French & Italian Rivieras
Snapshot
- 7 Nights
- Aboard Explora II
- Luxury
- Cruise Holiday
- Barcelona to Rome
From
$5,999*
Per person twin share
Overview
Free-spirited Balearic summer nights slip into French chic as we saunter the Cote d’Azur. Genoa surprises with its Renzo Piano-designed port, medieval old town and 100 palazzi, before Portofino’s inimitable elegance, pastel-coloured houses, sun-warmed waters and superb restaurants. Lean into la dolce vita as we weave Tuscany’s islands amid pristine blues to its stylish hideaway on Monte Argentario, arriving at the Eternal City at sunrise.
EXPLORA II Highlights
Setting a new standard in luxury ocean travel, EXPLORA II, offers discerning travellers the perfect blend of discovery and sophistication, combining celebrated destinations with off-the-beaten-path ports, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in the essence of exploration. With overnights and longer stays at destinations, delve deep into local cultures and experiences and create memories that last a lifetime.
- A total of 14 decks offering 16,600 sqm (178,680 sq ft) total public space, offering unrivalled space and privacy with one of the highest guest-to-space ratios in the luxury ocean category at 18.4 sqm (198 sq ft)
- 461 Ocean front ‘Homes at Sea’ with an average size of 42 sqm (452 sq ft): 1 Owner’s Residence, 22 Ocean Residences, 67 Ocean Penthouses, 301 Ocean Terrace Suites, 70 Ocean Grand Terrace Suites
- A choice of 11 culinary experiences, 6 unique restaurants, 12 bars and lounges
- 248 metres long, 32 metres wide, 56 m height above water line
- Ocean Wellness offering both indoor and outdoor wellness and fitness facilities, 9 treatment rooms, 1 beauty salon
- 3 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool with retractable roof, 1 indoor hydrotherapy pool, 64 private cabanas
- 1:1.25 Host to Guest ratio
Inclusions
- In-suite welcome bottle of champagne upon arrival
- A bottle of wine and a bottle of spirit of the guests’ choice upon arrival
- Authentic, cultured and intuitive service from our team of hospitality experts
- Nine distinct culinary experiences, including in-suite dining
- Unlimited beverages, fine wines and premium spirits, speciality coffees, teas and soft drinks available anytime, including in-suite mini-bar*
- Access to the spa thermal area
- Wellbeing and fitness programmes on board and at the destinations
- All on-board gratuities
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Shuttle services from port to city centre (where required/available)
Advertised price based on 22 September 2025
Itinerary
DAY 1
BARCELONA
Spain
Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.
DAY 2 & 3
IBIZA
Spain
Experience the magnetic vibes of Ibiza. Relax as you feel the gentle pull of vibrant island life. Experience Las Salinas salt flats, eat paella, sip sangria, meditate, shop boutiques… do whatever you please. Hidden away are fincas, pine valleys, orange groves, almond trees and lush orchards. Retreat to renowned spas for wellbeing, yoga, massage and healing. Soothe in warm waters at private beach affairs. As darkness falls, cavort in bars and clubs where the world’s finest DJ’s thrill. Warm and easy-going, nature’s elements blend beautifully with island life. It's little wonder that Ibiza has drawn artists, writers, gurus and beatniks for years. Some have never left.
DAY 4
MARSEILLE
France
Lounging under a Provençal sun, Marseille is the oldest city in France yet seemingly grows younger each day. A multi-cultural melting pot with top-notch museums, galleries, smart squares and hip port-side bars, where you can tuck into a bowl of bouillabaisse, its famous fish stew. Meander past fountains built under the reign of Napoleon III and city hall erected during Louis XIV. Fall in love with the Calanques cliffs for a bit of French coastline drama, or wind through cypress trees and lavender fields to Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, famously once home to Van Gogh, Cézanne, and author Peter Mayle. Chase light, ripening Syrah grapes and drink in the nuances of terroir. From Marseille’s boisterous roots to its French coastline drama and nearby classic Provence, wander at will and fall in love with it all.
DAY 5
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER (NICE)
France
A bejeweled siren sunning along the Côte d’Azur, Villefranche-sur-Mer beckons with provincial scenes, rainbow-bright houses and flowers fluttering everywhere. Poised at the tip of a sapphire harbour, this genteel enclave has curves in all the right places, including the comly Corniche that winds beside Plage des Marinièr with its crescent flour-soft sand that sweeps around the cobalt Med. Escape into charming chapels and centuries-old citadel that affords shimmering views of Cap Ferrat then venture to two nearby medieval walled towns of atelier-focused St Paul de Vence or easy-on-the-eyes Eze which captured the imagination of Mr. Walt Disney.
DAY 6
GENOA
Italy
Pillow-soft sponge cakes, nutty pesto and barrels of creamy gelato await in historic Genoa, where young Christopher Columbus first glimpsed the sea. Wander cobbled streets past Baroque palazzi in the UNESCO-listed old town, where coffee-scented breezes drift through a labyrinth of alleyways near dazzling Piazza De Ferrari and its unmatched architecture. Dive into history among a treasure trove of galleries and museums in resplendent residences built for the bankers and merchants who made Genoa one of the mightiest ports in the Med. Surrender to the sunset serenade and heed the call of aperitivo as you stroll along Corso Italia beneath a fiery orange sky.
Arrive 8:00am Depart 15:00
PORTOFINO
Italy
Tucked away in a fold of idyllic Italian coast, picturesque Portofino is a jet-set haven, where the summer residences of European nobility nestle among olive-covered slopes. Beyond the luxury boutiques and pretty harbourside piazzas, pastel townhouses huddle around the water’s edge and the manicured sculpture gardens of Museo del Parco lead up to the Chiesa di San Giorgio, resting place of the dragon-slaying saint, whose yellow façade looks out towards Etruscan villas and Ligurian lighthouses on the hillside. An hour away lie the five picture-perfect hamlets of Cinque Terre, stacked above the Mediterranean in a tumble of pastel cubes piled precariously on rocky promontories.
Arrive 18:00 Depart 23:00
DAY 7
PORTO SANTO STEFANO (ARGENTARIO)
Italy
Framed by Monte Argentario’s wild landscapes dotted with ancient lookout towers and fringed with hidden calas (coves) and lighthouses, Porto Santo Stefano is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Steep streets spill down from the Spanish Fortress through a maze of cobbled passages that wind between terracotta rooftops to the old port, where fishermen unload their daily catch and sailboats bob in gin-clear shallows. Follow the boardwalk towards waterfront eateries and glasses of ruby Chianti, visit the WWF-protected sanctuary of Orbetello Lagoon, home to pink flamingos and graceful egrets, or sail to the outlying islands of Giglio and Giannutri, scarcely trodden gems of the Tuscan Archipelago.
DAY 8
CIVITAVECCHIA (ROME)
Italy
There’s more to Rome than its ancient architecture. The Eternal City is home to a seemingly endless array of hidden gems. The artistic-minded can enjoy fashion aristocracy, street art, vespa jaunts to The Appian Way and toss coins into fountains. Or you can stroll by appointment to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Pope’s private quarters at the Vatican. Explore the historic ruins of The Colosseum, Caravaggio churches, the Spanish Steps and The Pantheon. Learn how to make pasta the true Italian way, hunt truffles, nibble gelato, sip coffee and sink into a 3000 year old pool for a wellness experience. an ode to homespun pasta at a Renaissance piazza. When in Rome, fusing old with new makes it simple to indulge in whatever you like.
* Term and conditions apply:
All pricing subject to change and availability.
Advertised prices are per person twin share unless stated otherwise.
Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Itineraries are subject to change.
Booking Conditions and Phil Hoffmann Travel Schedule of Professionalism* applies.
Please speak to your Phil Hoffmann Travel Consultant for more information.