Tall Ship Sailing Trip from Malta to Italy

Brigantine Florette sunset sailing
Departure
1 July 2026 18:00
Return
11 July 2026 10:00
Days
11
Sailing area
South Europe
Port of departure
Sliema (MT)
Port of arrival
Vibo (IT)

Island hopping on a traditional tall ship

Join the Florette this summer for an 11-day sailing voyage through the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Departing from sunny Sliema, Malta, you’ll sail north along Sicily and the Aeolian Islands to Vibo Marina in Calabria. A journey filled with seamanship, mythology, and Mediterranean charm.

Depart from Malta – the home port of the Florette

Your adventure begins in the historic harbor of Sliema, where the proud brigantine Florette has had her home port for many years. Once the sails are hoisted, you’ll leave the Maltese coast behind and set course for the eastern shores of Sicily. The first destination is Taormina – a jewel on the coast, famous for its ancient Greek theater and stunning views of the majestic Mount Etna.

Through the legendary Strait of Messina

After Taormina, the narrow passage of the Strait of Messina awaits – a stretch of water long renowned for its currents, fishing fleets, and ancient myths. According to Homer, this is where the perils of Scylla and Charybdis once lurked, but with Captain Ron at the helm, the Florette safely navigates this historic seaway.

The volcanic splendor of the Aeolian Islands

North of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands rise dramatically from the sea – seven volcanic islands that together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the Florette drops anchor for moments of peace and discovery. Visit fiery Stromboli, where the volcano regularly glows against the night sky, or explore Lipari, rich in maritime history. During the day, swim in crystal-clear waters, and in the evening, dine on deck beneath an endless canopy of stars.

Final Destination: Authentic Calabria

The final leg takes you to Vibo Marina, a charming harbor town with deep fishing traditions. Stroll along the promenade, sample fresh fish at the market, or enjoy a meal in a genuine Calabrian trattoria.

Life on board the Florette

Life on board follows the rhythm of the sea. Guests are welcome to help set the sails, steer the ship, or simply relax and watch as the Florette makes her way through the waves. Sailing takes place mainly during the day, and night watches are rare. Between sailing days, there’s time to go ashore, explore on foot, or sample the local cuisine.

Summer in this part of the Mediterranean brings steady winds, warm weather, and long, sun-filled days — ideal for both adventurous sailors and lovers of the good life.

A sailing voyage full of character

This journey combines the heritage of Mediterranean sailing with the natural and cultural richness of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and Calabria.

A voyage aboard the Florette is more than just island hopping – it’s life at sea, between sky and horizon.

*One child up to 14 years old travels free of charge when sharing a cabin with both parents.
If only one parent is traveling, the single cabin rate applies.
Children who wish to have their own cabin pay the young sailor rate.

Florette

Read more about this ship

Highlights

✔️ ⛵ Traditional Tall Ship Sailing – Sail aboard the last active brigantine in the Mediterranean.
✔️ 🌞 Hands-on Experience – Help with sailing, steering, and navigation – or simply relax on deck.
✔️ 🏝️ Island Hopping – Discover Malta, Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands.
✔️ 🌊 Longer Sailing Hours – Experience the true rhythm of the sea with full days under sail.

Frequently asked questions

We still handle your bookings personally and therefore do not have an automatic booking system. This way, we can enable you to reserve individual places for a few days without any obligation. This allows you, for example, to arrange your holiday without someone stealing your place from under your nose. For this reason, we cannot keep track of the exact number of free places on a daily basis. However, we regularly check the availability of our sailing holidays. Therefore, you can generally assume that plenty of free places are still available on all trips that are not marked as ‘fully booked’ or ‘Last Minute’. Call us or use our booking form if you want to know the exact number of places available.

If you are travelling alone and have not booked a private cabin, you will be accommodated in a shared cabin. The shared cabins are usually assigned based on gender.

Exceptions:

  • On the Belle Amie and the Seatrips yachts, there are sometimes mixed-gender cabins as well.
  • There are no shared cabins on the Sir Robert. Are you travelling alone? Then you should book a single cabin.

Yes, vegetarians and allergies/intolerances can be catered for on most ships. On some ships, the menu can also be adapted for vegans. However, there is only one menu per day on the programme. Therefore, please let us know during your booking if you have any special dietary requirements.

In principle, all our trips are suitable for both experienced and novice sailors. The professional crew on board will teach you everything you need to know. In some cases (e.g. on Atlantic crossings) initial sailing experience may be an advantage/requirement. In this case, this will be clearly indicated in the cruise description.

Prices

DescriptionPrice
Double cabin
Adult€ 1.580 p.p.
Child€ 1 child up to 14 years old travels free*
Single cabin
Adult€ 2.370 pp.
Child€ 1 child up to 14 years old travels free*
Young Sailors (15–30 years) – hammock or berth in cabin
Adult€ 980 p.p.
Child

Included in price

Half board – breakfast and 8 meals (lunch or dinner, depending on the sailing schedule, including 1 BBQ)
Tea, filter coffee and fruit juices
Bedding
All dinghy trips during the voyage, to and from the ship
Personnel costs for the captain and other crew members
Use of all facilities on board, including snorkeling equipment, paddle boards, kayaks and board games

Not included in price

Extra meals (ashore)
Tea and espresso specialities, alcoholic drinks and soft drinks (honesty bar with cash payment in EURO)
Towels
Travel/cancellation insurance
Travel to/from ship (airfare + transfer to ship)

Book this trip

Please use the following form if you have any questions about this trip or wish to book. You will receive a confirmation email that your booking request has been successfully received by us. We will then contact you as soon as possible with all the information. We usually respond within a few hours.

Group and trip details

Personal data