Cruise for seven nights from Rome to Malta aboard Le Lyrial. Visit the Amalfi Coast and Pompei; explore Taormina, Syracuse, and Agrigento on the island of Sicily; and spend a day in Valetta in Malta. We recommend SBMA Travelers join an optional post-cruise extension for two nights at a hotel in Malta to explore more of this island nation, which houses Caravaggio's only signed work, the famous, dramatic Beheading of John the Baptist in St. John’s Co-Cathedral. An optional pre-cruise extension is offered in Rome as well. Lecturers from our cosponsoring institutions will give talks on board. Co-sponsors include Cal Berkeley, Columbia, Dartmouth, Mt. Holyoke, Rice, and the National Trust.

Le Lyrial is a new intimately sized ship which made her debut in 2015 as the fourth ship in Le Ponant's Sisterships series, along with L'Austral, Le Boreal, and Le Soleal. Unpack once and enjoy the advantages of small-ship cruising—Le Lyrial can dock in small ports inaccessible to larger vessels, tours are in small groups, land excursions are included, meals are open seating in a choice of two on-board restaurants, and with only 110 passenger staterooms and suites, the experience is intimate while able to offer all of the amenities and services one might expect from a luxury vessel. Staterooms (approximately 200 to 226 sq. ft.) and suites (290 to 591 sq. ft.) offer individually controlled air conditioning, twin beds that convert to a queen-size bed or a sofa that converts to a queen-size bed, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and 95% of the rooms have private balconies. 

To reserve space with an $800 per person deposit, please fill out the reservation form at the end of the brochure and email, fax, or mail it, or call 805-884-6436 to reserve by phone. Please contact travel@sbma.net with any questions.