeper on your Naples cruise, then exploring Naples from below the ground is a must. Start with a trip into the basement of the San Lorenzo Maggiore church where you’ll find a partially excavated Roman market and a little deeper, just below the Roman ruins, you’ll find remnants from the Greeks to discover. And in the region where pizza was first invented, you know the food is going to be incredible. Whether you’re looking for a thin, wood-fired Margherita pie, spaghetti alle vongole or a zeppole dusted with confectioner’s sugar, Naples and her bountiful edible treasures is sure to please. Only 35 miles down the coast, Salerno offers you a rich history, but also boasts a marvelous collection of parks, natural wonders, and unique vantage points to take in the beauty of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Two cities. One incredible stretch of Italian coastline.
Day 7 Sicily (Messina), Italy
Day 8 At Sea
Today is a luxurious day at sea.
Day 9 Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro offers up some of the most well-preserved architecture in all the Adriatic coast, with landmarks such as the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon. Built in 1166, there are frescoes dating back hundreds of years, and much of the gold and silver relief work done by the city’s master craftsmen of that time are held for safe keeping within its walls. Tucked at the secluded tip of a tranquil bay and watched over for millennia by the surrounding mountains, Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure.
The town’s history dates back before the epic age of Homer, but it’s the medieval wonders in Old Kotor that draw acclaim today. Marbled avenues meander with no apparent order, and, even for locals, it’s quite common to get turned around. The good news is, few places are more fun to get lost in than Kotor. Cruises to Montenegro would not be complete without sampling the local cuisine. Fresh seafood is always on the menu and the “domestic fish thick soup” is a tradition not to be missed. Old churches, shops, and bars line the avenues, and don’t be surprised to wander upon a charming piazza right out of the blue. Come summer, the lavish yachts of the ultra-rich fill the marina, presenting a striking contrast to the rustic romance and ancient beauty of Kotor.
Day 10 Zadar, Croatia
Day 11 Venice, Italy
This morning arrive into Venice and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
**Contact U S Tours about extending your stay for a night or two in Venice to enjoy this marvelous, historical city**