Marina di Carrara
Marina di Carrara and beyond
At first glance, you might think the snow-capped-looking marble mountains of Marina di Carrara are the actual snow-capped Alps. And frankly, no one could blame you. The bright white marble mountain tops contrasted against Marina di Carrara’s sandy beaches are almost like something out of a Renaissance painting — it’s that surreal.
The marble, which has been mined in close by Carrara for centuries, has been used to create some of the most important architectural wonders like the Pantheon and Michelangelo’s David. Nestled between the rolling hills of Tuscany and the crescent-like coastline of Liguria, Marina di Carrara acts as a scenic springboard to Italy’s culturally rich regions.
Tuscany and Liguria capture Italian culture like no other region. To get a taste of Tuscany, sip your way through the Chianti region and visit vineyard after vineyard or get to know the culture in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Medieval towns like Lucca dot the Tuscan countryside and Pisa lies a stone’s throw away. On the northern coast of Liguria, encounter the Italian Riviera in luxurious cities like Portofino and picturesque villages like Cinque Terre.
Up Close with Carrara Marble
Marina di Carrara is so named because it is the port for one of Italy’s most famous artisan products: Carrara marble, from the neighboring city of Carrara. In this tour, you’ll take a Jeep to an active marble quarry and learn how Romans used this marble to build their villas and why artists like Canova, the Pisanos, and Michelangelo would travel here to hand-select the pieces for their masterworks. On the way back, you’ll also have a chance to taste the area’s prized Lardo di Colonnata.
Adventures in Antipasti
Drive by picturesque hillsides, passing vineyards, olive groves, and medieval villages on your way to the farmhouse, where you’ll be welcomed with a carriage tour of the area. Listen to the owners tell their food stories and history while focaccia bread is baked fresh. Then sit and join in a feast of traditional antipasti and pasta, accompanied by local red and white wines.
Portofino and Santa Margherita by Sea and Land
Marina di Carrara
See the colorful houses leaning against the marina and the little square that turned the seaside village of Portofino into an iconic leisure destination. You'll have time for shopping and sightseeing before cruising into the harbor of Santa Margherita Ligure. There, you'll discover charming neighborhoods, glamorous villas, and beautiful churches surrounding the blues of the bay and beach.
Energy Level
Duration
Type
Highlights
- Discover Santa Margherita, the Ligurian commune where intellectuals and artists have been holidaying since the 19th century
- Embark on a breathtaking boat ride to Portofino and see the colorful buildings clustered around the harbor beautifully align with the shore
- Explore Santa Margherita and Portofino, two of the most famous seaside towns in Italy
- Please be aware this Shore Thing is not wheelchair accessible
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Sailors prone to motion sickness should take precautions prior to this Shore Thing
- Cancellations made within 48 hours or less are subject to a 100% cancellation penalty for this Shore Thing
- Approximately 1.5-hour drive to/from Santa Margherita
- Total sailing time is approximately 1.5-hours
- The order of sites visited may vary
- Lunch is not included — make sure to use the free time provided in both locations to taste the (phenomenal) local cuisine
- Face masks and/or proof of vaccination may be required to enter some venues
- Photo of vaccine card is acceptable
- Please note that the visited sites are dependent on the Covid-19 regulations implemented
- This Shore Thing operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria
If you make a cancellation prior to the first day of your voyage and at least 24 hours (unless otherwise stated in the tour details) prior to the start of your Shore Thing, you will be refunded to the original form of payment after midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of cancellation.
If you make another purchase prior to midnight EST, after canceling a booking eligible for a refund, the credit from the canceled booking will be applied to your new booking. Therefore, you’ll only be charged for the price difference between the canceled and new experience. If you have remaining temporary credit left on your account after you’ve made another experience purchase, the remaining credit will be refunded to your original form of payment after midnight EST.
If you cancel a Shore Thing during your voyage and are eligible for a refund, a credit will be applied to your folio and not to your original form of payment.
Please visit this link for more information regarding Shore Things terms & conditions.
Horseback Riding & Wine Tasting in Tuscany
Marina di Carrara
Transfer from the ship to visit a riding school in the countryside. After a lesson, you’ll get to know your horse on an easy ride across Chianti’s green hills, dotted with vineyards and olive groves. Following your ride, you’ll reflect on the experience and relax at a historic wine estate with a tour of the cellars and a lesson in the winemaking styles typical of the Tuscan region. Indulge in a tasting accompanied by traditional snacks before heading back to the port.
Energy Level
Duration
Type
Highlights
- Tour a historic wine estate and its cellars before a winemaking lesson
- Explore the Tuscan countryside while horseback riding across Chianti’s lush hills with a guide
- Taste an explosion of flavors while pairing different local wine varieties with a typical Tuscan lunch
- Sailors in wheelchairs or with limited mobility should not select this Shore Thing
- This Shore Thing is not suitable for pregnant Sailors
- Sailors should consider their physical fitness level and medical history when determining whether this Shore Thing is appropriate
- This Shore Thing is weather dependent
- Approximately 2-hour drive to the stables
- Face masks and/or proof of vaccination may be required to enter some venues
- Photo of vaccine card is acceptable
- Please note that the visited sites are dependent on the Covid-19 regulations implemented
- This Shore Thing operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria
If you make a cancellation prior to the first day of your voyage and at least 24 hours (unless otherwise stated in the tour details) prior to the start of your Shore Thing, you will be refunded to the original form of payment after midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of cancellation.
If you make another purchase prior to midnight EST, after canceling a booking eligible for a refund, the credit from the canceled booking will be applied to your new booking. Therefore, you’ll only be charged for the price difference between the canceled and new experience. If you have remaining temporary credit left on your account after you’ve made another experience purchase, the remaining credit will be refunded to your original form of payment after midnight EST.
If you cancel a Shore Thing during your voyage and are eligible for a refund, a credit will be applied to your folio and not to your original form of payment.
Please visit this link for more information regarding Shore Things terms & conditions.
Florence Inside and Out, by Vintage FIAT® 500
Marina di Carrara
Experience Florence from the passenger seat of a vintage car—but not just any vintage car. You’ll zip through the city streets on your way to the Tuscan countryside in a FIAT® 500, a historic icon of Italian design and performance. Turn heads as you take in the sights and listen to your guide tell stories of both the city and the car. Stop at must-see spots and pose for photos with the car before finishing up your tour with a wine tasting experience at a private villa in the Florentine hills.
Energy Level
Duration
Type
Highlights
- Head out on a gorgeous drive to Florence, where your car is waiting for you to explore
- Experience the Tuscan countryside from the passenger seat of a vintage auto
- Finish with a wine tasting at a private villa
- Approximately 2-hour drive to and from Florence by coach transfer
- Approximately 2.5-hours in the Fiat driving around Florence
- Approximately 3-hours of free time in Florence to explore independently
- Driving times may vary depending on traffic
- Priced per Sailor, this experience is designed to accommodate 2 Sailors per vehicle
- Please note that the FIAT® will be driven by a guide only
- The order of sites visited may vary
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Please be aware this Shore Thing is not wheelchair accessible
- Sailors should consider their physical fitness level and medical history when determining whether this Shore Thing is appropriate
- Face masks and/or proof of vaccination may be required to enter some venues
- Photo of vaccine card is acceptable
- Please note that the visited sites are dependent on the Covid-19 regulations implemented
- This Shore Thing operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria
If you make a cancellation prior to the first day of your voyage and at least 24 hours (unless otherwise stated in the tour details) prior to the start of your Shore Thing, you will be refunded to the original form of payment after midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of cancellation.
If you make another purchase prior to midnight EST, after canceling a booking eligible for a refund, the credit from the canceled booking will be applied to your new booking. Therefore, you’ll only be charged for the price difference between the canceled and new experience. If you have remaining temporary credit left on your account after you’ve made another experience purchase, the remaining credit will be refunded to your original form of payment after midnight EST.
If you cancel a Shore Thing during your voyage and are eligible for a refund, a credit will be applied to your folio and not to your original form of payment.
Please visit this link for more information regarding Shore Things terms & conditions.
Florence and Wine Tasting at a Castle
Marina di Carrara
Board a coach from the port to Florence to enjoy two free hours to explore the city’s charming center. At the end of your free time, you’ll join a guide to drive on to Castello del Trebbio, built in 1184. Now a family-run estate producing wine, olive oil, and pure saffron, the castle and cellars will open their doors to you for a tour and a tasting. Walk the garden and enjoy the afternoon with a panoramic view of the Tuscan hills before heading back to the ship.
Energy Level
Duration
Type
Highlights
- Stop by the Pazzi family winery for a tour of their 12th-century cellars before embarking on a delicious wine tasting experience
- Visit Castello del Trebbio, a historic estate built in 1184, where you’ll get a guide to show you around and a panoramic view of the Tuscan hills
- Explore Florence’s alluring city center at your own pace
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Dress code alert: Shoulders and knees must be covered while in the cathedral
- Not recommended for Sailors with walking difficulties
- A donation will be made on behalf of your Shore Thing booking to our environmental and social impact charity partners
- Please note that a few steps are required to access the Castle's cellars
- Approximately 1.5-hour drive to/from Florence
- Face masks and/or proof of vaccination may be required to enter some venues
- Photo of vaccine card is acceptable
- Please note that the visited sites are dependent on the Covid-19 regulations implemented
If you make a cancellation prior to the first day of your voyage and at least 24 hours (unless otherwise stated in the tour details) prior to the start of your Shore Thing, you will be refunded to the original form of payment after midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of cancellation.
If you make another purchase prior to midnight EST, after canceling a booking eligible for a refund, the credit from the canceled booking will be applied to your new booking. Therefore, you’ll only be charged for the price difference between the canceled and new experience. If you have remaining temporary credit left on your account after you’ve made another experience purchase, the remaining credit will be refunded to your original form of payment after midnight EST.
If you cancel a Shore Thing during your voyage and are eligible for a refund, a credit will be applied to your folio and not to your original form of payment.
Please visit this link for more information regarding Shore Things terms & conditions.
Buongiorno from Tuscany
The Italian language originated from a Tuscan dialect.
Shore Excursions
Stray (far off) the course
In Liguria lies a vibrant collection of five fishing villages whose rocky cliffs overlook the turquoise blue waters of the coast. In Cinque Terre Two-Village Visit, you’ll wander through Vernazza and Riomaggiore, check out their charming palazzos, and get time to explore these beautiful villages.
DISCOVER MORE SHORE THINGS
Italy’s natural landscapes and charming cities feel like a dream. The green and yellow hues of Tuscany, the bright blue waters of Liguria with the marble white mountains of Marina di Carrara in the middle bring the colors of Italy to life. Whether you marveled at the marble caves or ventured into Tuscany, Liguria and beyond, Marina di Carrara served as a solid home base. It’s impossible to visit every vineyard, cultural site and coast in one day, which gives you yet another excuse to travel to Tuscany and Liguria again.
***Please be aware that all Sailors may be required to show proof of vaccination (a photocopy is acceptable) in Marina di Carrara, and a photo ID may also be required to return to the ship. Sailors should also bring masks with them as they may be required in some establishments.