5 April | Fly from the UK direct to Barcelona

Embark Seabourn Venture to begin your eight-night Mediterranean Adventure

Seabourn Venture

6 April | Port Vendres

From this river-front harbour on the Côte Vermeille near Spain, travel to picturesque Collioure, whose fervent Catalan spirit, scenically sited Notre-Dame-des-Anges church, romantic Chateau Royal and Fort Saint-Elme attracted the vigorous artists of the Fauvist movement including Derain, Matisse, Braque and Picasso. Collioure has an official wine appellation of its own, producing reds, a rosé and a few whites. The fruits of ancient vines arrayed behind the town also find their way into the aperitifs and wines of the neighboring Banyuls appellation. Try a glass, along with a few grilled Collioure anchovies at a harborside boite.

Port Vendres

7 April | Toulon

One of the Mediterranean’s best ports and largest harbours welcomes you to the home of the French Mediterranean Fleet. Located in the Var prefecture of the Provence, Toulon has a long history that is revealed in various districts of the city. The Old Town is along the harbor, with narrow streets and small squares, most boasting a nicely decorated fountain. The Upper Town is mostly 19th century grandeur. You can take a cable car to Mont Faron, bypassing the road that is a notorious stretch for bicycle racers. The waterfront neighborhood of Le Mourillon is a family-friendly beach area for Toulonais. There are wonderful museums of history, art from various periods and naval history to explore as well.

Toulon

8 April | St Tropez

On the southern shore of one of the most beautiful bays of the Riviera, the little port of St. Tropez has become one of the best known resorts in Europe, a crossroads where journalists, photographers, writers, artists and celebrities meet. Guy de Maupassant discovered the town, but it was the painters who made it more widely known – Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, Marquet, Camoin – who all stayed for varying amounts of time. The harbor teems with life. Fishing boats, excursion craft and hundreds of yachts share the harbor. On the waterfront are old pink and yellow houses, which have been converted into cafes, cabarets and restaurants, luxury boutiques, galleries and antique shops. A picturesque and cosmopolitan crowd strolls the streets in season.

St Tropez

9 April | Cannes

Cannes was founded in the 2nd century BC by a Ligurian tribe, and was subsequently colonized by the Romans in 154 AD. During the town’s entire history it went through a period of upheaval and desolation by war. In 1834, Lord Brougham, an English aristocrat, was so enchanted by Cannes that he decided to settle there. This marked the beginning of the town’s affluence, with luxury residences springing up to provide winter accommodations for international nobility. From 1930 onward, Cannes became a summer resort. Its local economy had traditionally relied on fishing, but was quickly replaced by tourism. Today, Cannes is best known for its world famous film festival and, for two weeks in May each year, attracts the brightest and most talented stars of the silver screen.

Cannes

10-11 April | Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo Masters

12 April | Portovenere

The port is lined with ancient houses from as early as the 12th century. And the dominant citadel dates from then, as well.  Below that, explore the grotto where Lord Byron used to daydream. Or climb the castle beside St. Peter’s church for a view of the villages of Cinque Terre clinging to the cliffs across the gulf.   

Portovenere

13 April | Rome (Civitavecchia)

Disembark Seabourn Venture. Transfer back to the airport for your direct flight back to the UK

What’s included with your cruise