The Adriatic by Silversea & the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

After enjoying your included airport lounge access and your flight, you will be met in Rome with a private transfer to your luxurious Silversea ship. Here, you’ll settle into your butler-served, teak-verandah suite to enjoy the first of your included in-suite dining – a welcome bottle of champagne. With dinner, you’ll also begin your all-included spread of dining, with seven restaurants spanning from fine-dining delights, regional delicacies and Italian favourites to pan-Asian classics, Jazz-paired fineries and sumptuous grills. It’s all washed down with open-bar drinks, whether you’re on deck by the pool or in one of the convivial lounges. Additionally, speak to one of our specialists about starting with a luxury stay in Rome before boarding.

Stay: Silver Nova

Your first port of call is the colourful town of Sorrento. Perched precipitously atop green cliffs that overlook the Bay of Naples, this is the quintessential Amalfi Coast, which you’ll be exploring on the first of your included shore excursions. With your two days here, you’ll be able to choose two excursions. Perhaps take in Pompeii’s ancient history with a top guide, enjoy a wine-paired tasting at a Michelin-rated restaurant with excellent bay views, or sweep down the Amalfi Coast. Travelling by hydrofoil and ultra-scenic coastal roads, you’ll take in pretty pastel-coloured towns and dramatic sea views alike.

Stay: Silver Nova

From Greek theatres and Roman amphitheatres to a Baroque cathedral, atmospheric markets and shining piazzas, Syracuse is a true World Heritage jewel, all realised in fine, honey-coloured stonework. Along with historian city tours, your choice of included excursions can also bring you to the Baroque town of Noto, iconic Mt. Etna or a nature-reserve hike to take in the region’s unique flora and birdlife. Alternatively, a boat sailing can see you to Ortygia to compare its Baroque beauty with its cragged island beauty, showcased on optional hikes and swims.

Stay: Silver Nova

Valletta, the Maltese capital, hides everything from illustrious palaces to medieval vestiges and 16th-century mansions in its stern walls and vertiginous bastions. It’s all realised in stunning golden stone. Your choice of included touring here can focus on your interests, whether that’s its lavish gardens, hidden gems or Game of Thrones sites. You can also head further afield, with transfers inland and rides on traditional Maltese dghajsa boats bringing you between clifftop views, fishing villages and trio of historic cities, resplendent in historic palaces and forts.

Stay: Silver Nova

You’ll have today to make the most of your ship. Alongside the all-included drinks and fine dining, there’s also a state-of-the-art fitness centre with personal trainers and a spa with a full complement of treatments, from massages and beauty therapies to acupuncture and steam rooms. As Silver Nova is brand new for 2023, expect plenty more to be revealed.

Stay: Silver Nova

With a history dating back three millennia, look beyond Corfu’s sandy beaches and hidden coves to discover mountains dotted with wildflowers, 13th-century hilltop monasteries and a UNESCO-listed old town where charming cafés, churches from the 1700s and a Regency-style palace vie for attention. Your included excursions here range from historical tours to local food tastings and beach relaxations.

Stay: Silver Nova

A secret gem, Saranda is the perfect gateway to Albania’s unknown highlights. While you might want to stick around and enjoy its beach and historic castle, your included touring can also bring you to winery tastings, the medieval fortressed city of Gjirokastër and Butrint – home to one of the best-preserved Greek towns. Otherwise, a jeep experience can bring you between waterfalls, port castles and rural villages, while a tasting tour showcases the local culture and its fine seafood.

Stay: Silver Nova

Ringed by 12-metre-thick walls, capped by Baroque church spires and jutting out into the glittering sea, fortressed Dubrovnik isn’t just one of the best-preserved medieval cities, it’s perhaps the most impressive. It’s all showcased on your included guided tours, which can also bring you out through rolling Croatian valleys to village winery tastings or on hilltop hikes to city-wide views from the 19th-century Imperial Fortress. There’s even a coastal cruise from seaside Cavtat’s promenade charm.

Stay: Silver Nova

Croatia’s second city stays true to its historic heart, something best exemplified by its hilltop medieval fortress, Romanesque cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace – one of the world’s great ancient monuments. The palm-tree lined promenade is an equal delight for its buzzy bars and restaurants. And, the excursions included here feature olive oil tastings, river rafting and visits to national-park waterfalls that tumble over cascading tiers in brilliant turquoise. You can also sail out to the islands with medieval Trogir – a World Heritage jewel of 13th-century cathedrals and Renaissance palaces linked by cobblestone streets.

Stay: Silver Nova

From the Romans and Venetians to French and Italians, Zadar’s rich history is still remembered today with ancient ruins, medieval churches and welcoming cafés that span out across its walled old town. Take it in on your included guided tours, which can also see you taste your way through local vineyards, marvel at glittering multi-layered waterfalls and hike through Paklenica National Park’s green-carpeted river canyons. Though, for ornithologists, a guided walk along Vrana Lake’s cerulean shores is a must.

Stay: Silver Nova

Arriving into Venice this morning, you’ll be met by a private transfer to your luxurious accommodation. Overlooking San Giorgio Island and the San Marco Basin, it’s an aristocratic palace complete with silk panelling and 18th-century painted ceilings. Perhaps stroll out – or take a gondola ride from your hotel’s private pier – to explore Venice’s rabbit-warren laneways dotted with secluded churches and pretty cafés. Don’t also miss the headline-grabbing St. Mark’s Square and its 14th-century epic, the Doge’s Palace. Then, between Murano’s glassing-blowing artisans and Burano’s canals lined with colourful houses, there’s also the surrounding islands to take in.

Today, following a private transfer to the station, you’ll be treated to a true icon of travel as you board the gilt-edged carriages of your illustrious train. Here, you’ll be entering into a world of Art-Deco elegance as you settle into your dark-wood cabin before a three-course lunch is served in one of the opulent dining cars. Then, after high tea taken in your cabin as you head through northern Italy, a four-course dinner is served back in the restaurant carriages. Expect the likes of fresh lobster or perfectly prepared Mont Saint-Michel lamb before you retire to the bar car for drinks as the resident pianist plays. When you return to your cabin, you’ll find it transformed by your steward with berths and crisp linens.

After crossing through Alpine Austria, you’ll wake to a Continental breakfast, served in your cabin at a time that suits you. Then, as you enjoy the views of rural France, you’ll be treated to a sumptuous brunch before you disembark in Calais. It's then time to head across the Channel to step aboard the Belmond British Pullman for a journey of elegance to London Victoria, accompanied by English sparkling wine, afternoon tea and views of the Kent countryside.