The French Riviera and Corsica: From Rome to Nice via Sardinia & Corsica - Star Flyer
Holiday Highlights
- Experience the magnificence of Rome on a guided tour
- Marvel at the glamour of the Côte d'Azur with tours of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice
- Travel across the island of Elba on a scenic drive to Porto Azzurro and pause for a wine tasting at a wine estate that once hosted Napoleon
- On Corsica visit the charming harbour town of Bonifacio, stunningly located towering white cliffs and Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon, plus take a drive to the stunning Parata Peninsula for wonderful views of Sanguinaires Islands
- See the beautiful medieval town of Alghero on Sardinia and join a guided tour through the old, cobbled streets
- Visit Ajaccio, the birthplace of Napoleon and take a drive to the stunning Parata Peninsula for wonderful views of Sanguinaires Islands
- Beach stop and walking tour in glamourous St Tropez
- Walking tour of glamourous Cannes on the French Riviera
- Sightseeing tour of Nice, the second largest city along the Cote d'Azur
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room or cabin. The price includes:
- Scheduled flights to Rome, returning from Nice from a range of regional airports
- 7 nights on board Star Flyer
- 1 night in the Crowne Plaza St Peter's Rome and 2 nights in the Holiday Inn Nice City Centre - with breakfast
- All visits and excursions as mentioned
- Full breakfast, buffet lunch, afternoon tea and à la carte dinner daily whilst on Star Clipper (lunch excluded on shore excursions)
- Attentive service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
- Services of our experienced and insightful Cruise Director and Tour Manager
- All port charges (worth £165) and airport taxes
- All transfers between the airport and hotel* and hotel to port
- Porterage of one item of luggage per person
- *Transfers are not included for guests booking their own flights.
- Please note that in the event of unsatisfactory weather conditions the captain reserves the right to alter or reschedule the itinerary. Availability of watersports is subject to weather conditions and local authority regulations.
- Please note due to the size of the ship there is no lift between decks; therefore a reasonable degree of mobility is required to negotiate the stairs and overall design.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Rome Arrive in Rome where we stay for one night. Your hotel is the four-star Crowne Plaza St Peters or you may choose to upgrade to the five-star Hotel Bernini Bristol. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this captivating city. This evening you may choose to dine in a local trattoria, perhaps in Trastevere – the district famed for traditional Roman food.
Day 2
Rome This morning we include a guided tour of Rome, one of the world’s most compelling cities with probably more to see than in any other capital on earth. Boasting an uninterrupted recorded history for upwards of 2,500 years, nowhere else seems to have managed to combine, and with such finesse, a heritage of classical antiquities and medieval buildings from Renaissance palaces to intricate baroque piazzas. The grandeur of the Colosseum, scene of some of the most cruel acts ever committed, the Appian Way where Spartacus was crucified, the magnificence of St. Peter’s, the grandeur of the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain and flamboyant Baroque buildings are all here – and the list is endless. But Rome is much more than monuments alone, incredible though they are! A city is nothing without people and Rome’s citizens have been amongst the most colourful in history with probably nowhere having been visited by so many of the world’s famous for so long: Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Nero, Atilla the Hun, St Peter, the Medici, Michelangelo, Napoleon, and Byron - all captivated by its magnificence. Board the Star Flyer in Civitavecchia This afternoon your tall ship adventure begins. We drive to Civitavecchia to board the beautiful Star Flyer where the crew, ready to welcome you, ensure you settle in and familiarise yourself with the ship, your first-class floating hotel and your home for the next 7 nights. This evening we sit down for the first of our delectable dinners in the stylish dining room. Included experience: Guided tour of Rome.
Combine this with the very best state of the art safety features and superb facilities of a modern cruise ship: 81 spacious, sumptuous cabins displaying traditional decor, leather and dark hardwoods; the finest cuisine in an elegant dining room; a highly skilled and caring crew - and you have the Star Flyer!
It is the sister ship to the Star Clipper and when its 16 magnificent sails unfurl you are immediately overwhelmed by a remarkable sensation of being completely in tune with Mother Nature – a rarity in the modern world. With just 162 passengers and 74 crew on board, the atmosphere is very intimate – more like a private yacht than a ocean cruise ship. Life is wonderfully informal and low-key, whilst the small scale of the ship and the open restaurant seating promotes a relaxed and extremely sociable ambience.
Everyone loves the experience of being on deck – the ropes, stays, winches, the polished mahogany and gleaming brass of the ship’s bell are all a living testament to its maritime heritage. On the Star Flyer guests are encouraged (should you so wish!) to help raise the mainsail and just like the Star Clipper, the bridge is always open for a visit. The Star Flyer is also responsive to the wind and sea: you feel the surge of the breeze, breathing life into the canvas above and sense the deck gently tilt as the sleek gleaming hull slices through the waves under the ever-watchful eye of the skilful captain.
There are two small salt-water swimming pools, plenty of deck space with sun loungers, chairs and a shady spot to cool off. Enjoy a long refreshing drink or your favourite cocktail from the open-air Tropical Bar, the ship’s social hub. The library with its leather armchairs is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a good book or you can relax in the tasteful lounge and piano bar chatting with your fellow passengers. You can climb the mast (in a safety harness!), lie in the bow netting or participate in the free water sports available at each port of call (where possible and subject to weather conditions and local authorities. Certified scuba divers can also dive at each port, at extra charge). Evening entertainment is simple and ‘home-made’ by the crew and officers - there’s no formality here and you’ll feel completely relaxed and unwound.
But perhaps the memory that may stay with you the longest is the simplest – that of the balmy summer evening breeze on deck, with the masts soaring above into a velvet night sky of silent stars over a moonlit sea.
To learn more about sailing on our tall ships see our Life On Board page.