Viking Oceans Cruises – Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean (Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco) 16 Days

Barcelona, Spain
Embark your ship and settle into your stateroom. The vibrant city of Barcelona, with its lively culture and inviting outdoor spaces, preserves a rich history. Picturesque medieval lanes wind through the oldest part of the city, the Gothic Quarter, where remnants of the city’s Roman wall were uncovered. Its treasures include the neo-Gothic Barcelona Cathedral, the medieval Jewish district of El Call and the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria del Pi. In the evenings, diners relax in the Royal Plaza at restaurants along the elegant square’s perimeter.

Marseille, France
Marseille is rich in historic treasures, nestled between the Mediterranean and rocky hills of limestone. Two 17th-century fortresses dominate the charming Vieux Port, or Old Port, the natural harbor that hosts all manner of watercraft, from sleek elegant yachts to old style fishing vessels. Its picturesque quay is one of the world’s most romantic walks, lined with dozens of cafés and shops. Also worth exploring is the city center, graced by La Canebière boulevard. Linger in a café and sample the city’s signature bouillabaisse made from freshly caught fish.

Shore Excursions – Scenic Marseille
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Embark on a panoramic drive through Marseille and soak up the atmosphere of this historic port city. Board your motor coach and set out to view the Palais Longchamp—built during the mid-19th century to celebrate the construction of the Canal de Marseille, this monument is adorned with grand staircases, ornate sculptures and fountains. Your guide will share its history and you will have time for photos of its facade before continuing along the Corniche du Président John Fitzgerald Kennedy. From the comfort of your coach, glimpse the splendid Notre Dame de la Garde, the most magnificent building of its kind in southern France. Back in downtown Marseille, disembark your coach and enjoy free time to explore more on your own, perhaps calling at one of its lively cafés or restaurants, or taking a stroll along the quaint streets of this bustling port. After, return to your ship.

Shore Excursions – Panier District on Foot
Duration: 3 hours
Discover Marseille’s historic quarter during a guided walk through Le Panier, the city’s oldest neighborhood. Begin with a short stroll to La Major Cathedral, a 19th-century Neo-Byzantine masterpiece overlooking the Old Port. See its two bell towers, each rising almost 200 feet tall, and step inside to view its ornate mosaics and marble columns. Continue through narrow streets to see La Vieille Charité, a 17th-century almshouse built around a Baroque chapel, and pass the Hôtel-Dieu, once Marseille’s main hospital for over 800 years. Your route spans 1.5 miles and ends at the 17th-century city hall—built on the former site of La Maison de Ville, a meeting place for merchants and consuls, it was almost destroyed during the French revolution and World War II. After viewing this historic building, set out to explore more on your own or visit a local café before returning to your ship.

Corsica (Ajaccio), France
From medieval walled towns to idyllic seaside villages, Corsica is a traveler’s paradise. The island’s capital of Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. France’s great emperor is immortalized in the city’s several monuments to its hero, including his ancestral home and a striking bronze statue at Place de Gaulle. The city also boasts elegant Belle Époque houses and an atmospheric Old Town. Corsica’s long ties to Italy have infused it with many Italian nuances—Tuscan-like beauty, rustic farm cuisine and viniculture among them—but the island remains truly French.

Shore Excursions – Panoramic Ajaccio
Duration: 3 hours
Take a panoramic tour for an ideal overview of historic Ajaccio and its beautiful surroundings. Drive with your guide to the Place de Gaulle, where you can admire the statue of the emperor Napoleon and his four brothers. Pass the Assemblée Régionale, elegant Belle Époque houses and another statue of Napoleon—a replica of the imposing original that watches over his tomb at Les Invalides in Paris—in the Place d’Austerlitz–Casone. Follow the magnificent villa-dotted coast to the Sanguinaires Islands, or Blood Islands, and view the remarkably preserved 16th-century Genoese Towers. Back in Ajaccio, visit the baroque cathedral where Napoleon was christened in 1771. A walking tour through Old Town passes Casa Bonaparte, the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family and a national museum, and the Place Foch, home to an impressive fountain and market. Explore at your leisure, or follow your guide back to your ship.

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
For centuries, Rome ruled much of Europe, building a vast empire from the power of emperors. More than 2,500 years of history live in the city’s streets. Ancient structures recall those heady days when the cheers of 80,000 spectators roared from the Colosseum, citizens mingled in the Forum and senators asked the gods for guidance at the Pantheon. Along with the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, this rich pocket of Italy is one of the world’s greatest repositories of history and civilization.

Shore Excursions – Snapshots of Rome
Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes
Relax and take in the sights of Rome, admiring historic monuments and glorious architecture on a leisurely drive. Travel along some of the city’s most scenic routes. See ancient Roman sites, including the Aurelian Walls, Baths of Caracalla, Pyramid of Cestius, Colosseum and the Circus Maximus. Admire the Arch of Constantine, the best triumphal arch in the city, built in 315 AD to celebrate Constantine’s victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Drive along the elegant Via Veneto, enjoying views of Villa Borghese Park. At Piazza della Repubblica, admire the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and Fountain of the Naiads. Afterward, you will head to central Rome where you will enjoy free time to explore on your own, before returning to your motor coach for the scenic drive back to your ship, with the great facade of iconic St. Peter’s Basilica in view.

Shore Excursions – The Etruscan Necropolises of Tarquinia
Duration: 4 hours
Seek a deeper understanding of Italy’s history on this outing, ideal for lovers of archaeology. Journey with a local guide to the ancient city of Tarquinia, founded in 449 BC. This was the principal metropolis of the 12 cities of the Etruscan League that thrived here long before the rise of the Roman Empire. Explore the fascinating Etruscan Necropolises, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from the 7th to the 2nd centuries BC, the numerous tombs, with their decorative frescoes, chronicle the development of Etruscan culture. Outside the city’s ancient quarters, visit the 15th-century Palazzo Vitelleschi, whose galleries and cloistered courtyard display an extensive collection recovered from the tombs, including fine examples of Etruscan sarcophagi. Its golden terra-cotta horses hint at the high degree of artistry that was prevalent in Etruscan society.

Sail the Mediterranean Sea
Sail the ocean stage on which civilizations have risen and fallen, where empires ventured forth in their great armadas to control these strategic waters. Enjoy the amenities of your ship as you sail. Perhaps take a breath of fresh air on a brisk walk around the Promenade or begin your day with a workout in the well-equipped Fitness Center.

Valletta, Malta
The Island of Malta has been shaped by countless civilizations. But it was the Knights of St. John who built Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This baroque wonder is one of Europe’s first cities planned and constructed from scratch, cut from local honey-colored limestone. The humble facades of its churches and palaces hide extravagant interiors of marble, tapestries and paintings. A stroll around the massive walls and bastions affords a striking bird’s-eye view of the cityscape and the spectacular Grand Harbor.

Shore Excursions – Malta’s Harbor by Boat
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Enjoy a cruise along Malta’s coastline, viewing natural harbors and historic battle sites. Board your motor coach and transfer to Sliema, where you will meet your skipper and take your seat for a leisurely cruise. As you sail, learn more about the island’s history. In Marsamxett Harbour, view Manoel Island, famous for the ruins of the Lazzaretto, a former quarantine hospital used to isolate seafarers entering the island during the 16th century. Continue to the Grand Harbour, sailing past the breakwater, built under British rule during the 20th century. You will cruise into small creeks, allowing you to take full advantage of the photo opportunities along the coast. Discover the legacies of the Knights of Malta as you view Fort Ricasoli, and see Fort Angelo, which withstood the Turks during the Great Siege of Malta. After your cruise, return to your awaiting ship.

Valletta, Malta
Valletta’s green space is at a premium in this tiny city. The Upper Barrakka Gardens, created in 1661 upon the St. Peter & Paul Bastion, are perched at the highest point of the city walls. The Knights of Malta once escaped the demands of court in this splendid and shady haven; its terraces offer sweeping views of the Grand Harbor and medieval warrens below. The centerpiece is a pair of arched walls surrounding a tranquil stone courtyard. Among the garden’s palm-lined lanes is a memorial to Winston Churchill.

Shore Excursions – Malta’s Harbor by Boat
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Enjoy a cruise along Malta’s coastline, viewing natural harbors and historic battle sites. Board your motor coach and transfer to Sliema, where you will meet your skipper and take your seat for a leisurely cruise. As you sail, learn more about the island’s history. In Marsamxett Harbour, view Manoel Island, famous for the ruins of the Lazzaretto, a former quarantine hospital used to isolate seafarers entering the island during the 16th century. Continue to the Grand Harbour, sailing past the breakwater, built under British rule during the 20th century. You will cruise into small creeks, allowing you to take full advantage of the photo opportunities along the coast. Discover the legacies of the Knights of Malta as you view Fort Ricasoli, and see Fort Angelo, which withstood the Turks during the Great Siege of Malta. After your cruise, return to your awaiting ship.

Tunis (La Goulette), Tunisia
Tunis is a vibrant mix of North African tradition and French influences. The modern city revolves around Avenue Habib Bourguiba, affectionately called the “Champs-Élysées” for its colonial buildings, shops and cafés. A drive along this lively tree-lined boulevard and a walk through the passageways of the city’s souks reveal contrasting views of ancient and modern Tunisia. The nearby ancient city of Carthage was the capital of the Carthaginian Republic, a powerhouse in the Mediterranean for centuries. A stroll around this UNESCO site opens a window to antiquity.

Shore Excursions – Tunis Highlights & Souk Visit
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Discover modern-day Tunis on this panoramic tour. Accompany your guide to Tunisia’s vibrant capital of Tunis, where you will drive along Avenue Habib Bourguiba, known as the “Tunisian Champs-Élysées” and the center of activity. Amid the bustling tree-lined promenade stand numerous world-class hotels, monuments and cafés where the locals gather to drink tea. Explore a living museum in the Tunis medina, an entrancing maze-like district of shops, mosques, palaces and residences. Enjoy a brief walking tour with your guide, then have free time to explore the variety of the souk’s handicraft stalls, selling everything from produce to brassware to carpets.

Sail the Mediterranean Sea
Follow in the footsteps of great armadas that once sailed these waters. Historically, empires knew that to control this sea provided a strategic advantage in controlling the surrounding regions. As you sail, take advantage of the array of delicious cuisine offered on board. You may visit Mamsen’s, our casual gourmet deli, any time from early morning to late at night for a taste of traditional Norwegian fare. Or, dine at Manfredi’s and savor an authentic Italian meal, with options ranging from Milanese risotto to Tuscan inspired classics.  

Algiers, Algeria
Known as “Alger la Blanche” for its white buildings gleaming on the Mediterranean, Algiers is a heady mix of ancient and modern. Today’s bustling city hugs the shore and boasts many gracious French accents from colonial days such as the Grand Poste and generous wide boulevards and gardens. Districts from the city’s pre-colonial Ottoman past rise from the coast upon the slopes of the hillside beyond. The city’s pinnacle of historic splendor, Algiers’s casbah, crowns this hilltop. Its maze of stone warrens offers an ideal setting in which to pause for mint tea and kebabs.

*Please note: Viking guests may go ashore only as part of a Viking shore excursion. Independent exploration is not permitted at this time.

Shore Excursions – Impressions of Algiers
Duration: 2 hours
Get acquainted with Algiers’ Berber, Arabic and French heritage during a panoramic drive through key historic sites. Board your motor coach and head first to the Martyrs Monument. Dedicated to the heroes of Algeria’s War of Independence, it takes the shape of three giant, stylized palm leaves sheltering an eternal flame at the base. Pause for photographs at this impressive landmark before continuing through the city center to see La Grande Poste, built by the French in 1920—once the main post office of Algiers, today it functions as a cultural space. Massive turrets, keyhole doors and elegant neo-Moorish fittings make it one of the city’s most whimsical modern buildings. Enjoy a photo stop before you continue along the Parisian-style boulevards of the French Quarter, toward the busy Bab El Oued district. After, return to your awaiting ship.

Shore Excursions – The Gardens of Algiers
Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes
Explore the lush gardens of Jardin d’Essai and view the elegant facade of La Grande Poste. Board your motor coach and embark on a short drive to Jardin d’Essai, Algiers’s celebrated botanical garden. Established during the early 19th century on former marshland, sequences for the original Tarzan film were shot here in 1932. Follow shaded paths among palm trees, bamboo and exotic flora and listen as your guide shares insight into the garden’s role as a living museum—a vast array of global plant species thrive here, nurtured by the city’s mild coastal climate. Continue to La Grande Poste, a neo-Moorish landmark inaugurated in 1910. Pause for a photo stop and to view its ornate turrets, arches and keyhole doors. Conclude your excursion with a panoramic drive along waterfront boulevards inspired by Parisian design as you journey back to your awaiting ship.

Sail the Strait of Gibraltar
Sail the gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its defining landmark, the soaring Rock of Gibraltar, was one of the Pillars of Hercules of ancient myth. As you sail, explore our well-curated Library, tucked in a private alcove of the Living Room, and select from a broad range of titles. Read a book by the Main Pool, a calming oasis in any weather with its retractable roof, allowing for year-round swimming.

Casablanca, Morocco
Casablanca lures visitors with its heady mix of neo-Moorish splendor and French influence. Known as “Casa” to locals, its streets exude an atmosphere of bygone days. Made famous by the 1942 eponymous film, today it is one of Africa’s most important ports. Parisian-style boulevards unfold past cafés and colonial buildings. The city’s medina is a maze of warrens pulsing with old-world energy, the hollers of carpet merchants and the fragrance of incense. The most impressive structure is the Hassan II Mosque, the country’s largest and most magnificent.

Shore Excursions – Casablanca: City of White
Duration: 3 hours
Experience the fascinating allure of this thriving North African city and see the largest mosque outside of Mecca. You will drive with your guide to view the exterior of the massive Hassan II Mosque, set atop a scenic perch over the Atlantic. Marvel at the enormous scale of its 60-story minaret: The building and courtyard can host more than 100,000 worshippers. Continue along the corniche to the Habous Quarter (New Medina), stopping to admire the Royal Palace, a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Pass the Casablanca Cathedral. The neo-Gothic masterpiece, which once served the French Roman Catholic population here, became secular after Morocco’s independence and is now a cultural center. Enjoy a stop at the Place des Nations Unies, or United Nations Square, once the city’s main market and today surrounded by Moorish and art deco buildings. After time to explore, return to your ship.

Seville (Cádiz), Spain
Cádiz lies on Spain’s breathtaking province of Andalusia and gained incredible wealth during the 18th century; riches from the Americas were unloaded here after the Guadalquivir River to Seville silted up. This scenic southern region is the home of the matador and world-class equestrian art. Seville, city of polyamorous suitor Don Juan, boasts plenty of its own glories. Its grand cathedral, Alcázar Palace and Tower of Gold were built from the coffers of Spanish kings, but its fiery flamenco defines its true spirit. It is best to ponder it all while sipping sherry at a bodega.

Shore Excursions – Cádiz Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Admire some of this historic city’s most ornate sites on a pleasant and enlightening stroll with a local guide. Cádiz is one of the oldest continually inhabited places in Southern Europe. Situated on a narrow promontory of land surrounded by water on three sides, it is an easy city to get around. You will navigate passageways that connect elaborate plazas, stopping to explore Plaza de San Antonio de Padua, Plaza de España and Plaza de Mina. Pause also to admire the Torre Tavira. Merchants once looked out to sea from this tower in search of their returning ships. Visit the Catedral Nueva, or New Cathedral, with its elaborate baroque exterior. Its gold dome reflects the wealth that poured into this city from the New World after the river that led into nearby Seville silted up in the 18th century. If the cathedral is closed, you will instead visit the fascinating Diocesan Museum.

Granada (Málaga), Spain
Granada is a splendid canvas of Moorish architecture, rich Andalusian tradition and remarkable history. It was the last stronghold of the Moorish Nasrid dynasty, whose 250-year reign ended during the 1492 reconquest of Spain by Catholic monarchs. The grand Granada Cathedral is a soaring celebration of that victory; its Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand, the celebrated pair who oversaw the triumph. Their magnificent fortress-palace, the Alhambra, was long the stronghold of Moors, and so offers a magnificent blend of Islamic and Christian detail.

Shore Excursions – Málaga Overview & Walking Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Explore the seaside Andalusian city of Málaga, one of the oldest cities in the world, by motor coach and on foot. Your informative guide will explain the city’s rich history as you pass grand 19th-century buildings such as City Hall, the Old Justice Court and the Central Post Office. Witness the remnants of the 14th-century Gibralfaro Castle, a reminder of the legacy of the Moors. You will briefly stop here to take in superb views of the city below. Back in Málaga’s city center, you can take some photos of the birthplace of one of Málaga’s most famous native sons, Pablo Picasso. Continue on your walk past the ruins of a former Roman Theater and to the foot of the beautiful Alcazaba Palace, the best-preserved citadel in Spain. It was built during the 11th century and once served as a residence for Arabian caliphs. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Sail the Balearic Sea
Traverse the warm waters that envelop the Spanish isles of Mallorca, Minorca, Cabrera, Ibiza and Formentera. As you sail today, savor a range of international cuisine on board. Choose from a variety of international flavors at the World Café, enjoy al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace, or regional specialties in The Restaurant.

Barcelona, Spain
Bid farewell to your fellow guests and journey home. Or spend more time exploring, perhaps joining one of our extensions.