Southern France and the Italian Riviera by Sea – with Smithsonian Journeys

Cruise overview

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.

Join us for this voyage along both the French and Italian Rivieras, exploring the rich history and culture of the fabled lands on the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Setting sail from Barcelona, your discovery of southern France begins from Sète in the Occitanie with the hilltop city of Carcassonne and its medieval citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The ancient port of Marseille is your gateway to either Aix-en-Provence, “city of a thousand fountains” and home to Paul Cézanne, or to Van Gogh’s Arles and the UNESCO World Heritage “City of Popes,” Avignon.

The resort town of Nice, the last French mainland port on this leg of your voyage, offers a tour of nearby Monte Carlo and a trip to the medieval hilltop village of Eze, with panoramic views of the Côte d’Azur. Or enjoy a visit to St. Paul de Vence to visit the Maeght Foundation’s collection of modern and contemporary art and sculpture.

The port of Santa Margherita Ligure provides access to the small Italian fishing village of Portofino, now a favored haunt of the rich and famous, where you may enjoy a relaxing afternoon of leisurely browsing through its shops and galleries and perhaps a chance to sample the local cuisine.

Porto Venere can serve as your gateway to discovery of the UNESCO World Heritage Cinque Terre, the villages at the heart of the Italian Riviera. Or you may spend the day exploring Romanesque Lucca, birthplace of Giacomo Puccini, and medieval Pisa, with its magnificent Duomo, Baptistry, and Leaning Tower.

From Livorno, a full day excursion to Florence introduces you to the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Or if you prefer, you may explore the Etruscan ruins and museum at nearby Volterra. 

The last port of call brings you back to French soil and to the spectacular ‘sentinel city’ of Bonifacio, perched high on cliffs on Corsica’s southern coast, where you can stroll along medieval lanes lined with brightly colored houses, or take a local boat to explore the caves and islets along Bonifacio’s scenic coast.

Your voyage ends in the Roman port of Civitavecchia, with easy access to Rome.