Itinerary
- Day 1
Embarkation
You'll board the ship at 6:00 p.m. and settle in for your first evening. Dinner and various activities are available onboard while the ship heads overnight toward Corsica. It's a good chance to explore the vessel and meet other passengers before things really get going tomorrow.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Dinner onboard
- Evening activities onboard
- Day 2
Ajaccio
The day starts with a welcome reception featuring myrtle liqueur and pastry tasting as you cruise along Corsica's coast. You'll see the UNESCO-listed Gulf of Porto with its red cliffs and the Calanques de Piana. Pick either a challenging hike to Pointe de la Parata or a guided tour of Ajaccio and the Îles Sanguinaires. Later, enjoy Corsican music and entertainment back on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise viewing Gulf of Porto, Scandola Nature Reserve, Gulf of Girolata, and Calanques de Piana
- Myrtle liqueur and pastry tasting upon arrival in Corsica
- Optional lecture: The Beauty of the Island Summed up in Five Ports of Call
- Evening of Corsican music and song onboard
- Dinner onboard
Optional Activities
- Hike to Pointe de la Parata from Ajaccio (approximately 3 hours, 10 km/6.2 mi., 150-200 m elevation gain)
- Guided tour of Ajaccio including high court building, Cours Napoleon, Monument to Napoleon and His Brothers, Place d'Austerlitz, and Pointe de la Parata with Îles Sanguinaires viewing
Landmarks/POIs Gulf of Porto Scandola Nature Reserve Gulf of Girolata Calanques de Piana Pointe de la Parata Îles Sanguinaires Monument to Napoleon and His Brothers Place d'Austerlitz - Day 3
Calanques de Piana
You have options for exploring the Calanques de Piana: either a guided hike through this geological area or a coach and boat excursion. Hikers get lunch at a local restaurant and a boat ride to Cap Rosso. Those skipping the hike explore the village of Porto and then join the boat experience. In the evening, the ship cruises to Bonifacio with dinner and entertainment onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant (hikers only)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Calanques de Piana with lunch at local restaurant and boat to Cap Rosso (hikers)
- Full-day excursion to Calanques de Piana and Porto village with boat to Cap Rosso (non-hikers, pre-booking required)
- Return by coach to Ajaccio
- Dinner onboard
- Evening entertainment onboard
- Cruise to Bonifacio
Landmarks/POIs Calanques de Piana Cap Rosso Porto - Day 4
Bonifacio
The morning offers two paths: a hike to Cap de Pertusatu with dramatic limestone cliffs and views of Sardinia, or a guided tour of Bonifacio including the King of Aragon's Stairway and a craft liquor tasting. You'll have free time in Porto Vecchio this afternoon. Dinner happens at a traditional inland inn with local music and Corsican cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional inn in Corsican inland with Corsican music and in-season local cuisine)
Included Activities
- Hike to Cap de Pertusatu from Bonifacio (approximately 2.5 hours, 6 km/3.7 mi., 100 m elevation gain)
- Guided tour of Bonifacio with King of Aragon's Stairway and craft liquor tasting at L'Assaghju wine bar
- Free time in Porto Vecchio
- Dinner at traditional inn in Corsican inland with Corsican music
- Breakfast onboard
Landmarks/POIs Cap de Pertusatu Saint-Roch Chapel Bonifacio Fortress King of Aragon's Stairway L'Assaghju wine bar Porto Vecchio - Day 5
Porto-Vecchio to Bastia
Choose between a hike to Col de Bavella at 1,218 meters with views of the Aiguilles de Bavella and an authentic Corsican snack, or an optional tour of old Porto-Vecchio with its 16th-century citadel and marina. Late afternoon brings a cruise toward Bastia. You can relax poolside, try wellness treatments, visit the fitness center, or attend a lecture about Pascal Paoli.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Col de Bavella with authentic Corsican snack (approximately 3 hours, 8 km/5 mi., 500 m elevation gain)
- Optional lecture: Pascal Paoli - Island Patriot
- Onboard facilities: pool, wellness salon, fitness center
- Breakfast onboard
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Porto-Vecchio old town including 16th-century citadel ruins and marina views
Landmarks/POIs Col de Bavella Aiguilles de Bavella Ospedale Forest Porto-Vecchio old town - Day 6
Bastia - Saint-Florent - Île-Rousse
Your choices today are a day hike through chestnut forests toward Murato with countryside views and a visit to San Cesariu Chapel, or a Cap Corse tour hitting fishing villages like Erbalunga and Luri with wine and local produce tasting in Patrimonio. The ship heads toward Île-Rousse in the evening, and there's an onboard lecture about the Bonapartes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Included for hikers), Dinner
Included Activities
- Day hike towards Murato with lunch included (approximately through chestnut patches and Corsican maquis)
- Tour of historic San Michele de Murato Church
- Spuntinu snack (Corsican sausage and glass of wine)
- Optional Cap Corse tour visiting Erbalunga, Luri, and Patrimonio with wine, cold cuts, and cheese tasting
- Optional lecture: The Bonapartes: A Corsican Family
- Breakfast onboard
Landmarks/POIs Murato San Cesariu Chapel San Michele de Murato Church Cap Corse Erbalunga Luri Patrimonio - Day 7
Île-Rousse to Nice
Final morning options include a hike through Bonifatu Forest learning about local geography and wildlife, or tours of Calvi and its citadel with the Notre Dame de la Serra viewpoint, or exploring old Balagne villages in the fertile hills. You'll cross the Mediterranean toward Nice in the afternoon, with a lecture on how Corsica became part of France, a sunset cocktail on the Sun Deck, and a gala dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Festive gala dinner)
Included Activities
- Hike to Bonifatu Forest (approximately 2 hours, 4 km/2.5 mi., 200 m elevation gain)
- Optional lecture: How Corsica Became Part of France
- Sunset cocktail on the Sun Deck
- Festive gala dinner
- Breakfast onboard
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Calvi and citadel including large marina, immense bay, and Notre Dame de la Serra viewpoint
- Discovery tour of old villages in Balagne Region with over thirty cliff-perched or valley-hidden villages
Landmarks/POIs Bonifatu Forest Calvi Calvi Citadel Notre Dame de la Serra Balagne Region - Day 8
Disembarkation
After breakfast onboard, you'll disembark at 9:00 a.m. and head into Nice. Tour services end here, and your Corsica cruise is complete.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast onboard
