From Sicily to the Souks

Portsmouth

Embark Spirit of Discovery.

Depart 1700.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Gibraltar

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Watching over the entrance to the Mediterranean, stands the unmistakable limestone Rock of Gibraltar. At its base lies Gibraltar which is connected to the end of the Iberian Peninsula by a sandy isthmus and offers an intriguing blend of British and Spanish culture.

Discover Gibraltar’s Palladian architecture and typically British sights, such as red pillar boxes and familiar highstreet chains, during an included panoramic excursion. 

Alternatively, visit the military museum or ascend the limestone monolith by cable car for panoramic views and to meet the mischievous Barbary macaques. From the top of the Rock you can look out over two continents: Africa lies just 13 miles to the south, whilst Europe stretches to the north.

Included excursion

Uncover Gibraltar’s quirky British charm on an included panoramic excursion.

Optional excursion

Go in search of dolphins and other marine life in Gibraltar’s bay.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

La Goulette (for Tunis), Tunisia

Arrive 0800. Depart 1600.

From La Goulette, discover Tunis, the colourful capital of North Africa’s smallest country. A fusion of Berber and Arab cultures can be seen in the UNESCO-listed medina which was founded in the 8th century. Its labyrinthine alleyways contain some 700 monuments, including mosques, mausoleums and madrassas. Seek out the covered souks where stallholders barter over such goods as spices, fabrics and crafts.

In the Bardo Museum, antiquities from nearby Carthage are showcased – it was once the Mediterranean’s greatest city until its destruction by the Romans during the third Punic War in 146BC.

Optional excursion

Visit the ruins of Carthage, a city that once surpassed Rome or visit Sidi Bou Said, a village of whitewashed houses decorated with blue-painted doors.

Trapani, Sicily

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Trapani has a small but bustling port. Located at the eastern end of the port is The Dovecote, an offshore medieval fortress, and at the far end of the western coast is the Torre di Ligny. In the heart of the city’s historic centre, on one of the watchtowers, is the city’s oldest gate with its 16th-century astronomical clock. The maze of streets are characterised by monuments, ancient churches and elaborate gold-stone palaces.

Trapani is a new port for Saga cruises.

Valletta, Malta

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Cruise into the Grand Harbour of Valletta, which is overlooked by forts built by the Knights of St John in the 16th century. The surrounding UNESCO-listed streets exude old-world charm at every turn, and an included panoramic excursion will give you an overview of this historic capital.

Included excursion

An included panoramic excursion will give you an overview.

Optional excursions

Visit the ‘Silent City’ of Mdina or even head underground to the Byzantine-era Catacombs of St Paul.

Syracuse, Sicily

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

Originally a Greek colony, home to Archimedes, Syracuse is renowned for its well-preserved ancient Greek ruins. The archaeological site in the northwest of the town showcases a theatre built to seat 15000 spectators.

The historic centre of Syracuse, known as Ortygia, is set on a small island surrounded by the Ionian Sea and is connected to the mainland by three bridges. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ortygia has an attractive piazza, Piazza Duomo, and the remains of the Temple of Apollo, a Doric structure dating from the 6th-century BC. An included panoramic excursion offers a relaxing introduction to the area. 23 miles south of Syracuse is the historic city of Noto with its Baroque architecture.

Included excursion

See some of the surrounding area on an included panoramic excursion.

Spend the day at sea.

Mahon, Minorca

Arrive 0900. Depart 1700.

Mahon, capital of Minorca, lies in a sheltered natural harbour. The rocky shoreline is dotted with elegant Georgian-style architecture, a throwback to its period of 18th-century British occupation. The museum in Fort Marlborough offers a look back at this era.

Other attractions close by include 19th-century Mola Fortress, built to prevent the return of the British, and Far de Favaritx lighthouse. Join an included panoramic excursion for an introduction to Minorca’s history and traditions before exploring at your own pace.

Included excursion

Join an included panoramic excursion for an introduction to Minorca’s history and traditions.

Spend the day at sea.

Ceuta, Spain

Arrive 0800. Depart 1700.

The Iberian enclave of Ceuta is set on a peninsula that juts out from the North African coast. It combines an exotic fusion of Spanish and Moroccan culture and has many fortifications, such as the 15th-century Royal Walls, that reflect its tumultuous past.

Optional excursion

Visit Tétouan in neighbouring Morocco. Its small but well-preserved medina encompasses three distinct sections: Andalusian, Jewish and Berber, earning it a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Spend the day at sea.

Portsmouth

Arrive 0730.

Disembark Spirit of Discovery after breakfast.