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The Best of Italy, Croatia & Malta route map

Arrive at Venice Marco Polo International Airport. If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the ship. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.

With your early morning arrival at Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to marvel at the estate in total peace. Wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. Later in the evening, cap the day off with a private once-in-a-lifetime experience at an after-hours lighting ceremony inside St. Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.

Start your morning in one of two of the Veneto region’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, Vicenza or Padua. In the afternoon, you’ll reboard the ship for scenic sailing across the lagoon as we head towards Mazzorbo and Burano. In the evening, you may wish to take your free time to stroll into town to appreciate this charming island when most of the tourists have left for the evening. Burano’s brightly painted fishermen’s cottages are an artist’s dream —hot pink, chartreuse, orange, lemon yellow, and more.

Spend the day exploring the northern lagoon of Venice and its captivating islands. Start with a visit to Torcello’s famous basilica with an art historian, then stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano during your free time after lunch. Alternatively, you can take the afternoon to see the renowned glassblowing artisans of Murano at work.

Meals: Lunch

Today, you’ll admire the greatest sites of charming and coastal Chioggia, including a stop at the local and lively market.

This morning, join a sailing excursion where you’ll explore the Po Delta where the Po River and the Adriatic Sea meet. Later, during lunch, we sail back to Venice.

Meals: Lunch

As your water taxi glides past narrow side canals and the Canal Grande, you’ll arrive in style at the Rialto Bridge. The iconic stone arch bridge sits at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande and holds numerous shops and restaurants.

It’s time to say goodbye to the S.S. La Venezia and make our way to Fusina to board the Seabourn Ovation and begin the next chapter of your journey. Settle into your new home and enjoy the exceptional inclusions, from fine dining to unlimited beverages.

On the Istrian peninsula of Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast, tiny, red-tiled Rovinj is perched on a domed headland now attached to the mainland. The town’s narrow, cobbled streets spiral up to the Church of St. Euphemia, whose Venetian-style campanile crowns the community. The outer, sea-level rim is lined with high-quality restaurants, and the warren of alleys open into unexpectedly pleasant plazas with open-air cafes.

Located some 30 miles off the Croatian coast, Vis is the most westerly inhabited island in the Adriatic and the largest in the Vis archipelago—a designated UNESCO Global Geopark and biodiverse haven for bottlenose dolphins, giant devil rays, and blue-fin tuna. Closed to foreigners until 1989, Vis remains sparsely populated, much of it covered in vineyards, pine groves, and citrus orchards.

Today is yours to relax and enjoy everything your ship has to offer. You may wish to lounge on deck, take in uninterrupted sea views, indulge in fine cuisine, or sip a cocktail by the pool as the Mediterranean sun drifts overhead.

Occupied successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, French, and British, Malta has been of strategic importance throughout history. The island’s rich heritage is reflected in the architecture of Valletta, the current capital.

This harbour on the eastern shore of Sicily near Messina gives us close access to the fabulous Greco-Roman ruins of Taormina, as well as the active volcano Mt. Etna. The temples, streets, and large amphitheatre of Taormina make it one of Italy’s premier ancient sites. Its location overlooking the sea and with the backdrop of snow-capped Etna complete the package and make it among the most famous attractions in the Mediterranean region.

Lipari is the largest of the seven major islands making up the Aeolian Islands. Their natural beauty and easy lifestyle have made the islands increasingly popular for those who wish to escape the modern world and its stresses. The crystal-clear, aqua-blue waters and the volcanic beaches are some of the most inviting in Italy. An abundance of fish and shellfish makes for some very good restaurants specializing in seafood.

With an idyllic cliff-top location on the Bay of Naples, Sorrento has inspired legends for centuries. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were said to live here, luring sailors onto the rocks. Today, citrus trees scent the air and add zest to the city’s limoncello liqueur.

Your journey concludes in Civitavecchia. After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Rome. Depending on flight timings, guests may choose to join an optional add-on excursion in Rome, with an airport transfer included afterwards.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

Beverages Unlimited beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits
Accommodation Overnights in your chosen cabin or suite
Transfers Scheduled airport transfers for guests who meet transfer guidelines
Excursions A wide variety of excursions
Entertainment Onboard entertainment including daily fitness classes
Services 24-hour room service
Laundry Onboard laundry room
Gratuities Gratuities for all onboard staff
Out and about Free use of bicycles and Nordic walking sticks
Dining Award-winning, farm-to-table cuisine

What’s not included

Travel Insurance

Additional information

On day 7, board a private boat and glide along the Grand Canal, Venice’s floating boulevard. Palazzi like Ca’ d’Oro and Palazzo Barbarigo unfurl in marble and mosaic as gondolas slip by and vaporetti crisscross the water’s silk-green surface.

Disembark to arrive at the Rialto Bridge, the storied stone span at the canal’s narrowest point. Pause for photos and reflection over the arch, then browse the nearby produce and fish stalls where Venice has shopped for centuries. The scene blends commerce and spectacle—exactly as the Republic intended.

During the ocean segment—especially on day 11—take advantage of daily fitness classes and wellness time. Stretch out in morning sessions, join a light cardio class, or enjoy the open-air decks and pool as the Mediterranean horizon widens.

In the evenings, unwind with onboard entertainment—from mellow live music to convivial lounges—paired with fine dining and a choice of premium wines and spirits. This interlude is designed to enjoy a free afternoon at sea, letting body and mind reset between ports.

On day 9, join a guide to explore Rovinj’s cobbled lanes, passing Balbi’s Arch, Venetian lions and artists’ studios along Grisia Street. The route spirals to the Church of St. Euphemia, whose campanile crowns this Istrian headland with Adriatic views.

Hear how Rovinj’s red-tiled roofs and stone facades reflect centuries under the Serenissima, then enjoy a free afternoon to linger at waterfront cafés. This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 10, board local boats to cruise to the Blue Cave (Biševo), where, weather permitting, a shaft of light turns the grotto’s waters electric azure. Return to Komiža’s stone harbor to wander fishermen’s alleys scented with pine and sea spray.

Learn about Vis’s long isolation and maritime traditions before time for a seaside coffee. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Delve into recent history on day 10 or 11 with a 4×4 ride to Vis’s WWII and Cold War tunnels, carved deep into limestone cliffs. Guides share stories of a once-forbidden island while viewpoints open over misty mountain passes and sapphire coves.

Continue to a family winery to sample regional wines such as vugava and plavac mali, paired with local bites. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 12, trace the Knights of St. John as you walk Valletta’s bastioned streets, from the Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking Grand Harbour to limestone palazzi with ornate balconies. Step inside St John’s Co-Cathedral, a jewel box of gilded chapels and marble intarsia tombs.

Hear how Malta’s crossroads position shaped sieges and baroque patronage, and, if time allows, admire Caravaggio’s dramatic canvases in the Oratory. This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 13, ascend to Taormina to step inside the Ancient Theatre, a Greco-Roman amphitheatre set high above the Ionian Sea with snow-capped Etna as backdrop. Stroll Corso Umberto and Piazza IX Aprile, where baroque facades open to cliff-edge terraces.

Continue with a scenic drive on Mount Etna’s slopes, learning how eruptions shaped Sicily’s soils and wines. Time permitting, sample local specialties in town. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the Aeolian spirit on day 14 with a panoramic drive to Belvedere Quattrocchi, where dramatic sea stacks and pumice cliffs frame turquoise coves. Return to the hilltop citadel to visit the Regional Aeolian Museum and its prized obsidian and Bronze Age finds.

Learn how volcanoes forged this archipelago’s culture and cuisine before time to enjoy a free afternoon around Marina Corta’s cafés. This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 15, travel from cliff-top Sorrento to walk the ancient streets of Pompeii—villa murals, forum stones and plaster casts that speak to 79 CE’s fateful day. Then continue along the Amalfi Coast’s cliff-hugging road, where terraces of lemons meet sheer rock and sea.

Guides connect Roman daily life with Campania’s volcanic landscape, while scenic stops invite you to pause for photos and reflection. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Also on day 15, board a hydrofoil to cruise across the Bay of Naples to Capri. Stroll Piazzetta-framed lanes, browse chic boutiques, and descend to the Gardens of Augustus for sweeping views of the Faraglioni sea stacks and sinuous Via Krupp.

Hear tales of emperors and 20th-century luminaries who made Capri their refuge, then enjoy a free afternoon for a limoncello gelato or chairlift up to Monte Solaro (time permitting). This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

On day 16, after disembarkation in Civitavecchia, opt for a concise Rome program: join a guided panoramic tour to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum exteriors, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona before your included airport transfer.

Guides trace the city’s arc from Roman Empire to Baroque papal capital, contextualizing the monuments you pass and allowing time to pause for photos and reflection. This add-on is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Discover coastal Chioggia on day 5 with a guided stroll along Corso del Popolo, over the stone Ponte Vigo crowned by the Lion of St. Mark, and past churches that anchor this working port town. Narrow canals, moored bragozzi and laundry-strung alleys echo Venice, but the rhythm here is decidedly maritime.

Stop at the local fish market, where fishermen auction the Adriatic’s catch—mantis shrimp, cuttlefish, clams—amid a chorus of vendors and clattering crates. Learn how lagoon tides shape the menu and culture, then enjoy a free afternoon to try cicchetti or photograph facades reflected in quiet backwaters.

On day 6, set out on an eco-cruise through the Po Delta, a mosaic of reed beds, lagoons and shifting sandbars where the great river fans into the Adriatic. Glide past traditional fishing huts and silent wetlands alive with movement.

Your guide helps you spot herons, egrets and seasonal flamingos, explaining how brackish waters nurture both birdlife and aquaculture. This gentle morning on the delta contrasts wonderfully with Venice’s stone and marble, revealing the living landscape that sustained La Serenissima for centuries before you sail back to Venice over lunch.

On day 4, step ashore on silent Torcello to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta with an art historian. Admire its Byzantine mosaics and hear how this once-bustling island predated Venice itself. Continue with a relaxed walk on Mazzorbo and time to stroll the rainbow lanes of Burano.

Alternatively, cross to Murano to see master glassblowing artisans at work inside a traditional fornace, where glowing gathers become delicate chalices and sculptures. Both routes celebrate lagoon craft and continuity—from sacred mosaic shimmer to centuries-old furnaces—and invite you to pause for photos and reflection beside quiet canals.

On day 3, choose between Vicenza’s Palladian masterpieces—the Basilica Palladiana and piazzas framed by Andrea Palladio’s elegant facades—or Padua’s medieval core, from the Basilica of Saint Anthony to the sweeping Prato della Valle. Both tours reveal the Veneto’s deep artistic heritage with expert storytelling.

Rejoin your ship for a scenic sail across the Venetian Lagoon toward quiet Mazzorbo and colorful Burano. As pastel fishermen’s houses glow at dusk, soak in the lakeside atmosphere and, time permitting, stroll past lace-makers’ workshops and bobbing boats. It’s a gentle, waterborne transition from Renaissance splendor to island village charm.

Begin on day 2 with early entry to the Doge’s Palace, exploring the Golden Staircase, vast Great Council Chamber and the evocative Bridge of Sighs before the crowds. Continue as you wander a Venetian neighborhood, slipping through quiet campi, sotoporteghi and artisan-lined calli to glimpse everyday lagoon life beyond the landmarks.

After dinner, experience a private after-hours lighting ceremony inside St Mark’s Basilica. As the mosaics ignite in warm gold, your guide traces Venice’s rise from maritime republic to Serenissima power. The echoing cathedral nave and softly lit icons create a hush rarely possible by day—an intimate encounter with the city’s spiritual heart.

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June 2027
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