Small-ship cruise specialist Grand Circle Cruise Line has unveiled four new Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries for 2017, offering longer voyages and expanded opportunities to explore Italy, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia.
The new sailings call at scenic coastal towns and lesser-known ports, allowing guests to experience the region beyond the main tourist hubs. Each itinerary is designed for a relaxed, immersive pace aboard Grand Circle’s small ships, which carry about 50 passengers and can enter harbors that larger ships cannot reach.
The four additions are:
– 16-day Rome to Valletta: A charming route that departs from Rome and travels south through Sicily to Malta, featuring historic ports and coastal landscapes unique to the central Mediterranean.
– 17-day Undiscovered Adriatic: This voyage highlights eastern Italy and the Adriatic coast, visiting Venice, Puglia and Maltese ports while focusing on regional culture and lesser-known destinations.
– 12-day Voyage to Istria: A shorter cruise that explores Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, with time ashore to discover Istrian towns, coastal cuisine and local traditions.
– 27-day Italian Coastal Odyssey: An extended exploration of Italy, Sicily and Malta that includes special visits to places such as the Republic of San Marino, the Tremiti Islands and Mount Etna, along with numerous off-the-beaten-path ports.
“We are excited to offer itineraries that explore a popular region of the world through a popular mode of travel — small ship,” said Alan Lewis, chairman of Grand Circle Cruise Line. “Our 50-passenger ships can access small ports that larger ships cannot, and our travelers will be able to explore the cities, towns, and villages beyond these ports to engage firsthand with local people, their cultures, and ways of life.”
Each itinerary is packaged with international airfare from New York, simplifying travel logistics for guests departing from that gateway.