Mediterranean Explorer

Milan - Statue of Lion

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7-night cruisefrom £529 per person

Find out what makes this region so special with calls to Barcelona and Milan on our Mediterranean Explorer cruise on the Island Star.

Price & book this cruise

Cruise ports of call

  1. Palma, Majorca
  2. Livorno, Florence & Pisa, Italy
  3. Genoa, Milan, Italy
  4. Marseille, France
  5. Barcelona, Spain
  6. Valencia, Spain
  7. Palma, Majorca

Shore excursions

We organise a wide selection of shore excursions to enable guests to pack as much in to their holiday as possible. All guests are of course welcome to stay on the ship or do their own thing in any port of call.

For a full list of available shore excursions, see our Shore excursions section.

Example shore excursions for this cruise

Livorno, Italy

Livorno acts as a stepping stone to the legendary landmarks of Tuscany - Florence, the capital of Renaissance art, and Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistery.

Power of Pisa

  • Half Day excursion, £35.50/adult, £22.00/child
  • Activity level: Not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties / wheelchairs
  • Family-friendly

A chance to see possibly the most famous landmark in Europe, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  This however is not the only highlight within the city.  You will have time to discover Campo dei Miracoli, one of the most beautiful squares in the world and the marble Baptistery.  There is also free time to do some shopping, venture to other parts of the city centre or simply have a cappuccino in the square.

Florence & Pisa

  • Full Day excursion, £49.00/adult, £25.00/child
  • Activity level: Not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties / wheelchairs

A formidable combination!  Italy at its best, with the opportunity to visit both cities in one day.  Visit beautiful Florence, the capital of Renaissance art.  A walking tour through the city ensures you see the best that Florence has to offer including the Loggia dei Lanzi (open air sculpture museum), Santa Croce Square and the Ponte Vecchio.  Next we make a brief stop in Pisa for photographs of the famous Leaning Tower and, of course, the magnificent Cathedral and Baptistery.

Boat Ride in Livorno

  • Half Day excursion, £25.00/adult, £13.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps
  • Family-friendly

A cruise along the Royal Canal is a lovely way to see Livorno.The route covers several centuries of Livorno's history and will take passengers through one of the most colourful districts called 'New Venice', which is a labyrinth of canals, waterways and bridges. Livorno was founded in 1577 by the edici Family who became interested in the area after Pisa's harbour silted up. Its foundation was created by the imagination of a famous architect, Bernardo Buontalenti, who was employed to build a modern city. It was pentagon shaped, built around a canal and came to be an impregnable town. The boat ride will take you to see and admire The New Venice quarter, the Republic Square, Modigliani's Bridge, the Central Market, the Dutch Church, the Lighthouse and the Four Moors. Finally after docking back at the Old Fortress your guide will take you around and show you the hidden corners of this ancient town.

There is some walking on this tour.


Genoa, Italy

The historic port of Genoa is ideally situated for a day trip to Milan, Europe's fashion capital.  Waiting for you are the Gallaria Vittorio Emanuele, Milan's elegant arcade, the magnificent Duomo cathedral and La Scala opera house.

Enchanted Castle

  • Half Day excursion, £35.50/adult, £17.75/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

A half day excursion, which gives you the chance to discover this truly enchanting place.  The small town of Tagliolo is an hours drive from the city, but worlds apart.  This is a medieval town with its protective wall, narrow allyways and little squares it has a great atmosphere.  We then visit the castle which is unique as to this day it has maintained its vineyards and cellar.  There is an opportunity to have a local snack and taste some of the locally produced wines.

Portofino

  • Half Day excursion, £36.00/adult, £18.00/child
  • Activity level: Not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties / wheelchairs

Take the opportunity to visit the most exclusive resorts on the Italian Riviera. After taking the coach to the neighbouring resort of Santa Margherita, we take a short boat trip around the bay to Portofino.  Once a small fishing village, it is now a very wealthy resort with pastlal coloured houses and exclusive shops.  We have a guided tour taking in St George's church and the Brown Castle.  There will also be some free time to discover the small resort on your own, before we make our way back.

Magical Milan

  • Full Day excursion, £38.50/adult, £19.25/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

Visit the second largest city of Italy and learn why it is considered the industrial, commercial and fashion capital. The city lies just over 2 hours north of Genoa and still has monuments dating back to its former glories when it was the hub of a busy road network and trading centre during the Roman Empire.  The excursion combines a guided city centre drive and walking tour, however you will still have time to do some shopping in the designer shops.


Marseille, France

Marseille is France's second largest city and on the south side of the old port, you'll find a lively mix of bars, cafes and restaurants.  Nearby are the vineyards of Chateau Neuf du Pape, the cultural city of Avignon and the former capital of the region, Aix en Provence.

Avignon and Les Baux

  • Full Day excursion, £39.00/adult, £21.00/child
  • Activity level: Not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties / wheelchairs

We visit the beautiful town of Avignon, home of the Popes Palace.  During the 14th century this palace was the residence of 9 Popes and has now been beautifully restored to make a very interesting visit.  After the guided tour there will be a little free time to discover more of the town  We then visit an amazing village.  Les Baux is built on a rocky hill, with a birds eye view of the countryside and vineyards bellow.  After a visit to the castle, enjoy free time to discover the village before a scenic drive back to the ship.

Chateau neuf du pape and Avignon

  • Full Day excursion, £47.50/adult, £32.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

The wine of Ch

Panoramic tour of Marseille

  • Half Day excursion, £26.00/adult, £13.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

Start your excursion by travelling to the old port where the Greeks landed in 600BC.  We then continue along the coast road, which gives spectacular views.  During the drive you will see Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica, the most magnificent building of its kind in southern France.


Barcelona, Spain

BarcelonaView larger image

Barcelona is a great city to explore with Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarters and of course Gaudi's works within easy reach.  Within easy reach is miraculous Monserrat, home to the famous Benedictine monsatery, one of the greatest religious shrines in Spain.

Cosmopolitan capital

  • Half Day excursion, £31.00/adult, £15.50/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

A guided coach tour of Barcelona with stops at the Gothic Quarter and the Spanish Village, a fascinating district in Barcelona that represents the different regions in Spain through handicraft markets, cultural displays and traditional Spanish foods. Then we head for the stunning La Sau Cathedral and Gaudi's Sagrada Familia with a final stop at the Monjuic Park for spectacular views of the harbour and the Grand Olympic Stadium.

Miraculous Montserrat

  • Half Day excursion, £47.50/adult, £32.00/child
  • Activity level: Not suitable for passengers with walking difficulties / wheelchairs

Leave the city for the serrated needle peaks of Montserrat and see the famous Benedictine monastery, one of the greatest religious shrines in Spain. You will also visit the basilica, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and steeped in stories of miracles.

Sporting Barcelona

  • Half Day excursion, £32.00/adult, £16.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps
  • Family-friendly

Hosting the Olympic games raised the profile of Barcelona worldwide. The tour gives you the chance to visit the Stadium and see the Olympic Ring after first enjoying the Barcelona Football Club Nou Camp experience. This football stadium has its own museum of trophies, photos and team documents. You will walk down the tunnel to the side of the pitch, see the changing rooms, visit the press room, tv studio and have some time to browse and buy souvenirs from the shop in the grounds.  


Valencia, Spain

From the cutting-edge City of Arts and Sciences leisure complex to quaint paella restaurants and bustling flower markets, Valencia is a city full of fascinating contrasts.  La Albufera nature reserve provides is a further contrast and the opportunity to see over 250 types of birds.

Valencia City Tour

  • Half Day excursion, £26.00/adult, £13.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

A great way to discover this fantastic city and take in the major sites.  Valencia is a mixture of ancient and modern and you will get chance to see both sides.  First it is off to the historical centre where you see the Serranos and Quart Towers, the old silk exchange and the central market.  As part of the walking tour you will also have an internal visit to the cathedral.  There will also be a panoramic drive which will take in the new City of Arts & Sciences complex.

Albufera National Park

  • Full Day excursion, £45.00/adult, £25.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps

The National Park is situated just south of the city centre and has the largest lake in Spain.  It is home to a number of migratory birds making it a natural paradise. We start with a route through the park to a unique traditional town that lies right in the middle, where we visit a "Barraca" house.  After time for lunch we join a typical Valencian boat for a ride along the lake to see the variety of flora & fauna.

A load of old bull

  • Half Day excursion, £40.00/adult, £22.00/child
  • Activity level: Moderate walking involved and possibly some steps
  • Family-friendly

Spain has a tradition of Bull fighting, which in years gone by was the largest spectator sports in the country. This excursion gives you the chance to learn about the traditions and see the fantastic arena which was used and the Bull Fight Museum.  We then visit one of the newest attractions in the city, the Oceanographic park.  This is the largest in Europe with 44 million litres of water!!  An underwater city of 80,000 square metres is a great way to finish this exciting and informative excursion.


Palma, Majorca

Rural view of hills of MajorcaView larger image

All of our Mediterranean cruises start in Palma. Think of it as the world's best departure lounge and a perfect place to get into the Mediterranean lifestyle.

City sightseeing

  • Half Day excursion, £10.00/adult, £5.00/child
  • Activity level: Suitable for most passengers
  • Family-friendly

Palma is a fascinating city. There are so many things to see and do, that it would be a shame not to explore a little on the busy “changeover day” onboard. We have an agreement with the City Sightseeing Tours, which leave right from the terminal building. The whole circuit last one and a half hours, however they operate a “Hop on Hop off” system, so you can visit many of the sites. See your Shore excursion Team onboard for your special ticket.

Marineland

  • Half Day excursion, £25.00/adult, £12.50/child
  • Activity level: Suitable for most passengers
  • Family-friendly

Why not spend your morning at Marineland?  Just a short drive away, you can make the most of your last days holiday or, if you are with us for another week, escape the busy embarkation day.   Marineland has a host of activities going on throughout the day including, Dolphin and Sea Lion shows, parrot shows and much more.  See your Shore Excursion Team onboard to make a booking.