BlueSun Cruises

1300 799 758

holidays@bluesuntravel.com

Le Bougainville, 8 Night A Circumnavigation of Sicily - with Smithsonian Journeys ex Valletta, Malta Return

Cruise Le Bougainville, 8 Night A Circumnavigation of Sicily - with Smithsonian Journeys ex Valletta, Malta Return
Cruise Line Ponant
Ship Le Bougainville
Destination EU Mediterranean
Brief Description 8 Night Cruise sailing from Valletta, Malta onboard Le Bougainville
Type of Cruise Luxury
Departure Date 29 Aug 2025
Cruise Description 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.

We invite you to join us on a circumnavigation of Sicily, a crossroads of the many historical civilizations—Greek, Roman, Arab, Byzantine, Norman—that have flourished along the shores of the Mediterranean.

Setting sail from Malta, your first stop in Sicily is Porto Empedocle, gateway to the fabled Greek temples of Agrigento, among the most captivating ruins in the entire Mediterranean.

Next cross the sea to Tunisia. From Tunis, travel to storied Carthage, a Phoenician stronghold from the 9th century BC until it was conquered by the Romans in 146 BC. The site includes several important Phoenician remains, including Tophet, the sanctuary of the gods Tanit and Baal, as well as many monuments from the Roman period. Also explore the Bardo Museum, world-renowned for its spectacular collection of Roman mosaics.

Back in Sicily, after rounding the western tip of the island, 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.

Your fifth day aboard Le Bougainville 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.

In Lipari, discover the 16th-century Norman castle-turned-archaeological museum on the site of an ancient acropolis before sailing in the evening to Stromboli, whose active volcano provides the backdrop as you cruise around the island.

From Stromboli, your ship sails through the Strait of Messina to arrive at Taormina on Sicily's east coast. Visit a winery on the slopes of Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, or tour Taormina town with its emblematic Greek theater offering dramatic views of the coastline.

The final port of call before your voyage comes to an end in Valletta is Syracuse, colonized by Greeks in the 8th century BC only to grow to rival Athens as one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world. You will visit the Roman Amphitheater of Augustus and the 15,000 seat Greek theater or Ortygia, the old town and its Baroque cathedral.

Your voyage ends back in Valletta.
Sailing Dates
29 Aug 2025
Category Single Twin Triple Quad
DEL AU $23,500 AU $12,150
PR4 AU $26,150 AU $13,480
PR5 AU $27,480 AU $14,140
PR6 AU $29,070 AU $14,940
DS4 AU $38,510 AU $19,660 AU $10,230
DS3 AU $40,730 AU $20,770 AU $10,790
PS5 AU $55,290 AU $28,050 AU $14,430
PS6 AU $58,210 AU $29,510 AU $15,160
PV6 AU $61,110 AU $30,960 AU $15,880
PV5 AU $61,110 AU $30,960 AU $15,880
GD6 AU $67,230 AU $34,020 AU $17,410
Cruise Itinerary
Date Port Arrive Depart
29 Aug 2025 Valletta, Malta 6:00 PM
30 Aug 2025 Porto Empedocle, Italy 8:30 AM 2:00 PM
31 Aug 2025 Tunis, Tunisia 6:00 AM 6:30 PM
1 Sep 2025 Trapani, Sicily, Italy 8:00 AM 8:00 PM
2 Sep 2025 Palermo, Sicily. IT 6:00 AM 11:00 PM
3 Sep 2025 Lipari, Italy 8:00 AM 2:00 PM
3 Sep 2025 Stromboli. Italy 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
4 Sep 2025 Taormina, Sicily 8:00 AM 10:00 PM
5 Sep 2025 Syracuse, Sicily. IT 8:00 AM 6:00 PM
6 Sep 2025 Valletta, Malta 7:00 AM
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.

* Unless otherwise noted all pricing is on a per person twin share basis. All prices based on cash payment - credit card fees may apply. Cruise deposit, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Special conditions may apply - please ask for full details at time of enquiry. All passports, vaccinations and visas are the responsibility of the travelling guest to secure prior to departure from Australia. Any pricing not in Australian Dollars will be converted on the day of payment into the relevant currency based on our daily rate of exchange. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Please submit any data errors/omissions you may notice on this site.

Unless otherwise expressly noted, all materials, including images, illustrations, designs, icons, and photographs appearing anywhere on this website are protected by worldwide copyright laws and treaty provisions. The copyright on such materials is held by the original creator of the materials. None of the materials may be copied, reproduced, displayed, modified, published, uploaded, posted, transmitted or distributed in whole or in part in any form or by any means other than as provided by Cruise Factory and The Small Ship Collective to its clients, or with the prior written permission of Cruise Factory and Cruise Traveller. All rights not expressly granted in these Terms are reserved. Any unauthorised use of the materials appearing on this website may violate copyright, trademark and other applicable laws and could result in criminal or civil penalties.