Since the days of the Grand Tour, Italy – and its glorious, indulgent way of life – has been a favorite haunt of British travellers. But make no mistake: this is not just one destination. Rather, it is a series of distinct regions, each with its own dialect, architecture, cuisine and fierce regional pride, linked by a love of the traditional, of family and of the good life. And it is this great diversity that makes the modest cruise so unique in its exploration, offering the chance to dip in and out of these regions and sample their contrasting delights.
Compare the Amalfi Coast, for example; the islands off the coast of Sardinia and Sicily; the grandeur of Rome and Ravenna – the beautiful extremes of Italy – and you will appreciate it all the more. The southern tip, home to Puglia and Calabria – where locals still speak a dialect of Ancient Greek – combines so well with Venice, while a trip along the River Po takes you deep inland, where walled Renaissance towns and the fashion houses of Milan sit next to each other.
Then onward, where one day you’re standing under Juliet’s balcony in Verona, and just a few days later you’re walking among the ruins of Arab palaces in Messina. After all, variety is the spice of life – and nothing is the adage more applicable to than la dolce vita.
Sicilian sailing
Explore the Italian coast in style. In Lipari, one of the seven volcanic Aeolian Islands, just off Sicily’s northern coast, climb the narrow streets to the medieval castello and cruise past Stromboli, watching the sky for volcanic fireworks. Messina is the gateway to Sicily – try the famous mezza con panna al caffè, half a glass of granita and coffee-flavoured cream. Amalfi offers a visit to nearby Positano, said to be the most beautiful town in the Mediterranean. And the city walls of Sorrento, crowned with its magical gardens, rise straight from the sea. In the Pontine Islands, the town of Ponza is rarely visited by tourists, so you can enjoy its unspoilt town and port.
How to do that: Star Clippers (01473 242666; starclippers.co.uk) offers the seven-night ‘Amalfi and Sicily’ cruise on the Star Flyer with 166 guests from £1,660 per person. Sailing cruise from Civitavecchia on August 24, 2024 to Lipari, Messina, Amalfi, Sorrento and Ponza.
Floating palaces
There’s so much more to Venice than St. Mark’s Square: this cruise sails through the Venice Lagoon and outer islands, staying in palatial hotels and exploring small fishing communities that see few tourists. The itinerary includes private visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, a visit to the gondola wharf, a glass-blowing center in Murano, a wine tasting in a villa, and a trip to the Rialto Market with the ship’s chef picking up fresh seafood to serve on board during lunch. This cruise is an immersion in Venice, the lagoon and the Veneto region, allowing you to truly explore the city – and especially the islands – from a small luxury floating boutique hotel.
How to do that: Uniworld (0808 168 9231; uniworld.com) has the seven-night ‘Venice and the Jewels of Veneto’ cruise on the SS La Venezia with 126 guests, sailing from Venice and with stops in Burano and Chioggia, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Padua and Vicenza. From £3,889 per person, departure May-October 2024.
Dear Lucca
Sardinia is the most rural part of Italy and this cruise takes you to Alghero, where the street signs reveal its Catalan heritage, and Porto Cervo, the trendiest meeting point on the Costa Smeralda with its harbor full of luxury yachts. Visit Siena – which looks just as it did in the 14th century – and experience the Cinque Terre by train on a full-day excursion to take in the scenery and spectacular, colorful fishing villages along the Italian Riviera. Visit the island of Elba, where Napoleon spent his first exile, then explore Lucca, one of Tuscany’s most fascinating and best-preserved medieval cities, as well as the architectural beauty of Florence.
How to do that: CroisiEurope (001 800 768 7232; croisieuroperivercruises.com) has the seven-night ‘La Dolce Vita’ trip along the Italian coastline on the La Belle des Océans with 130 guests, a cruise from Nice to Livorno, Portoferraio, Alghero, Porto Cervo, Porto Santo Stefano and La Spezia. From £2,755 per person, departures May 24, July 12 and August 16, 2024.
Rivers from the Renaissance
A cruise along the Po River valley takes you deep into the heart of medieval Italy. This special opera cruise includes seats at the front of the beautiful Arena di Verona Roman amphitheater for a performance of Verdi’s Aida, as well as excursions especially for opera lovers. It includes a tour of Venice, a visit to the Teatro La Fenice, a cruise to the colorful town of Chioggia – often called Venice without the tourists – and dinner with the Countess of the 17th-century Villa Ca’Zen where Lord Byron created some of wrote his best poetry. You will also visit the Renaissance cities of Ferrara and Mantua, designated World Heritage Sites for their beauty and cultural importance.
How to do that: European Waterways (01753 598555; Europeanwaterways.com) offers the six-day ‘Classic Italy’ cruise on the La Bella Vita with 20 guests, sailing from Venice to Chioggia, Ferrara and Villa. From £4,500 per person on 16 August 2024.
Volcano residence
With this cruise you sail around the “boot” of Italy. It includes a stop at Crotone in Calabria, founded in 710 BC as the Greek colony of Kroton, where you can explore ancient ruins or visit Le Castella, a fortified island village. Bari, located on the “heel”, is filled with romantic honey-colored houses and Romanesque and Baroque churches, while Alberobello is home to a forest of small conical, beehive-shaped huts called trulli. Next is Naples, located at the foot of towering Vesuvius, from where you can visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. Messina in Sicily, meanwhile, offers Greek and Roman treasures, and a trip to Taormina offers spectacular views of Mount Etna.
How to do that: Viking (0800 298 97 00; vikingcruises.co.uk) has the seven-night ‘Italian stay’ on the Viking Jupiter with 930 guests, from £2,790 per person, departing on August 4, 2024. Sailing from Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, Crotone, Bari, Sibenik and Venice.
Medieval mosaics
Ravenna is famous for its spectacular 5th and 6th century mosaics found in its cathedrals, palaces and public buildings, while the ancient city of Trieste – located on the Adriatic Sea – is a mixture of Latin, Slavic and Germanic cultures. This cruise heads south along the Croatian coast, visiting Dubrovnik before calling at Brindisi – a patchwork of medieval streets and churches with precious interiors. Just 56 kilometers up the coast from Naples, Salerno has a beautiful collection of parks, natural wonders and unforgettable vantage points from which to enjoy the wonder of the Tyrrhenian Sea along this sublime stretch of Italian coastline.
How to do that: Celebrity Cruises (0344 492043; celebritycruises.com) has the 10-night ‘Best of Italy and Croatia’ cruise on the Celebrity Constellation with 2,000 guests, sailing from Ravenna, with stops in Trieste, Zader, Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Brindisi, Salerno and Civita Vecchia. From £884 per person, departing on 4 August 2024.