Why this route stands out

A closer look at the journey

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Catania, Sicily

There’s a famous centuries-old quote about how important Sicily is — basically, if you skip it when visiting Italy, you might as well have just stayed home. We don’t exactly agree, but we know where the guy was coming from. Catania is the island’s second-largest city and an excellent place to kick off an exploration of Sicily. There’s no missing the gigantic Mt. Etna volcano — really, it’s impossible since it literally overshadows much of the island’s eastern region, and Catania puts you right in a primo position to see it. Compared to Etna, historical sites from Greek and Roman times are only a couple-thousand years old, but you can see them all — and some are even still in use today, like the amphitheater in Siracusa. Piazza Armerina features a villa once home to a Roman emperor, and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one that’s still decked out in well-preserved mosaics. Also, don’t miss the nearby town of Savoca, which you actually may have already seen… in a famous mobster trilogy. Capiche?

Taranto

Taranto is a coastal city in southern Italy. It lies between the Mar Grande (Big Sea) and Mar Piccolo (Little Sea) bodies of water. Bridges link the mainland to the old town, on a small island. This is home to the 15th-century Aragonese Castle, the Spartan Museum of Taranto, and San Cataldo Basilica, with a baroque facade. The MArTA Archaeological Museum has a collection of artifacts from prehistory to the Middle Ages.

Malta

The UNESCO-protected port of Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta, is one of the must-see stops for every Mediterranean cruise of merit. You can admire this port, constructed in the second half of the 16th century by the Frenchman Jean de la Valette and moulded by the religious and military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, from your MSC ship even before disembarking. The over 300 monuments rising in little more than half a square kilometre make this a place with one of the greatest density of historical attractions to visit during a cruise, not mentioning other attractions such as its beaches, seaside locales and restaurants. An excursion to the island can start right from its capital, Valletta, which enchants the cruise-goer with its famous Maltese balconies, which decorate the facades of houses in its old quarter. Surrounded by a multitude of churches, which the islanders assure are as many as the days of the year, the St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of Malta’s biggest tourist attractions. The National Museum of Archaeology, on the other hand, hosts prehistoric artefacts found on the island. By the Grand Harbour, one can visit the underground passages of Auberge de Castille and the beautiful Baracca Gardens, which overlook the harbour; at night, when the city gates would close, its porticoes served as shelter for travellers. To get a taste of the life of Malta’s ancient nobility, visit Casa Rocca Piccola. A 16th century Palazzo now the residence of the 9th Marquis De Piro, it has period furnishings and has a bomb shelter built for protection against bombings during the Second World War. The set of the film Popeye can still be seen from Malta’s largest beach, as well as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieha with a fresco of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Christ; according to tradition, Saint Luke, who was shipwrecked on the island with Saint Paul, is the author of this Byzantine-style fresco.

Price tracking

Today’s fare, in context

Price history

30 days

Fare details

Price history by cabin type
Cabin	Current	Lowest	Highest
Inside	$1,123	$1,123 on Jun 19	$1,349 on May 31
Oceanview	$1,343	$1,343 on Jun 19	$1,569 on May 31
Balcony	$1,613	$1,613 on Aug 4	$1,863 on Jul 5
Suite	$2,463	$1,859 on Apr 20	$2,704 on Jun 13

○ = last seen (sold out or delisted). · Verified 7 hours ago.

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Cabin grades

Lines step when the price changed; a gap means sold out or no public fare that day. Plot up to 6 at once.

Current prices

Per person · 2 guests · incl. taxes & fees

Inside

from $1,123

$140 / night

Fare rows

Interior

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,123

$140 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Interior

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,163

$145 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Interior

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,183

$147 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Oceanview

from $1,343

$167 / night

Fare rows

Oceanview

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,343

$167 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Balcony

from $1,613

$201 / night

Fare rows

Balcony

Cabin grade

Available

from $1,613

$201 / night

per person · incl. taxes & fees

Suite

Not available

Prices verified Aug 28, 2026

Prices come from third-party data feeds via Costa Cruises and may differ from the cruise line's current fare. Confirm the final price before booking. How our pricing works

Lowest fares with no residency, age, or service requirement — verify eligibility at booking. How our pricing works

The journey

8 nights, in order

Follow the entire sailing from its first day to its last, with the route and schedule in one view.

Day 1 Sep 12, 2026

Catania, Sicily

There’s a famous centuries-old quote about how important Sicily is — basically, if you skip it when visiting Italy, you might as well have just stayed home.
Explore Catania, Sicily

Day by day

The full itinerary

10 scheduled calls

Your ship

Costa Fascinosa

A large ship just waiting to be experienced. Costa Fascinosa is the perfect venue for a laid-back holiday, full of fun. Features modern and multi-faceted artworks. With its 114,500 tonnes, it’s one of the largest Italian merchant marine ships. Born to pay homage to the theatre, its decks are named after famous people such as: Zhivago, Aida, Tosca. Architecturally, the heart of Costa Fascinosa is its huge atrium which opens with the central staircase on to nine decks, from 3 to 13 degrees; the area has large mirrors that enhance the visual effect, to be fully appreciated from the panoramic lifts. The Aqua Park with its pirate décor and fairy-tale castle is the perfect space for kids. Now take a look at the current position of Costa Fascinosa.

4★ 113,200 GT 3,800 Passengers Built 2011

Costa Fascinosa