Discover the culture and colour of Civitavecchia, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination. This Italian gem is an enjoyable flight from many European and non-European cities. Celebrated for its 16th-century Michelangelo Fort, ancient Taurine Baths, and marble Vanvitelli fountain, the port is a convenient starting point for visiting Rome, Italy’s regal and romantic capital.

UNESCO aizsargātā Valletas osta, Maltas salas galvaspilsēta, ir viena no pieturām, kas noteikti jāapskata katram Vidusjūras kruīzam.

Jūs varat apbrīnot šo ostu, ko 16. gadsimta otrajā pusē uzcēla francūzis Žans de la Valets un ko veidojis Jeruzalemes Svētā Jāņa reliģiskais un militārais ordenis, no sava MSC kuģa pat pirms izkāpšanas. Vairāk nekā 300 pieminekļu, kas paceļas nedaudz vairāk nekā puskvadrātkilometra platībā, padara šo vietu ar vienu no vislielākajiem vēsturiskajiem apskates objektiem, ko apmeklēt kruīza laikā, nemaz nerunājot par citām atrakcijām, piemēram, tās pludmalēm, piejūras vietām un restorāniem.
Ekskursiju uz salu var sākt tieši no tās galvaspilsētas Valletas, kas kruīza apmeklētājus apbur ar slavenajiem Maltas balkoniem, kas rotā namu fasādes tās vecajā kvartālā. Sv. Jāņa līdzkatedrāle ir viena no Maltas lielākajām tūristu apskates vietām, kuru ieskauj daudzas baznīcas, kuru salu iedzīvotāji apliecina, ka to ir tikpat daudz kā dienu gadā.
Savukārt Nacionālajā arheoloģijas muzejā glabājas salā atrastie aizvēsturiskie artefakti. Pie Lielās ostas var apmeklēt Auberge de Castille pazemes ejas un skaisto Baracca dārzu, no kura paveras skats uz ostu; naktī, kad pilsētas vārti aizvērās, tās portiķi kalpoja par ceļotāju patvērumu. Lai izbaudītu Maltas seno muižniecības dzīvi, apmeklējiet Casa Rocca Piccola.
16. gadsimta Palazzo ir 9. marķīza De Piro rezidence, un tajā ir antīkas mēbeles un bumbu patvertne, kas celta aizsardzībai pret sprādzieniem Otrā pasaules kara laikā. Filmas Popeye filmēšanas vieta joprojām ir skatāma no Maltas lielākās pludmales, kā arī Melliehas Dievmātes svētnīcas ar fresku, kurā attēlota Vissvētākā Jaunava Marija ar Kristu; saskaņā ar tradīciju šīs bizantiešu stila freskas autors ir svētais Lūks, kurš kopā ar svēto Pāvilu cieta kuģa avārijā uz salas.

From 2021, the city of Piraeus, one of the oldest ports in the world, will join the list of ports visited by MSC Mediterranean Cruises. Guests will be introduced to the treasures of Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Piraeus, an MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination, has been the port of Athens since ancient times. It’s a city filled with incredible wonders including Mikrolimano Bay, Agia Triada (Church of the Holy Trinity), and the Archaeological Museum.
Nowadays, Piraeus is a bustling centre with attractive waterfront cafés and restaurants, making it an ideal stop in the Mediterranean. Use it as a stepping stone to see the Acropolis and greater Athens.

Rhodes, a Greek Dodecanese island and MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination, is celebrated for its beautiful beaches, archaeological ruins, and magnificent museums. Its historical Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest medieval city in the European continent!

Sitting on the stunning Cypriot coastline, Limassol makes for a fascinating MSC Mediterranean Cruises destination. The city is celebrated for its medieval castle, waterfront sculpture park, and vast array of museums. Beyond Limassol lies the fascinating town of Paphos and a host of natural and archaeological wonders including Millomeri Waterfalls and Apollo’s Sanctuary.

Senajos vēstures rakstos, Ēģipte tiek minēta, kā pirmā valsts, kas savā teritorijā uzsākusi kanālu rakšanu, lai veicinātu transportu un tirdzniecību. Suecas kanāla vēsture aizsākās jau senajā Ēģiptē, kad faraoni nolēma uzlabot transporta iespējas un padziļināja ūdens ceļu starp Nīlas upi un Sarkano jūru. Tas bija pirmais mākslīgais kanāls pasaules vēsturē. Suecas kanāls tiek uzskatīts par īsāko ceļu starp austrumiem un rietumiem, tā unikālās, ģeogrāfiskās atrašanās vietas dēļ. Tas ir būtisks starptautisks kanāls, kas savieno Vidusjūru pie Portsaīdas un Sarkano jūru pie Suecas. Ideja šāda veida kanālam aizsākās jau 40 gadsimtus senā pagātnē. Laikam ejot, tas ir ticis paplašināts un padziļināts, līdz sasniedzis pašreizējo stāvokli. Kanāla mūsdienu vēsture aizsākās 1854. gadā, kad Ferdinands de Lesepss noslēdza vienošanos ar Ēģiptes vicekarali par kanāla izbūvi 163,5 km garumā Suecas šaurumā. Starptautiska talantīgu inženieru komanda sastādīja būvniecības plānu, un 1856. gadā tika izveidota Suecas kanāla kompānija, kurai pēc darbu pabeigšanas tika piešķirtas tiesības uz kanāla ekspluatāciju 99 turpmākos gadus. Šai laikā bija jāatpelna ieguldītie līdzekļi. Varenais SueSuecas kanāls, kas savieno Vidusjūru ar Sarkano jūru, tika atklāts izsmalcinātā un plaši apmeklētā ceremonijā, kurā piedalījās Napoleona III sieva, Francijas ķeizariene Eiženija de Montiho. Jums būs unikāla iespēja MSC kruīza laikā doties tranzītā pa šo slaveno kanālu

Senajos vēstures rakstos, Ēģipte tiek minēta, kā pirmā valsts, kas savā teritorijā uzsākusi kanālu rakšanu, lai veicinātu transportu un tirdzniecību. Suecas kanāla vēsture aizsākās jau senajā Ēģiptē, kad faraoni nolēma uzlabot transporta iespējas un padziļināja ūdens ceļu starp Nīlas upi un Sarkano jūru. Tas bija pirmais mākslīgais kanāls pasaules vēsturē. Suecas kanāls tiek uzskatīts par īsāko ceļu starp austrumiem un rietumiem, tā unikālās, ģeogrāfiskās atrašanās vietas dēļ. Tas ir būtisks starptautisks kanāls, kas savieno Vidusjūru pie Portsaīdas un Sarkano jūru pie Suecas. Ideja šāda veida kanālam aizsākās jau 40 gadsimtus senā pagātnē. Laikam ejot, tas ir ticis paplašināts un padziļināts, līdz sasniedzis pašreizējo stāvokli. Kanāla mūsdienu vēsture aizsākās 1854. gadā, kad Ferdinands de Lesepss noslēdza vienošanos ar Ēģiptes vicekarali par kanāla izbūvi 163,5 km garumā Suecas šaurumā. Starptautiska talantīgu inženieru komanda sastādīja būvniecības plānu, un 1856. gadā tika izveidota Suecas kanāla kompānija, kurai pēc darbu pabeigšanas tika piešķirtas tiesības uz kanāla ekspluatāciju 99 turpmākos gadus. Šai laikā bija jāatpelna ieguldītie līdzekļi. Varenais SueSuecas kanāls, kas savieno Vidusjūru ar Sarkano jūru, tika atklāts izsmalcinātā un plaši apmeklētā ceremonijā, kurā piedalījās Napoleona III sieva, Francijas ķeizariene Eiženija de Montiho. Jums būs unikāla iespēja MSC kruīza laikā doties tranzītā pa šo slaveno kanālu

Stepping ashore in Oman’s capital Muscat, when your MSC cruise takes you to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar, means stepping into one of the oldest cities of the Middle East. This is where incense was shipped to Greece and Rome as far back as the 2nd century.

Today it is still possible to find traces of its glorious past in the old centre where, until the latter part of the past century, the gates that separated the various quarters would be closed three hours after dawn. Muttrah, the historic centre of trade and activity of the capital that you will see during the cruise, is one of the most intriguing and well preserved parts of the town centre.

Its commercial vocation is due to its proximity to the large port, where your MSC ship, which is named after its sovereign Qabus, will be waiting for you. Dedicate part of your vacation to Muscat to visit the sites, like the fish market, the Portuguese fort and, above all Muttrah’s Souq, one of cruisers’ favourite destinations.

You can continue along the sea road to the old town of Muscat where, about 200 years ago, the predecessor of the
current head of state, built the Al Alam (the Flag), the palace which was restored in the Seventies and has become the Sultan’s official residence. It is a beautiful example of contemporary Arab architecture situated at the centre of the part of Muscat which is still surrounded by its 17th century walls.

Nearby, in the quarter of Bawshar, you find the Great Mosque of Sultan Qabus. About 6500 devotees gather to pray in the main prayer hall which has a single, huge carpet of about 4200 sq.m., made of one billion and 700 million knots and weighs 21 tons. All the halls, which may be visited also by non-Muslims, are decorated with motifs that celebrate Arab culture.

A journey to Qatar becomes special on an MSC cruise.

A cruise to Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar will introduce you to Doha, the country’s futuristic capital on The Gulf. The city is preparing to host the 2022 World Cup, enhancing its already awesome skyline with new super modern skyscrapers.
The Aspire Tower in Doha (300 meters) dominates the skylines. It is the highest building of the country, whose shape is akin to a torch. This building is located near the city of sport, which has already hosted events such as the XII Pan Arab games and which will have a central role during the World Cup. Much of Doha, including places of worship such as the new mosque in the Qatar Faculty of Islamic studies, seems to be already in the future. Don’t miss a visit to the Pearl, a futuristic artificial circular port which is being developed to the north of the city centre, and yet, as you will notice on your MSC excursion, the ancient heart of the city still beats strong.
In the historical centre of Doha you will find a Suq where everything – from camels to gold – can be exchanged, and the Al Khoot fortress, dating back to the end of the nineteenth century and now converted into a museum. During your cruise to Doha with MSC Cruises, some excursions will lead you on the discovery of the north of the country and the history of this fascinating Emirate. In Ash Shamal the Al-Zubara fortress rises up from the middle of the desert and dates back to the thirties. The building, which at first sight seems an enormous sand castle, has been completely restored and transformed into a museum. Near the fortress you can also visit the archaeological remains of another, even older, defensive structure, Qal’ at Murair. Also you will find Zubara, a village of traders and pearl divers, a settlement which dates back to the nineteenth century, and later abandoned.

A shore excursion on your MSC Emirates and Oman cruise can be the opportunity to discover Bur Dubai, at the heart of the metropolis of Dubai, on the south side of the breezy Creek. It’s the oldest part of Dubai and it offers a fascinating insight into the city’s traditional roots.

This is where you’ll find many of the place’s most interesting Arabian heritage houses, clustered in the beautiful old Iranian quarter of Bastakiya and the waterfront Shindagha district, as well as the excellent Dubai Museum and the atmospheric Textile Souk.
MSC Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar also offer excursions to the bustling district of Deira: the centre of Dubai’s traditional commercial activity, much of it still conducted in the area’s vibrant array of old-fashioned souks, including the famous gold and spice markets. A few kilometres south of the old city centre, modern Dubai begins in spectacular style with Sheikh Zayed Road, home to a neck-cricking array of skyscrapers including the glittering Emirates Towers.
Even these, however, are outshone by the massive Downtown Dubai development at the southern end of the strip, centred on the stupendous new Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, flanked by further record-breaking attractions including the gargantuan Dubai Mall and spectacular Dubai Fountain.
West of the Sheikh Zayed Road, the sprawling beachside suburb of Jumeirah is the traditional address-of-choice for Dubai’s European expats, its endless swathes of walled villas dotted with half a dozen shopping malls and a smattering of low-key sights. At the southern end of Jumeirah, there are more iconic sights in the sleepy suburb of Umm Suqeim, including the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the extraordinary mock-Arabian Madinat Jumeirah complex and the unforgettable Burj al Arab hotel.

A shore excursion on your MSC Emirates and Oman cruise can be the opportunity to discover Bur Dubai, at the heart of the metropolis of Dubai, on the south side of the breezy Creek. It’s the oldest part of Dubai and it offers a fascinating insight into the city’s traditional roots.

This is where you’ll find many of the place’s most interesting Arabian heritage houses, clustered in the beautiful old Iranian quarter of Bastakiya and the waterfront Shindagha district, as well as the excellent Dubai Museum and the atmospheric Textile Souk.
MSC Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar also offer excursions to the bustling district of Deira: the centre of Dubai’s traditional commercial activity, much of it still conducted in the area’s vibrant array of old-fashioned souks, including the famous gold and spice markets. A few kilometres south of the old city centre, modern Dubai begins in spectacular style with Sheikh Zayed Road, home to a neck-cricking array of skyscrapers including the glittering Emirates Towers.
Even these, however, are outshone by the massive Downtown Dubai development at the southern end of the strip, centred on the stupendous new Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, flanked by further record-breaking attractions including the gargantuan Dubai Mall and spectacular Dubai Fountain.
West of the Sheikh Zayed Road, the sprawling beachside suburb of Jumeirah is the traditional address-of-choice for Dubai’s European expats, its endless swathes of walled villas dotted with half a dozen shopping malls and a smattering of low-key sights. At the southern end of Jumeirah, there are more iconic sights in the sleepy suburb of Umm Suqeim, including the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the extraordinary mock-Arabian Madinat Jumeirah complex and the unforgettable Burj al Arab hotel.