Date

Itinerary

04 Oct 19

Milan

Arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport.  You will be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the hotel.

05 Oct 19

Milan

Milan is a mecca for Italian fashionistas, famous for its innovative design and stylish flair. Venture inside the city’s hulking Gothic cathedral, as well as its cathedral to capitalism, Europe’s oldest shopping arcade. The highlight today for our Featured Excursion is pure genius—Da Vinci’s revolutionary The Last Supper mural, the most famous religious painting in history.   

06 Oct 19

Milan - Venice

You’ll check out of your hotel this morning and head toward the Adriatic coast and magical Venice, but the day includes two delightful stops along the way. En route to Venice, you’ll stop in the literary hometown of Shakespeare’s famously star-crossed teen lovers, Romeo and Juliet, to see the sights and the famous balcony—yes, that balcony. Later, enjoy lunch at the historic Valpolicella wine estate owned by descendants of Dante, the great Italian poet who penned The Inferno. This evening you’ll arrive in Venice and embark. Unpack, relax and enjoy your first evening on the Venetian Lagoon.

07 Oct 19

Venice

Hoping to escape marauding Huns, Goths and Vandals as the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century, refugees built a little settlement they called Venice on tiny islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.Today you will embark on your own personal voyage of discovery through this entrancing city. An expert guide will show you iconic sites as well as quiet lanes and secret spots known only to locals (shhhh….). Also on deck today: a scenic cruise around the Venetian Lagoon. A special Captain’s Welcome Reception and Dinner will be prepared for you this evening. Featured Excursions: A morning walk in Venice - Private after-hours visit to Saint Mark's Basilica

08 Oct 19

Chioggia

The River Countess sails from Venice, cruising through the lagoon, past the Lido, before docking in Chioggia, sometimes called “Little Venice,” at the southern end of the lagoon. Join a local expert for a stroll around this picturesque fishing village, a popular place for artists, or “Let's Go” with a bike ride along the beaches lining the lagoon, or, for something really unique, hop aboard a small boat to go mussel harvesting with local fishermen out in the lagoon.  IMPORTANT: We are obliged to comply with Italian Maritime Authorities who require that the ship is only manned by crew during the Adriatic Sea passage. Therefore, our guests must disembark the ship and partake in the featured excursions. 

09 Oct 19

Polesella (Bologna or Ferrara)

Today you face a tough decision: Do you spend a full day in Bologna, the culinary capital of Northern Italy, or visit UNESCO-designated Ferrara, a beautifully preserved Renaissance city? If you have an appetite for pasta, head to Bologna—the heart of Italian culinary traditions—and learn how to make (and eat!) your own lunch.  Choice of Private pasta-making and Italian lunch in Bologna or Ferrera: Renaissance, elegance and Italian lifestyle town discovery walk

10 Oct 19

Porto Viro, Chioggia

Chioggia is such a delight that we’ll return there today to experience something completely different. You can visit the village’s bustling once-a-week market—a colorful and boisterous scene, and quintessentially Italian. IMPORTANT: We are obliged to comply with Italian Maritime Authorities who require that the ship is only manned by crew during the Adriatic Sea passage. Therefore, our guests must disembark the ship and partake in the featured excursions. We thank you for your cooperation. Featured Excursion: Chioggia market visit

11 Oct 19

Venice Islands (Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello)

Venice is an island surrounded by hundreds of smaller islands, three of which you’ll visit today—Burano, famous for its lace-makers and houses painted in eye-popping colors; Mazzorbo, where you’ll taste a historic golden-hued wine; and Torcello, home to beautiful Byzantine mosaics. Featured Excursion: Magic Island Day: hidden treasures of the lagoon

12 Oct 19

Venice

Lovers of food and wine flock to Italy to immerse themselves in a true farm-to-table epicurean experience. If that sounds like you, you’ll love today’s walking tour to the famous fish and produce market next to the Rialto Bridge. Prefer a more visual feast? Join an art historian for a highlights tour of the Accademia gallery. Featured Excursion: "AVG Arti Veneziane alla Giudecca" glass factory visit with crafts demonstrations

Choice of “Do as the Locals Do” Venice walking tour or “Venetian Painters at the Accademia” tour

13 Oct 19

Venice 

Disembark the ship. Transfer to Venice Airport

Date

Itinerary

14 Oct 19

Welcome to Cairo

A country rich in wonders and mysteries awaits you. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Hotel: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino.

15 Oct 19

Cairo – The Egyptian Museum & Citadel

Meet at 08:00 to begin your city sightseeing with your Egyptologist at the world-famous Egyptian Museum. Starring among its attractions is the amazing treasure recovered from Tutankhamun's tomb. Sightseeing continues at the Citadel where you enjoy breathtaking views over the whole city. Later, you will have free time to enjoy as you wish. In the evening, get to know your Tour Director and fellow guests over a Welcome Drink at the hotel. Afterwards, take your seats at the magical Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids which literally illuminates the history of Giza - an unforgettable introduction to the world of ancient Egypt. Hotel: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino (B)

16 Oct 19

Cairo - The Great Pyramids of Giza

Gain a deeper understanding of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World during a visit to Giza with your Egyptologist. Meet the enigmatic Sphinx crouching at the foot of Chephrenís Causeway and venture inside one of the magnificent pyramids. Nearby lies Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom, where you can see the colossal statue of Rameses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara to view the Step Pyramid of Zoser I dating from 2686 B.C., it's the oldest in the world. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Hotel: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino. (B)

17 Oct 19

Cairo to Luxor, Cruise the Nile                   

Fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall. Transfer to your cruise ship. After lunch on-board, visit Luxor Temple which was unearthed by Mariette in the 1860s. Hotel: MS Medea (or similar). (B/L/D)

18 Oct 19

Valley of the Kings to Edfu

Travel by air-conditioned coach to the west bank of the Nile to see the Colossi of Memnon, and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were buried. Visit a working bakery and witness the local artisans making authentic Egyptian bread. Return to your cruise boat and sail via the Esna Lock to Edfu. Hotel: MS Medea (or similar). (B/L/D)

19 Oct 19

From the Temple of Horus to Aswan

Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon God. Sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only temple in Egypt dedicated to the two gods, crocodile-headed Sobek and falcon-headed Horus the Elder, then continue on to Aswan. In the evening, don your traditional Egyptian attire called galabeyas, for a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and galabeya party. Hotel: MS Medea (or similar)  (B/L/D)

20 Oct 19

Aswans high Dam and Nile Felucca

In the morning, visit the Aswan High Dam and Granite Quarries to see the enormous Unfinished Obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. Later, on a traditional Nile Felucca, meet a sailor and learn the art of sailing this ancient craft. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy colonial-style high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel. Hotel: MS Medea (or similar).(B/L/D)

21 Oct 19

Aswan & back to Cairo

In the morning, disembark your cruise ship and enjoy time at leisure in Aswan. Why not join an optional experience by air to the magnificent Temples of Rameses II at Abu Simbel? Otherwise, spend the morning as you wish. There are many points of interest to enjoy; the Botanic Gardens, Elephantine Island, the Aga Khan Mausoleum, or soak up the African atmosphere in the Nubian bazaar. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo for the night. Hotel: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino. (B)

22 Oct 19

Cairo

Your journey ends after breakfast with transfers to the airport.