5 nights. Italy, France

Travel Idea: Mediterranean Cruise Escape

Join a wonderful getaway for 2 adults on a relaxing and stylish cruise. Enjoy a 5 nights itinerary exploring the beautiful coasts of Italy and France aboard the modern and elegant Costa Toscana. Discover charming port cities, savor Mediterranean cuisine, and take advantage of the ship’s amenities, including pools, entertainment, and fine dining – all while experiencing the best of the Western Mediterranean.

Included service: Cruise: "5 nights. Italy, France" on Costa Toscana.

As your travel agent, I recommend preparing for your cruise with a mix of practical guides and inspiring reads:

• Travel Guides for Italy: Rick Steves Italy (great for cultural context and walking tours), Lonely Planet Italy for broader coverage of cities and regions, and DK Eyewitness Italy for visual maps and illustrated highlights.
• Travel Guides for France: Rick Steves France for user‑friendly itineraries, Lonely Planet France for detailed regional information, and DK Eyewitness France for clear maps and photos of key attractions.
• Mediterranean & Cruise‑Specific Resources: Look for a recent edition of Frommer’s EasyGuide to Mediterranean Cruises or Fodor’s Essential Mediterranean Cruise Ports to understand port layouts, shore excursions, and time‑saving tips when you disembark.
• Cultural & Background Reading: For Italy, you might enjoy La Bella Figura by Beppe Severgnini for a witty look at Italian culture. For France, try Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong by Nadeau & Barlow to understand French habits and attitudes.
• Onboard Relaxing Reads: Consider a novel set in the Mediterranean, such as A Room with a View (E.M. Forster, partly set in Italy) or The Little Paris Bookshop (Nina George, for a French atmosphere), perfect for reading on deck overlooking the sea.

If you share your exact ports of call (e.g., Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Civitavecchia/Rome), I can recommend more specific city guides and shore‑excursion reading tailored to your Costa Toscana itinerary.