Classical Delights

14-day Cruise from Barcelona to Venice onboard Nautica

Each destination on this remarkable voyage is a classic, expressing itself through unique attractions played against stunningly beautiful backdrops. Sample the local delicacies in an authentic tapas bar in Palma de Mallorca's delightful Old Quarter. Ascend the winding streets to Portofino's hilltop lighthouse for an absolutely gorgeous view of the sea. In Florence, behold stately Ponte Vecchio and you will realize why retreating soldiers refused to destroy the bridge during World War II . Cruise the resplendent Amalfi coast, the colorful villas clinging to the cliffs. Relax in a fanciful brick pavilion in Taormina's exotic Public Gardens, a fresh-made gelato in hand. For a taste of Croatian life, explore the red-roofed, walled city of Korcula, a new port for Oceania Cruises. It's the birthplace of Marco Polo, and his house is now a museum. This voyage presents a world of adventure, especially during the evening spent in Venice, where it ends with a flourish.

Choose Sailing Date Jul 10, 2010 View Details

Connoisseur's Quest

14-day Cruise from Barcelona to Amsterdam onboard Insignia

The first week of this illustrious voyage is devoted to rounding the Iberian Peninsula, calling on a collection of unusually diverse destinations. The starkness of rocky Gibraltar and its famed Barbary Apes makes for a wonderful contrast to cultured Seville and its ornate Moorish architecture. The highlight of Bilbao may well be its avant-garde titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum, which resembles a massive metallic flower. The diversity continues in France, as Insignia visits beach-rimmed Biarritz, and then spends an evening in Bordeaux, where you might opt for dinner at the 18th century Château Kirwan, surrounded by the Medoc area vineyards. Similarly, Saint-Malo offers the opportunity to venture into Brittany and meander through the medieval village of Dinan. Belgium's distinct Bruges, another preserved medieval jewel, can easily be explored on foot or by canal boat.

Choose Sailing Date Jun 27, 2010 View Details

Footsteps of History

14-day Cruise from Venice to Barcelona onboard Insignia

In her final Western Mediterranean voyages before starting her transoceanic journey to South America, Insignia presents a collection of truly memorable destinations handpicked from a full season of sailing these storied waters. While on Croatia's fertile Hvar Island, toast the pleasures that lie ahead with a fine Dalmatian wine, such as a garnet-colored Dingac, which goes splendidly with grilled fish. Similarly, much of the cuisine on Corfu is flavored with Greek olives grown throughout the island. For those with artistic tastes, Naples features exceptional museums like the Palace and Museum of Capodimonte, a repository of major works by Raphael and El Greco. It's a wonderful prelude to Florence, where art and architecture are woven into the very fabric of life. To experience the joie de vivre so ingrained into the south of France, simply venture into the Provence countryside. This magical voyage presents Valencia, a traditional Spanish jewel dotted with futuristic landmarks like its City of Arts and Science, before ending in vibrant Barcelona.

Choose Sailing Date Nov 10, 2010 View Details

Grand Circle of the Mediterranean

36-day Cruise from Barcelona to Provence onboard Insignia

Choose Sailing Date Apr 18, 2010 View Details

Historic Reflections

10-day Cruise from Athens to Barcelona onboard Nautica

This fascinating voyage calls on six countries known for their tumultuous, often interrelated histories. The beautiful island of Santorini was formed by an ancient volcanic eruption, which supposedly destroyed the lost continent of Atlantis. The fortress overlooking the new Greek port of Zakinthos bears a distinct Venetian influence, reflecting its deep ties to Italy. You might trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in a sampling of Italian ports that includes Sicily's bustling Messina, which lies just three miles from mainland Italy, and the living museum that is Rome. So too were the cultural centers of Florence and Pisa intertwined through history. France's outgoing Marseille was founded by the Greeks in 600 B.C., conquered by the Romans, and proudly puts its past on display in a wealth of museums.

Choose Sailing Date May 14, 2010 View Details

Ionian Inspiration

12-day Cruise from Venice to Rome onboard Nautica

Rarely does a voyage this long spend each day ashore, but the attractions in this part of the Mediterranean are too magnificent to miss. Soar over dazzling Monte Carlo and the Maritime Alps in a helicopter. Walk the seaside trail linking the five neighboring villages of Cinque Terre. The cliffside setting of Sorrento is equally moving, as is the magnificent old Venetian quarter in Greece's charming Corfu Town. Still, the most revealing ports are the two where you will spend the evening. The extra time in Dubrovnik allows a carefree tour of the Old Town and perhaps an excursion further afield to Cavtat. A night in Venice expands the possibilities to include a gondola ride under the stars, followed by an unhurried, romantic dinner at a waterfront trattoria.

Choose Sailing Date Jul 24, 2010 Sep 05, 2010 Oct 18, 2010 View Details

Italian Crossroads

14-day Cruise from Rome to Venice onboard Regatta

A magical blend of celebrated destinations and lesser-known, soon-to-become favorites, this intriguing voyage calls on a different seaport each day. Every port-of-call is an enchantress; beginning with alluring La Spezia in Italy's pristine Cinque Terre, one of the world's rare places that is both a National Park and UNES CO protected territory. Later, this cruise has the distinction of introducing radiant Cannes, which carries an almost mythical cachet for its glamorous beaches. The western coast of Italy puts on a dramatic display of beauty in villages such as cliff-clinging Positano and Sicily's gracious Taormina, where the best seat for looking at Mount Etna is still a hilltop, open-air theater built in the 2nd century A.D. Then, it's five different countries in five days, including Croatia's historic Split, which perches on one of the loveliest peninsulas on the Dalmatian Coast. And what better finale than an evening in bewitching Venice?

Choose Sailing Date Apr 14, 2010 View Details

Majestic Mosaic

12-day Cruise from Lisbon to Rome onboard Insignia

Before turning its attention to the delights on the Iberian Peninsula, Insignia crosses the straits of Gibraltar and calls on tempting Tangier, playground of the glitterati during the first half of the 20th century. Having regained its luster, this resurgent Moroccan jewel presents attractions as varied as the sultan's former palace of Dar el Makhzen and the Forbes Museum, home to Malcolm Forbes' collection of 8,000 miniature soldiers. This voyage is also distinguished as the only one visiting the two new Spanish ports of Alicante, which exudes a wonderful African flavor, and Ibiza, known for its spirited nightlife. Be sure to sample the unique local drink horchata, an almond-flavored concoction that originated in ancient Egypt. Another new destination is the French icon of Cannes with its glamorous shopping district between La Croisette and rue d'Antibes. And what an unforgettable treasure awaits: a day in incomparable Florence.

Choose Sailing Date Aug 24, 2010 View Details

Mediterranean Grandeur

12-day Cruise from Monte Carlo to Venice onboard Insignia

The great joys of this voyage are endless opportunities to explore ashore. Of course, not every moment has to be overly industrious, so be sure to enjoy relaxing activities such as basking in the glamour of chic Cannes. In the same manner, leisurely browsing the priceless art in Florence's Uffizi Gallery may prove to be more pleasurable and insightful than rushing about from museum to museum. Meander through the medieval streets of Kotor, and you'll notice the architecture's Venetian flair, a reminder that the Republic of Venice once ruled Montenegro. With even more time in Dubrovnik, where Insignia spends the evening, you might sample its culinary delicacies and distinct wines. An evening in Venice allows an unhurried visit to the island of Murano to watch the artisans create exquisite glasswork.

Choose Sailing Date Oct 29, 2010 View Details

Mediterranean Tapestry

14-day Cruise from Venice to Barcelona onboard Regatta

This alluring voyage begins with an evening in Venice that allows for deep exploration, even offshore to the island of Murano to watch the artisans blow delicate Venetian glass. For an architectural taste of Greece's fertile Corfu, a tour of Achilleion Palace is simply unparalleled. Then, it's back to Italy for a full week, beginning with a stop in Taormina, a Sicilian jewel of secluded gardens and medieval squares. Behold miniature Amalfi, clinging to a precipitous coastal ravine. Delve into the art and architecture of urbane Rome, a blend of old and new that blankets its legendary seven hills. Delight in Monaco's posh Monte Carlo, a wonderful counterpoint to down-to-earth Marseille, a lively multicultured French city that is undergoing a renaissance, particularly around the Old Port.

Choose Sailing Date Apr 28, 2010 Sep 17, 2010 View Details

Pearls of the Riviera

10-day Cruise from Barcelona to Rome onboard Regatta

Notable for its variety, this outstanding voyage presents a port a day, each one with its own personality. Palma de Mallorca's proud Moorish heritage comes to light in its medieval quarter and austere Almudaina Palace, which perches on an escarpment outside the city walls. France's indomitable joie de vivre shines brightest on the beaches, especially gems such as Plage des Graniers in Saint-Tropez. Italy flaunts its multi-faceted western coast in cities that include pastel-colored Portofino and vibrant Livorno, the gateway to historic Pisa and legendary Florence, two favorite excursions that never fail to amaze. This cruise also presents the opportunity to explore the chic Isle of Capri and several enchanting villages like Ravello sheltered by the ravines of the rugged Amalfi coast.

Choose Sailing Date Apr 04, 2010 View Details

Radiant Reflections

14-day Cruise from Barcelona to Istanbul onboard Nautica

Traversing nearly the entire length of the shimmering Mediterranean, this brilliant voyage reveals endless facets of the cultures that have lived here over the centuries. The Greeks founded hospitable Marseille in 600 B.C., landing on the site of the Old Port. The area surrounding La Spezia still looks naturally wild and rugged, much the same as it did to ancient seafarers. Florence's watershed events are recorded on canvas in galleries like the fabled Uffizi. True to its moniker of the Eternal City, Rome is a microcosm of ancient landmarks, from the enduring Colosseum to the Forum and its famed Arch of Titus, which was built to celebrate the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Similarly, Greece stands as a monument to the ancient world, but don't forgo its more modern attractions. In particular, enjoy the volcanic black sand beaches on gorgeous Santorini and the fabulous cuisine in Mitilini on the fertile island of Lesbos.

Choose Sailing Date Aug 15, 2010 View Details

Roman Interlude

10-day Cruise from Rome to Barcelona onboard Regatta

Deliciously compact, this voyage excels at focusing on one extraordinary region at a time, presenting it in the very best light. Regatta begins on the western shore of Italy in robust Naples, where pizza was invented in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. One of the finest collections of treasures excavated from Pompeii is on display in its esteemed National Archaeological Museum. On Italy's handsomely rugged Sardinia, Porto Cervo tantalizes with its signature cuisine that revolves around fresh seafood. France's equally magnetic Corsica and its insouciant capital of Ajaccio lie nearby. The Iles Sanguinares in the Gulf of Ajaccio are spectacular for bird watching and beachcombing. On the French mainland, Marseille exudes an unpretentious charm and serves as the gateway to mesmerizing Provence. Spain's urbane Palma de Mallorca bears a wonderful Moorish heritage, evident in its medieval Banys Arabs bathhouse.

Choose Sailing Date Nov 03, 2010 View Details

Spring Escapades

10-day Cruise from Istanbul to Provence onboard Insignia

Choose Sailing Date May 14, 2010 View Details

Sun-Splashed Rivieras

12-day Cruise from Provence to Venice onboard Insignia

This radiant voyage celebrates the sun by immediately calling on the French and Italian Rivieras. First, it's the new port of Cannes, an icon on the Côte d'Azur that tempts with glamorous beaches and, for a more unusual perspective, a boat ride to the monastery on nearby Ile St. Honorat. La Spezia represents the Italian Riviera with its beautiful rugged coastline and colorful terraced homes built right to the edge of the cliffs. As counterpoints, larger more cosmopolitan ports soon follow, including timeless Rome, a shopper's delight, especially for exquisite jewelry in areas such as the Piazza San Silvestro. This voyage also features two overnight stays along the Adriatic Sea, beginning with Dubrovnik, a medieval star on the Croatian Riviera that George Bernard Shaw once described as "heaven on earth." A second evening is spent in Venice, where a romantic starlit walk along the canals may be accompanied by the hypnotic singing of the gondoliers.

Choose Sailing Date May 24, 2010 Sep 30, 2010 View Details

Venetian Rhapsody

14-day Cruise from Barcelona to Athens onboard Insignia

Insignia begins her European season by slowly unraveling the most spellbinding destinations in the Mediterranean. After calling on cosmopolitan Palma de Mallorca and magical Marseille, Italy vaults to the forefront for more than a week. Italian luminaries such as Florence and resplendent Rome make a statement early on that this will be a singular journey. An evening in Venice, where you might zip through the larger canals in a vaporetti, or enjoy a leisurely gondola ride, ensures indelible memories. Ancient fortified walls, soaring over 80 feet high in places, define Dubrovnik, rewarding those who walk atop them with sweeping views. A pair of ports attests to Greece's diversity. Corfu invites urban exploration, especially in the bustling Liston area of Old Town. Nature prevails in the new port of Zakinthos, where you may swim among sea turtles.

Choose Sailing Date Apr 18, 2010 View Details

Yacht Havens

10-day Cruise from Rome to Barcelona onboard Insignia

This voyage focuses on the boutique ports of Italy and France, but in a highly uncommon manner by continually hopscotching between the countries. One day, you'll call on Bonifacio's yacht-filled harbor in beautiful French Corsica; the very next day, it's petite Cinque Terre, where adventurous travelers often follow the centuries-old seaside paths between villages. Returning to France, you'll visit glamorous Cannes, a shopper's paradise for haute couture fashions and a new port on the legendary Côte d'Azur. The following day, Italy recaptures the spotlight in chic Portofino on its famed Riviera, where the best view is from the lighthouse above the pine forests. France presents the second new destination on this voyage: palm-dotted Sanary-sur-Mer, where Jacques Cousteau pioneered diving in its clear, blue waters.

Choose Sailing Date Jun 17, 2010 Aug 05, 2010 View Details