Norwegian Dawn

Head down the coast to hilltop Taormina for its ancient Greek theatre and Corso Umberto, then up to the village of Castelmola for sweeping views of Mount Etna.

Ride a 4x4 up Europe's most active volcano to walk among craters and old lava flows, then taste Etna wines over lunch high on the mountain.

Eat your way around Messina with a local guide: arancini, focaccia messinese, granita and other Sicilian street food classics, adding up to a full meal.

The classic Tuscany port day: Renaissance Florence with its Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, plus the Leaning Tower in Pisa, with a local tasting along the way.

A private day on the Italian Riviera visiting the colorful cliffside fishing villages of the Cinque Terre, with time to wander, eat and take in the sea views.

Trade the crowds of Florence for Tuscany's medieval hill towns: Siena's shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the stone towers of San Gimignano, with rolling vineyard views in between.

Take the wheel of a soft-top 4x4 and follow the coastal Route des Crêtes to the fishing village of Cassis and the limestone cliffs of the Calanques, stopping wherever the views call for it.

Paddle with a guide along the white limestone cliffs of the Calanques, slipping into hidden coves and stopping to swim in clear Mediterranean water.

See Marseille's Old Port and Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, then head inland to stroll the fountains, markets and café-lined boulevards of Aix-en-Provence before returning to the ship.