DAY 1 ISTANBUL AIRPORT – ROME – CIVITAVECCHIA
Following our meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures terminal at 04:30 in the morning, departure for Rome at 09:10 with Turkish Airlines flight TK1861. After arriving in Rome at local time 09:50, transfer to the port of Civitavecchia where our ship MSC WORLD ASIA will depart from. After check-in and passport procedures, settling into cabins and free time. Our ship will depart from the port at 19:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 2 MESSINA (TAORMINA)
Our ship will dock at the port of Messina at 12:00 in the morning. After morning breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the optional "Taormina Tour" organized by our guide. During this tour, passing through magnificent scenic slopes, the world-famous town of Taormina will be visited. The Cathedral, Corvaja Palace, Roman Theatre (from the outside), and Umberto Street are among the places we will see in Taormina. After free time for shopping, return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 20:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 3 VALLETTA
Our ship will dock at the port of Valletta at 09:00 in the morning. After morning breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join our optional "Mosta & Valletta & Mdina & Marsaxlokk Tour" organized by our guide. Our first stop is Mosta. On this tour, we visit the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, which has the third largest dome in Europe. The interior paintings of this massive basilica, whose dome has an outer diameter of 56.2 meters, were notably made by the painter Giuseppe Cali. We will see the replica of the 200 kg unexploded bomb dropped by Nazi German planes in 1942 during WWII that pierced the dome and embedded itself in the church floor, and we will get information about the interior and exterior architecture of the church. Afterwards, we visit Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, which served as a natural set where many scenes of the famous series Game of Thrones were filmed. While walking through the narrow streets of this medieval city known as the silent city, we will see the magnificent Saint Paul's Cathedral, Falson Palace built in the 13th century by the Falson family of Malta's noble families, the Baroque-style Carmelite Monastery built in the 17th century, Vilhena Palace, and the old houses of Mdina. Then our tour will continue with a visit to the fishing village called "Marsaxlokk". You should not miss the scenery offered by the small charming fishing boats with unique colors and designs native to Malta called "Luzzu". At the same time, we will have free time in this charming fishing village where an open market is set up, allowing guests who wish to have lunch at local restaurants featuring menus consisting of fresh fish and seafood. After our free time, we will set off towards Valletta. We will conduct our Valletta city tour. Valletta was selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2018 by the Council of Ministers of the European Union. During our tour, we will have the opportunity to see the magnificent walled city of Valletta from the outside. After our bus tour, we will explore the city by walking through the lively streets of the capital Valletta accompanied by our guide. Our first stop will be the Upper Barrakka Gardens, built on the upper section of the defensive walls surrounding this magnificent city. Built by the Knights of St. John, these gardens also offer a magnificent view of the Grand Harbour and the 3 walled ancient cities. At the end of our tour, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 17:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 4 AT SEA
On this day spent cruising at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can benefit from the ship's indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis, and sunbathing areas. Those who want can shop at duty-free shops, try their luck in the casino, or enjoy various music and entertainment performed in dozens of bars. All day long, various dining alternatives will also be waiting for you. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 5 BARCELONA
Our ship will dock at the port of Barcelona at 08:00 in the morning. After morning breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the optional "Barcelona City Tour" organized by our guide. Our city tour in Barcelona, one of Europe's most beautiful metropolises, will start with our private bus waiting for us at the port. La Rambla Street, Christopher Columbus Monument, Maremagnum Artificial Port, Barceloneta Beach, Olympic area and port, Catalunya Square, Paseo de Gracia street where Gaudi's houses have been turned into a street museum, and his most essential work Sagrada Familia are among the places we will see. During our tour, we will go up to Montjuic hill to take landscape photos. After free time for shopping, we will return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 6 MARSEILLE
Our ship will dock at the port of Marseille at 08:00 in the morning. Free time for morning breakfast, shopping, and personal activities. Departure for the "Marseille City Tour & Aix-en-Provence Tour" optionally organized by guests' guide. In Marseille, an important maritime city, we will start our tour by first visiting the "Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica" located on a high hill. Following this visit, the Longchamp Fountain, Saint Charles train station, old town, Hotel de Ville, and marina area are some of the places to be seen. Afterwards, we will go to Aix-en-Provence, located 40 minutes away from Marseille. It will start with the famous 12th-century St. Saviour's Cathedral with its Romanesque facade and covered vaulted passageway. Later, during our pleasant walk in the old area of the city, you will see the ancient inns located here and the Mazarin quarter designed in the 17th century by the brother of Cardinal Mazarin. Our ship will depart from the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 7 GENOA
Our ship will dock at the port of Genoa at 08:00 in the morning. After morning breakfast, free time for personal activities. Guests who wish may join the optional "Genoa & Portofino Tour" organized by our guide. With our private vehicle waiting for us, we set off towards the city center of the port city Genoa. It is the capital of an important seafaring Kingdom that once ruled the Mediterranean geography, including Istanbul. San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Doge's Palace, and Christopher Columbus's house are important points we will see. In the second part, we go to Portofino, the town of lovers, which is located 1 hour away from Genoa and has been the subject of songs. After our free time in this peaceful seaside town, we return to our ship. Our ship will depart from the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight on board.
DAY 8 CIVITAVECCHIA (ROME) - ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Our ship will dock at the port of Civitavecchia at 07:00 in the morning. After morning breakfast, we complete our ship disembarkation procedures and then leave the ship. We depart for Rome Airport with our private vehicle waiting for us at the port. After arriving at the airport, following our check-in and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 19:45 with Turkish Airlines flight TK1864. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at local time 00:20. End of our tour.
