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Cruises to Olbia

Olbia is a town on the Italian island of Sardinia, located to the northeast of the country.

One of the most beautiful and unspoilt stretches of the Mediterranean

Olbia is a town on the Italian island of Sardinia, located to the northeast of the country. Called ‘Olbia’ in Roman times, ‘Civita’ in the Middle Ages and then ‘Terranova Pausania’ the name Olbia – which means ‘happy town’ was restored after the 1940s.

Olbia is the economic hub of this part of the island and is close to the ‘Costa Smeralda’ (Emerald Coast) holiday destination. During the 1960’s, Prince Aga Kahn was so struck by the natural beauty of this stretch of coasts that he purchased over 3,000 hectares of land on which to build the island’s first hotels. However, the Costa Smeralda remains unspoilt and is still one of the most beautiful stretches of the Mediterranean.

A key feature of this area are the Nurages, mysterious conical stone towers that were built during the second millennium BC. Passengers that choose to spend the day away from their MSC cruise ship with us can take part in our program of excursion packages and visit these interesting sights for themselves.

We also offer other great deals on interesting local attractions, such as the trip to San Pantaleo, Santa Teresa and Capo Testa, picturesque villages that sell lovely handicrafts and souvenirs. Choose to board another (much smaller) ship and sail to Maddalena Island where Nelson stayed with his troops.

If you think no vacation is complete without a spot of beachside relaxation, an ideal way to indulge your favourite past time is with a trip to ‘La Cinta’ beach where you can experience the Emerald Coast at its best.

 		Cruise to Olbia - Italy - Mediterranean - MSC Cruises

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OLBIAMonths
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Average high °C131315172126293026221714
Average low °C667812161920171397
 OLB01 - THE ARCHIPELAGO OF MADDALENA ( approximate 5 hours ) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  A short coach ride from Olbia will first take you north to the coastal town of Palau to board a ferry for the crossing to Maddalena Island, one of the seven main islands making up the Maddalena Archipelago located in the Straits of Bonifacio between north-eastern Sardinia and Corsica. While Maddalena Island looks back on a long military history, even once hosting Admiral Nelson and his fleet, it is now a designated national park - the Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena. The island's granite coastline and verdant interior provide a rich natural habitat for a variety of wildlife and its unspoiled beauty draws tourists from around the world. A coach-based sightseeing tour will be followed by some free time to spend exploring the surroundings at your own pace. The island's wonderful scenery is well worth a photo or two, so do remember to bring your camera. The leisurely tour is brought to an equally relaxing close with your return journey back to Olbia and the ship. Please note: this tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair

Price per person $72.00 Adults $50.00 Children

   


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 OLB02 - PANORAMIC TOUR OF 'COSTA SMERALDA' (4 hours ) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  Cultural  Beautiful by name and simply gorgeous by nature, the verdant Costa Smeralda is one of the most exclusive stretches of coastline in the whole of Sardinia and a popular holiday playground for the super-rich. This panoramic tour of the Emerald Coast begins with a scenic coach ride, during which a stop will be made to take pictures at the Hotel Cala di Volpe. This exclusive establishment occupies the No. 7 spot on the list of CNN Go's 2012 "World's 15 most expensive hotel suites" list and even once had a "starring" role in the 1977 Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me. You'll then make your way into Porto Cervo and the resort's lovely piazzetta, after which you will continue on to the Baia Sardinia, a pretty cove with a lovely beach of white sand. You can then spend a little time at the beach, before you make your way back to Olbia for a visit to San Simplicio Church, which dates back to the year 1200. There will be some free time for your to enjoy in Olbia before returning to the pier and your ship.Please note: conservative attire is recommended for visiting sites of religious importance.

Price per person $58.00 Adults $41.00 Children

   


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 OLB03 - DISCOVERING SARDINIAN NURAGHE ( 4.5 hours ) - 2013
Level of difficulty: moderate  Panoramic Tour  Cultural  One of Sardinia’s most distinctive features and indeed a symbol of the island are the ancient “nuraghe”, conical towers consisting of rough-hewn rock that were built as homes or places of worship during the Nuragic era from c. 1,900 to 730 B.C.. This tour will take you to see one of these ancient complexes, the Albucciu nuraghe – located just a short coach ride to the north of Olbia – along with the nearby archaeological area to visit a particularly fine example of a so-called ‘Giants' grave’. These Bronze Age gallery graves, which are peculiar to and frequently found all over Sardinia, were used as a communal burial ground. You will then continue on to Luras, one of the best preserved villages in the whole of the Gallura region, the most northerly part of Sardinia. Continuing along the historical theme, your visit to Luras will also give you a chance to see – and perhaps even marvel at – some of the oldest trees in Europe, a few of which date back as far as 4,000 years. A scenic return journey to Olbia brings your tour of prehistoric Sardinia to a close. Please note: this tour is not recommended for guests with walking difficulties or using a wheelchair.

Price per person $57.00 Adults $40.00 Children

   


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 OLB04 - SANTA TERESA DI GALLURA & CAPO TESTA (5 hours ) - 2013
Level of difficulty: easy  Panoramic Tour  After leaving the port of Olbia by coach, the first stop on this enjoyable tour will be in San Pantaleo, a lovely little village located in the hills of the amazing Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast. Look forward to a short stop in the village to stroll around, browse in the small shops and visit the craft workshops. The excursion then continues up through the northernmost part of the island to Santa Teresa di Gallura, a coastal resort that faces the Strait of Bonifacio and Corsica. A guided tour of this small, but pretty town will follow, after which you will also have some free time to stroll around on your own. Before beginning the return journey to the port, a short drive will take you to your final destination: the amazing Capo Testa peninsula. Located off the tip of Sardinia’s northernmost region and connected to the main island by no more than a narrow isthmus, the rocky landscape provides stunning vistas for some fabulous photos to take back home. Please note: reaching the most panoramic part of Capo Testa involves a 10 minute walk.

Price per person $59.00 Adults $41.00 Children

   


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The excursions in the program above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call; this program is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.