TORONTO — ALBATours’ 2014 brochure is now available and along with featuring its hallmark touring program that offers comprehensive itineraries throughout Italy, it is also featuring a full Mediterranean cruising program with MSC Cruises, which was previously available through sister company Sunquest.

Offering sailings aboard the MSC Preziosa and MSC Fantasia in the Eastern Med, the MSC Musica and MSC Splendida in the Western Med, as well as long duration cruise holidays on the MSC Sinfornia, MSC Poesia and MSC Orchestra, this new program is complemented by regular, direct service from Toronto to Rome on longtime ALBATours partner Alitalia and, brand new this year, with direct service from Toronto to Venice with Air Canada rouge.

With Air Canada rouge, ALBATours is introducing ‘Cruise holidays made even easier’. Clients can choose between two ships – MSC Preziosa and MSC Fantasia, both of which are sailing Eastern Mediterranean itineraries to the Greek Islands, Turkey and Croatia out of Venice – and from three different options:

1. A 9-day/7-night cruise holiday from $1,599 per person that includes the nonstop flight to Venice on Air Canada rouge, the 7-night cruise and all transfers;

2. A 16-day/14-night cruise holiday from $1,749 per person that includes air, the 7-night cruise, two nights in Venice, five nights at leisure and most transfers;

3. A 16-day/14-night cruise holiday from $2,749 per person that includes air, the 7-night cruise and a 7-night semi-escorted tour in Italy (which includes travel by coach and train). All transfers are included.

As far as the Italy touring program goes, all of the favourite fully escorted coach tours are back, including Canadian favourite Dolce Vita in Tuscany from $2,449 per person, a 10-day/8-night specialty coach tour that focuses on the food and wine of the region that includes a shopping excursion with a local chef for fresh produce and then using it in a cooking class; in addition to the Artistic Italy, Best of Italy, Grand Tour of Italy and Italy South tours, the last being an 8-day/7-night coach tour from $1,749 per person that starts in Rome and visits Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, Montecassino and the Castelli Romani, before returning to the eternal city.

When clients book by Dec. 6, 2013, they can take advantage of two limited time offers: 1/ save $600 per couple on all air & tour packages and 2/ save up to $1,000 per couple on all air & cruise packages, which includes a $500 discount per couple and a free stateroom upgrade.

There is also the air-only program on Alitalia that offers service to 17 destinations in Italy. Fly in Classica (economy) class from $387 per person, roundtrip, or upgrade to Magnifica (business) class from $2,285 per person, roundtrip. Please note, for clients to take advantage of this Magnifica class rate, they must book at least 55 days in advance.

For clients extending their trip or exploring on their own, ALBATours is offering a Fly & Drive special together with Avis that will save clients up to $100 per couple, per car. If all they want is a car rental, ALBATours and Avis offer rentals starting at $35 per day. And for those looking to spend some extra days in Italy, ALBATours can arrange a hotel for either before or after their trip. A great selection of handpicked hotels is available in Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena, Sorrento and more, along with other great cities of Europe such as Berlin, Prague and Vienna.

The 2014 program runs from April through October. Visit ALBAToursAgent.ca for more information.