Mediterranean Cruise

This 7-night cruise from MSC Cruises takes you to Mediterranean port cities in Italy, Tunisia, Spain, and France. You’ll spend your days exploring each city and your nights aboard the MSC Fantasia, which features five buffet and specialty restaurants, stylish staterooms, four swimming pools, and an aqua park with 150 illuminated fountains. Ships depart from either Genoa or Barcelona. You’ll also get the Bella Experience package, which means you can request dinner times and staterooms (both subject to availability). This cruise includes:

• 7-night Bella Experience, with accommodations in an interior stateroom, oceanview stateroom, or balcony stateroom
• All meals onboard
• Daily entertainment

Naples, Italy

time in port: 6 hours

• Stroll along the Bay of Naples: Dine at one of the city’s waterfront restaurants or breathe in the city’s cobblestone plazas. Enjoy views of Mount Vesuvius across the azure waters.
• Must-see museum: Museo Cappella Sansevero, a late 16th-century chapel that brims with frescoes and marble sculptures, including the renowned Veiled Christ.
• Optional excursions include a guided hike to the crater of Mount Vesuvius (starting at $72 per adult) or a tour of Naples’ historic center (starting at $59 per adult).

Messina, Italy

time in port: 6 hours

• The Cathedral of Messina is the city’s most famous landmark. The 12th-century cathedral and its neighboring bell tower—which holds the world’s largest astronomical clock— is a classic example of Sicilian-Norman architecture.
• Optional excursions include a walking tour of the nearby ancient town of Taormina (starting at $72 per adult) and a jeep adventure along the Sicilian coastline (starting at $125 per adult).

Tunis, Tunisia

time in port: 8 hours

• Navigate the Medina of Tunis: The city’s old quarter is an exhilarating introduction to Africa. This network of narrow alleyways leads to intricate mosques, opulent palaces, and a souk (market) where you can pick up souvenirs.
• Must-see museum The Bardo National Museum is one of the Tunisia’s best, as it’s home to Phoenician artifacts and well-preserved Roman mosaics
• Optional excursions include a full-day tour of Tunis with lunch (starting at $112 per adult) and a shopping trip to the city’s souks (starting at $69 per person).

Barcelona, Spain (on ships departing Genoa)

time in port: 8 hours

• Must-see landmarks: Gaudi’s whimsical La Sagrada Familia—the unfinished church has been under construction for more than 130 years—and Park Güell, a garden complex covered in colorful mosaic tiles and Art Nouveau flourishes.
• Take a stroll along the city’s tree-lined La Rambla. The pedestrian-friendly street is Barcelona’s center of activity and the place to find restaurants, lively street performers, and la boqueria (the public market).
• Optional excursions include a visit to the mountaintop monastery on Montserrat (starting at $59 per person) and a flamenco show with sangria (starting at $89 per adult).

Marseille, France

time in port: 7 hours

• Eat like a local: If you like seafood, try bouillabaisse (pronounced “BOO-yah-bess”), a delicately flavored stew invented by Marseille fishermen. Recipes vary, but a good bouillabaisse includes at least five different kinds of fresh-caught fish and shellfish. Some varieties even incorporate eels and sea urchins.
• Literary fame: Marseille is just across the bay from the Chateau d’If, an island prison depicted in the Count of Monte Cristo.
• Optional excursions include a day-trip to the town of Aix-en-Provence (starting at $72 per adult) and a Marseille city tour (starting at $69 per person).

Genoa, Italy (on ships departing Barcelona)

time in port: 9 hours

• Stroll through Boccadasse: This seaside neighborhood is filled with festive pink and yellow buildings overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
• Stunning artwork is on display at the Palazzo Ducale, a 13th-century palace that has hosted a G8 Summit.
• Optional excursions include a tour of Genoa’s historic center (starting at $55 per adult) and a visit to the Genoa Aquarium (starting at $55 per adult).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can guests connect to the internet in their cabin? Yes. MSC Fantasia has shipwide WiFi capabilities, including in cabins. On all other ships, connection in the cabins can only be done using an ethernet cable. For wireless connection, guests should find an internet hot spot located in public areas around the ship.

Can guests connect to the internet using their wireless devices and is there a cost? (Cell phone, iPad, etc) Yes, as long as WiFi connection is supported by the guest’s device. Regarding the cost, the ship will charge the standard WiFi fee to use the internet on board.

Can guests exchange money on board? Yes, but only limited amounts and pending availability. The ship usually carries USD and euros, but some local currencies may be available depending on the itinerary.

Which documents are needed to go ashore in port? All documentation requirements to go ashore will be posted on the daily program. Required documentation may include, but is not limited to: MSC Cruise Card, passport, government issued ID (not driver’s license), and driver’s license.

Where can I find information about travel documents required for US and Canadian citizens? You can find information for US citizens on the following websites: http://travel.state.gov, http://www.cbp.gov, and http://www.dhs.gov. For Canadian citizens: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html

Where can I find information about visa requirements? http://www.visahq.com is a very good source of information regarding visa requirements worldwide; however, guests should verify with the local consulate all the travel documents and visa requirements for each port of call visited during their sailing.

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