Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel. After check-in, you’ll have time to get settled in before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

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Note: If you wish to spend more time in Milan, ask your Personal Vacation Manager about the optional hotel extension—which will add one or two nights to your Milan hotel stay.

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After breakfast at your hotel, set off to learn more about this fascinating city that is part cutting-edge fashion, part historical and part trendy. Our first stop will be at the Castello Sforzesco, the most famous castle in Milan. Built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, it was once one of the largest citadels in Europe. We will then continue to the famous Duomo. This extravagant Gothic cathedral took over six centuries to complete, as construction started in 1386 and was not completed until 1965. It is the second largest church in Europe, behind St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, but its most impressive feature is arguably the 135 marble spires that crown the white decorative façade. Finally, we will pass by the popular Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. The Galleria is often nicknamed “Il Salotto di Milano”, due to its numerous shops and importance as a common Milanese meeting and dining place. You will then enjoy some free time to enjoy the city and have lunch on your own.

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This evening, you’re in for a treat! An impressive visit to one of the most important and striking art works of Italian art history will be arranged for our group. We will have the opportunity to view one of the most extraordinary masterpieces of Italian art: the “Last Supper” painted by Leonardo da Vinci in 1495. The fresco, now housed in the refectory of St. Mary of the Graces’ Monastery, has gone through many restorations throughout the years. The Church and Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the home of Leonardo’s Last Supper, has been listed as part of UNESCO’s Worldwide Heritage since 1980 and is an exceptional work of human creativity and genius. After our visit, we will then sit down to dinner at a local restaurant.

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After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, you will be transported by coach from bustling Milan to the peaceful, almost fairy-tale setting of Lake Como, only 1.5 hours away. At the foot of the Alps, this magical place has attracted the wealthy for hundreds of years. Their opulent villas and gardens dot the peaceful shoreline of glacial waters, set against a dramatic mountainous landscape. Our first stop will be at the town of Bellagio, a small jewel located on the promontory that separates the two southern branches of Lake Como. It is one of the most glamorous and romantic destinations in Lombardy and Italy. In fact, the well-known “Pearl of Lake Como” is home to a colorful historic center, beautiful gardens, charming neighborhoods and much more. After the visit, board your private motorboat to see snow peaked mountains and luxury lakeside villas from the water and reach the town of Como. After a brief walking tour, we will sit down to lunch at a local restaurant. After a tranquil visit to the lake region, we will transfer back to Milan for an evening at your leisure.

This morning we will transfer from Milan to Ravenna. This route takes us through the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region and the towns of Parma, known for its Parmesan cheese and prosciutto de Parma, and Modena, known for its balsamic vinegar. A stop will be made at a local cheese factory, where you’ll learn about how the famous cheeses are made and enjoy a tasting of the world-renowned Parmigiano Reggiano. We will then visit the town of Modena for a walking tour and lunch at a local restaurant before visiting a balsamic vinegar factory for a tasting. After a day of delicious taste-testing, we will then continue to Ravenna. Check in to the hotel and then join the group once more for a delicious farewell dinner.

Ravenna is known as the “mosaic city” because of the stunning 5th-6th century mosaics that decorate the walls of its churches and monuments. After breakfast, we will enjoy a walking tour of some of most important and impressive monuments of Ravenna. We’ll see the Church of San Vitale in Classe, decorated by the most important Byzantine mosaics, and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a little temple built by the Empress of The Western Roman Empire. After the morning tour we will transfer to the port, where you will board the Celebrity Constellation for a 27-night cruise to Tampa.

Port of call: Zadar, Croatia. All meals onboard provided.

After breakfast on board, disembark and set off with your local guide on the most exclusive shore excursion in Dubrovnik. First, you will tour the pedestrian-only Dubrovnik Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Center. Along the way, stop and admire the exteriors of the Sponza Palace, notable for its column courtyard with elaborate stone carvings, the Church of Saint Blaise, Onofriou’s Fountain, and more. You’ll also have a chance to visit the Dominican Monastery Museum with its Renaissance masterpieces, the famous Franciscan Monastery built in 1360 with its Romanesque cloister, and the collection of relics in gold and silver located in the Cathedral’s Treasury.

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After boarding our private coach, depart the town for a scenic drive to Cilipi Village. Here, you will visit a Family Village Estate, situated in the green and fertile Konavle Valley in an old stone block of houses that is well-blended with its surroundings. The building’s oldest part is several centuries old, and the authentic interior illustrates rural life. The family has lived in their traditional style home for generations, working the land, producing grape brandy, olive oil and wine in the same way that their ancestors did. This is a great opportunity to see how people have lived in this verdant valley for centuries, exploring the garden and viewing the family’s large collection of implements and wine barrels. Your gracious host and chef will present local specialties, mostly home-grown, that will be prepared and cooked just for you! Using the traditional Peka, an iron bell covered with hot coals, he will prepare several of the menu items such as the local Prsut, a smoked ham, bread and the main course. Wine from their own vineyards will be expertly paired with this delicious meal. As you settle into your meal, a pleasant ambience of local music and traditional folklore will commence, making you feel right at home. Return to your ship with a new appreciation for the area and its people.

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Ports of call include Split, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Sicily (Messina), Naples, Florence/Pisa/Livorno (Overnight) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda; and Nassau, Bahamas.

Enjoy breakfast onboard, then disembark the Celebrity Constellation.