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Mediterranean: Mediterranean Cruise – Oceana P&O Cruise

It’s an epic opener to your cruise as you sail down the majestic Messina Strait from Valletta.
First, lose your heart to Rome (tours from Civitavecchia), and the lure of the Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon. Do as the Romans do and tuck into a wood-fired pizza, in a locals’ trattoria, with a full-bodied Lazio wine.
In Ajaccio, if you get a feeling that there may be some link with Napoleon, you’d be right. He was born there and almost every attraction has his name on it!
Beautiful Naples, birthplace of the modern pizza, is your gateway to the haunting ruins of Pompeii and the trendier sites of cliff-top Sorrento and swanky Capri. Then after Messina’s curved harbour and breath-taking backdrop of Mount Etna, then on to the World Heritage Site city of Valletta, where it’s time to fly home.

Main stops of your itinerary:

Messina Strait

Sailing through the Strait of Messina has to be one of cruising’s most pleasant experiences. This narrow strip of water forms a passage that separates the eastern corner of Sicily from the western-most point of Calabria on the Italian mainland. Your 20-mile-long passage through the strait takes you from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Ionian Sea. It’s only 2 miles wide in the north and 10 miles wide in the far south. This affords, at times, really close-up views over the coastlines on either side. On the Sicilian coast, Mount Etna can be seen in the distance, and if you’re lucky, you might even see some volcanic smoke rising. On the Calabrian side, you’ll see swaying pine trees and be greeted by all manner of fishing vessels, bobbing not too far away, and pleasure craft of all shapes and sizes. There are strong tidal currents and an abundance of marine life. It’s also an important migratory route for birdlife, so make sure you keep your camera handy.

Rome - Italy

Standing in the Colosseum, visiting Vatican City and tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain are all unique experiences of a lifetime to be had in the Eternal City of Rome, reached from your Italian cruise port Civitavecchia.
Rome’s breathtaking monuments, palaces, churches and classical features are quite unlike anything you will find in any other European city. They will always leave you wanting to come back for more – hence the coin-tossing, which is said to guarantee your return.
The city’s other must-sees include the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon (probably the most complete ancient Roman building in the city) and the Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s masterpieces.
While steeped in history, Rome is also a modern, bustling city with designer shops and chic boutiques at every turn. Reasonably priced department stores selling all the latest fashions can be found in the many pedestrianised shopping streets, while restaurants and cafés spill out onto piazzas offering authentic Italian dishes and sensational ice cream.

Ajaccio - France

Napoleon was born here and, if you did not know that before, it would only take a few minutes after cruising into Ajaccio to cotton on as ‘Boneys’ name and likeness is everywhere.
The main shopping street is called Cours Napoleon and the wide tree-lined boulevards, parks and large squares in this newer part of town feature many statues of the great man, notably in the main square (ironically called General de Gaulle). The Old Town between the port and the imposing citadel on the cliff above boasts Napoleons House and the cathedral where he was baptised
The main marketplace is right by the port and here you'll find lots of local craft goods and endless Napoleonic souvenirs. Nestling in the Bay of Ajaccio, halfway down the islands west coast, Ajaccio is an excellent base from which to explore Corsica and discover why it is called the ‘Scented Isle’ (because of the sweet aromas from the mountainside maquis vegetation).

Naples - Italy

Cruising into the Bay of Naples is a memorable experience. The Naples port is overlooked by the imposing Sant Elmo medieval castle, high up on Vemero Hill, as well as the 13th century Castel Nuovo, which is right next to the Naples cruise terminal in the heart of the city.
Within a short walk, to the left of the terminal, are three of Naples best-known landmarks: Castel Nuovo, the 17th century Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), and the elaborate 18th century San Carlo Opera House. To reach Naples’ fascinating old town, go straight past Castel Nuovo and then over the Piazza Municipio.
The cities archaeological museum majors on Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two extraordinary sites that draw most first-time visitors to Naples. The city is also a convenient base for tours to the nearby swish cliff-top resort of Sorrento and the even swishier island of Capri.