Cruise Itinerary for 15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean |
Destination |
Arrival |
Departure |
Venice |
10/17/2009 |
10/17/2009 5:00:00 PM |
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With a great historic past and incomparable art treasures, Venice is renowned as one of the world’s great cities. Its 118 islands are separated by more than 150 canals and spanned by 400 bridges. During Venice's artistic golden age many magnificent structures were erected to create world-famous masterpieces. One of the best sightseeing routes is along Grand Canal, with many palaces lining the famous waterway. St. Mark’s Square offers access to some of Venice’s most famed attractions - St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. From Piazza San Marco, a maze of narrow streets are lined with shops, cafés and restaurants. A popular pastime is sitting at an outdoor café facing the square while people-watching and letting the whole marvelous scenario unfold. Venice’s Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands comprise an area famous as home of Venice’s glass-blowing industry and known for their charm, skilled lace-making and medieval monuments. Relax on a gondola ride, see art treasures in museums, churches and palaces, and have a sumptuous meal - all in this incomparable city.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Hvar |
10/18/2009 1:00:00 PM |
10/18/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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Hvar Island is a vineyard-and-olive-grove-covered island surrounded by a translucent cobalt sea. A particularly rich cultural and monumental heritage complements its natural and unique beauty. The island was one of the greatest centers of early Croatian literature, architecture, sculpture, painting and music. Called the Croatian Madeira, Hvar is said to receive more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country. Other sights include Hvar Theater - founded in 1612 and the oldest community theater in Europe; Crvene Stijene (Red Rocks) - an unusual and picturesque natural phenomenon; Pakleni Otoci - a beautiful and unique group of about 20 charming islets situated opposite the town of Hvar.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Brindisi |
10/19/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/19/2009 8:00:00 PM |
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No information currently available.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
At Sea |
10/20/2009 |
10/20/2009 |
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Every day at sea is packed with activities...from deck games to entertainment. Indulge yourself in a relaxing massage. Exercise. Shop at onboard boutiques. Take a dip in the pool. The day is yours. Indulge!
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Taormina |
10/21/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/21/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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The east coast of Sicily is considered by many to be its most magnificent. Lovely Taormina was called "the greatest work of art and nature" by Goethe in his Italian Journey. Situated above the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna as a spectacular backdrop, this storybook town of sculpted gardens, stately palaces and ancient monuments is easily one of Sicily’s most striking sites. There is much to see and do here; the main attractions in Taormina are seen on foot. Incredible vistas are available from Taormina's Public Gardens which are filled with exotic flowers and plants. In Giardini-Naxos, close to the pier, the Bourbon fort contains a fine museum, Museo Archaeologico. The entrance is via a garden bisected by an ancient lava flow.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Lipari |
10/22/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/22/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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Cast in the Tyrrhenian sea, the Lipari Islands experience an increasing amount of tourism due to unusual scenery and mild climate. The variety and beauty of rock formations, the volcanic phenomena of Stromboli and the crystalline waters always impress visitors. Local-style architecture adds charm to picturesque villages. The main islands include famous Stromboli and Lipari. In a bay on Lipari’s east coast lies the main town of the same name - dominated by the Castello or Acropolis, which separates the town’s two harbors. Within Castello are the cathedral and the former Bishop's Palace, which now houses the Archaeological Museum. It is noted for its fine collection of relics from recent excavations, Greek masks and statuettes from theatrical life as far back as Sophocles and Euripides. At Marina Corta there are hydrofoils and boats offering trips to neighboring islands. The most southern Lipari Island, Vulcano Island, has a spectacular volcanic landscape of rugged peaks rising above beaches. A steep trail leads up from the plain to a 1,150-foot crater.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Sorrento |
10/23/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/23/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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Sorrento is a town of extraordinary beauty and is known as a popular gateway to Italy’s most spectacular stretch of coastline - the Amalfi Drive lined with fishing villages and famous resorts. The seaside resort of Amalfi sits with weathered houses scrambling up steep cliffs. Visitors marvel at its location and its magnificent cathedral. The religious sanctuary of Cloister of St. Francis is worth a visit. The tiny, exclusive resort of Positano has its famous world-class hotel, San Pietro. Excavations of the ruined city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 A.D. during the disastrous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, give visitors a vivid impression of life in a very wealthy ancient city and the tragic end of its population. The Isle of Capri ranks as one of the most beautiful islands and has captured visitors for centuries with excellent climate, spectacular landscape and fantastic sea caverns. Capri has lavish villas, elegant hotels, chic boutiques and quaint restaurants. Museo Correale contains a death mask of poet Torquato Tasso and some special editions of his works, pictures, furniture and porcelain.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Rome (Civitavecchia) |
10/24/2009 7:00:00 AM |
10/24/2009 5:00:00 PM |
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Civitavecchia is the port city for Rome. Rome has always been and remains the Eternal City. With its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafés and elegant shops, Rome is one of the world’s most attractive cities. Among the most famous monuments is the Colosseum where spectators watched combats between muscled gladiators and ferocious animals. Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once a political and commercial center. Rome’s squares were enhanced with such imposing structures as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di Trevi. Awe at Christendom’s most magnificent church, the Sistine Chapel. The busy square Piazza Venezia is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio Emanuele II Monument. Take a stroll to Rome's famous Trevi Fountain. Vatican City is the site of lovely St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, where for 200 years, Renaissance masters worked on its design and created an unparalleled masterpiece. Visit Vatican Museum.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
At Sea |
10/25/2009 |
10/25/2009 |
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Every day at sea is packed with activities...from deck games to entertainment. Indulge yourself in a relaxing massage. Exercise. Shop at onboard boutiques. Take a dip in the pool. The day is yours. Indulge!
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Palma de Mallorca |
10/26/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/26/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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The Balearics are comprised of 16 islands; the three principal ones are Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca. Lying just 60 miles off the Spanish mainland, the islands’ lush and rugged landscape combined with an extremely mild, sunny climate prove irresistible. The Balearics boast cosmopolitan resorts with lively nightlife and plenty of sports activities. Palma de Majorca is the capital of the archipelago. A cosmopolitan city with sophisticated shops and restaurants, it also offers buildings of spectacular Moorish and gothic architecture. Museo de Mallorca housed in the Palacio Ayamans boasts an interesting collection of Moorish, medieval and 18th- to 19th-century art. Those who wish to explore the northern end of the island will enjoy the dramatic land and seascape of Cabo Formentor at the end of a long, narrow peninsula. A winding road with magnificent views leads to the luxury Hotel Formentor, beautifully situated above the bay. The lighthouse of Cabo Formentor is the most northerly point on Majorca.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Valencia |
10/27/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/27/2009 11:00:00 PM |
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Valencia is one of the biggest, liveliest cities in Spain. It is located at the Mediterranean sea with beaches right in its heart that offer every kind of sports. With its active nightlife and various cultural offerings, Valencia is one of the most dynamic cities in Spain. One of the most famous buildings in Valencia is the Cathedral and its tower named, "El Miquelet" (Little Michael) which was built between 1381 and 1424. Try Spain's most famous food right where it was born: "Paella Valenciana". Valencia is the city where "El Cid", Spain's national hero, fought against the Moors, and popular festivals in the city and many villages around still remind of this epoch.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Alicante |
10/28/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/28/2009 6:00:00 PM |
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Alicante is located on Spain’s Costa Blanca in the Levant Region, along the country’s southeastern coast and is a tourist resort and commercial port. The region is marked by lush mountain ranges. During the Gothic era of the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries centuries, art and architecture flourished in Alicante and the remainder of the Levant Region. Immense palaces and grandiose churches were built with elaborate baroque details. Visitors can see a third century BC fortress - the citadel of Santa Bárbara built by ruler Amilcar Barca, a Carthaginian, Arrabal Roig - the old quarter, the Baroque town hall (1701-60), the Church of Santa María (14th century), and the Renaissance church of San Nicolás de Bari (18th century).
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Cartagena (Spain) |
10/29/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/29/2009 5:00:00 PM |
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Today Spain's major commercial port and naval base, Cartagena lies on the coast of Murcia, its great indented bay guarded by rocky promontories, each topped by a fort. The city contains the remains of old walls, a castle constructed probably in Carthaginian times, and a church that was formerly a 13th-century cathedral. Attractive promenades extend along the harbour, while to the northeast is the famous beach and watersports resort area of the lagoon-like Mar Menor.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Malaga |
10/30/2009 8:00:00 AM |
10/30/2009 11:00:00 PM |
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Malaga is a popular holiday destination - known as the birthplace of Picasso and for sweet Malaga dessert wines from vineyards outside of town. Points of interest include impressive Gothic architecture, remains of a Moorish castle and interesting museums. Malaga is a popular starting point for trips to Granada and resorts along Costa del Sol. Splendid Granada and famed Alhambra are the region’s most outstanding attractions. Magnificent Moorish palaces and fortifications contrast sharply with Christian churches from Spain’s 1492 Reconquest era. Ronda's incredible location affording spectacular views over the valley and distant hills. Malaga Fine Arts Museum holds works by Spanish artists of the 16th to 20th centuries and by artists from Malaga, including Picasso. Marbella, which has been favored by the rich and famous, is a very popular holiday and yachting resort destination. One of the first resorts of the Costa del Sol, Torremolinos has luxury hotels, busy plazas and shopping streets, a lively art scene, a Wax Museum created by Madame Tussaud, and a glitzy casino.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
At Sea |
10/31/2009 |
10/31/2009 |
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Every day at sea is packed with activities...from deck games to entertainment. Indulge yourself in a relaxing massage. Exercise. Shop at onboard boutiques. Take a dip in the pool. The day is yours. Indulge!
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
Lisbon |
11/1/2009 7:00:00 AM |
11/1/2009 |
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Portugal’s capital is an 18th-century city - elegant, open to the sea and carefully planned. Most places of interest are within easy walking distance. Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon since medieval times, is an ideal place to start exploring. Many rebuilt houses with original façades provide stores and restaurants with modern interiors. High above Baixa is Bairro Alto - with its teeming nightlife. There are many monuments and museums, such as San Jeronimos Monastery, Royal Coach Museum and Gulbenkian Museum. Two well-known landmarks are the Monument to the Discoveries and the Tower of Belem. A statue of Christ looms above Europe’s longest suspension bridge. Madragoa, Bica and Bairro Alto, Lisbon’s older sections, offer a variety of sights: the Church of Sao Roque, with its beautiful tiles; St. George Castle, which offers a splendid view from its location above the Alfama quarter; the botanical gardens, featuring an unusual, cold greenhouse; and the cathedral, stunning with its Moorish design. Renowned Gulbenkian Museum is the cultural center of Portugal.
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15-night Italian Idyll + Gems of Spain Cruise Mediterranean Cheap Cruise aboard the Seabourn Seabourn Spirit |
