The Cruise & Vacation Authority
  • Home
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Get a Quote!
  • Contact

SPEAK WITH A TRAVEL CONSULTANT 800.326.4971 MON-FRI: 9AM - 4:30PM EST
  • CRUISES
    Ocean & River
    • Cruise Search
    • Advanced Cruise Search
    • First Time Cruiser?
    • Onboard Activites
    • Signature Collection
    • Cruise Destinations
    • Cruise Specials
    • Cruise Lines
    • Disney Cruise Line
    • Embarkation Ports
    • US Embarkation Ports
    • River Cruises
    • Book Shore Excursions
    • Get a Quote
  • VACATIONS
    Escorted & Non-Escorted
    • Vacation Search
    • Search by Destination
    • Vacation Suppliers
    • Book Your Tours
    • Hawaii Vacations
    • Mexico Getaways
    • World Destinations
    • Get a Vacation Quote
  • HOTELS
    Signature Rated
    • Signature Hotels & Resorts
    • Hotels Specials
  • SPECIALTY
    Travel by Interest
    • Search World Destinations
    • Signature Culinary Travel
    • Discover River Cruising
    • Luxury Travel
    • Family Vacation Travel
    • Why Group Travel
    • Adventure Travel
    • Celebrations
  • PROMOTIONS
    Deals & Specials
    • Exclusive Offers
    • Hot Cruise Deals
    • Hot Vacation Deals
  • ABOUT US
    Info, Articles & More
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Meet the Staff
    • 10 Reasons You'll Love Us
    • Articles
  • THEME CRUISES
    Our Exclusives
    • What is a Theme Cruise?
    • Types of Theme Cruises
    • Find a Theme Cruise
    • Types of Group Cruises

Sign Up! Receive Special Offers Via Email!

Enter for a chance to Win a Free Vacation!

Sign up for Email Specials Print This Page



8-Nights Easy Pace Italy - Small Group from $4,350

Insight Vacations

OFFER ID 1543139

Easy Pace Italy - Small Group, Winter
Italy’s top highlights await you on this 10-day guided tour. Head to the Vatican Museums before stopping by the Colosseum in Rome. In Florence, see Piazza della Signoria, an open-air art gallery showcasing Renaissance masterpieces. Join a Local Expert in Pisa for an informative tour of the Square of Miracles and see its iconic Leaning Tower. Then stop at an organic farm in the Tuscan hills where fields of vegetables give way to rows of olive trees and feast on an authentic Italian meal. In Venice, board a private boat and glide past the city’s ornate palaces and under its bridges to the marble arcades of Piazza San Marco.


Dining Summary

  • 4 Dinner (D)
  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
Choice Highlights
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Join your Travel Director on a short walk to a local spot loved by residents. Sample a classic Italian treat and hear how it became a staple of the area. It’s a chance to experience the flavors locals grow up with and return to time and again.
Additional Included Highlights
  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
  • Rome: Food and family go hand-in-hand in Italy and are pillars of the Italian way of life. Experience it for yourself with an invitation from your local host to join them for a truly Italian, home-cooked meal.
  • Florence: Experience local Florentine flavors while relaxing over dinner with wine.
  • Tuscany: Visit Il Poggio to learn about organic olive and grape farming. Then enjoy a tasting and sit down to a fabulous dinner of Tuscan specialties, complemented by stunning views.
  • Venice: Savor flavors of the region over a delicious lunch with wine.
  • Venice: Enjoy a true Venetian dining experience.
Insight Choice
  • Florence: Stand beside Michelangelo's monumental statue, 'David', in the Accademia Gallery, and admire the exquisite technique and absorbing history behind the world's most famous sculpture.
  • Florence: Join your Travel Director on a short walk to a local spot loved by residents. Sample a classic Italian treat and hear how it became a staple of the area. It’s a chance to experience the flavors locals grow up with and return to time and again.
Insight Experiences
  • Vatican City: Visit the Vatican Museums, witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and see St. Peter's Basilica.
Make Travel Matter
  • Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft.  This workshop directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
  • Rome: Visit the Colosseum, still echoing with the thronging crowds and ghostly cries of gladiatorial combat.
  • Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, where Ancient Roman political life and law courts mingled with open-air markets and shops.
  • Florence: Enjoy a stroll through Renaissance Florence and admire the medieval buildings that gave birth to this new style of architecture.
  • Pisa: Your Local Expert will show you the baptistery bristling with marble spines, and the colonnaded bell tower lurching behind the 11th-century cathedral - the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles.
  • Venice: Join your Travel Director for an introduction to Venice, exploring its canals, lively squares, and historic landmarks. Discover the city’s unique charm as you navigate its maze of streets and take in iconic sights like St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.
  • Venice: Glide through Venice’s canals on an iconic gondola ride, passing beneath historic bridges and past elegant palaces. Soak up the city’s romantic atmosphere as your gondolier navigates the tranquil waterways, offering a unique perspective of this timeless floating city.
Well-being
  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout th


8 nights from $4,350 per person

Itinerary
Click here for Full Itinerary Details
  Close

Itinerary Details

Insight Vacations: Easy Pace Italy - Small Group, Winter

Day 1 - Welcome to the Eternal City of Rome
2025 marks a Jubilee Year, a momentous Roman Catholic event celebrated every 25 years, turning Rome into a center of celebration between December 24, 2024, and December 31, 2025. As festivities unfold, itineraries may be adjusted to ensure you make the most of your time as you visit the Eternal City.Rome is a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travelers over a delicious dinner with wine.
Accommodations: Room 007 Select, Rome
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Exploring Vatican City
Explore the Vatican with your Local Expert. Enjoy fast-tracked entry into the Vatican Museums and admire the Papal art collection before entering the Sistine Chapel to marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Afterwards, visit St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Cross the Tiber river to experience the grandeur of ancient Rome with your Local Expert. See the incredible Circus Maximus famous for its chariot races, and imagine the roar of the crowd during your visit to the iconic Colosseum. Due to increased demand during the Jubilee year, access to the Vatican Museums may be limited. If tickets are unavailable during your visit, your sightseeing will instead explore the Capitoline Museums, home to the iconic Capitoline Wolf, ancient Roman bronzes and Renaissance art, set atop Michelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio with sweeping views of the Roman Forum.
Accommodations: Room 007 Select, Rome
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Rome at Leisure Relaxed Start
Spend another day enjoying Rome at your own pace. Stroll to the boutiques of the Via del Corso and Via Nazionale or visit the elegant designer stores near the Spanish Steps. Perhaps take an Optional Experience south to the ill-fated town of Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and explore one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. With your Local Expert, stroll into a 2,000-year-old town revealing fascinating discoveries preserved in time. With the dormant volcano of Vesuvius and panoramic views of the Bay of Naples in the background, you have a few treats in store along the way and then return to Rome, passing the formidable Abbey of Montecassino, one of the greatest shrines of Christendom and the site of an epic battle in 1944. As night falls, why not sip a glass of prosecco at a sidewalk cafe in Piazza Navona and enjoy life’s pageantry pass by?
Accommodations: Room 007 Select, Rome
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - On to Florence Relaxed Start
Drive through Lazio and the rolling hills of Umbria, often regarded as Italy’s green heart. Admire the medieval hilltop towns perched like crown jewels overlooking the valleys below. Journey onwards to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. Explore Florence with Insight Choice: choose to visit the Accademia Museum and see Michelangelo’s David. Afterwards, continue on foot to admire the multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, where Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise have been recreated in all their glory. Continue into the Piazza della Signoria, still the political heart of Florence and an open-air gallery of Renaissance masterpieces. Spend time gazing at statues such as Neptune, Hercules and Cacus along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio. Alternatively, take a stroll with your Travel Director to enjoy a typical Italian treat in a local cafe.
Accommodations: NH Firenze, Florence
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Florence, Birthplace of the Renaissance Relaxed Start
Indulge yourself this morning by exploring Florentine luxury goods. Learn about the craft involved in the local leatherwork during a demonstration and be entranced by the intricate creations of the goldsmiths art. Admire the rolling green hills of Tuscany and the impressive medieval towers of San Gimignano on an Optional Experience this afternoon. Dine with your fellow traveling companions tonight.
Accommodations: NH Firenze, Florence
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Pisa and the Tuscan Countryside Relaxed Start
After a leisurely morning in Florence, explore the nearby town of Pisa with a Local Expert. See the Leaning Tower, the baptistery and the colonnaded bell tower, lurching out from behind the cathedral. Visit the organic farm Il Poggio and join a guided walk to learn about olive oil and wine production. After taking in beautiful views of the rolling Tuscan hills, enjoy tasting the farm’s fine wines and olive oil, in addition to an authentic Italian meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
Accommodations: NH Firenze, Florence
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - On to Venice
Today we travel through the Emilia-Romagna region, and stop to sample the flavors of the region and learn about Italian food culture over a delicious lunch with wine. Take the autostrada east to Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Your luxurious hotel has elegant Venetian touches and views over an unforgettably romantic city.
Accommodations: NH Venezia Santa Lucia, Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - Venice and the Magic of ‘La Serenissima’ Relaxed Start
Your private boat takes you on a journey of discovery past churches and palaces reflecting the architectural history of Venice from the 13th to the 18th century. The first sight is the pink marble of the Doge's Palace, connected to the prisons by the Bridge of Sighs. It was from here that Casanova made his daring escape. Turn the corner, and the gilded facade of St. Mark's Basilica comes into view. Before your morning ends, board a traditional gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a glassblowing workshop. See how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. This afternoon there is plenty of time to explore the museums, galleries and churches or browse through the shops on the Rialto Bridge. Perhaps cruise out to some of the other islands in the lagoon to experience the age-old lifestyle of Venetian fishermen and lace-makers.
Accommodations: NH Venezia Santa Lucia, Venice
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Venice at Leisure Relaxed Start
Who could refuse another day to take in the unique atmosphere of this wonderful city? Lose yourself in the back lanes and quiet squares, where tourists seldom tread and the Venetians go about their daily lives. Maybe visit some of the 90 churches housing masterpieces of Venetian art or explore the modern artworks in the Guggenheim? Perhaps relax at a canal-side cafe sipping local wine or sample delicious lagoon-fresh fish? This evening, indulge in traditional Venetian dishes that are enriched with inspiration from seasonal produce.
Accommodations: NH Venezia Santa Lucia, Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10 - Arrivederci Venice
Your departure transfer arrives at Venice Marco Polo airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations
Venice

Excursions

Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours

  Close

Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours

Today enjoy a walking tour of Venice with your local English-speaking guide including visits to several of the most famous landmarks of the city.
The Doges’ Palace was the seat of the main government departments, the residence of the Doge, from where the Venetian Republic was ruled. Lavish frescoes, graceful staircases and gilded stuccowork reveal the glory and opulence of this period.
One of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica was once the Doge’s chapel. It is also a mausoleum for St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice who was martyred by the Turks in Alexandria, Egypt. As you enter the Basilica, marvel at the golden mosaics depicting the life of St. Mark, the Old and New Testaments, the life of Jesus and his Resurrection. St. Mark’s Square is actually not a square at all, but a trapezoid whose extensive sides flare out giving it the appearance of being even more spacious.
Travel to and from the San Marco area with your guide by private Venetian-style motorboat.

Highlights:
  • Admire the wonderful architecture of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica
Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
  • An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
  • Entrance fees to all named sights and museums
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs.
  • Gratuities

Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours

  Close

Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours

Venice holds a wealth of treasures for anybody interested in the exquisite arts. With your expert guide, discover the Frari church, considered one of the most imposing Gothic monuments in Venice. In view of this, you’ll be surprised to discover that the church’s austere look hides a wonderfully lavish interior where, among the many treasures, you’ll find Titian’s early altarpieces and a true masterpiece by Giovanni Bellini. Also visit the Accademia Gallery; a dazzling collection of masterpieces spanning the full development of Venetian art from Byzantine to Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo. Travel to and from the San Marco area with your guide by private Venetian-style motorboat.

Highlights:
  • Admire the many art treasures on display in the Frari Church
  • See the masterpieces on display in the Accademia Gallery
Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
  • An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
  • Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours

  Close

Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours

Travel with your English-speaking driver across the causeway to Venice’s mainland and onwards to the beautiful and historic city of Verona where your expert local guide will meet with you. Verona is an elegant city with one of the world’s finest Roman amphitheatres at its heart. The Arena still plays host to thousands of performances today, as it did millennia ago.
Verona also featured heavily in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, so a visit to the house of Juliet and its famous balcony is a must. Enjoy time at leisure (about an hour) in the beautiful piazzas before returning with your driver to your cruise ship.

Highlights:
  • Visit Verona's impressive Amphitheatre
  • See Juliet's House and its famous balcony
Tour Duration: 7 hours

Tour Can Operate: Mornings

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Luxury car or minivan transfers between Venice cruise terminal and Verona
  • An expert English-speaking guide in Verona (3 hours)
  • Entrance fees to the stated sightseeing
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours

  Close

Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours

Added Value:
  • Introduction to the history of Venice
  • Visit to private glass producer in Murano
  • Tour of Grand Canal by private boat
  • Reservations to St.Marks and Doge's Palace - no lines
Tour duration: 6 hours
Not wheelchair accessible
Physical activity: Moderate with a fair amount of walking

Included:
  • Private English speaking guide for the day and private boat.
  • Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Excluded: 
Meals

Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours

  Close

Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours

Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.

Highlights:

  • Cruise across the lagoon to Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years using the same techniques
  • Explore Torcello and Burano, a colourful fishing village famous for its lace and charming architecture
Tour Duration: 7 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
•    Return private motorboat transfer between the harbour and the islands
•    An expert local guide (7 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

The story of Murano and Burano

  Close

The story of Murano and Burano

Hop on a private boat and start sailing through the Venice lagoon! This unique tour will let you discover the authentic side of Venice by exploring two famous islands – Murano and Burano. First stop, Murano – an epicenter of the most sophisticated glass production in the world. “Il vetro di Murano”, the glass of Murano, is a special type of glass made for decades. You will visit one of the traditional factories and take part in a glass-blowing demonstration. Pretty exclusive, don’t you think?

Your next stop is Burano – a small, fishermen’s island, famous for its heritage of lace embroidery that it’s still today made by hand only. It is often mentioned as one of the prettiest towns in Italy and also one of the most unique thanks to two characteristics: its canals and its colorful houses that make the island a real rainbow of colors! This tour will surely let you remember the Venice Lagoon forever.

Highlights:

  • Unique island experience 
  • Personal guide
Tour Duration: Approx. 3-4h
Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions: 
  • Private guide
  • Private boat
Not Included:
  • Lunch
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Items purchased for personal use

The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice

  Close

The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice

Are you ready to start this tour with a private boat cruise down the most spectacular “boulevard” in the world? Yes, we are talking about The Canal Grande, Venice’s main artery. Just hop on your private boat and enjoy the scenic views of all the marvelous palaces and side alley’s canals. Sit back and relax while you absorb the breath-taking beauty and uniqueness of Venice. After the ride, the guide will take you through Calli, Callette, Ponti, Campi and Campielli. You will reach Rialto bridge, that was the only way to cross the great Canal on foot, for centuries. You can indulge in great experience of the famous local market filled with interesting products and learn more about the area that was once a significant place for trading goods.
 

Highlights:

  • unique sightseeing experience 

  • Personal guide

Tour Duration: up to 4h
Tour can operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Easy

Inclusions: 

  • Private guide
  • No line entrance tickets for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark Basilic

Not Included:

  • Lunch
  • Tips
  • Drinks
  • Transfers

 

Florence
Rome

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
03/01/2026 - 03/10/2026
from $4,350 per person


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
from $4,350 per person
Length
8 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks
Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1543139

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

Request More Info!

Sign up for Email Specials Print This Page


OVERVIEW SUPPLIERS DESTINATIONS
Vacations Search
Between
And

Exclusive Offers

  • Cruise & River Cruise Promotions
  • Vacation/Tour Promotions

Luxury Vacation Suppliers

  • Avanti
  • Cosmos
  • Globus

Hotels & Resorts

  • Signature Hotels & Resorts
  • Signature Hotel & Resort Specials

Preferred Cruise Lines

  • Amawaterways
  • Crystal Cruises
  • Disney Cruise Line
  • Oceania Cruises
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • Seabourn Cruises
  • Silversea Cruises
  • Uniworld River Cruises
  • Windstar Cruises

Specialty Travel

  • Alaska Vacations
  • Hawaii Vacations
  • Mexico Vacations
  • Luxury Vacations
  • River Cruises
  • Group Travel
  • Family Vacations
  • Celebrations Travel
  • Active Adventures

The Cruise & Vacation Authority

1760 Powers Ferry Road
Suite 100
Marietta, GA 30067

Phone: 800.326.4971
Local: 770.952.8300
Fax: 770.916.1425

HomeResourcesAbout UsGet a Quote!Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyContact

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved. The Cruise & Vacation Authority.

Seller of Travel: 1004999-10

Travel content powered by advaia.com