21-DAY MEDITERRANEAN MOSAIC: ITALY, FRANCE, SPAIN & MALTA - 8768B

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Portofino, part of the Italian Riviera, sits on a peninsula in the Tigullio Gulf east of Genoa. It is a picturesque half-moon shaped seaside village, with shops, restaurants - with their famous sea food - and cafes, lining the shore. The crystalline green waters invite visitors to enjoy diving as there are 20 dive sites, as well as boating, in specified areas. Read more about Portofino, Italy

Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco in France. It really has a fairy-tale image with its beautiful Riviera - Côte d'Azur - setting, yacht-filled harbor and the elegant Casino that visitors can’t miss, though most don’t even enter to see the opulence and grandeur reflecting its exorbitant cost. It is an extremely rich place, where fast cars, big diamonds and flashy yachts are the norm. Read more about Monte Carlo, Monaco

Port-Vendres, situated on the Mediterranean near the Spanish border in the SW of France, is backed on three sides by the magnificent rocky slopes of the foothills of the Pyrénées. These are covered by the prestigious vineyards of Banyuls that also produce the Collioure wine variety. A very popular spot is the palm-lined yachting harbour surrounded by shops, cafés and seafood restaurants. Read more about Port-Vendres, France

Valencia city, the administrative capital of the Valencian community and the centre of the region of L’Horta, is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The Old City of Valencia, with its monuments, museums, and gardens, is a major tourist attraction. Here one finds the Gothic building of La Lonja that has been declared by UNESCO as a universal heritage monument. Read more about Valencia, Spain

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. Read more about Barcelona, Spain

Roses is a municipality and important fishing port and tourist centre situated on the coast at the northern end of the Gulf of Roses in Catalonia, Spain. Founded in the 5th century BC by Greeks, it was later settled by Romans and ruins from this period can be seen today. Attacks by Turkish pirates in the 16th century led top surrounding the town with a bastioned wall, and Castell de la Trinitat. Read more about Roses, Spain

Sanary-sur-Mer is a commune at the very western end of the Côte d’Azur in the SE of France, and is located 13 km from Toulon and 49 km from Marseille. Indeed there are numerous towns that are of interest to tourists within easy reach of this port. Considered to be the most beautiful port of Southern France, its harbour is lined with palm trees and pastel coloured houses on either side of a 13th century tower that was once a part of an important defence system. Read more about Sanary-sur-Mer, France

Seen from the water, Calvi, on the island of Corsica off the southern shores of France, is a beautiful spectacle with its three immense citadel bastions topped with ochre buildings that are sharply defined against a hazy backdrop of mountains. A hangout for European glitterati in the 1950s, the town these days is an interesting resort, in that its glamorous marina, souvenir shops and fussy boutiques contrast with the down-to-earth villages of its rural hinterland. Fascinatingly, Christopher Columbus supposedly came from Calvi, and there is a large statue at the foot of the citadel that commemorates this legend. Read more about Calvi, France

Olbia is a seaport in a NE wedge of Sardinia, and the main connection from the island to mainland Italy. It is fast becoming a popular tourist centre, primarily as the gateway to the famous and delightful stretches of coast, the Costa Smeralda. The people of the town are very friendly and there is a variety of bars, pubs and fine Italian restaurants to be enjoyed. Read more about Olbia, Italy

Porto Santo Stefano is a seaport town on the west coast of Tuscani, Italy. It lies 65 km NW of the major cruise port Civitavecchia, two hours from Rome. The port is on the north side of a 10 km wide ‘island’, joined to the Italian mainland by three narrow 5 km sandbars, one of which has an entry-exit road. Read more about Porto Santo Stefano, Italy

Rome, sometimes referred to as "The Eternal City," is the capital city of Italy. Cruises from Rome depart the Rome Cruise Terminal which is approximately 1.5 hours by train North-West of the city centre. Rome is renowned across the world for its rich past, impressive archaeological sites, delectable cuisine, gorgeous gardens, homes of local nobility, and significant structures including the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Piazza Navona. Read more about Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Naxos is a Greek island in the South Aegean, the largest of the Cyclades island group. Its fertile landscape spans mountain villages, ancient ruins and long stretches of beach. The namesake capital (also called Chora) is a port town filled with whitewashed, cube-shaped houses and medieval Venetian mansions. Read more about Naxos, Greece

Valletta (aka Belt Valletta, Città Umilissima) - traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's principal administrative district - is the capital city of Malta, located in the central-eastern portion of the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is essentially Baroque in style, with elements of Mannerist, Neo-Classical and Modern architecture. Don’t miss the the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral, with its imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings. Read more about Valletta, Malta

Located along one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays is picturesque Kotor. The bay is the deepest natural inlet in the Adriatic Sea, and the scenery around it is spectacular. Its well-preserved Old Town - surrounded by an impressive city wall - nestles at the head of southern Europe’s deepest sunken river valley. Read more about Kotor, Montenegro

Zadar is a Croatian city located not far from Sibenik. It is a several thousands of years old town and it was the capital of Dalmatia for many centuries. Several layers of city walls with their attractive and impressive entries dating back to the 16th century, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monuments, as well as a preserved collection of church silver and gold, all bear witness to the city's tumultuous past. Read more about Zadar, Croatia

Located at the head of the Adriatic Sea between the mouths of the Piave and Po Rivers, an intricate web of 118 tiny islands and canals make up the enchanting city of Venice in Italy. Considered to be an extremely beautiful and romantic destination, it is not surprising that Venice has played an important role in the history of symphonic and operatic music. One must take a gondola ride along some of the over 150 canals, including the Grand Canal. Read more about Venice, Italy