Tuscany (Livorno)

Savor the full “Tuscan experience” on this overnight program designed for a small group. Start with a wine tasting at a Castle in the countryside, spend an overnight in the heart of Florence including a visit to one of the most beautiful museums in the city, visit the charming medieval town of San Gimignano and round out your tour with a fun and interactive cooking class at typical homestead nestled within the rolling hills of Tuscany.

This program is limited to 10 guests. There is a good amount of walking over cobbled or uneven ground in both Florence and San Gimignano.

DAY 1

Set off from the pier in Livorno with your local escort and head towards the interior of Tuscany where you will visit the beautiful and historical estate, Castello di Verrazzano.

Located in the heart of the Chianti region and surrounded by its vineyards, the Castle has been producing wines since 1170. Here, you will have a guided tour of the gardens of the castle and the historical cellars, followed by a tasting of their most important wines paired with a traditional lunch.

After this surely enjoyable stop, you will meander your way through the countryside towards Florence, the “cradle of the Renaissance” as it’s commonly nicknamed.

Wherever you look around, you’ll find yourself surrounded by historical buildings which bear the mark of the history of Florence. After checking in at your hotel and dropping off your luggage, you will begin a walking tour of this fascinating city – its historic center inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Walking though the cobbled streets, you will see the most iconic sites like the magnificent Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, respectively the religious and political centers of the city, where art and architecture really played an important role.

Crossing the famous Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge of Florence, you will then reach Palazzo Pitti, where you’ll have the chance to visit the “Galleria Palatina”, which houses one of the most important collections in Italy with works from sixteenth and seventeenth centuries belonging to the Medici family. You’ll then have some free time to browse around the city at dusk, before returning back to the hotel for a delicious dinner.

DAY 2

After breakfast and check-out, you will meet your guide at the hotel, board your coach and again to head into the countryside. During your journey you will already see your next destination on the horizon as it has a very distinctive skyline. San Gimignano’s tall walls and narrow streets are typical of Tuscan hill towns, but it's the medieval "skyscrapers" that set the town apart from its neighbors. Today, fourteen of the original seventy-six towers have survived.

After a short introduction by your guide, you will have some free time to stroll at leisure in town, browsing through the many handicraft shops and admiring the medieval architecture which has landed the historic center on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

You will then meet your guide again and drive to “Fattoria Poggio Alloro”. This simple, family establishment welcomes guests for a visit of their cellar, shed, vineyards and olive groves. It is here that you will experience and soak in the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Italian farmhouse.

Poggio Alloro features all organic products such as wine, oil, and cereals. The farm also claims one of the most ancient Tuscan breeds of cattle, the selected Chianina breed. After a chance to browse, you will engage in a cooking class where you will learn how to prepare fresh handmade pasta, which you will then enjoy during your lunch while tasting their delicious wines.

Eventually it will be time to say goodbye to your hosts and you will return to the port of Livorno where you will reboard the ship.

Land Program Step by Step:

Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. All program details including timings indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.

DAY 1

9:00am Meet your guide at the pier in Livorno and drive to Castello di Verrazzano

10:30pm Visit the garden and the castle

11:30pm Wine tasting and lunch

1:30pm Drive to Florence

2:30pm Check-in at your hotel

3:00pm Guided walking tour including the Galleria Palatina

6:00pm Free time

7:30pm Dinner at Osteria della Pagliazza

Overnight at the Grand Hotel Minerva or similar hotel

DAY 2

AM Breakfast at the hotel

8:30am Departure for San Gimignano

9:30am Free time in town

10:45am Drive to Fattoria Poggio Alloro

11:00am Cooking class

1:30pm Lunch and wine tasting

3:30pm Reboard the coach

5:00pm Arrive back to the port of Livorno and re-board the ship

Expected Weather:

At the end of October, beginning of November it can be cold and rainy. The average temperature is between 6 C / 42 F and 15 C / 59 F

What to Bring:

Guests should bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing. It is recommended to bring an umbrella in case of rain.

Local Currency:

Euro.

Credit cards are accepted in most of the shops

Electricity

In Italy, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type F (two larger pins) and type L (three small pins) are used. The standard voltage is 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. There may be some adaptors available at the hotel however we recommend brining your own universal travel adaptor for electric devices.

Documents and Visa Requirements:

A valid passport is required

Hotel address:

Name: Grand Hotel Minerva

Address: Piazza S. Maria Novella, 16 – 50123 Firenze

Phone: +39 05527230

*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.

Program Includes for guests:

•1 night at the Grand Hotel Minerva hotel (subject to change) – Deluxe double room with a view of Santa Maria Novella square including breakfast and city tax

•Wine tasting and lunch at Castello di Verrazzano

•Guided tour in Florence

•Entrance to the “Galleria Palatina”

•3-courses dinner and beverages

•Cooking class at “Fattoria Poggio Alloro”, with wine tasting and lunch

Program Excludes for guests:

•Gratuities for drivers and guides

•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service

•Any meals or beverages not listed

Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include: inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.

All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations.

Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.