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Island Jewels of the Mediterranean

Island Jewels of the Mediterranean

From AUD $5,760

Description

In Malta, board the Surville for an unforgettable trip to several islands that are emblematic of Southern Europe.

This 9-day cruise will take you to Sicily, Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, to discover exceptional historic and cultural sites.

Your ship will leave Valletta, the capital of Malta and former stronghold of the Knights of the Order of Malta, and set sail for Syracuse, one of the most prestigious Sicilian cities, whose monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.

In Pylos, discover the Palace of Nestor, one of the heroes of the Trojan War, then, during the port of call at Gythio, the Byzantine city of Mystras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your ship will then drop anchor further south, in Crete. This island is notably home to the famous Minoan Palace of Knossos, birthplace of the Minotaur.

The next day, you will visit Santorini and its white villages ornamented with blue domes. In the South of the island, you can visit the ruins of the antique city of Akrotiri buried under volcanic ash.

Finally, you will head for Rhodes, whose old medieval town, built by the Knights of St John, is surrounded by ramparts. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands and was once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: its famous Colossus.

You will disembark in the city of Antalya. With its Roman port, picturesque narrow streets and beautiful Ottoman homes this town, lying on the southern coast of Turkey, has maintained its many charms.

Trip Name
Island Jewels of the Mediterranean
Days
9
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 131 metres Passenger Capacity: 184 Built: 2019-2020 Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience. As the first ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Surville will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort. Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service. Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel. RESTAURANTS As it is an essential part of French culture, gastronomy will naturally have pride of place aboard this new ship. To the back of Deck 4, you will find a 260 m² panoramic restaurant which can accommodate all of our passengers in a single sitting. Designed differently to that on our other ships, this dining area, which opens onto the outside, will have a buffet of salads, desserts and cheeses at your disposal. Our discreet and attentive crew will provide table service for hot meals. In a relaxed atmosphere, an outdoor grill on Deck 3 will serve grilled meats with a variety of salads and desserts. PUBLIC AREAS Le Surville has many common areas that are designed and equipped to meet all of your needs while preserving the intimacy of each passenger. A 140 m² reception area includes: A reception/concierge desk, An excursions desk, The ship’s administrative services, The sales office, manned by our Guest Relations Officer, Our 50 m² boutique which sells clothing, jewellery, beauty products, postcards and various accessories, Toilets accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. A new hydraulic platform with adjustable height provides: Easier boarding than on any other cruise ship, Easier Zodiac embarkation and disembarkation for expeditions, Easier access to the sea for swimming and practising various water sports such as kayaking or paddle-boarding. A pool deck offering: A pool with a panoramic view, equipped with a counter-current swimming system, A pleasant solarium, An outdoor bar and lounge with armchairs and sofas. A 200 m² main lounge which can accommodate all of our passengers to share convivial moments and to host activities organised during the day or evening. Lastly, a theatre that seats 188, equipped with: The latest sound and lighting technology, A LED wall as the stage backdrop, for the projection of high-resolution images and videos.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 VALLETTA
The whole of the Maltese capital Valletta is UNESCO World Heritage listed and occupies a peninsula in the north-east of the island. From the fountain of Tritons to Saint-Elme fort, there are as many majestic streets as there are narrow staircase vennels to explore. The painted loggia and carved corbels on the tall houses will accompany you in your explorations, and you’ll rarely be bothered by traffic. Among the city’s countless monuments, you can visit Saint-John’s cathedral, the Grandmasters palace decorated with coats of arms and frescoes, not to mention the ramparts which have guarded the city since the 16th century. Arranged in terraces, the Barrakka Gardens will punctuate your promenade with a green and floral experience.
Day 2 - Day 2 SYRACUSE, SICILY
Its undulating rocky coastline, the endless sandy beaches, the menacing form of Mount Etna which surveys its island like a patriarch, the flowery gardens on the hillside... Sicily lays out its varied landscapes like a shopkeeper displays his wares. Described by Cicero as “the most beautiful city in the world”, Syracuse was one of the most prestigious cities in Sicily and at her height was even a rival for Athens. A central city of Ancient Greece, it was home to a succession of civilisations, each of which has left their mark. The blend of Arabic, Roman, Norman, Byzantine and Spanish cultures makes Syracuse a town that is extraordinarily rich in fragrances, colours and flavours.
Day 3 - Day 3 PYLOS
The picturesque port of Pylos is located in the south west of the Peloponnese. Backed against the lush green hills of Messenia, it looks out onto the Navarino Bay. You can admire the gorgeous view as you walk uptown amid pink oleanders that cascade over the jetty. A stone’s throw away, the historical centre’s winding streets will plunge you into a maze of houses with whitewashed facades and terracotta roof-tiles. On the attractive main beach, you will be able to relax in the shade of the age-old plane trees and taste the delicious local biscuits made of sesame and honey.
Day 4 - Day 4 GYTHIO
Located in the south of the Peloponnese, on the Mani Peninsula, Gytheio was the main port and naval base of ancient Sparta, located around fifty kilometres inland. In Roman times, the port experienced significant expansion thanks to trading in imperial dye; in fact, the region had an abundance of murex, the rock snails from which this dye, loved by the Romans, was extracted. The town is nestled against Mount Koumaros and dominated by a citadel. Take a stroll and fall under the charm of the calm that reigns over the stairways bordered by small neoclassic houses with steps overrun with wild flowers.
Day 5 - Day 5 RETHYMNO, CRETE
Between the Sea of Crete and Libya, appears the island of Crete with its unimaginable beauty. Discover Rethymnon, home of Zeus, king of the Gods. With a huge fine sandy beach to the east and a rocky coastline to the west, this small town enchants visitors with its natural beauty and its fascinating history. The cradle of the Cretan Renaissance, a town of letters and intellectuals, from its rich past it has retained Venetian buildings from the 16th century, which cohabit harmoniously with the many minarets, testimony of the Turkish presence. Do not fail to admire its old Venetian port as well as its historical district offering a maze of narrow streets, before you head to the famous site of Cnossos, birthplace of the Minotaur.
Day 6 - Day 6 SANTORINI
The spectacular volcanic island of Santorini stands out proud in the Cyclades. Its basalt cliffs offer particularly expansive views of the Aegean. To enjoy these views, you can head for the capital, Fira. Its floral belvederes of bougainvillea provide a bird’s-eye view of several thousand metres of coastline. Further away, the gorgeous village of Oia looks like a stairway of blue and white houses on the slopes of the volcano. In the south of the island, you will be able to visit the stunning ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient city destroyed by an eruption and covered with a thick layer of lava stone.
Day 7 - Day 7 MYKONOS
Nicknamed “little Venice”, Mykonos is famous for its Alefkandra district where houses are built right on the water’s edge. Their multi-coloured loggias are emblematic of this Cyclades island, as are the pelicans and windmills. You can get close up to the birds on the quaysides of the old port. Up on the hillside, you can see the windmill sails turning. In the cobbled streets of the pedestrian centre, bougainvillea bedeck immaculate facades. As you weave in and out of the little streets, snatches of coastline will undoubtedly call you to the island’s beaches, the quietest of which can be found on the northern coast.
Day 8 - Day 8 RHODES
With its particularly agreeable climate, the island of Rhodes invites you to walk its pathways and discover its immaculate villages and sumptuous medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the centre of the island the mountains are covered in forest and on the western slopes we find vineyards and crops. Rhodes also owes much of its charm and its character to the Knights of St John who reigned over the island from 1310 to 1522 and built impressive defensive walls punctuated with majestic gateways. Do not miss this delightful island with its peaceful beaches, its large walkways and its lively nightlife, perpetuating the myth of the famous Colossus, the legendary statue that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 9 - Day 9 ANTALYA
Disembarkation.
Day 10 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $5,760DELUXE STATEROOM
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $6,140PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 4
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $6,340PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 5
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $6,560PRESTIGE STATEROOM DECK 6
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $9,070DELUXE SUITE
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $9,830PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 5
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $10,140PRESTIGE SUITE DECK 6
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $10,470PRIVILEGE SUITE
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $10,800GRAND DELUXE SUITE
25-10-202002-11-2020AUD $11,150OWNER'S SUITE

Inclusions

    • A cruise to discover Sicily, Crete, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic centre of Valletta (embarkation port), the old town of Syracuse, the Byzantine city of Mystras (from Gythio), the medieval city of Rhodes, the rupestrian sites of Cappadocia (after your cruise).
    • Discovering the pearls of the Cyclades: Santorini and Mykonos.
    • The spectacular caldera of Santorini and its steep cliffs.
    • On the island of Mikonos, the typical district of Alefkandra with houses built right on the water’s edge.
    • Gythio, the main port of ancient Sparta.
    • After your cruise, you have the opportunity to discover the sublime region of Cappadocia with its “fairy chimneys”, its troglodyte homes and its rock-hewn sanctuaries.

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