
In partnership with Smithsonian Journeys
Cruising the Mediterranean: Sicily, Sardinia, and Mallorca – with Smithsonian Journeys
- ItineraryValletta to TarragonaDuration8 days
- DatesPrices from
Come aboard L'Austral for an unforgettable voyage.
In alliance with Smithsonian Journeys.
This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.
This voyage in the heart of the Mediterranean explores four islands that, despite their differences, share a history of successive waves of civilizations that have washed over them from prehistoric times to the present. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Italians, British, and Spanish—all have left their mark on the language, art, architecture, and cuisine of Sicily, Sardinia, Menorca, and Mallorca.
From Valletta, Malta, your discovery of these very special islands begins with two days on the largest of them, as you visit the Sicilian cities of Trapani and Palermo. Rounding Sicily's western tip, you arrive in Trapani for an excursion into the countryside and the ancient Doric temple of Segesta or to medieval Erice, perched on a high triangular plateau sloping down to the sea.
L’Austral then brings you to Palermo, founded by the Phoenicians in 827 BC and becoming one of Europe’s greatest cities in the 12th century, when the Normans took control. Here you will visit Cappella Palatina, a Byzantine-Arab-Norman structure featuring dazzling mosaics and magnificent inlaid marble floors and walls. Or drive to nearby Monreale to explore its famed Norman cathedral.
Cagliari, Sardinia's capital, is your gateway to the archaeological site of Nora. Founded by Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, it was subsequently taken over by Carthaginians, then by Romans. Explore the remains of Carthaginian warehouses, buildings from the time of the Roman Republic, a Carthaginian-Roman temple, large baths with splendid mosaics, and a theater, almost intact, dating to the time of the Roman Empire.
On Menorca, second largest of the Balearic Islands, visit Mahon, the island's main port, where a tour of the town reveals Menorca's varied history through its architecture—classical Georgian sash-windowed town houses sharing pride of place with traditional Spanish homes. Visit the Museum of Menorca, and then drive to Torralba d’en Salord, a large and well-preserved Bronze Age talayotic settlement recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Palma de Mallorca on the island of Mallorca, explore the Gothic-style Bellver Castle, one of only a handful of circular castles in Europe, or board a vintage train through the orange and olive groves, almond and locust-bean trees, lush villages, and pine-covered mountains that define the island's landscape.
Your voyage ends in vibrant Tarragona, Spain, just down the coast from vibrant Barcelona.
Your voyage
All-inclusive

Destination
Mediterranean
Valletta to Tarragona
Duration
8 days, 7 nights on board
Smithsonian Journeys, Timeless

Smithsonian Journeys

Thomas Dandelet, Suzanne Pilaar Birch
Shore excursion in each port of call + transfers included
No single supplement, PONANT Bonus 15%
Ref: VT0145US - AU031025







Journey
Your daily itinerary
- A voyage specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers including discussions with experts, including historian Thomas Dandelet and archaeologist Suzanne Pilaar Birch.
- Well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins in Segesta and on Sardinia.
- Norman cathedral churches in Erice and Monreale.
- Stunning Byzantine-Arab mosaics in the Cappella Palatina in Palermo.
- A discovery of the Balearic Islands with stops in Mahón, Menorca, and in Palma de Mallorca, their capital.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Palermo, Cefalú, Monreale, Prehistoric Sites of Talayotic Menorca, and Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana.

Customize your journey:
Date
1 Oct 25

Date
10 Oct 25
Sharing your journey with

Thomas Dandelet

Suzanne Pilaar Birch
Staterooms and suites
Elegance and refinement

Superior Stateroom
Guests
3
Size
21 m²

Deluxe Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
18 m²

Prestige Stateroom
Guests
2
Size
18 m²

Deluxe Suite
Guests
2
Size
27 m²

Prestige Suite
Guests
4
Size
37 m²

Owner Suite
Guests
2
Size
45 m²
*Price is per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability, and subject to change at any time. The category of stateroom to which this price applies may no longer be available.
Details
More information
What's Included
Important travel details
In your luggage
Itinerary