Crystal Symphony, 24 Night Europe & Mediterranean ex Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy Return

This cruise charts a course for some of Europe’s loveliest – and underrated – coastal towns and islands. After leaving Rome, salt-licked Ponza is first, where you can get an authentic taste of island life, Italian style. Then we visit Salerno, which has all the picturesque charm of the Amalfi Coast but without the crowds, before arriving in Sicily, where we call at historic Messina and then Syracuse, renowned for its ancient ruins. Next, it’s time to relax at sea as we spend a day crossing to Greece. Zakynthos is home to the famed Navagio Beach with its striking shipwreck; Chania on Crete stuns with its 14th-century Venetian harbor; while car-free Spetses features lavish 200-year-old Captain’s mansions and jasmine-filled gardens. From Piraeus, you can take trips to the legendary Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, and then we sail south to Milos, where the white lunar-like landscape contrasts strikingly with the blue-green waters. We move next to the seaside city of Kalamata – home of the famed olives – and then on to Corfu, with its glorious sandy beaches and UNESCO-listed Old Town. We cross now to Montenegro to admire the medieval walled town of Kotor, and then to Croatia and the red-roofed city of Dubrovnik, set on the sparkling Adriatic. A sea day takes us to Fusina, for the famed wonders of Venice, and then we overnight in Ravenna to marvel at its astonishingly intricate Roman and Byzantine mosaics. Turning back south, we call at the Croatian island of Korcula, with its beautiful medieval center framed by pine forests, and then Bari, Italy, where you can try delicious Puglian food or take a trip to see the region’s amazing trulli houses. After a day at sea, we’re back on the sightseeing trail with stops in Valletta, Malta’s sunny capital built by the Knights of St John in the 1500s; Trapani, the myth-steeped city on Sicily’s dramatic western coast; and Naples, with its incredible food scene. Our journey ends with our return to Civitavecchia.

It begins the moment you embark. An immersion into luxurious wonder. An extraordinary sense of well-being. The Crystal Symphony is one of the most spacious and luxurious cruise ships at sea. Onboard amenities feature grand lounges, a full-service fitness facility, exciting casino, a lavish spa, expansive decks, a swimming pool with an extra-large Jacuzzi, award-winning cuisine and entertainment. To top it off, exquisitely-appointed staterooms, more than half of which offer private verandahs. Considered to be the finest shipboard staff afloat, it is their goal to anticipate your every need and to make this a vacation to remember.

For over three decades Crystal has been synonymous with exceptional, award-winning voyages.

Last year, A&K travel group acquired the Crystal brand, and its two most beloved vessels, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, ushering in a new era.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
Our highly personalised service has long been a Crystal signature, with some of the industry’s leading passenger-to-crew ratios.

EXCEPTIONAL DINING
Dining with Crystal is a journey through the most exceptional culinary dishes from around the world, from authentic italian cuisine in osteria d'ovidio, to classic parisian bistro dining or tapas-style tastes

EXCEPTIONAL SUITES
Our expansive suites and palatial veranda guest rooms have been recently renovated to offer the utmost comfort and refined contemporary design.

EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
We travel across the globe, immersing guests in the most incredible locations and together with A&K, taking them closer to the unseen side of each destination