Tauck Treasures of Mediterranean, on yacht Le Ponant

Treasures of the Mediterranean

This Mediterranean sea cruise takes in Provence, the French Riviera, Italy's Amalfi Coast, and remote Mediterranean islands by land and yacht. Prepare for sheer enchantment (and lots of walking) in Provence, where sights include a hilltop citadel, charming Aix-en-Provence, Avignon’s Palace of Popes, a Roman aqueduct, and legendary wineries. Experience Monte-Carlo, and board your 60-passenger motor-sailing yacht to discover the islands of Lipari, Ponza, Stromboli, Corsica, Sicily, and Malta. See fortified medieval towns, ornate cathedrals, ancient castles, and the incredible cliff-side drive along the Amalfi Coast. Feel like a jetsetter pulling into ports aboard Le Ponant, designed to access the small harbors and remote destinations that large ships can’t maneuver.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

2007 Itinerary

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Arrive in Arles
Tauck’s Mediterranean sea cruise and tour begins at Marseille-Provence International Airport one hour after the arrival of our selected flight(s). Welcome to Arles, one of Vincent Van Gogh’s favorite painting subjects. Meet travel companions at the welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Hôtel Jules César, Arles, France

Day 2: Roman ruins and wine in Provence
See the Gothic cloisters at the Church of St. Trophime, dating from the 12th century. See Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old, three-tiered Roman bridge and aqueduct with impressive arches spanning the Gardon River. Next stop is the heavily fortified 14th-century Palace of the Popes in Avignon. Tour the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine-growing region, and end the day with a local wine and food event.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hôtel Jules César, Arles, France

Day 3: Citadel of Les Baux
Check out Van Gogh Bridge, and then walk up to the Citadel of Les Baux, once a hilltop stronghold of feudal lords. Travel to beautiful Aix-en-Provence, the city of a thousand fountains, featured in many paintings by Paul Cezanne.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Grand Hotel Mercure Roi René, Aix-en-Provence, France

Day 4: Monte-Carlo magic
Poke around the medieval hill town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a long-time artists’ magnet. Arrive in the Principality of Monaco, where your luxurious hotel is located above the harbor, near the world-famous Monte-Carlo Casino.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco

• Day 5: Discover Nice
Journey to Nice for a city tour, and then meander through the maze of streets in Old Town, where you’ll see pastel-colored buildings. Walk the Promenade des Anglais along the seafront, and discover the daily flower market in Cours Saleya. Board your yacht, Le Ponant, for the start of your Mediterranean Sea cruise to Corsica.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 6: The natural bounty of Corsica
Aboard Le Ponant in the Mediterranean Sea cruise to the picturesque island of Corsica, a French possession with Italian roots. Transfer by tender to the beach-resort town of Calvi, then journey into the foothills through terraced vineyards, and groves of olives and oranges. Enjoy the evening sail along Corsica’s pristine coastline.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 7: Hidden Bonifacio
Sail into the nearly hidden Corsican port of Bonifacio with a deep, narrow harbor sitting at the base of sheer limestone cliffs - a highlight of your Mediterranean Sea cruise. The fortified 12th-century town is built on the top of the cliffs with great views of the sea. Tour the walled fortress, explore medieval lanes, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 8: Island life in Ponza
Stop to explore Ponza, the largest island in Italy’s Pontine Archipelago. The island features dramatic coves and cliffs, while the main town features yellow and pink houses, and a harbor full of fishing boats. Sail for Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 9: The Amalfi Coast to Ravello
Go ashore at Salerno, and visit the town of Amalfi. Then set out on the mountainous route along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Arrive in stunning Ravello, perched on cliffs overlooking the sea. Visit Villa Rufolo, the former residence of several popes, offering unrivaled views of the Mediterranean.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 10: Sailing the Aeolian Isles
Sail to Lipari, the largest of the seven Aeolian Islands. On your shore excursion, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour with free time to explore. Sail by the island of Stromboli, and see if its active volcano will provide a natural show.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

• Day 11: Taormina on Sicily
Admire the view as you sail into Taormina, a terraced town clinging to high cliffs on the east coast of Sicily with Mt. Etna towering in the distance. Stroll the Corso Umberto, Old Town’s main pedestrian street lined with cafés and pâtisseries.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Le Ponant

Day 12: Malta memories
Sail into the dramatic Grand Harbor of Valletta on Malta, founded by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, and disembark Le Ponant for the end of your Mediterranean Sea cruise. Tour the medieval walled city of Mdina, and take a coastal drive around St. Julian’s Bay. A highlight of your Valletta walking tour is the art treasure-filled Co-Cathedral of St. John, one of the world’s finest examples of Baroque architecture. Share favorite tour highlights at the farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Le Méridien Phoenicia, Valletta, Malta

Day 13: Ciao Mediterranean
Tauck's incredible Mediterranean Sea cruise ends at Malta International Airport 2 1⁄2 hours before the departure of our selected flights. If you are departing at other times, you may have to arrange your own transportation to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Book this Mediterranean Sea cruise now and combine an exploration of Provence with the discovery of some of the Mediterranean's less-often-visited ports!

Prices
13 Day Land / Cruise from $6,390 plus airfare

Double
$6390

Single
$10,230

Triple
$5970

Special departures where the single price is $7430: May 3 and August 16, 2007.

30 meals included.

International Airfare is additional. Call Tauck for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability). Departure tax is additional.

Land / Cruise Price includes everything outlined in General Information as well as private Tauck shore excursions, cruise fare, port charges, wine with dinner aboard Le Ponant, and gratuities to ship staff.

Please ask when booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our comprehensive Cruise Protection Plan.

Need to Know

Inclusive Prices

Cruise prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All accommodations, motor coach and cruise ship transportation, sightseeing, admissions, shore excursions and services of Tauck Directors, ship crew and drivers are included.

Hotel Accommodations – Tauck’s price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. Meal codes are: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for bellmen, luggage handling, doormen, dining room servers, local guides and cruise ship staff are included

Tauck Director – Each France cruise is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the duration of the cruise. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully-trained employee of Tauck.

No Options Sold – With the exception of select options detailed in the itinerary, Tauck’s price includes entertainment, special dinners, sightseeing and most activities. Tauck Directors may assist with information on other free-time activities, based on honest opinion, but will not sell you any “extras.” This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Not Included

Airfare to the cruise departure point and from the cruise ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before & After Cruises – Due to time schedules and the possibility of flight delays, many guests prefer to make hotel arrangements for the night preceding their France cruise. As a service, Tauck will make reservations before or after your France cruise. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis and must be booked through Tauck to qualify for Tauck’s special rates. These hotel room charges will be added to the cruise cost. Note: Airport transfers are not included for these bookings. If you wish to spend additional nights in Malta or Provence, please discuss this at the time of booking.

Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuity to the Tauck Director is not included. Such gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.

Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, visa fees, vaccinations, airport and departure taxes and other optional incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle guests’ luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Refer to Tauck’s Cruise Protection.

Le Ponant, is exclusive to Tauck with only 60 Tauck guests. She was built in France in 1991, specially designed for worldwide cruising to remote destinations accessible only by small ships – specifically islands and harbors in the Mediterranean the big ships can’t reach. Her interior is well-designed, blending the sleek lines of the exterior with gracious elegance in decor. On board you’ll find four decks featuring a library with a choice of books and videos, cozy lounge with evening piano music, boutique, and a full-service bar. Continental breakfast is served in your stateroom or at an American-style buffet in the panoramic restaurant; lunch is buffet style on the restaurant’s terrace; and dinner is served nightly in the window-lined restaurant.

Staterooms (approximately 150 sq. ft.) include a private bathroom with shower, personal safe, mini-bar, multi-channel music system, writing area, individual climate control, and a telephone with world-wide satellite access. Standard European 220-volt electric current is provided in all staterooms.

Sun Deck
Antigua Deck
St. Barth Deck
Marie Galante Deck

Ship Specifications
Built: 1991
Renovated: 2004
Length: 290 ft.
Draft: 13 ft.
Beam: 39 ft.
Tonnage: 850 tons
Cruising Speed: 14 knots
Air-Conditioned: Yes
Elevator: No
Number of Guests: 60
Crew Members: 30
Registry: France
Crew Nationality: French