Transfer to Lake Maggiore for your two-night hotel stay. Located just south of the Alps, Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy and extends into Switzerland. It’s characterised by colourful fishing villages, the tiny Borromean Islands off its south-western shore and the delicious cuisine found in the villages around it. Blessed with a mild climate all year round, the surrounding landscapes burst with a mesmerising array of Mediterranean vegetation and exotic plants.

Today you’ll enjoy a picturesque train journey from Domodossola to Locarno. This unforgettable experience will take you through the stunning Centovalli, or “One Hundred Valleys”, as you pass by deep gorges and crevices with cascading waterfalls, as well as across alpine meadows, numerous bridges and forests of chestnut trees. Arriving back on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore, you’ll enjoy some time to embrace the atmospheric surroundings and explore the treasures within.

In Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, you’ll savour this magical stretch of water during a two-night hotel stay. The lake’s southern region is home to olive groves, Romanesque architecture and lakeside beaches. Meanwhile the north is characterised by dramatic scenery, hemmed in by the majestic Alps and rolling vineyards. Glide across the glassy lake on a boat tour, wander the pretty towns, or you could embark on a delicious wine tasting in Bardolino.

A day at leisure is yours to explore this fascinating lake. Pay a visit to magical Sirmione, blessed with thermal springs, a water-side castle and the ruins of a Roman villa. Nature lovers could enjoy a day walking in the hills and admiring the jaw-dropping views over the lake, or perhaps taking a boat out to another town on its shores. You could also delve into history at Riva del Garda with its cobblestone streets and pretty waterfront backed by soaring mountains.

Transfer to the magnificent Lake Como, a destination exuberant of natural beauty. Poised in the shadow of the snow-draped Rhaetian Alps and nestled between steep-wooded hills, the spectacular surroundings of Lake Como welcome you to a relaxing retreat with open arms. Wander aimlessly along the lake, crossing through gardens, visit the main square and immerse yourself in the centre’s history or head to Brunate using the funicular to witness breathtaking views of the shore and lake below.

Today you’ll embark the iconic Bernina Express for a panoramic train journey to St. Moritz, passing through the Poschiavo Valley and the Engadin. Enjoy incredible sights of majestic mountains and quaint little towns as you trundle over the Brusio spiral viaduct, past Puschlaversee, over Alp Grum and onto the magical Bernina Pass. Before reaching St. Moritz, you’ll savour incredible views of Lake Bianco and its shield of the snow-capped Morteratsch Glacier.

Transfer to Florence for your hotel stay. The Tuscan capital is an achingly romantic city of medieval architecture and art, with a magnificent city centre that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Regarded by many as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, it’s home to the superb Uffizi Gallery, home to works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Other sights include the Duomo, a cathedral with a striking terracotta-tiled dome, the illustrious Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo which boasts panoramic views of the city.

You will transfer to board the luxurious Silver Moon to begin your unforgettable Mediterranean cruise. Silver Moon offers the epitome of 21st century luxury cruising. As a sister ship to Silver Muse, Silver Moon will mirror many of her popular features, including the dining venues Atlantide and Kaiseki, while maintaining the small-ship intimacy and spacious accommodation that are the hallmarks of the Silversea’s cruise experience.

Naples, with its famous bay, is southern Italy’s most historic city and is overlooked by the towering slopes of Mount Vesuvius. Savour a pizza in the city where this staple of Italian cuisine was first conceived and check out the palaces, piazzas and glass-domed gallerias. Naples also serves as a gateway to key destinations including Sorrento, the Amalfi coast and, of course, Pompeii, an ancient city preserved under ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

The town of Sorrento lies on Italy’s fabled Amalfi Coast, known for its pastel-coloured towns perched on steep hills that rise out of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Full of small, family-run shops selling everything from lacework to Limoncello to exquisite ceramics, it is also where you can get a boat to the island of Capri, a few miles off the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. Capri has been on the international jet set’s itinerary since the 1950s when celebrities including Jacqueline Onassis, Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren flocked here.

Palermo has typical Mediterranean character and charm with stunning beaches and turquoise waters. Palermo is an old town dating back to the 8th century and is known for its endless Norman buildings, beautiful palaces, lively markets and relaxed atmosphere. Wander through Palermo’s winding streets and find yourself looking at historical churches, opera houses and ancient city walls.

Strung along a sweeping bay overlooked by Mount Etna, lays Giardini Naxos of Sicily. Enjoy classic Italian pastimes from sunbathing to waterfront dining with specular views of Sicilian hills. Discover a treasure trove of boutique shops and antique sellers. Head to the harbour for superlative seafood cuisine. Visit the Alcantara Valley to bewilder wonderful gorges and a stunning natural canyon, created by multiple earthquakes over time.

Malta’s petite capital is a confused tangle of honey-coloured streets and 16th-century palaces, each one grander and more beautiful than the last. Discover the Baroque treasures of St. John’s, home to a Caravaggio masterpiece, or the more modern additions of the City Gate and the Opera House. With so much packed into such a small area, it’s no wonder the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During your day at sea, relax in your spacious suite and let your butler take care of your every need. Or you could explore the elegant public areas on board Silver Moon find yourself enjoying delicious cocktails at Dolce Vita or unwind in the Panorama lounge as the sunsets to the harmonious sounds of a skilled pianist.

Relaxation is second nature in Souda Bay located on the northwest coast of Crete and sheltered by the pretty hills of Akrotiri and Cape Drapano. Its capital, Chania is a charming Venetian town with cobbled streets lined with colourful townhouses that zigzag down to the harbour. You can while away the day by browsing an array of museums, churches and crafts en route, then walk along the harbour wall to the oldest lighthouse in the world, built in the late 16th century. Complete your calming visit with a raki in a waterside café.

By far the largest and historically the most important of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes abounds in beaches that will transport you back to the days of the Byzantine Empire and beyond. Once you disembark, take the short walk to the Old Town to view its brilliant historic buildings that date back to the 14th century.

The palm-lined esplanade of this town on the Anatolian Coast is the centre of life here, with thousands of merchants offering wares to rival the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. The ruins of ancient Ephesus are nearby; travel back in time by entering the city through the Magnesia Gate entrance and walk down a marble road to the ruins of this Roman provincial capital.

With gorgeous hilltop villages, stunning sunsets, iconic blue-domed churches and volcanic beaches decorated with black, red or white sand, crescent-shaped Santorini is one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. Take the winding coastal paths past fascinating rock formations, through tiny villages, and stop at a restaurant to linger over the famous Greek cuisine. 

Your cruise ends in Athens where you’ll disembark Silver Moon and transfer to the airport for your onward flight home, filled with a wealth of magical memories.