Several years ago, I was sitting on the balcony of a hotel in Lake Garda, looking over the water shimmering in the late afternoon sun. It was so beautiful, calming even, despite all the tourists down on the waterfront, that I vowed this was the place I’d come to write my book, pausing from the words now and then to enjoy the spectacular views.
Fast forward to 2026 and you too can fall in love with Lake Garda courtesy of ROL Cruise, who have put together a brilliant new cruise and stay holiday that starts with four nights at the Italian lakes (two at Lake Maggiore, two at Lake Garda), links to a seven-night cruise from Ravenna to Civitavecchia on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem and ends with two hotels nights in Rome. Breakfast is included at all hotels, as are flights and transfers. It’s in June, but if you can't make that, the holiday is repeated in September.
I love this itinerary, which parades some of the most gorgeous places in the Mediterranean. The lakes, of course and then Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Messina and Salerno, which are all visited on the cruise. That’s a different port every day, by the way, so pack plenty of stamina because you won’t want to miss any of them even if you have visited before.
I’ve been to them all many times, and there is always something new to discover. Our ‘find’ this summer was in the hilltop town of Taormina, visited from Messina, where a bust of Tsar Nicholas II was erected in 2012 in gratitude for the Russian naval ships he sent to help rescue survivors of a massive earthquake that rocked Sicily in 1908.
Split is definitely worth seeing if you’ve never been before, but if you have, how about trying a cooking class with the locals? I did, and it was great fun! In Dubrovnik, walking around the stout walls that enclose the city is a must, but for something different, take the ferry from the old harbour to the island of Lokrum, a great spot for swimming and hiking.
From Dubrovnik, it’s but a hop, skip and jump to Kotor, which sits at the end of a long fjord. The transit takes about an hour and is spectacular (and even better at sunrise), so set the alarm for an early start so you don’t miss anything.
Once ashore, cross the road, and you’re in the historic old town with its maze of narrow streets made for exploring. Guided tours explain the history or pair Kotor with the nearby town of Perast and a boat trip to the Church of Our Lady, which you’ll have spotted on a tiny island as Norwegian Gem sailed through the fjord.
In Corfu last summer, I joined a tour to Mon Repos, the summer residence of the Greek royal family and the birthplace of the late Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh (more recently it starred in the ITV drama The Durrells about naturalist Gerald Durrell’s early life on the island. For fans, the facade doubled as the Countess Mavrodaki’s home).
Inside, a wonderful old amp from Venetian times shows the island as the centre of the known universe. “Corfu was vitally important as it guarded the Aegean, the sea route to Venice,” our guide Konstantina explained.
Finally, to Salerno, the city’s grand buildings would have looked magnificent in their heyday; these days, cruise lines use it as a handy jumping-off spot for tours to towns along the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi itself. They are all so beautiful, it’s impossible to walk two steps without stopping to snap another picture.
The cruise ends the next day in Civitavecchia, but it’s just the start of part three of the holiday - two nights in Rome. That’s time enough to visit many of the city’s ancient monuments and try a pizza pocket.
Pizza pocket? I told you there’s always something new to discover!
