DAY 1: ISTANBUL AIRPORT – MILAN – GENOA
Following our meeting at Istanbul Airport International Departures Terminal at 04:30, we complete our check-in procedures and depart for Milan at 06:50 with Turkish Airlines flight TK1873. Upon our arrival in Milan at 08:45 local time, we transfer to the port of Genoa where our ship MSC WORLD ASIA is located, via our private vehicle waiting for us. After ship check-in and luggage procedures, we settle into our cabins and have free time. Our guide will hold a briefing introducing the ship and our tours after boarding, and afterward, you can enjoy the ship until dinner. Our ship will depart from the port at 16:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 2: NAPLES
Our ship will dock at the port of Naples at 13:00 in the morning. Guests who wish may join the optional “Sorrento & Capri Tour (Full Day)” organized by our guide. Sorrento is the birthplace of the poet Torquato Tasso, the land of colors, the homeland of mermaids, and the city of lemon and orange trees. Sorrento, which also hosted the famous Soviet writer Maxim Gorky in the 1920s, is a charming southern city where kindness and hospitality meet and are passed down from generation to generation. After our Sorrento tour, we depart for Capri. We arrive at the island of Capri after a journey by high-speed ferry. Places to visit in Capri are the town of Capri located above the port, the town of “Anacapri” at the very top of the hill, the Gardens of Augustus, and the shopping street. Those who wish can take the chairlift from Anacapri to the highest point of the island and catch a magnificent view. At the end of the tour, we return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 20:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 3: MESSINA (TAORMINA)
Our ship will dock at the port of Messina at 09:00 in the morning. Free time for personal activities after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optional “Taormina Tour” organized by our guide. During this tour, we will visit the world-famous town of Taormina by passing through slopes with magnificent views. Among the places we will see in Taormina are the Cathedral, Corvaja Palace, the Roman Theater (from the outside), and Umberto Street. After free time for shopping, we return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 19:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 4: VALLETTA
Our ship will dock at the port of Valletta at 08:00 in the morning. Free time for personal activities after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join our optional “Mosta & Valletta & Mdina & Marsaxlokk Tour”. Our first stop is Mosta. On this tour, we visit the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, which has Europe's third-largest dome. The interior paintings of this massive basilica, with an outer dome diameter of 56.2 meters, were painted notably by the artist Giuseppe Cali. We will see the replica of the 200 kg unexploded bomb dropped by Nazi German planes in 1942 that pierced the dome and embedded itself in the church floor, and we will learn about the interior and exterior architecture of the church. Afterwards, we visit Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta, which served as the natural set for many scenes of the famous TV series Game of Thrones. While wandering 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 one of Malta's noble families, the Carmelite Monastery built in the 17th century in Baroque style, Vilhena Palace, and the old houses of Mdina. Afterwards, our tour will continue with a visit to the fishing village named Marsaxlokk. You should not miss the scenery offered by the small charming traditional Maltese fishing boats with unique colors and designs called Luzzu. At the same time, in this charming fishing village where an open-air market is set up, we will have free time for guests who wish to have lunch at local restaurants offering menus consisting of fresh fish and seafood. After our free time, we will head towards Valletta and carry out our Valletta city tour. Valletta was selected as the 2018 European Capital of Culture by the Council of the European Union. During our tour, we will have the opportunity to see the magnificent walled city of Valletta from the outside. Following our bus tour, we will explore the city by walking through the vibrant streets of the capital Valletta accompanied by our guide. Our first stop will be the Upper Barrakka Gardens, built on the upper tier of the defensive ramparts 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 ancient walled cities. At the end of our tour, we return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 17:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 5: DAY AT SEA
On this day spent cruising at sea, our ship will offer you many alternatives. Those who wish can make use of 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. Diverse dining alternatives will also await you all day long. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 6: BARCELONA
Our ship will dock at the port of Barcelona at 08:00 in the morning. Free time for personal activities after morning breakfast. 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. Among the places we will see are La Rambla, the Christopher Columbus Monument, Maremagnum Artificial Port, Barceloneta Beach, the Olympic area and port, Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia where Gaudí's houses have been turned into a street museum, and his ultimate masterpiece, Sagrada Família. During our tour, we will ascend Montjuïc hill to take landscape photos. After free time for shopping, we will return to our ship. Our ship will leave the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 7: MARSEILLE / AIX-EN-PROVENCE
Our ship will dock at the port of Marseille at 08:00 in the morning. Free time for personal activities after morning breakfast. Guests who wish may join the optional “Marseille City Tour & Aix-en-Provence Tour” organized by our guide. We will start our tour in Marseille, an important maritime city, by first visiting the “Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica” located on a high hill. Following this visit, some of the places to see will be the Longchamp Fountain, Saint-Charles railway station, the old town, the Hôtel de Ville, and the marina area. Afterwards, we will go to Aix-en-Provence, located 40 minutes away from Marseille. It will begin with the famous 12th-century Saint-Sauveur Cathedral with its Romanesque facade and covered vaulted passageway. Later during our pleasant walk in the old district 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 leave the port at 18:00. Dinner and overnight stay on board.
DAY 8: GENOA – MILAN – ISTANBUL AIRPORT
Our ship will dock at the port of Genoa at 08:00 in the morning. Following morning breakfast, we complete our ship disembarkation procedures and then leave the ship. We depart for Milan Airport with our private vehicle waiting for us at the port. After our arrival at the airport and completion of our check-in and passport control procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 19:25 with Turkish Airlines flight TK1816. Arrival at Istanbul Airport at 23:25 local time. End of our tour.
