This Mediterranean Voyage Is The Ultimate Holiday

Observing painterly scenes as they drift by while travelling at a pace that allows for conversation and contemplation – there’s something uniquely gratifying about leisurely train and cruise journeys. Combining the old-world glamour of rail travel and the luxury of cruising on a golden voyage through the sun-warmed Mediterranean, Imagine Holidays’ Luxury Cunard Mediterranean Voyage + Venice Simplon-Orient-Express itinerary is the ultimate slow travel journey. 

Taking place over 28 nights during European summer, this opulent journey begins with a night in the Eternal City of Rome before guests embark Cunard’s Queen Victoria cruise liner to visit some of the Mediterranean’s most vibrant destinations, from the colourful Greek islands of Cephalonia and Corfu to the harbour of Dubrovnik in Croatia. 

After 21 nights on the water, you’ll spend three nights in Italy’s idyllic Lake Garda before transferring to Venice for an overnight passage on the iconic and arguably world’s most opulent train journey, the all-inclusive Venice Simplon-Orient Express to Paris. Here are three reasons this is the ultimate getaway. 

Cruise the Med on a classic liner

With 13 bars, seven restaurants, three pools, a ballroom and theatre, the Queen Victoria bears all the elegant hallmarks of a classic Cunard liner. 

Days at sea can be spent sipping tea and nibbling petit fours in the Queens Room, browsing fashion boutiques in the Royal Arcade and sitting down to an ever-changing five-course menu of French bistro classics and refined Mediterranean dishes at The Britannia Restaurant. Italian stops take in the rolling hills of Tuscany, the ancient churches of Naples and the historical gateway to Messina, Sicily.

As the voyage continues, you’ll wander cobbled streets in the French town Toulon, enjoy tapas as the sun sets in Spain’s Palma de Mallorca and marvel at the whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona.

In Greece, explore Cephalonia with its terracotta-hued buildings, 12th-century castle of St George before taking a beach day on the golden sands of Corfu and experiencing the splendour of UNESCO-listed Kotor, which is famed for both its natural and historical heritage. 

Don white linen in the morning as you wander through the Baroque architecture in Croatia’s sun-dappled Dubrovnik then enjoy your final relaxing night aboard Queen Victoria.

Jump aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Transfer to Venice from Lake Garda then ease into the rail journey to Paris, on the all-inclusive Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which begins with a three-course lunch in the Côte d’Azur dining car – built in 1929 and famed for its René Lalique glass panelling – as you glide through a landscape that transforms from alpine mountains to verdant pastures. 

The evening is heralded with another four-course meal prepared by French-trained chefs and served by white-gloved waiters before you retire to a gilded Art Deco-style cabin, complete with marble ensuite, wood-panelled walls and 24-hour butler service. 

Those unwilling to depart from the plush surrounds of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express can take comfort: Paris awaits before a final night in London.

Sleep in Europe’s grandest hotels

Interspersed among nights spent at sea and aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express are unforgettable stays in luxurious hotels within some of Europe’s most captivating locales. 

The first night at the Grand Palatino in Rome, a less than 10 minute walk from the Colosseum in the hip neighbourhood of Monti. Spend some time exploring Trajan’s Market, people-watching at the Piazza della Madonna dei Monti and shopping along Via Cavour.

After three weeks on water, rest your sea legs over three days in charming Lake Garda. Sip coffee in shoreside cafés, wander through medieval piazzas and take a day trip to romantic Verona, before retiring each night to the lakeside Hotel Aqualux with its spacious rooms, pretty gardens and several pools.

As the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express draws into Paris, expect a night at the luxurious Pullman Montparnasse in the 14th arrondissement (don’t miss cocktails on the 32nd-floor bar for incredible views over the city). 

On your final evening, enjoy the DoubleTree by Hilton London Tower, located within a five-minute walk of Tower Hill tube station. Built around a glass-topped atrium with slick service and a popular rooftop bar, Savage Garden, it’s the perfect place to toast a trip well done before jetting home from London.