14-day hidden gems of Croatia, Italy, Malta & Sicily

Your voyage begins in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik is a beautiful stone jewel hugging the Adriatic Sea. This picture-perfect medieval walled city offers ancient stone buildings, narrow cobbled streets and fortified ramparts rising above red-tiled rooftops. Stradun is the city's focal point and main artery while Dubrovnik's streets are blessedly free of vehicular traffic. Despite the heavy damage inflicted by shelling in the early '90s, Dubrovnik has been restored to its pre-war beauty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old city remains the pride of the Republic of Croatia.For six centuries Dubrovnik was an independent republic - an oligarchy ruled by patrician families. The Republic was overthrown by Napoleon in 1808.Note: All passengers must carry an original photo I.D. when going ashore: photocopies are not accepted.On occasion, Dubrovnik will be an anchorage port; passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.

Kotor lies at the head of Boka Bay. Bordered by towering limestone cliffs, the winding bay is actually Southern Europe's longest and most dramatic fjord. The port itself is a medieval gem: its narrow, asymmetrical streets are lined with ancient stone houses, old palaces, and churches dating from the 12th century. Kotor is also your gateway to the cultural and scenic wonders of Montenegro, from the old royal capital at Cetinje to the marshes and wildlife of Lake Skadar National Park.Kotor is renowned for its nightlife: the streets of the old port are lined with pubs, taverns and cafés. The city is also host to a renowned summer carnival.Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender.

A full day at sea - time to enjoy Seabourn Ovation's restaurants, pools and entertainment.

Your ship calls at Koper, Slovenia.

Your ship calls at Rijeka, Croatia.

Your ship calls at Hvar, Croatia.

Your ship calls at Korcula, Croatia.

Your ship returns to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Your ship calls at Sarande, Albania.

Tucked into the instep of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula is the region's second largest city, Taranto. Known as la Città dei Due Mari, or the City of the Two Seas, its heritage dates all the way back to the Spartans, who founded it in the 8th century BCE. Here, the past is always present. Walk in the footsteps of King Ferdinand II of Aragon with a visit to Castello Aragonese. Behold the otherworldly structures and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Alberobello and Matera. And savor the flavors of southern Italy with visits to the Manduria wine region and Masseria, known for its centuries-old olive trees. Treasured history, architectural treasures, picturesque landscapes-this is what vacation is all about!

Continue your voyage aboard Seabourn Ovation with a leisurely day at sea.

Malta is the largest in a group of seven islands that occupy a strategic position between Europe and Africa. The island's history is long and turbulent. Everyone from the Normans to the Nazis have vied for control of this small, honey-colored rock. For centuries the island was the possession of the knightly Order of St. John - the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta, Malta's current capital, was planned by the Order's Grandmaster Jean de la Valette to secure the island's eastern coast from Turk incursions. Founded in 1566, Valletta's bustling streets are lined with superb Baroque buildings and churches.Malta has a long history: the megalithic stone temples at Gozo may be the oldest freestanding structures on Earth. Malta has two official languages, Maltese (constitutionally the national language) and English. Malta was admitted to the European Union in 2004 and in 2008 became part of the eurozone.

Your ship calls at Giardini Naxos (Taormina), Italy.

Your ship calls at Amalfi, Italy.

Your gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications.Yet the Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter.Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.