15 Day Italy Highlights & Mediterranean Cruise
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
These tours allow you to experience the destination with a comfortable sized group. You will travel with between a maximum of 26-30 other guests depending on your selected tour. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as a wide range of included sightseeing, comfortable accommodation and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Make the most of your cruise and travel independently, with everything organised for you. Your international flights, pre-cruise stay, and cruise are organised so all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time at sea. Of course, there is the option of extending your tour if you don’t want to head straight to the airport upon disembarkation.
✓ Add return international airfares from $999
✓ Incredible sightseeing including St. Peter’s Square, Colosseum, Leaning Tower, 13th Century Palazzo Vecchio, Ancient Roman Arenas, St Marks Square, Piraeus Port, Diocletian buildings & the famous white Windmills of Mykonos.
✓ 7 nights in central 3-star accommodation
✓ Breakfast daily, 7 lunch, 9 dinner
✓ Cruise with MSC Cruises for 7 nights including all meals
✓ Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Rome! After arriving in Rome, make your own way to your hotel where you can check in and spend the afternoon at leisure. If you wish, you can easily see some sights and explore the ancient capital.
Tonight, meet your guide and tour group.
After breakfast this morning at your hotel, enjoy a day exploring this wonderful city. Famous Landmarks scatter the city, see St. Peter's Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths.
Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, with its magnificent stadia structure and the brutal history that unfolded within its confines. Don't miss out on the opportunity to visit the treasures of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel on our optional excursion.
Today, embark on the famous drive through vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, terraced vineyards, olive groves, and charming villages form the backdrop as you journey into the heart of Tuscany.
Stop in Pisa to enjoy a mini- train ride to the Square of Miracles and see the legendary Leaning Tower. Then, head east to magnificent Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture.
Today, discover the wonders of Florence, romantic, enchanting and utterly irresistible, Florence (Firenze) is a place to feast on world-class art. Start the day with a guided walking tour, featuring some of the city's greatest attractions.
See Piazza Santa Croce; world-famous Signoria Square; 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio with its collection of artistic masterpieces; Loggia dei Lanzi; the unique Duomo with Giotto's Gothic Bell Tower and the Baptistry's ornate bronze door known as the "Gate of Paradise."
We check out of our hotel after breakfast and travel north and cross the Po River to Verona, setting for Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Verona is a mediaeval old town built between the meandering Adige River.
Marvel at the ancient Roman Arena, built for gladiator fights but now still used as a popular venue for festivals and concerts; shop in Via Mazzini, or just wander the cobblestone streets of the city centre. Continue to the Venice area.
Venice is a place of unmatched beauty and a feast of fantastic sights. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, the gondolas, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark's Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop.
You'll have time to explore at leisure on your own, or join one of our optional excursions, like a ride on one of the most iconic boats in the world, the romantic gondola. Otherwise, just relax, sipping a cappuccino or the typical Venetian drink called spritz at one of the many bars or cafes.
Today is a day at leisure to explore this fascinating city, built on 118 small islands, separated by canals, in a shallow lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site overflows with beauty – from the gondola-lined canals and ancient marble palaces to historical architectural feats. Visiting Venice is like being in a fabled land, a scintillating mix of culture, history, and water.
This morning, as we say goodbye to this incredible city, you will make your own way to the cruise terminal ready to begin your adventure, cruising through the Mediterranean sea.
Arrive into the Italian port town of Brindisi, the city boasts a characterful ancient centre, home to a vast array of treasures.
Sites such as the 11th-century Duomo and Alfonsino Castle are architectural jewels just waiting to be discovered. The perfect starting point for visiting other destinations, namely Lecce, Ostuni, and Alberobello, Brindisi delivers culture, colour and Italian romance along its palm-fringed streets and seafront promenade.
Spend your day at leisure admiring the cruise ship, partaking in the many free entertainment options offered to cruise guests.
Arrive into Mykonos. During the 18th-century, Mykonos’ maze of tangled lanes would confuse even the most well-travelled pirates. Nowadays pretending to get lost in these winding alleys makes for a day of entertainment! This destination is known for its romantic Greek Island glamour. See brilliant beaches, turquoise waters, and picturesque whitewashed villages. You may wish to visit the famous white Windmills on the island.
Arrive into Piraeus, this has been the port of Athens since ancient times. It’s a city filled with incredible wonders including Mikrolimano Bay, Agia Triada (Church of the Holy Trinity), and the Archaeological Museum. Nowadays, Piraeus is a bustling centre with attractive waterfront cafés and restaurants, making it an ideal stop in the Mediterranean. Use it as a stepping stone to see the Acropolis and greater Athens.
Spend your day at leisure admiring the cruise ship, you may wish to partake in the free activities, explore the pool or sample some of the many restaurants, cafes and bars on board.
Arrive into Split. The captivating port of Split, located on the Dalmatian coast, is one of Croatia’s star-attraction cities and a famous destination. Immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere of its old centre, admire Diocletian buildings, or wander the city’s spectacular waterfront and shade yourself under the palm trees. At the core of Split’s old quarter is Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a must see when travelling to Croatia.
Today, you will disembark your cruise and make your own way to your connecting flights.
Ship: MSC SINFONIA
Embarkation Port: Venice, Italy
Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Cabin: Interior Bella or similar
Surface approx. 13 sqm, deck 7-10 Relaxing armchair Bathroom with shower, vanity area and hairdryer Comfortable double or single beds (on request*) TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar*Cabins for guests with disabilities or reduced mobility have only single beds.
Cabins are offered on a 'guaranteed' basis. This means that we guarantee to accommodate you at the grade specified (or higher) but the final allocation of a specific cabin will be made by us. Your cabin will be assigned approximately 4 days prior the date of sailing.
Additional details for Bella Experience: Extensive buffet with a wide array of full board cuisine
Cabin upgrade:
Junior Balcony or similar - cabins from an additional $250 per person twin share, depending on sailing date.
Cabins are on request only. Surface approx 13 sqm, balcony approx 3-4 sqm, deck 9-10 Sitting area with sofa Bathroom with shower, vanity area with hairdryer Comfortable double or single beds (on request) TV, telephone, Wifi connection available (for a fee), safe and minibar.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package includes international airfares or has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city.
If international airfares are included this will be stated in the ‘Inclusions’ section
Alternatively, if international airfares can be added to your booking you will be able to select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and flights will be added to your booking.
Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:
Baggage
Included baggage differs based on your country of origin. Included baggage will be as per the following:
Country of Origin |
Carry-on Baggage |
Checked Baggage |
Australia |
7kgs |
20kgs |
New Zealand |
7kgs |
20kgs |
United States of America |
15lbs |
45lbs |
Canada |
15lbs |
45lbs |
India |
7kgs |
20kgs |
United Kingdom |
7kgs |
20kgs |
Baggage allowances provided by the airline might differ to the values stated above. However limitations are required due to transport storage restrictions on your selected tour or package.
Flight requests, amendments or preferences
We understand customers may wish to request changes to their included airfares. If you wish to fly with a certain airline, land at a certain time or change your flight in other ways we will gladly provide you with a personalised quote tailored to your specific requirements.
To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service? By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchase to make your request.
We would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for the following requests:
We are currently unable to provide a quote for the following requests:
If we can’t fulfill your request and you still wish to proceed with the booking, please select Land Only (excluding UK customers). This will allow you to travel on the land portion of the package without the included airfares. You will then be able to arrange your own flights separately.
FAQs
For more frequently asked questions please view our FAQs section.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $4,545.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport Information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visa's may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
2-40 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
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